NNY Business July 2012

Behind the scenes of Boldt Castle historic preservation page 25

July 2012

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n 20 Questions with TIITC’s Gary DeYoung p. 40

n Biz Tech n Real Estate n NNY Snapshot n Business Scene

Steven F.Aiello

President, COR Development

CONSTRUCTING OUR future

Solving Northern New York’s housing crunch $2.95

/nnybusiness @NNYBusinessMag

Northern New York’s Premier Business Monthly Vol. 2 Issue 8 | www.nnybizmag.com

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NNY Business | July 2012

July 2012 | NNY Business

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C o n tr i b u t o r s

BusIness

www.nnybizmag.com

Publishers

John B. Johnson Jr. Harold B. Johnson II Lynn Pietroski is president and CEO of the Greater WatertownNorth Country Chamber of Commerce. She details the importance of networking in building a business. (p. 46)

Jay Matteson is the agricultural coordinator for the Jefferson County Agricultural Development Corp. He writes about a new event that opens doors for the local ag community. (p. 47)

Sarah O’Connell is an advisor for the state Small Business Development Center at SUNY Jefferson. She gives advice for proper handling of problem employees. (p. 49)

Larry Covell is a professor of business at SUNY Jefferson and an attorney. He writes about different ways to collect money owed to a business owner. (p. 45)

General Manager John B. Johnson

Executive Editor Bert Gault

Managing Editor Robert D. Gorman

Magazine Editor

Kenneth J. Eysaman

Associate Magazine Editor Kyle R. Hayes

Advertising Directors Jill Van Hoesen is chief information officer for Johnson Newspapers and a 25-year IT veteran. She asks what Microsoft will have to do to tailor Office programs to the iPad generation. (p. 48)

Lance M. Evans is executive officer for the Jefferson-Lewis and St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors. He shares the advantages of a Realtor when buying property. (p. 36)

James Wright is executive director of the Development Authority of the North Country.

He writes about regional economic development councils. (p. 44)

Karen K. Romeo Tammy S. Beaudin

Circulation Director Mary Sawyer

Photography

Norm Johnston, Justin Sorensen, Jason Hunter, Melanie Kimbler-Lago, Amanda Morrison

Ad Graphics, Design

Rick Gaskin, Brian Mitchell, Heather O’Driscoll, Scott Smith, Todd Soules

Kyle Hayes is associate magazine editor for NNY Business. He writes about residential development filling a void and the latest news in the building sector. (p. 14, 37)

Gabrielle Hovendon is a freelance writer. She writes about historic restoration at Boldt Castle and the latest in NNY building and architecture.(p. 24, 25, 30, 32)

Bob Beckstead is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. He writes about SeaComm Federal Credit Union’s latest accolades. (p. 29)

MARKETPLACE A.G. Netto Realty …................ 38 Advanced Business Systems …................. 50 AmeriCU Credit Union …........ 21 Ameriprise Financial ……....... 20 Aubertine & Currier …............. 29 AUSA ….....................................13 Beardsley Design ..............….. 62 Black Horse Group …............. 17 Bond Schoenick & King …........ 7 Cantwell & Associates …........ 13 Capital Construction …........... 29 Cari-Mor …............................... 35 Carthage Federal Savings & Loan .....................…. 2 Cavallario’s Cucina …............ 55 Center for Sight ….................... 64 Clarence Henry Coach …...... 52 Convenient Storage …............ 12 DANC …................................... 46 Essenlohr Motors ….................. 53

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Feel Safe Door Co. ….............. 22 Foy Agency Inc. …................. 22 Gerald A. Nortz ….................... 57 GWNC Chamber of Commerce …...................... 38 H&R Block …............................. 20 High Tower Advisors …........... 42 Howard Orthotics …................ 44 IBEW .....................................…. 28 Innovative Physical Therapy …................................ 45 JCC Continuing Education …............................ 39 JCJDC …................................... 61 LaClair Family Dental …......... 35 Lofink Ford Mercury …............ 54 LTI ….......................................... 48 NNY Business …........... 50, 59, 63 NNY Community Foundation ….......................... 33 NNY Living …............................. 39

NNY Business | July 2012

O.D. Greene Lumber ........….. 13 Painfull Acres .......................... 39 Panther Premium Properties ….............................. 49 Redfox Construction …............ 22 SeaComm Federal Credit Union …........................... 6 Slack Chemical Co. …............ 47 Strategic Financial …............... 31 SUNY Potsdam …....................... 8 T.F. Wright and Sons …............. 22 Three C’s Limousine …............ 56 Thousand Islands Realty …..... 38 Truesdell’s Furniture …............... 9 Watertown LDC ….................... 36 Watertown Daily Times …........ 58 Watertown Savings Bank ….... 23 Westelcom …........................... 61 White’s Lumber ….................... 16 Work Well Investments …........ 43 WWNY TV 50 …........................... 3

NNY Business (ISSN 2159-6115), is published monthly by Northern New York Newspaper Corp., 260 Washington St., Watertown, NY 13601, a Johnson Newspaper Corp. company. © 2010-2012. All material submitted to NNY Business becomes property of Northern New York Newspaper Corp., publishers of the Watertown Daily Times, and will not be returned.

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Submissions Send all editorial correspondence to keysaman@wdt.net Advertising For advertising rates and information in Jefferson and Lewis counties, email kromeo@wdt.net, or call 315-661-2422 In St. Lawrence County, e-mail tbeaudin@ogd.com, or call 315-661-2512 Printed with pride in U.S.A. at Vanguard Printing LLC, Ithaca, N.Y., a Forest Stewardship Certified facility.

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>>> Inside JULY 2012

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32

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COVER |

14 BUILDING OUR FUTURE Developers launch major initiatives to fill the housing gap in Jefferson County. | FEATURES |

24 FIRST-HAND LEARNING BOCES classes get hands-on experience building modular homes from the ground up.

25 RESTORING HISTORY Local design firms play a big part in finishing Boldt Castle to its once-intended glory.

32 BUILDING THEIR OWN The Morgia Group couldn’t find class A office space, so they built their own.

34 RESTAURANT REVIVAL A familiar favorite re-opens in Henderson’s Gill House. | ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY |

38 JEFFERSON COUNTY Real estate sales totaled more than $2.6 million over a four-day period in June.

29 WINNING BIG HONORS SeaComm is named top credit union in the country and a best place to work.

39 ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY Real estate sales totaled more than $2.1 million over a seven-day period in May.

30 DESIGN FOR TOMORROW School is out but work has just begun on Ogdensburg City Schools renovations.

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REAL ESTATE |

37 BUILDING REBOUND Commercial construction pace slows in Watertown after record-setting year.

BUSINESS HISTORY |

60 SEWING THE STORY The Davis Sewing Co. quickly grew into a national sewing machine manufacturer. |

WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE? |

62 MEADOWBROOK TERRACE Construction is under way on Carthage Area Hospital’s assisted-living facility.

July 2012 | NNY Business

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NNY Business | July 2012

| ON THE COVER |

| INTERVIEW |

40 marketing NNY Gary S. DeYoung, director of tourism for the 1,000 Islands International Tourism Council, talks with us about drawing visitors year-round and ways to capture more tourism dollars. | COLUMNS |

44 ECONOMICALLY SPEAKING 45 BUSINESS LAW 46 COMMERCE CORNER

47 AGRI-BUSINESS 48 BUSINESS TECH BYTES 49 SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS

| DEPARTMENTS |

8 9 10 12 36

EDITOR’S NOTE PEOPLE ON THE MOVE ECONOMIC SNAPSHOT BUSINESS BRIEFCASE REAL ESTATE ROUNDUP

51 52 58 60 62

CALENDAR BUSINESS SCENE DINING GUIDE BUSINESS HISTORY WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE?

Photography editor Norm Johnston captured COR Development’s Steven Aiello on the construction site for Beaver Meadows Apartments, COR’s latest development in Watertown. COR has invested more than $80 million in commercial and residential development in Watertown, including developing Towne Center Plaza on Arsenal Street.

July 2012 | NNY Business

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E D I T O R ’ S NO T E

O

ne of the largest missing pieces in the north country’s development puzzle appears to be taking shape as a handful of builders work to construct new residential housing in the Watertown area.

Thanks in part to Fayetteville-based COR Development, an experienced commercial contractor that brought such retail outlets as Kohl’s and Target to Towne Center Plaza on outer Arsenal Street, a much-needed apartment project is now under way on land adjacent to the plaza. Of course, were it not for the leadership of the Development Authority Ken Eysaman of the North Country and others, we’d still be scratching our heads over how to bring quality, market-rate housing to Jefferson County.

While most hard-felt in areas close to Fort Drum, our housing shortage is not only a concern for soldiers, but for businesses and our economy as well. Many are familiar with the line made famous by the mysterious voice that Ray Kinsella, Kevin Costner’s character in the classic 1989 baseball film “Field of Dreams” can’t shake: “If you build it, they will come.” Of course I’m not suggesting we uproot cornfields for baseball diamonds, but in the context of our housing void, if we build it, there’s a good chance that jobs may come and that is something that is never in excess supply.

In this month’s cover story, which begins on page 14, associate editor Kyle R. Hayes examines recent steps the region has taken to shore up its supply of new housing.

Most people we spoke to agree that new housing only will help broaden economic opportunities for everyone who lives here.

It isn’t just an Army problem — it’s a north country problem. Now, with more than 600 housing units going up over the next couple years, we can no sooner look forward to a new economic reality that most hope will come. n

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MENDING A BROKEN HEART (ISLAND) — For roughly 30 years, Boldt Castle on Heart Island has been a jewel in our crown of attractions, drawing people from both sides of the border with its tales of old-fashioned romance and high-society living. When George Boldt abandoned his

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NNY Business | July 2012

quest to build a castle for his wife after her untimely death he likely never imagined future generations would labor with such persistence to complete his dream. Writer Gabrielle Hovendon takes readers inside the castle for a look at how work there has spanned nearly three decades, sharing some of the challenges and offering a glimpse into what’s next for the iconic treasure. Our story begins on page 25. n

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20 QUESTIONS — In this month’s interview, we sit down with Gary DeYoung, director of tourism for the Thousand Islands International Tourism Council.

Gary shares some exciting new initiatives his agency is working on to keep the flow of tourists coming to the north country.

From employing new technologies like smartphone apps and social media to shining light on some of our area’s best-kept secrets, Gary’s team is hard at work helping to market Jefferson County and the region.

Our conversation begins on page 40. n

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BUSINESS SCENE ­— This month’s Scene section, which begins on page 52, features 63 faces from nearly 50 business and organizations across the north country.

On June 7, we joined the South Jeff Chamber of Commerce at Ryan’s Lookout in Henderson for business after hours. The evening was also sponsored

by Moby Dick Charters, Henderson Harbor, Little Barn Bulk Foods, Hounsfield.

Later in the month, we joined the Clayton Chamber of Commerce for its annual Citizen of the Year Banquet as the community honored sisters Linda L. Brown and Brenda B. Patch as 2012 Citizens of the Year. Without question, the two are well-deserving of the recognition.

The very next day the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce threw a summer block party on Watertown’s Arcade Street. The same evening, the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce held business after hours at the Falls Pharmacy in Lyons Falls.

Finally, on June 26, we joined the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce for a breakfast forum about social media and business as part of its speaker series at the Black River Valley Club.

Don’t forget to visit us online at www. nnybizmag.com and on Facebook at www. facebook.com/nnybusiness to view even more local faces from the crowds.

Yours in business,

P E O P L E ON T H E M O V E New Clarkson Inn manager Executive director hired George Lavigne has been named the general manager of the Clarkson Inn, Potsdam.

Mr. Lavigne replaces longtime general manager Peggy Snell, who retired earlier this year. He has more than 25 years of hotel and resort management experience, having worked in hotels in Bora Bora, the Dominican Republic and France. He is a master chef with training at top restaurants in France as well as in the palace of the Shah of Iran. Mr. Lavigne is a certified hotel administrator of the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute.

The Clarkson Inn, 1 Main St., is operated by J.R. Weston Inc., a for-profit, tax-paying subsidiary of Clarkson University. Profits from J.R. Weston provide scholarships to Clarkson students.

Children’s Clinic new hires

The North Country Children’s Clinic has hired Catherine H. Wehrle as the new health services coordinator.

She will be responsible for planning, management and oversight of the agency’s school-based health program, with grant application writing, Wehrle contract management and supervision of productivity in the agency’s medical programs.

The agency also recently hired Amy L. Langone as its director of health services.

Mrs. Langone was the agency’s former pediatric care clinic manager. In her new role, Mrs. Langone will oversee operation of all of the agency’s health programs.

The Clayton Antique Boat Museum’s board of trustees named the museum’s interim director, Frederick H. “Fritz” Hager, as its new executive director.

As the successor to Frederick P. Schmitt, who resigned in December, Mr. Hager — a Hager 20-year member of the museum board and chairman of the museum’s annual Antique Boat Show and Auction — has overseen since January the operation of the museum’s 4.5-acre river campus with eight exhibit buildings and 40 full- and part-time employees.

Mr. Hager and his wife, Leslie W. Rowland, Clinton, own a cottage on Wellesley Island.

Obtain architect licenses Michael N. Reynolds, RA, AIA, and Leigh McMullen, RA, recently received professional licensure as registered architects in New York State.

Mr. Reynolds is a LEED Green associate, senior associate, project manager and senior architect with Beardsley Reynolds Design Associates, Malone. He joined Beardsley Design Associates, Architecture, Engineering and Landscape Architecture in 2000 and has since led colleagues to award-winning

Got business milestones? n Share your business milestones with NNY Business. Email news releases and photos (.jpg/300 dpi) to editor Ken Eysaman at keysaman@wdt.net. The deadline for submissions is the 10th of the month for the following month’s issue. Photos that don’t appear in print may be posted on our Facebook page. designs and assists the board of directors in leading the firm.

He presently leads Beardsley’s efforts, in association with Saratoga Associates, Landscape Architects, Architects, Engineers and Planners, to provide master planning services to St. Lawrence McMullen University, Canton.

Ms. McMullen, a LEED accredited professional, Beardsley Design in 2010 as an intern architect and has provided architectural design services for Cornell University, the University of Rochester, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Fort Drum and Fort Lee, Va. Visit www.beardsley.com to learn more.

Habitat names director

William R. Davis Jr., Watertown, has been named the first executive director of the Thousand Islands Area Habitat for Humanity.

Beginning his position July 1, Mr. Davis oversees agency operations and takes charge of public outreach in an effort to engage more corporate spon-

Please see People, page 43

July 2012 | NNY Business

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NNY

Economic indicators Average per-gallon milk price paid to N.Y. dairy farmers May ’12 $1.56 April ’12 $1.55 May ’11 $1.90

17.9%

ECON SNAPSHOT

Vehicles crossing the Thousand Islands, OgdensburgPrescott and Seaway International (Massena) bridges

Source: NYS Department of Agriculture

452,320 in May 2012 406,364 in April 2012 457,499 in May 2011

Average NNY price for gallon of regular unleaded gas

Source: T.I. Bridge Authority, Ogdensburg Bridge & Port Authority, Seaway International Bridge Corp.

May ’12 $3.89 April ’12 $4.08 May’11 $4.02

U.S.-Canadian dollar exchange rate (Canadian dollars per U.S. dollar)

3.2%

Average NNY price for gallon of home heating oil

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(Percent gains and losses are over 12 months)

May ’12 $3.87 April ’12 $4.03 May ’11 $3.89

0.5%

1.1%

$1.03 on May 25, 2012 $0.98 on April 27, 2012 $0.97 on May 27, 2011

6.2%

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of N.Y.

Average NNY price for gallon of residential propane

Nonagriculture jobs in the Jefferson-Lewis-St. Lawrence counties area, not including military positions

May ’12 $3.24 April ’12 $3.48 May ’11 $3.26

92,200 in May 2012 90,000 in April 2012 91,800 in May 2011

0.6%

0.4%

Source: NYS Energy Research and Development Authority

Source: NYS Department of Labor

Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors single-family home sales

St. Lawrence Board of Realtors single-family home sales

106, median price $143,750 in May 2012 86, median price $132,000 in April 2012 88, median price $132,750 in May 2011

60, median price $70,750 in May 2012 35, median price $78,000 in April 2012 53, median price $72,100 in May 2011

20.5% Sales

8.3% Price

Source: Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors Inc.

13.2%

1.9%

Sales

Price

Source: St. Lawrence Board of Realtors Inc.

NNY unemployment rates

Jefferson County May 12

9.6%

April 12

May 11

10.0% 9.1%

St. Lawrence County

May 12

10.4% 10.1%

April 12

May 11

10.0%

Lewis County May 12

9.9%

April 12

10.2%

May 11

9.1%

Source: New York State Department of Labor (Not seasonally adjusted) Note: Due to updates in some “Econ. Snapshot” categories, numbers may differ from previously published prior month and year figures.

NNY Business | July 2012

NNY

Economic indicators New automobiles (cars and trucks) registered in Jefferson County Cars 474 in May 2012 454 in April 2012 344 in May 2011

37.8%

Trucks 78 in May 2012 90 in April 2012 51 in May 2011

52.9%

Source: Jefferson County Clerk’s Office

Passengers at Watertown International Airport

Open welfare cases in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties

2,451 in-bound and out-bound in May 2012 1,977 in-bound and out-bound in April 2012 397 in-bound and out-bound in May 2011

1,936 in May 2012 1,906 in April 2012 2,044 in May 2011

5.3%

517% Source: Jefferson County Board of Legislators

DBA (doing business under an assumed name) certificates filed at the Jefferson County Clerk’s office in June.

For a complete list of DBAs filed in past months, visit us on the Web at www.nnybizmag.com.

June 29: Watertown Lock and Key/Watertown Lock/North Country Locksmith, 129 Franklin St., Watertown, Joshua A. Winekoff, 129 Franklin St., Watertown.

Schroeder’s Construction, 26712 Route 342, P.O. Box 232 Calcium, Randall L. Schroeder, 26712 Route 342, Calcium.

June 7: Roberts Family Concession, 1515 Columbia St., Watertown, Franklin G. Roberts, 1515 Columbia St., Watertown.

NNY Bail Bond Agency, 119 Sherman St., Suite 3, Watertown, Jarrod Carl Randall, 415 Pawling St., Watertown.

June 28: @ Home Ideas/Riversports Versatility, 44061 Route 37, Redwood, and Danielle L. Thomas, 44061 State Route 37.

Vault Security and Lock Consulting, 2517 Alexandra Meadows, Watertown, Christopher Wells, 2517 Alexandra Meadows, P.O. Box 30, Watertown.

June 27: J M Billiards, 562 State St., Watertown, James Mann, 312 Gale St., Watertown.

June 6: Seegars Service and Repair VW, 23629 State Route 37, Watertown, Bryant C. Seegars, P.O. Box 421, Calcium.

Teejays Bar and Club, 1309 State St., Watertown, Trevor Compeau, 1212 Boyd St., Watertown, and John Keruskie Jr., Watertown.

Shirthole Just for Shirts and Giggles, 8 James St., Alexandria Bay, Marion Sturges Wilce, James O’Neill, 228 Brookfield Road, Syracuse.

June 26: REF Marketing, 19177 Route 11, Watertown, Richard Foster, 104 S. Hamilton St., Watertown.

Haylee’s ABC FAmily Day Care, 224 Palmer St., Apartment 406, Watertown, Maria Menendez, 224 Palmer St., Apartment 406, Watertown.

June 25: Brittany N. Burt, 720 Washington St., Watertown, Brittany N. Burt, 325 Vanduzee St., Watertown.

Rodriguez Custom Productions, 1213-7 Faichney Drive, Watertown, Heidy A. Rodriguez, 1213-7 Faichney Drive, Watertown.

Small Business Services, 108 Washington St., Watertown, Angelo A. Guarino III, 428 Prospect St., Watertown.

June 22: SUP Sackets Harbor, 110 Dodge Ave., Sackets Harbor, Justin and Jamie McGiver, 110 Dodge Ave., Sackets Harbor.

June 21: Monique’s Closet, 224 Winslow St., Watertown, Monique Renee Medsger, 224 Winslow St., Watertown.

June 20: Castleview Consulting, 49 Walton St., Alexandria Bay, Donna S. and W. Scott Macpherson III, 49 Walton St., Alexandria Bay.

Ave Marie Gluten Free by Meghan D, 17890 Reed Point Road, Fishers Landing, Meghan Parker/Meghan Dillenbeck, P.O. Box 102, Fishers Landing.

June 5: Punishers North LEMC, 224 Winslow St., Watertown, Christopher M. Medsger, 224 Winslow St., Watertown.

Lilly Pad, 24485 County Route 53, Watertown, Renee Garrett, 24485 County Route 53, Watertown.

Camp Cody, 128 S. Massey St., Watertown, Neil Freeman, 19572 Staplin Road, Black River.

June 19: St. Lawrence Suds, 411 Merrick St., Clayton, Lynnette Jo Duford, 411 Merrick St., Clayton.

Exford & Exford Tax, 165 Mechanic St., Watertown, Shannon M. Exford, 217 Harewood Ave., Watertown.

Medical Rev, 15993 County Route 76, Adams Center, Kimberly Welch, 15993 County Route 76, Adams Center.

Down & Dirty, 165 Mechanic St., Watertown, Shannon M. Exford, 217 Harewood Ave., Watertown.

June 18: SBVOSB Solutions, 3 85 MTN IN/WTB, Fort Drum, David S. Rapaport, 3 85 MTN IN/WTB, Fort Drum.

Fanciful Faces, 26026 Military Road, Watertown, Tammy L. Stoudt, 26026 Military Road, Watertown.

June 13: Around Jefferson County Locksmith Service, 15157 School St., Depauville, Larry Alan Jensen Sr., 15157 School St., Depauville.

June 4: Harvey Wallbangers, 113 Main St., Antwerp, Kenneth Cummings, 35033 Eddy Road, Lot 60, Theresa.

North Country Yard Cards, 425 Bugbee Drive, Watertown, Beth A. Bodah, 425 Bugbee Drive, Watertown.

Woodruff Builders, 301 W. Kirby St., Dexter, Joshua Woodruff, 301 W. Kirby St., P.O. Box 426, Dexter.

City Wide Delivery, 212 Main St., Antwerp, Robert J. and David L. Bartleson, 212 Main St., Antwerp.

Scott Savage Construction, 222 Commercial St., Theresa, Scott W. Savage, Muskulunge Lake, P.O. Box 677, Theresa.

June 12: Sarges Crepes, 114 Lilac Park Drive, Mannsville, Sherry A. Landry, 114 Lilac Park Drive, Mannsville.

June 1: Joan’s Attic, 300 Coffeen St., Watertown, Joan L. Ostrander, 29853 County Route 22, P.O. Box 4, Theresa.

June 11: Disco’s Ducklings Daycare, 30581 Rockbrook Estates, Evans Mills, Heather L. Disco, 30581 Rockbrook Estates, Evans Mills.

Aleph Tav Productions, 307 S. Rutland St., Watertown, Jennifer Davis, 307 S. Rutland St., Watertown.

June 8: Creatively Recycled, 32845 Holmes Road, Theresa, Kim Neal, 32845 Holmes Road, Theresa.

Acts of Faith, 94119 Sycamore Drive, Fort Drum, Taleisha Lacroix, 94119 Sycamore Drive, Fort Drum.

Bonnie Marra Case Management Consultant, 152 Palmer St., Watertown, Bonnie Marra, P.O. Box 195, Evans Mills.

Blue Dog Lane, 19188 Woodard Road, Watertown, Amy Jo FU\unk, 19188 Woodard Road, Watertown.

transactions

DBAs

Source: Social Service Depts. of Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties

July 2012 | NNY Business

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BUSIN E SS B R I E F C A S E Marra’s celebrates 25th anniversary

From left, Marlinda LaValley, CPH vice president for administrative services; Sandra Rahn, Center for Cancer Care patient navigator; Dan Maguire, Kinney Drugs store manager; Beth Carey, RPh., Kinney Drugs supervising pharmacist; Ed Kahrs, Kinney Drugs store manager and Mark Brackett, RPh., Kinney Drugs Foundation board president.

Kinney Drugs Foundation contributes to CantonPotsdam Hospital

The Kinney Drugs Foundation has pledged $100,000 to Canton-Potsdam Hospital Foundation’s “Constructing Healthier Communities” campaign.

Its gift will help the Hospital offset the costs of the recently completed Center for Cancer Care, the medical office building at 49 Lawrence Avenue in Potsdam, and the construction at the E.J. Noble Building in Canton.

“These projects ensure that all in our community have access to primary care, specialty care and cancer care, close to home,” said Mark Brackett, Kinney Drugs Foundation board president.

Visit www.kinneydrugs.com to learn more about Kinney Drugs. Visit www. cphospital.org/givingabout to learn more about Canton-Potsdam Hospital’s “Constructing Healthier Communities” campaign.

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NNY Business | July 2012

Marra’s Homecare, 21087 State Highway 12F, Watertown, is celebrating 25 years in business.

Marra’s opened in June 1987 and was founded on the premise to provide quality products and service to those in need.

The business specializes in the sales, service and rental of medical supplies including CPAPs and BiPAPs, oxygen, wheelchairs and hospital bed.

Receives Xerox award

North Country Digital Solutions Inc., Alexandria Bay, a certified Xerox sales agent, was awarded a six-day trip to Rome, Italy, by Xerox for achieving 142 percent of their annual plan in 2011.

Dan McAloon owns the company, which competed with more than 50 other similar-sized agencies across the country.

North Country Digital Solutions was named No. 1 in the Northeast and No. 3 in the country.

North Country Digital Solutions was incorporated in 2007 and annual sales have grown from $850,000 to $1.4 million in 2011.

Sam’s Club adding new departments

The Sam’s Club at 1283 Arsenal St., Watertown, is adding bakery and photo departments, as well as expanding its deli to offer takeout dinners.

Upgrades to the facility will add 19 jobs. Along with new food and services, the store will also get new shelving, renovated bathrooms and new exterior paint.

Cold Stone Creamery open for business

Cold Stone Creamery, a national ice cream chain, has opened at 1222 Arsenal St., Watertown, next to CiCi’s Pizza.

The 1,800-square-foot store was launched by Kirk S. Gilchrist, pastor of New Life Christian Church, and coowners Christopher Hopper and Randy Lyons. The store has 25 full- and part-time employees and features more than 30 flavors of ice cream that can be mixed with ingredients on a cold stone slab.

Cold Stone is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Watertown Locksmith opens with 24-hour service Watertown Locksmith, owned by Joshua Winekoff, recently opened at 129 Franklin St. The business provides professional scheduled and emergency locksmith services for automotive, residential, commercial and industrial locksmith needs 24 hours a day. Mr. Winekoff is a Michigan native with more than 10 years of professional locksmith experience. The storefront is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. MondayFriday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

Visit www.watertownlock.com or call 489-9795 to learn more.

New bed and breakfast opens in Clayton

Shari Scott has opened a bed and breakfast in a separate rear suite in her home at 545 John St., Clayton.

Garden Angels Bed & Breakfast is

Got business news?

n Share your business news with NNY Business. Email news releases and photos (.jpg/300 dpi) to nnybusiness@wdt.net. The deadline for submissions is the 15th of the month for the following month’s issue. Photos that don’t appear in print may be posted on our Facebook page.

approximately 500 square feet and includes a newly renovated bedroom with king-size bed, full bathroom and sitting room with a separate entrance and access to a private backyard with perennial gardens. Continental breakfast is served daily and the suite includes wireless Internet and cable television.

Visit www.gardenan gelshari.com, email gardenangelshari@yahoo.com or call 778-6762 to learn more.

Mirror Lake Inn earns AAA Four Diamond award

For the 28th consecutive year, Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa, Lake Placid, has received the AAA Four Diamond Award.

The resort is the longest running, continuous AAA Four Diamond property in New York, outside of New York City.

Honored with New York broadcasters award

WWNY-TV has been honored with a New York State Broadcasters Association award for excellence in broadcasting, an annual contest recognizing outstanding achievement among New York’s radio and television stations.

WWNY-TV was judged to have the most “Outstanding Public Service Announcement/Campaign” for a spot featuring the Victim’s Assistance Center titled “Domestic Violence Testimony.”

Indoor garden store opens in Watertown

Thomas S. and Kelly T. Mason have opened North Country Hydroponics in the Price Chopper Plaza, 1283 Arsenal St., Watertown.

The indoor garden store offers planting systems to grow plants hydroponically.

The store is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Call 221-4129 or visit www.northcountryhydroponics.com to learn more.

July 2012 | NNY Business

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> BUILD BETTER

north country As developers

TEXT

14 |

NNY Business | July 2012

ING FOR A TOMORROW

poised for prosperity address housing NEEd

BY KYLE R. HAYES | PHOTOS BY JUSTIN SORENSEN & AMANDA MORRISON

An aerial view of Norstar Development USA’s Creek Wood apartments between Mill Street and Plaza Drive, Watertown.

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS

July 2012 | NNY Business

| 15

c o ver s t o r y Site preparation is under way at the Beaver Meadows apartments construction site behind Towne Center Plaza, Watertown

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS

16 |

NNY Business | July 2012

L

eRay town Supervisor Ronald C. Taylor speaks the truth.

In the town of LeRay, and throughout much of Jefferson County, there’s no slowing down in terms of residential and commercial development. In the past 20 years, LeRay has gone from a small town outside of Fort Drum to an epicenter for living, shopping, dining and entertainment.

“Well, there’s no going back now. The only way to go is forward,” Mr. Taylor said.

The question now is: Is it enough?

If you ask local developers, economic development entities and their partnering organizations, the answer is no. Not only in LeRay, but throughout the north country.

“In May, we determined the housing vacancy outside of Fort Drum was still below 1 percent,” said Carl A. McLaughlin, executive director of the Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization. “It hasn’t moved much. I think it was around 0.7 percent availability for rental housing.

That is with virtually all of the soldiers home, plus we are down about 1,000 soldiers from January first.”

c o ver s t o r y The target vacancy rate for a healthy market is between 5 and 7 percent. What’s tough in determining what the needs of the market is that the population is in a constant state of flux.

“September is what will really give us a good benchmark,” Mr. McLaughlin said.

“In September, before the kids go back to school, is when the Army likes to do all of their moving around. We will know more about our situation in September. But for now, it’s tight. It’s a very tight market.”

Mr. McLaughlin lauded developers such as COR Development, Morgan Development, Norstar Development USA and Clover Construction for their plans of adding more than 1,000 rental units to the market, but he notes that it’s the availability that’s important.

“With those existing projects in the works, plus a project in Sackets Harbor, another in the works on Route 37 and on Route 3, all of those will alleviate the problem,” Mr. McLaughlin said. “But until then, until they’re finished, we’ll continue to see a gap between demand and supply.”

In both Mr. McLaughlin’s and Mr. Taylor’s minds, the relationship between real estate development and filling the housing void is directly correlated to economic development in the area.

In 2011, Fort Drum had an estimated economic impact of more than $1.6 billion, the largest since the 2008 fiscal year.

The economic impact study was based on Fort Drum employing 19,987 soldiers and 4,614 civilian workers. Payroll in the 2011 fiscal year was $1,012,895,645 for soldiers and $204,183,368 for Fort Drumemployed civilians.

“From my perspective, we have gone a long way in terms of meeting the needs of soldiers,” Mr. McLaughlin said. “Do I think there is potential? I sure do. We not only have to be attractive to soldiers, we want to be much more attractive to companies looking to come here.”

Mr McLaughlin said that the population of Fort Drum changes drastically in two- to three-year periods. However, companies want to know that their employees’ needs will always be met for their business to be successful.

“Companies that are looking to open here want to see that there is a full set of services here,” Mr. McLaughlin said.

“They want to make sure they have a reason to come here, bring business here and

be successful here. But I do think there is some opportunity to improve that.”

Specifically, in terms of commercial op-

“

If you’re looking at the spin-off jobs created by bringing housing to (the) area, that’s where the real impact is. We’re creating employment opportunities.

— Gary J. Clunie, COO, Clover Construction Management Inc.

portunities, Mr. McLaughlin sees a niche of services catered toward single soldiers that isn’t being met.

“You’ve got almost 8,500 junior enlisted and non-commissioned officers who are single soldiers and live, mainly, in the barracks on post. I think that market needs attention. Having more youthful,

entertainment opportunities is definitely something worthwhile.”

Several developers have entered the Jefferson County market with hopes of both commercial and real estate development.

Helping to fill the void in housing as well as grow the retail and commercial sector is a major temptation for the developers who find appropriate funding to do both.

One of them is COR Development Co., Fayetteville.

In early June 2004, COR Development Co. announced plans to build three big box retail stores in what would become Watertown’s Towne Center Plaza.

In the eight years since, COR has brought businesses such as Target, Kohl’s, Panera Breads, Bed, Bath and Beyond, PetCo and ULTA Beauty into the Watertown retail market. In July 2011, COR presented a site plan to the Watertown Planning Board for its newest residential development, called Beaver Meadows Apartments.

“We were approached by local development entities that knew we owned the property and they asked if we’d be interested in developing residential to

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c o ver s t o r y the housing gap: A timeline OF PROGRESS June 2012

n Lawler Realty LLC given tentative OK from Sackets Harbor village Planning Board to build 90-unit apartment complex based in Madison Barracks, Sackets Harbor. Approval comes with the condition that Lawler submit a $350,000 subdivision bond guaranteeing the replacement of second phase Madison Barracks’ water line. n Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency gives final approval for 10-year PILOT agreement for Morgan Management’s 394-unit apartment complex on County Route 202 in Watertown. n North Country Regional Economic Development Council announces more than $3 million in state funds to be used for housing rehabilitation and community development projects.

May 2012

n Drum Route 11 LLC, Pittsford, a company managed by Robert C. Morgan, owner of Morgan Management LLC, purchases 22-acre parcel in town of LeRay on Route 11 across from Walmart. The property was purchased for $1.3 million from Prime LLC, Alexandria Bay. Valentine Stores Inc., Watertown, has proposed a Nice n Easy Grocery Shoppes convenience store on a portion of the property.

February 2012

n Study completed by GAR Associates, Amherst, and commissioned by Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization, determines that a deficit of 955 housing units exists in Watertown and the area surrounding Fort Drum.

December 2011

n Ground is broken for Beaver Meadows Apartments, a 296-unit project being built by COR Development Co., Fayetteville, behind Target in Watertown’s Towne Center Plaza.

July 2011

n Plans are unveiled for plans to build up to 300 apartments behind Target in Towne Center Plaza, Route 3, Watertown, by COR Development, Fayetteville.

April 2011

n Lt. Gov. Robert J. Duffy announces nearly $14 million in state funding and federal tax credits for the Creek Wood Apartments complex being developed by Norstar Development USA off Watertown’s Mill Street. The project employs approximately 80 construction workers. n Robert J. Havens III announces $1 million conversion of commercial space on Watertown’s State Street into high-end apartment units.

March 2009

n The Timbers on Fort Drums opens to single senior enlisted soldiers and junior grade officers.

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Apartments from the first phase of building for Eagle Ridge Village in Evans Mills. Residents move in just as quickly

help with the lack of housing in the area,” Steven F. Aiello, president of COR, said.

The Beaver Meadows project was eventually given the greenlight and COR is now building the 296 unit, $38 million project behind Target.

Looking toward the Beaver Meadows development from the Target plaza, it doesn’t look like much, a few pieces of equipment and a construction trailer.

Walking a few hundred feet inside the security gate and the scope of the project takes shape. Over a graduated decline, a flurry of construction vehicles are digging spaces for footers and leveling pads for what will be the majority of Beaver Meadows housing.

“This site is spectacular, it really is. We will do really well here,” Mr. Aiello said.

According to Mr. Aiello and COR partner and Lan-co Companies Inc. President Paul Joynt, who is overseeing the work done on-site, 283,000 yards of dirt had to be moved from the site for building to begin.

That dirt was moved in less than six weeks.

“We are committed to this market and we see a lot of growth and potential here,” Mr. Aiello said. “We originally came here because we were told by Kohl’s that they wanted to enter this market. We built for them and the rest followed.”

Mr. Aiello estimates that COR has produced more than 1,000 jobs in the area and has invested more than $80 million. He said that there is one more 50,000-squarefoot pad available for retail development on COR property to the west of Target.

“The biggest challenge [between com-

mercial and residential development] is that with commercial you’re looking at 50 different tenants with various needs,” Mr. Aiello said. “But with residential, you’re looking at hundreds of people, dozens of families, all with their own unique needs that they want met.”

Mr. Aiello said that the first units for Beaver Meadows will be available in the fall, with new buildings being completed, and subsequently opened, over the next two years.

Clover Construction Management Inc., a firm based in the Buffalo suburb of Williamsville, is also no stranger to the north country, having spent the majority of the past five years consistently building, or planning, housing in the LeRay area.

In 2007, Clover Construction introduced the first plans for the Eagle Ridge Village project. Five years later, construction is entering phase five, which is the construction of approximately 80 more townhouses to the village. The overall project along Route 342 in the town of LeRay encompasses more than 600 townhouses that have up to four bedrooms.

In May, Clover announced plans to drop commercial space from the plans for phase five, opting for more residential space instead.

“Having commercial property to solicit was definitely an interest for us,” Clover’s Chief Operating Officer Gary J. Clunie said. “We had originally introduced space along Route 342 and talked with local businesses like banks, pizza parlors, even a Subway restaurant. They all expressed

c o ver s t o r y the housing gap: A timeline OF PROGRESS November 2008

n Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization releases data citing 468 housing units certified for occupancy in Jefferson County since Jan. 1, 2008. The 468 is 76 more than were certified in 2007, one fewer than in 2006 and 16 more than in 2005.

July 2008

n Report by GAR Associates, Amherst, predicts that the need for 1,238 additional housing units would be needed by 2013 if the number of family members staying in the region were to match the national average.

June 2008

as Clover can finish building them.

interest, but we never got any further than a few phone calls.”

Mr. Clunie said that there are more than enough commercial development opportunities in the area surrounding Eagle Ridge.

“If you have 650 families living in one area, you’re going to need pizza and food and recreation,” Mr. Clunie said. “If you put a pizza place around Eagle Ridge, you’re never going to stop making pizzas.”

Clover Construction first entered the Jefferson County market outside of Fort Drum in response to Army solicitation for housing. Mr. Clunie said that Clover looked into the project, found land that was leftover from a previous expansion of Fort Drum and several other communities, but saw the advantage of being right outside of the base’s gate.

“Looking back, it was a pretty high-risk decision to jump into the Army housing market,” Mr. Clunie said. “If the Army changed its mind or made a major change, there’s not much of an exit plan. We would be stuck with 600 plus empty units.”

Mr. Clunie said that the opportunity for commercial development throughout the north country, not just around Eagle Ridge, is endless.

“There will always be a need and there will be someone who can service and meet those needs and make money off of it,” he said. “I saw that in my work at Fort Bragg, N.C. There are just so many opportunities for businesses outside of housing.”

In terms of job production, Mr. Clunie said that more than 100 construction

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS

workers have been employed year-round throughout the duration of the Eagle Ridge project. Permanent jobs, in areas like maintenance and property management, is approximately 20.

“If you’re looking at the spin-off jobs created by us bringing housing to that area, that’s where the real impact is,” he said. “We’re not only creating housing, we’re creating employment opportunities for other people. I’m sure there’s a formula for it, but we are hiring local people for maintenance and things. Sure, they’re not executive-level jobs, but they’re jobs that will be there for a long, long time.”

Mr. Clunie hints that Clover Construction may not be done developing when phase five of Eagle Ridge is complete.

“We are definitely looking at property adjacent to where we are now, that backs into the area of Walmart,” Mr. Clunie said.

“There is a developer that did some work on a parcel on paper but no one has been able to do anything with it.”

The town of LeRay is presently building an approximately mile-long road, called Taylor Road, that connects Eagle Ridge Village to the intersection of Walmart off Route 11. Along with the road, upgrades to the well system and adding a waterline along the road are in the works, thus paving the way for more residential or commercial development, said Mr. Taylor.

Mr. Clunie agreed.

“Having that connection will certainly open up more opportunities. We are just waiting and hoping the Army will call us and say that we’ve done a good job

n Thirty townhouses built over boathouses, called Harbor Villas, in Alexandria Bay, are completed. The townhouses are part of the Inlet Harbor Club project, led by developer Richard A. Merola.

May 2008:

n Watertown City Planning Board gets first look at 200-unit housing complex called Creek Wood, proposed along Route 11. The housing complex is being developed by Norstar Development USA, Buffalo.

January 2008

n First families move into Eagle Ridge Village, Route 342, LeRay.

July 2007

n Norstar Development USA, Buffalo, begins accepting tenants at the 91-unit Starwood Apartments on Watertown’s Starbuck Avenue. n Ground broken at Summit Woods, a 200unit apartment complex off Watertown’s outer Washington Street. The project cost $25 million and was built by Norstar Development USA. n Army announces $30 million on-post housing project on Fort Drum to build the Timbers, a 192-unit apartment complex on about a dozen acres available to single non-commissioned officers and officers.

March 2007

n Clover Construction Management, Williamsville, begins construction on the first 218 apartments of the 648-unit Eagle Ridge Village townhouse project on Route 342 in LeRay. n DiMarco Group is given green light from Carthage village Planning Board to build a 40-apartment complex along Emjay Way. DiMarco constructed 40 garden apartments on a property adjacent to 126 apartments the group built in the late 1980s.

September 2006

n First families begin moving into Crescent Woods development on Fort Drum. The July 2012 | NNY Business

| 19

c o ver s t o r y the housing gap: A timeline OF PROGRESS development is part of the mission to build 845 homes for soldiers by Fort Drum Mountain Community Homes.

October 2006

n Norstar Development USA reveals plans to build 200-unit apartment complex off Washington Street, Watertown. The project straddles the city/ town border with a mix of town and city utilities.

October 2005

n DC Building Systems Inc., Watertown, builds a 5,000-square-foot retail/office building on outer Arsenal Street across from Jefferson-Lewis Board of Cooperative Educational Services campus.

May 2005

n Fort Drum Mountain Community Homes LLC, a partnership between the Army and Actus Lend Lease, Napa, Calif., breaks ground for construction of 845 homes on post for soldiers and their families, costing $302 million over four years.

March 2005

n Watertown Town Planning Board grants siteplan approval to Universal Realty and Development Inc., Miami, to build a 13,900-square-foot retail center at the site of Ann’s Restaurant on Arsenal Street.

January 2005

n Construction begins on COR Development Co.’s $21 million 426,000-square-foot retail complex.

August 2004

n COR Development Co., Fayetteville, submits plans to Watertown Town Planning Board for multistore shopping complex, to be named Towne Center Plaza, on Route 3. Stores would equal 400,000 square feet of retail space.

December 2004

n Watertown City Council approves move to allow the City of Watertown to take ownership of the abandoned Cloverdale apartment complex, located off Starbuck Avenue in the city. The city proposed demolishing the structure to make way for future housing development on the site.

January 2004

n Actus Lend Lease presents plans to build more than 1,500 new homes at Fort Drum as part of the Residential Communities Initiative. The plans, which estimated $329 million in construction costs, include major renovations to 330 homes, seven community centers, costing $1.4 million each, and a $3 million enclosed ice rink. Construction was slated to begin in May 2005.

Tax & FINANCE DIRECTORY

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AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS

Clover Construction employee Roan Bushey installs a garage door in a new maintenance building at Eagle Ridge Village, Evans Mills.

and they’re happy with us and will want us to come back and do more. At that point we’ll give it a more serious thought.”

Mr. Taylor said that there is plenty of space and opportunity for future economic development, whether commercially or residentially.

“We are working with a California-based developer that is looking to build housing in the area of Taylor Road, somewhere between 100 and 300 units they’re talking about,” he said. “We’ve also got Michael Lundy [CEO of Lunco Corp.] who is proposing an eight-lot subdivision on Route 11 for commercial development.”

Michelle L. Capone, the director of regional development for Development Authority of the North Country, stressed that the opportunity for local business developers is certainly there.

“Our major focus, along with the North Country Alliance, is providing gap funding that fills the gap between traditional lenders and a client’s need, and we largely focus on local, oftentimes small, businesses,” she said. “The larger residential and commercial developers come in with their own funding lined up.”

Ms. Capone said that several national chain franchises that people see popping up throughout the north country, such as the recently opened Cold Stone Creamery and Chipotle Mexican Grill, are owned by

c o ver s t o r y local businesspeople.

“Franchises are an opportunity for someone locally to start their own recognizable business with funding from local banks and from organizations like DANC,” she said. “We have definitely seen an increase in the number of people that have come to us, and to the North Country Alliance, for that gap funding.”

Two other major apartment developments coming online are Creek Wood Apartments, between Mill Street and Plaza Drive, and Morgan Management’s

394-unit apartment complex along Watertown’s Route 202, which connects Arsenal and Coffeen streets.

Creek Wood’s complex will consist of 13 buildings with 96 total apartments, a clubhouse, laundry facility, exercise room and office space. The $20 million project includes 72 rent-capped affordable housing units and 24 market-rate units.

According to Samuel J. Finlay, vice president of construction for Norstar Development, the company developing Creek Wood, the first phase of construc-

tion will be done by November.

The Morgan Management complex has begun site preparation and received a 10-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement approved by the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency, Jefferson County Board of Legislators, Watertown Town Council and Watertown City School District Board of Education in the beginning of June. n KYLE R. HAYES is associate magazine editor for NNY Business. Contact him at khayes@wdt. net or 661-2381.

July 2012 | NNY Business

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c o ver s t o r y

Site developer collaborates with BOCES students n Partnership may

lead to internships

By Kyle R. Hayes

C

Associate Editor

OR Development’s Beaver Meadows residential complex has not only provided new opportunities in Watertown for the Syracuse-based company, but for local students as well.

As COR was moving more than 283,000 cubic yards of dirt from the site for Beaver Meadows, located behind Target and Watertown’s Towne Center Plaza, a new collaboration arose.

“We were moving all of this dirt, and not far away was the BOCES school and their site where they teach heavy equipment operation,” said Paul Joynt, a partner for COR and president of Lan-co Companies, Syracuse, a site construction

“

COR has been gracious with all of the opportunities they have provided thus far.

— Jack J. “Jay” Boak, district superintendent, Jefferson-Lewis BOCES firm. “They had a 12- to 18-foot dropoff that made some of that land hard to use.

We gave them some of our soil and fill and graded it for them.”

The Jefferson-Lewis Board of Cooperative Educational Services’ Charles H. Bohlen Jr. Technical Center, just west of the COR site, was using the land behind the school to train students to operate dump trucks, cranes, bulldozers and other machinery in its heavy equipment program. The close proximity of the work site and the technical school opened a door to an ongoing relationship between the COR and BOCES. “We try to do things like this often, where we get our students to collabo-

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c o ver s t o r y rate with folks who are proficient in the trade and have the skills to train our students on equipment they might not have right here on campus,” said Jack J. “Jay” Boak Jr., district superintendent for Jefferson-Lewis BOCES. “Our equipment is limited due to cost, but folks like COR have the latest equipment, so it’s an opportunity for not only our students, but our staff, too.”

Mr. Boak said that the benefit of the partnership between BOCES and COR goes both ways.

“COR was able to use our land to move the earth onto, which would have been costly to move elsewhere, and it ended up being materials we could use for our programming,” he said.

The partnership between the two organizations isn’t over. Mr. Boak and Mr. Joynt both noted that they are working to offer internships for students on-site at Beaver Meadows.

“We have had initial discussions to offer student internships but haven’t finalized the details of it yet,” Mr. Boak said. “COR

has been gracious with all of the opportunities they have provided thus far.”

According to Mr. Joynt, the opportunities from Lan-co and COR won’t stop there.

“As we continue with the site preparation and when construction really takes off, we should be able to offer some of those students jobs here on site as general laborers so they can get a feel for what working on a project like this is all about,” Mr. Joynt said. n KYLE R. HAYES is associate magazine editor for NNY Business. Contact him at khayes@wdt. net or 661-2381.

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W O R K F O R C E E D U C AT ION

Constructing a ‘model’ home Program offers students real world, hands-on experience

By Gabrielle Hovendon

B

NNY Business

ehind the Charles H. Bohlen Jr. Technical Center on Route 3 in Watertown, a new house awaits a buyer. With its five rooms, energy-efficient windows and glass-paned front door, it resembles any other modular home, but this particular structure is actually part of an annual effort to give high school students realworld experience in trades.

Each year, the building trades classes at the Jefferson-Lewis-Hamilton-HerkimerOneida Board of Cooperative Educational Services construct two modular homes, one at the Charles H. Bohlen Jr. Technical Center and one at the Howard G. Sackett Technical Center in Glenfield. Depending on their program of study, the students learn and apply skills in carpentry, electrical wiring, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, receiving valuable training in their future fields.

“We were looking for a way to provide students with a hands-on experience,” said Jack J. “Jay” Boak Jr., district superintendent of the Jefferson-Lewis Board of Cooperative Educational Services. “It really is an opportunity for students to put into practice what they learn in the classroom.

Those subjects make a lot more sense to them when they go out and put those mathematical concepts to work in figuring the pitch of a roof or the slope of a drain.”

When the students arrive at BOCES in September, they immediately begin classroom lessons in workplace safety and power tool operation. By October, they head outside to begin building the frame, installing wiring and adding plumbing.

The houses, which measure 28 feet by 52 feet, include a living room, kitchen, dining area and three bedrooms as well as insulated side walls and ceilings, fire and smoke alarms, a fire-rated exterior door and a state-of-the-art PEX plumbing system. From the floor to the ceiling, every element of the house is built and installed by the students, mainly high school juniors and seniors, over the course of the academic year.

Although the houses are not completely finished, all that remains for future home-

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NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS

Jefferson-Lewis Board of Cooperative Educational Services carpentry instructor Leo F. Paige stands next to the modular house constructed by students during the past school year.

owners is to customize them by painting walls, installing flooring and adding fixtures, furniture and siding.

“People tend to do some different things with the exterior,” said BOCES Director of Finance Barbara O. Greene. In years past, she has seen homeowners do everything from adding decks and pools to building houses into hillsides. “If I didn’t know it was one of ours, I wouldn’t recognize it.”

And that’s a key part of the project – not being able to recognize that the finished product was built by largely inexperienced student workers.

To facilitate this sleight-of-hand, BOCES teachers supervise the students closely, discussing workplace safety, employer expectations and effective communication along the way. In addition to learning how to wire a house or hang drywall, students learn transferable job skills such as orienting themselves to a real workspace, adapting to poor weather conditions and understanding that each aspect of a project affects the other parts.

“They take away skills, whether they end up working in the construction field or not, that will serve them well,” said Leo F. Paige, a carpentry instructor at the Bohlen Technical Center. “It’s a really good project. The students get to experience every phase of the project, from start

to finish, on a full scale.”

In the Jefferson-Lewis BOCES system, the practice of having students build modular homes has been around since the 1970s. It’s a fairly common project: St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES students build modular or on-site homes at technical centers in Ogdensburg, Gouverneur and Norwood, for example.

It’s also a rewarding process. When the houses are finished, they are sold in a sealed bidding process with a minimum bid — $38,000 and $42,950 for the two Jefferson-Lewis houses this year — that will cover the cost of next year’s building materials.

Depending on the year and the housing market, some student homes sell very quickly and others linger on the lot. In the end, although the novice builders sometimes experience a few bumps along the way, their houses always pass county code inspections and wind up in the hands of a homeowner.

“There have been times when we have had to redo things that didn’t come out exactly right, but sometimes you learn by making mistakes,” Mr. Boak said. n GABRIELLE HOVENDON is a former Watertown Daily Times reporter and freelance writer who lives in Watertown. Contact her at ghovendon@gmail.com.

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS

Abobe, an image of the main staircase as it was found prior to restoration is held in comparison to the completed staircase being admired by visitors to the castle. Below, the exterior of Boldt Castle.

RESTORING A DREAM For local firms, Boldt Castle continues to inspire, challenge

By Gabrielle Hovendon

I

NNY Business

t was 1977, and the picture was bleak.

Boldt Castle had just been given to the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority by the Edward John Noble foundation, which had itself purchased the property from millionaire George C. Boldt’s children. New York State had already declined the property, saying it would be too much work to repair and maintain, and the castle had been sitting empty and unfinished ever since being abandoned after the death of George Boldt’s wife in 1904. Vandals had defaced much of the interior with graffiti, and the original stone structures were crumbling or gutted by fire.

Fast-forward to the present day. In the 35 years since it changed hands, Boldt Castle has attracted more than 6 million visitors and become a popular site for weddings, school groups and special events. The outlying structures, including a yacht house, dovecote, gazebo and children’s playhouse, have been re-

stored to George Boldt’s original vision, and many of the rooms inside the castle have been transformed as well.

“It’s been a resounding success,” said Shane K. Sanford,

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H IS T O R I C P R E S E R VAT ION

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS

Visitors stare at and photograph the glass dome above Boldt Castle’s main staircase. The dome was one of the more extensive projects that have been completed in recent years.

director of Boldt facilities, operations and maintenance. “It certainly has had a marked impact on the region’s tourism industry, and it’s been a tremendous asset to the Thousand Islands.”

The business of achieving that success was and continues to be an involved one.

In the case of Boldt Castle, historic renovation and preservation has been going on for more than three decades at the cost of millions of dollars. Experts in everything from masonry and plasterwork to stained glass and steel have been consulted, and countless hours have gone into the unusual task of rehabilitating a structure that was never finished in the first place.

In 1977, one of the first tasks was to decide which parts of the castle would be preserved — maintained in their current condition — and which would be restored or brought back to their condition at a certain point in history. For example, restoration of an original decorative terra cotta detail might involve recasting it or filling in missing chunks; preservation would entail keeping it in its current damaged state and perhaps adding a sealer to

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NNY Business | July 2012

prevent against further deterioration.

“In the case of Boldt Castle, preserving would not necessarily help the economy.

It wouldn’t give a place for tourists to come to visit,” said Edward G. Olley Jr., principal and director of business development at GYMO Architecture, Engineering & Land Surveying. “To preserve is not always economically feasible.”

To help the architects draw lines between restoration and preservation, extensive research was conducted in area libraries and historical societies to determine how the castle would have appeared when it was abandoned in 1904 and how it might have looked if it had been fully completed.

Architects also consulted drawings in the Library of Congress, old photographs and studies of the castle and even the original property manager’s correspondence, found in boxes in the yacht house. At the turn of the century, the Thousand Islands region had been a major destination spot for the nouveau riche of New York, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, so those cities’ newspapers often printed information about projects like Boldt Castle in their society pages.

“You try to get as much information as you can before you step on the site,” said Rick W. Tague, president at Bernier, Carr & Associates. “Postcards are a huge resource, especially for an area like this. …

You would have these wonderful souvenir guides that had pictures of each island, and of course Boldt Castle was a big one.”

After conducting research, workers visited the site and began an inventory of existing conditions and materials on Heart Island. Many items were found scattered throughout Boldt Castle – a door in one crate, its molding in another, and its doorknobs and hinges in a third – but many more still were missing. Experts also conducted meticulous evaluations of the buildings, taking underwater photographs of the powerhouse’s foundations and literally rappelling down the sides of the children’s playhouse to examine every inch for structural deterioration.

When the evaluations were done, the next step was stabilization. The first few years of the castle’s operation were devoted to making the property safe enough to allow continued visitation, as some of the

H IS T O R I C P R E S E R VAT ION structures had deteriorated to such a point that they were public safety hazards. Concessions to tourism also had to be made: Workers rebuilt water and sewage systems, restored and stabilized masonry and added new walkways, sprinkler systems, restrooms and handicapped accessibility.

Among the first big projects to be tackled on Heart Island were the dovecote, the gazebo and the powerhouse on the east end of the island, all of which had once been completed but since fallen into disrepair.

“One thing that I’m most proud of is the restoration of the powerhouse,” said Stephen W. Yaussi, a founding partner of GYMO. “It was a total ruin, just some masonry walls still standing. We had to research and rebuild that. It’s got half a dozen turrets and towers and unique framing. It was a challenge to restore.”

In the late 1990s, work moved to the interior of the castle, where it was not unusual for a single room to cost $200,000.

The level of detail required in historic restoration can be seen in notes on GYMO’s architectural drawings from that time: “Solid brass, lacquered, newel post light fixture as manufactured by Victorian light crafters,” “Remove rust, scale, grease, dirt, and moisture,” “Carefully remove rusting copper base flashing and perimeters.

Salvage existing copper counter flashing.”

“To do the restoration of the ballroom, for example, we would first go in and do a physical inspection of the room and determine what structural work and maintenance and repairs were going to be required,” Mr. Olley said. “It’s an amazing structure; there aren’t those types of craftsmen around much anymore. It’s a lost art.”

In a building like Boldt Castle, the sheer magnitude is daunting. Construction of the original six-story, 120-room castle employed some 300 workers and included tunnels, Italian gardens, a drawbridge and a playhouse with 150 windows of its own. The castle’s main hallway contains 1,100 square feet of marble flooring; the grand staircase is made of 10,000 pounds of Georgia white marble.

Luckily for workers, much of the castle’s construction had been finished by the time it was abandoned in 1904. The powerhouse, dovecote, yacht house and children’s playhouse were all completed; the plumb-

Right, visitors walk through an unrestored room at the castle that houses George Boldt’s blueprints and maps of the area. Below, work continues on the outside of Alster Tower, which has been a reconstruction project at the site for several years.

AMANDA Morrison | NNY BUSINESS

ing, wiring, central heating system and boiler had been installed, and a significant amount of plasterwork and woodwork had been finished.

But that still left a reception room, billiards room, dining room, ballroom, entry arch and countless other spaces. An elevator had been built, but it lacked a passenger cab. Space for a stained glass dome sported iron framework but no glass. The veranda had once been completed but had since fallen in, and the terra cotta balustrades were almost entirely gone.

As Mr. Sanford succinctly put it: “The castle has 348 windows, none of which existed in 1977.”

Over the years, a variety of architectural firms have played a part in the restoration and preservation efforts. Watertownbased Aubertine and Currier Architects,

Engineers and Land Surveyors installed a customized lighting system for the swan pond, for example, while a Baltimorebased firm called Hayles and Howe provided ornamental plasterwork. Bernier, Carr was responsible for more than $6 million in projects between 1989 and 2011, and GYMO, along with the two firms that preceded it (Yaussi & Aceti Architects and Moran & Yaussi Architects), has done approximately $9 million in work since 1978.

Today, Mr. Sanford estimated that efforts in the main castle are about 40 percent complete, while work elsewhere on the island is about 90 percent finished.

Construction has proceeded at a slow pace — one or two half-million dollars each year as funds became available — because it is paid for primarily by admissions, gifts and concessions at the castle.

July 2012 | NNY Business

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H IS T O R I C P R E S E R VAT ION we won’t be running out of the ability to offer the public a new room each year.”

In the end, how many more years of work remain at Boldt Castle?

“How many millions of dollars do you want to donate?” asked Mr. Olley. “To be what it was intended to be, I would guess it would take $50 million.”

But if you ask someone involved with the restoration if it was worth it, they won’t hesitate.

“It has a good story. It’s an important piece of the Thousand Islands,” said Mr. Tague. “To me it’s all interesting, trying to understand the story of the building.” n GABRIELLE HOVENDON is a former Watertown Daily Times reporter and freelance writer who lives in Watertown. Contact her at ghovendon@gmail.com.

Other notable restorations AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS

A contractor chips away a section of the roof on Alster Tower that is in need of repair.

This summer, a two-year project to restore Boldt Castle’s kitchens to functionality is underway. Work also continues on the children’s playhouse, where a steel seawall has been added to keep water

from penetrating the foundation and sweeping away soil.

“We offer our visitors a pretty significant improvement every year,” Mr. Sanford said. “We have so many projects;

n A complete renovation and restoration of Roswell P. Flower Memorial Library, 229 Washington St., Watertown, was completed

by Bernier, Carr & Associates in December 2007. Work was divided between renovation of the 1975 addition, including the children’s section, charge desk, offices and restrooms, and restoration of the original 1904 library with a focus on decorative interior elements such as paintings, murals, marble, stained glass, floors and woodwork. The total construction cost was $1.47 million. n Watertown’s Jefferson County Historic Courthouse underwent $1.49 million in work by Bernier, Carr. Work concluded in March 2008 and involved exterior restoration as well as creative reuse of the interior: adding an elevator, adapting the former courtroom and other spaces for use by county legislators and administrators and introducing up-to-date mechanical, electrical and communications systems. The project was funded in part through a state Environmental Protection Fund Municipal Grant and won Central New York and New York State American Public Works Association awards for Historic Preservation Project of the Year. n A restoration and adaptive reuse of Carthage’s landmark Buckley Building was conducted between 2005 and 2010 by GYMO. In addition to extensive repairs to and stabilization of the collapsing façade, the building was repurposed from its original function as a bank into retail space 14 apartment units. n Built during the War of 1812, the historic Madison Barracks in Sackets Harbor are undergoing an extensive revitalization by Aubertine and Currier. The project’s first phase included the restoration of several historic buildings that will be renovated into a grocery store, fitness center, hotel, health center, pavilion and conference center. The second phase is under way and includes the construction of ten new apartment buildings, and the third phase will involve the development of a recreational waterfront building.

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St. L AW R E N C E C OUN T Y

SeaComm makes national mark

Massena credit union named top in country, best place to work in state

By Bob Beckstead

S

NNY Business

eaComm Federal Credit Union has been named a top credit union in the country, as well as one of the best companies to work for in New York State.

The National Association of Federal Credit Unions named SeaComm the Federal Credit Union of the Year for institutions with $150 million or more in assets.

Pioneer West Virginia Federal Credit Union won for credit unions with less than $150 million in assets.

SeaComm, which is based in Massena and has branches in Potsdam, Canton, Ogdensburg and Malone, serves more than 39,000 members with assets of more than $452 million.

“To be named Credit Union of the Year

by NAFCU is a pretty big honor,” SeaComm CEO and President Scott A. Wilson said, noting there are 7,292 credit unions in the United States.

Nominees are judged based on how well they meet a number of selection criteria, including unusual growth; innovative member service or a credit union that has successfully handled an adverse situation; impact of the action cited in the nomination on the credit union, its members and community; success and adherence to principles of sound financial management.

The credit union also must show a commitment to consumer education, the community and/or service to low- and moderate-income individuals.

SeaComm Credit Union HEADQUARTERS: 30 Stearns St., Massena PHONE: 764-0566 ONLINE: www.seacomm.org

Winners will be recognized before their peers in a special ceremony during NAFCU’s 45th annual conference in Nashville, Tenn.

Mr. Wilson said that, on top of that piece of good news, SeaComm also learned it was named one of the best companies to work for in New York by the New York State Society for Human Resource Management. The credit union was named number nine for small/medium employers of 15 to 249 employees.

“It’s the second year in a row we’ve been named one of the best companies to work for in New York,” he said.

SeaComm was among 50 companies in the state recognized for outstanding achievements in employee engagement.

To be considered for the fifth annual program, companies had to have at least one facility and 15 employees in New York, be a for-profit or nonprofit business or government entity, be a publicly or privately held business, be in business for a minimum of one year and register to participate.

What makes the selection process unique, Mr. Wilson said, is that employees must rate the company.

“You have to participate, but the employees do the survey,” which include

PHOTO SPECIAL TO NNY BUSINESS

SeaComm Federal Credit Union President and CEO Scott A. Wilson talks with employees at the company’s headquarters in Massena.

72 questions on areas such as leadership, pay and benefits, he said.

The survey was conducted by Best Companies Group, an independent firm that manages the Best Places to Work programs on state, regional and national levels around the world. They evaluated and ranked the best places of employment in the state based on employee satisfaction, as well as workplace practices and policies. n BOB BECKSTEAD is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. Contact him at 769-2451 or bbeckstead@ogd.com.

July 2012 | NNY Business

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St. L AW R E N C E C OUN T Y

Firm brings new life to schools

Ogdensburg project is Bernier, Carr’s biggest yet for single client

By Gabrielle Hovendon

S

NNY Business

chool may be out for summer, but within the buildings of the Ogdensburg City School District people are hard at work.

With the help of the Watertown-based engineering, land surveying and construction management firm Bernier, Carr & Associates, P.C., the district is undergoing a $57.2 million reconstruction and addition project, the largest in its history. The scheduled work includes sustainability initiatives, technological updates, grounds enhancements and the addition of resource, title and speech spaces as well as much-needed renovations.

“It’s the biggest project we’ve ever been involved in with a single client,” said Shawn M. Travers, principal and architect at Bernier, Carr. “In a lot of the buildings, they really haven’t done significant work since the 1990s. They’ve kind of picked away at a few things like roofs and windows, but they haven’t tackled a lot of the infrastructure needs like the boilers and lighting.”

The mammoth project had its inception in 2005, when Bernier, Carr began maintenance work on Lincoln Elementary and Sherman Elementary. Because the schools were small, antiquated and not handicapped accessible, a long-term plan was developed to close them and send the students to Grant C. Madill Elementary School on Jefferson Avenue and John F. Kennedy School on Park Street.

The plan eventually developed to include upgrades to all the district’s facilities and was voted into the budget by a wide margin in October 2010. The plan includes three phases, the first of which was completed last July and involved $5.5 million in improvements and repairs to the Edgar A. Newell II Golden Dome sports facility.

The second phase of the project is getting underway this summer. It includes nearly $4 million in reconstruction and additions at Madill, a $218,000 elevator replacement at Ogdensburg Free Academy

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NNY Business | July 2012

JASON HUNTER | NNY BUSINESS

Loran Construction employee Dennis L. Sharlow, Pierrepont, builds a wall in a classroom at Grant C. Madill Elementary School in Ogdensburg using concrete blocks and mortar.

to come up with a plan. and $15.6 million of work at Kennedy.

“We customized where the teacher The work at Kennedy will include the addition of 18 classrooms to accommodate spaces were going to be, we customized the types of cabinets that would be the influx of students from Lincoln and provided,” Mr. Travers said. “Same thing Sherman elementaries. It will also include with the first grade the construction of a classrooms and new cafeteria, stage, second grade classgymnasium, health rooms — we met office and adminiswith those teachers trative offices as well and started to lay as an interior renovathose areas out. tion that includes They’re very excited sustainability initiato be able to have tives such as energya space that they efficient boilers, lighting systems and Shawn M. Travers, principal and can actually design, rather than having air handling units. architect, Bernier, Carr & Associates to take what they A new stone enhave and make it fit trance with paneled the space they were given.” windows will be built to represent the While work at Madill is always underOgdensburg Harbor Lighthouse, and new way and is slated to be finished this Deroof sections will incorporate an existing cember, work at Kennedy will begin at the barrel-vault design to tie together the additions with the older part of the building. end of July and continue through December 2013. The phase two development will To determine the interior classroom dealso include enhancements to Kennedy’s signs at Kennedy, architects from Bernier, grounds: two new playgrounds, new ball Carr held a series of focus meetings with fields and a renovated soccer field.

Ogdensburg teachers and administrators

“

What we do as architects and engineers has a direct impact on everyday life, on how people function in these buildings.

—

St. L AW R E N C E C OUN T Y Sackets Harbor — there’s a direct end user that is a family and children,” said Kelly E. Reinhardt, the firm’s director of business development and community relations. “I think that’s something that comes into play, that we are all over the place in the north country. We have a lot of responsibility.”

A Watertown native and former Jefferson Community College student, Mr. Travers agreed.

“What we do as architects and engineers has a direct impact on everyday

life, on how people function in these buildings,” he said.

“When we work on a school, what we do affects how children are going to learn. What we do on the engineering side with wastewater treatment facilities affects the quality of the water and the quality of life for the residents. It has a direct correlation.” n GABRIELLE HOVENDON is a former Watertown Daily Times reporter and freelance writer who lives in Watertown. Contact her at ghovendon@gmail.com.

JASON HUNTER | NNY BUSINESS

Loran Construction employee Charles A. Cook, Akwesasne, uses a vibratory road roller in front of Grant C. Madill Elementary School in Ogdensburg during a project to expand the school’s parking lot.

Phase three of the project, which will begin next summer and continue through the end of 2015, will center on a $19 million renovation of Ogdensburg Free Academy. Work will include a consolidation of the middle and high school libraries, an overhaul of the high school auditorium and the introduction of new technology — wireless Internet access, SMART Boards, classroom computer banks and even futuristic “astronaut speakers” that provide 360 degrees of sound — not only in the high school but also at the elementary buildings.

According to Ogdensburg City School District Superintendent Timothy M. Vernsey, these extensive projects will usher in greater efficiency for the district and lead to increased educational opportunities for students.

“It will certainly help both students and teachers to be able to access technology much more freely. We’re going to be pretty much totally wireless, which will allow for much more flexibility in the things that teachers can do with students,” he said. “Everybody’s very excited about the opportunities this will present for our students and the faculty and staff.”

While the Ogdensburg City School District project is larger than any of Bernier, Carr’s previous jobs, it bears some resemblance to their other work. The firm specializes in schools, hospitals, municipal buildings and fire departments in part because of an underlying principle that unites all of its many projects.

“I think that in everything that we are designing — for a healthcare project or even a water system in the village of

July 2012 | NNY Business

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S M all B u s i n e s s

Filling the void: class A space n Watertown financial advisors build office space to fit new needs

By Gabrielle Hovendon

I

NNY Business

f you’re trying to determine what Aubertine and Currier Architects, Engineers and Land Surveyors specializes in, it may be faster to ask first what the Watertown-based firm doesn’t do.

“We’ve done a lot of work with healthcare, religious facilities, commercial retail development, multi-family housing, single-family housing, pretty much everything except educational facilities,” said architect Patrick J. Currier Sr. “We’ve pretty much covered the full gamut of architectural and engineering work.

Because of the geographical area we live in, it’s hard for an architectural firm to say ‘we just do health care, or ‘we just do K-12 schools’ or anything like that. Everyone within the company brings to the table something specific.”

Recently, Aubertine and Currier has built structures as varied as Watertown’s Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery, a facility for Waste Management Inc. in Evans Mills and a new entertainment pavilion at Clayton’s Frink Park. They’ve undertaken projects from Singer Island to Fort Drum, and they’ve focused on everything from homes and hospitals to swan ponds and border patrol stations.

So it’s no surprise that this jack-of-all-trades firm was approached in 2011 to create a rare and somewhat ambiguous commodity in Watertown: class A office space.

“There’s not really a strict definition of it, because whenever you’re speaking of aesthetics and quality it’s all kind of based on comparison,” Mr. Currier said. “I think when a lot of people are talking about class A office space around here they’re just looking for something at a higher quality level.”

“Something that has some character and

“

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NNY Business | July 2012

norm johnston | NNY BUSINESS

Aubertine and Currier’s Matthew R. Morgia, Annette M. Mason and Jayson J. Jones outside of the Morgia Group’s new office building on Watertown’s Mullin Street with Michael A. Morgia, of the Morgia Group and HighTower Advisors, and Patrick J. Currier from Aubertine and Currier.

charm,” added architect Brian A. Jones.

“Something that smells good, is clean, has new finishes — that kind of thing.”

In this case, the professional office space was required by the Watertownbased Morgia Group, part of the national HighTower Advisors financial advisory

the Medical Arts Building. “We looked around quite a bit, met with just about every potential landlord in town and looked at a number of other different office options as well, but where the price was appropriate there wasn’t enough space for our office.”

After not finding what they were looking for in buildings such as 215 Washington St. and the HSBC Bank facility, the Morgia Group decided to buy their own property at 151 Mullin St. in August 2011. The building was designed by Aubertine and Currier from the ground up to meet the firm’s specific needs and they moved into the new facility in April.

On the exterior, Aubertine and Currier maintained the property’s original landscaping to better blend in with the neighborhood of mixed residential and commercial space. The facility is 3,500 square feet and includes office space for the three partners and four staff members as well as a basement for storage, a vacant upper floor and a conference room that seats 12 people comfortably.

“The technology systems are working

It’s what responsible architects do: try to really get inside the client’s head and figure out where they’re going to go in five years, 10 years.

— Brian A. Jones, architect

Aubertine and Currier Architects, Engineers and Land Surveyors and wealth management firm. Originally located in the Medical Arts Building at 171 Clinton St., the Morgia brothers had found themselves in need of more space and technological amenities – additional telephone and data lines, for example.

“We moved in there initially as temporary space, knowing that at some point we were going to need space that was a little more modern,” said managing director and partner Philip “P.J.” Banazek about

S M all B u s i n e s s Recent Aubertine & Currier projects n A $7.5 million “Land Port of Entry” facil-

ity for the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol was recently completed at Cannon Corners in Mooer along the Canadian border.

n A new 17,300-square-feet residential

and administrative facility for Hospice of Jefferson County, located on outer Gotham Street in Watertown. The $3.9 million structure includes private offices, meeting rooms and secure medical storage space as well as eight patient rooms, a nurse station and additional spaces for residents’ family members.

to listen to and anticipate their clients’ future needs. For the Mullin Street office, that involved creating options for future expansion and reconfiguration.

“You want to ask what their goals are, how they anticipate their growth,” Mr. Jones said. “It’s what responsible architects do: try to really get inside the client’s head and figure out where they’re going to go in five years, 10 years.”

As for the general lack of high-end professional space in the north country, Aubertine and Currier continue to prove that solutions can be found. Their own

offices are located in a former warehouse at 522 Bradley St. that they renovated into the elusive class A office space: wood paneling, elegant conference rooms, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification and all.

“It’s beautiful, and before it was a very inefficient building that was ugly,” Mr. Brian said. “We just knew how to work with what we had.” n GABRIELLE HOVENDON is a former Watertown Daily Times reporter and freelance writer who lives in Watertown. Contact her at ghovendon@gmail.com.

n An $80,000 project at the Thousand Islands Regional Dock was recently completed in Clayton’s historic Frink Park.

Phase I of the project included the replacement of a deteriorating dock and the construction of a new seawall and sidewalks and was completed in 2006; phase II included the addition of an entertainment pavilion and customs port as well as improved accessibility for handicapped users and emergency vehicles. n Several jobs for the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority at Collins Landing, including tollbooth improvements, a $95,000 oil/water separator project, visitor center renovations and a 2,500-square-feet greenhouse and a secured entry to the administrative building.

and working better, and that’s been the primary thing,” Mr. Banazek said. “Our staff also has a little bit more privacy when they’re working on a day-to-day basis. At the Clinton Street location, when a client walked in they immediately came right upon two of the desks that our employees had. It was very hard for them to maintain a private conversation on the phone with a client standing there waiting.”

According to Mr. Banazek, the interior of the Mullin Street office was carefully customized to present an organized appearance to clients and to increase employees’ productivity by balancing their needs for privacy and collaboration.

The building also makes use of as much natural daylight as possible and includes an energy-efficient heating and cooling system that controls temperature by individual zones.

With the Morgia Group job as well as their other projects, Mr. Jones said that Aubertine and Currier takes special care

July 2012 | NNY Business

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S M A L L BUSIN E SS

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS

Chef Melinda C. Cleaver, Syracuse, presents her signature “Bubba Shank,” a pork dish, at Gill House Restaurant & Inn in Henderson Harbor. The restaurant re-opened last month under new management after a two-year hiatus.

Old favorite sets anchor

Henderson’s Gill House & Inn returns with new flair

By TED BOOKER

A NNY Business

persevering anchor on the Lake Ontario shore for anglers, tourists and residents, the Gill House Restaurant & Inn reopened June 22 after a two-year hiatus, putting smiles back on the faces of residents who’ve wined and dined there for decades.

Two Syracuse restaurateurs — Michael D. Brady and E. James Hickey — became inspired last year to launch the restaurant, 13565 County Route 123, which seats 130 people and is staffed by 15 employees. The eatery will showcase a menu with favorites such as the Gill

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NNY Business | July 2012

House perch dinner with special cayenne sauce, along with new imports such as its bam-bam shrimp topped with noodles and Asian sauces. Mr. Hickey, who owns the Toggenburg Mountain ski resort outside Syracuse, also has experience as a chef. He said the menu at the ski resort’s restaurant, Foggy Goggle, will now have a second home in Henderson Harbor.

While the menu will feature plenty of special entrees, Mr. Hickey said, the restaurant will maintain its original character with its seafood dishes, burgers and sandwiches. Chefs had to do some experimenting with the old Gill House recipe for the perch sauce, he said, but he’s confident the new version will bring

the past back to life for old diners.

“An old-timer scratched the recipe for us on a piece of paper, and at first we didn’t know what to do with the ingredients,” he said, laughing. “After soul searching and playing with (the recipe) a while, we finally had a couple come in who had been in the area their whole life to try it. They said we aced it.”

Diners can expect a “casual-fine” atmosphere at the restaurant and will notice dishes are prepared by chefs with an unusual flair.

Executive chef Melinda C. Cleaver, who also works at the restaurant in Syracuse, has 15 years of fine-dining experience and often develops recipes with Mr.

Gill House Restaurant WHERE: 13565 County Route 123.

HOURS: 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

Breakfast is available from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday and 8 to 10 a.m. Sunday.

The restaurant also has a brunch special that runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.

Hickey. He said five daily specials will be offered at the restaurant so diners can keep their palates guessing.

“

You eat with your eyes first, so we try to be as good as we can be and put out food that’s fun.

— E. James Hickey, partner

Gill House Restaurant & Inn. “We try to prepare things to taste good and are seasoned well and garnished properly to make an attractive plate,” Mr. Hickey said. “You eat with your eyes first, so we try to be as good as we can be and put out food that’s fun.”

Mr. Brady, a member of Mr. Hickey’s ski resort, said he persuaded his partner to resurrect the Gill House. “It’s just a perfect spot and beautiful,” he said of the eatery, which has an outdoor porch with a view of the bay. “Henderson Harbor needs something like this on the waterfront, and our goal is to breathe some life into a traditional place.”

Ten boat slips along the waterfront will be reserved for patrons of the Gill House, which also has a lodge with 12 rooms.

It will be open each season from May to September.

And Mr. Brady, who’s a frequent diner at Mr. Hickey’s restaurant in Syracuse, said he’s had the advantage of tasting the food on the menu firsthand. He urged newcomers to try the “Bubba shank,” a jumbo pork dish braised in Carolina red sauce.

“The meat falls off the bone and melts in your mouth,” he said. n TED BOOKER is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. Contact him at 661-2371 or tbooker@wdt.net.

July 2012 | NNY Business

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R E A L E S TAT E R OUN D U P

Realtors bring knowledge, expertise

O

ne of the questions people ask when they decide to buy or sell a property is, “Why should I use a Realtor?” In other words, what value does a Realtor bring to a transaction?

First let me explain the difference between a Realtor and a real estate licensee; the terms are not the same. All Realtors are real estate licensees whether they are brokers, appraisers or salespersons but the reverse is not always true. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) owns the term “Realtor,” which is a federally registered collective membership mark. This is a type of trademark identifying the user as a member of a particular group rather than indicating the source of a product or service. When a licensee takes the extra step of joining a local Board or Association of Realtors, he or she also becomes a member of NAR and is allowed to use the term “Realtor.” Use by non-members is prohibited.

The simple answer to the question “why use a Realtor?” is that Realtors have the training and expertise to assist the buyer or seller in a transaction. Realtors participate in many transactions over the course of their careers, which is an advantage that can’t be ignored. They are a trusted source of real estate information and know the local market where they work. This helps them to assist their clients to reach their real estate goals.

Today’s typical home sale involves as many as 20 steps to complete a transaction. This can be a daunting maze for most buyers and sellers. However, Realtors have access to advanced educational opportunities and training in various specialties that allow them to raise their skills and professionalism. Some of the types of training offered are in such accredited

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NNY Business | July 2012

sub-specialties as buyer’s representation (ABR), residential real estate expertise (CRS), social media and Internet readiness (ePRO) and senior housing issues (SRES).

According to the 2011 NAR Lance Evans “Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers”: In 2011, 89 percent of buyers used a real estate agent, up steadily from 69 percent of buyers in 2001. n 86 percent of buyers said they were very satisfied with their agent’s knowledge of the purchase process. n 87 percent of buyers said they were very satisfied with their agent’s honesty and integrity. n 89 percent of recent home buyers would recommend or use their agent again in the future. n 84 percent of sellers used an agent or broker to sell their home. n Only 10 percent of sellers sold without professional assistance, down from a high of 20 percent in 1987. Nearly half of those were transactions in which the seller already knew the buyer so the home was not sold on the open market. n 91 percent of buyers who used the Internet to search for a home used a real estate agent to purchase their home, compared with 70 percent of buyers who did not use the Internet.

Finally, Realtors subscribe to a code of ethics adopted in 1913 by NAR making it only the second trade or business group

in the United States to adopt mandatory ethical standards. The ethics code is a comprehensive document spelling out professional responsibilities owed to clients, customers, other Realtors and the general public. All Realtors must take ethics training at least once every four years to retain their membership. Consumers can read more about the code of ethics and find a summary of the code that explains how it benefits them at www.

REALTOR.org/codeofethics. n

n

n

On June 12, 12 Realtor members from the Jefferson-Lewis and St. Lawrence County Boards of Realtors joined other New York State Realtors in Albany for Realtor Lobby Day. They discussed real estate issues with elected representatives and staff from the offices of Sens. Patty Ritchie and Joseph Griffo and Assembly members Addie J. Russell and Ken Blankenbush. Participants included Jennifer Stevenson, Blue Heron Realty; Elizabeth Miller, CENTURY 21 Gentry Realty; Gail and Walt Christensen, Christensen RealtyUSA; Ken Catlin, Front Porch Realty; Betty Henderson, Lisa L’Huillier and Chuck Ruggiero, Hefferon Real Estate; Jennifer Dindl-Neff, Humes Realty and Appraisal Service; David Barron, Husky Property Management; Karen Peebles, Peebles Realty; and Les Henry, Thousand Islands Realty. n LANCE M. EVANS is the executive officer of the Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors and the St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors. He has lived in the north country since 1985. Contact him at levans@nnymls.com. His column appears monthly in NNY Business.

R E A L E S TAT E

City building activity slows in Q1

2011 saw record-setting $43m in construction permits

By KYLE R. HAYES

C

Associate Editor

onstruction activity in the Watertown area is off to a sluggish start this year on the heels of a record-setting 2011, a review of building permits indicates.

Major projects, including the continuing construction of Creek Wood Apartments off Mill Street and renovations to Samaritan Medical Center, contributed to the more than $32 million in declared construction value during the third and fourth quarters of 2011.

In the third quarter of 2011 alone, declared construction value of both new construction and repair permits was up approximately 1,653 percent over the same period in 2010, jumping from $977,000 to more than $17 million. Fourth quarter of 2011 was down slightly from the year prior, still posting a nearly 34 percent increase over 2010.

Where the numbers drop off noticeably is in the first quarter of this year, with the lowest combined first quarter value in more than five years, of just $626,353.

“This winter was so strange that people were gearing down coming into the holidays and the beginning of the year in terms of their projects,” said Terry M. Petrie, executive director of the Northern New York Builders Exchange. “People weren’t ready for the season we had, they were ready for winter. So when the weather broke, things really took off.”

Mr. Petrie said that he hears good news in terms of a rebounding building sector from his organization’s 280 members, who represent companies from Jefferson County up to Plattsburgh.

“We are really fortunate here, our members are focused on the commercial building industry and they’re very busy, especially now that summer is here,” he said.

New commercial and residential building projects, such as Creek Wood, get much of the press surrounding new construction; however, it is smaller projects that make up for the large number of permits and declared values. Permits filed in the city of Watertown for new and repair construction can be anything from a new roof to windows, porches and sheds.

To offset the cost of maintaining and renovating a home or business, many municipalities and organizations distribute

City of Watertown building permits / Declared value 2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Q1 BUILD

1,425,901

1,974,601

1,230,139

1,296,442

525,453

Q1 REPAIR

426,956

373,115

2,370,250

218,827

100,900

Q1 TOTAL

1,852,857

2,347,716

3,600,389

1,515,269

626,353

5,781,637

3,213,189

9,473,195

n/a

Q2 BUILD

9,899,548

Q2 REPAIR

975,590

567,576

1,197,565

676,060

n/a

Q2 TOTAL

10,875,138

6,349,213

4,410,754

10,149,255

n/a

Q3 BUILD

7,468,890

1,228,820

252,951

15,921,676

n/a

Q3 REPAIR

691,105

286,475

723,984

1,203,617

n/a

Q3 TOTAL

8,159,995

1,515,295

976,935

17,125,293

n/a

Q4 BUILD

1,040,812

323,710

9,765,347

13,744,659

n/a

Q4 REPAIR

569,013

431,445

1,533,563

1,347,851

n/a

Q4 TOTAL

1,609,825

755,155

11,298,910

15,092,510

n/a

ANNUAL TOTAL

22,497,815

10,967,379

20,286,988

43,882,327

626,353

Source: City of Watertown Bureau of Code Enforcement

state grant money to residents through housing rehabilitation programs.

When cash is available, Neighbors of Watertown Inc. provides a myriad of programs to help Watertown and Jefferson County residents with rehabilitation of owner-occupied homes and rental homes.

“We have been pretty successful in getting grant funds from the county,” Melissa A. Warner, housing program coordinator for Neighbors of Watertown, said. “This year our funding is limited to six projects for owner-occupied residential rehabilitation.”

Ms. Warner said the amount of money received to renovate rental properties has helped finance apartment rehabilitation in downtown Watertown. While Neighbors continues to apply for new grants, the next round of awards haven’t been released yet, she said.

“There are people on the waiting list we will never help because it is based on need,” Ms. Warner said.

In Carthage, the Carthage Area Chamber of Commerce is doling out grant money from a $400,000 Community Development Block Grant that the village of Carthage received last year.

“The grant provides a maximum of

$25,000 per project, which can be anything from foundation work to new windows and siding,” said Lori A. Borland, executive director of the chamber. “We have about half of the grant funds left.”

Ms. Borland said interest in the grant money has increased as of late, with several people stopping by the chamber office asking for applications in the last few weeks of June.

The process of obtaining grant money from the chamber includes a pre-application, inspection, approval by the CDBG board and then a bidding process for contractors to complete the work.

“We have to put out all of the jobs to bid, and if the homeowner doesn’t approve of the company that comes in with the lowest bid, the homeowner must pay the difference,” Ms. Borland said. “The entire process from application through the start of construction takes about a month.”

Ms. Borland noted cash awards are income-based. Contact the chamber, 4933590, to learn more about how to obtain CDBG funds in the Carthage area. n KYLE R. HAYES is associate magazine editor for NNY Business. Contact him at khayes@wdt. net or 661-2381.

July 2012 | NNY Business

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real e s tate / J E F F E R SON c o u n t y The following property sales were recorded in the Jefferson County clerk’s office:

June 21

n Village of Alexandria Bay: 58 High St. (foreclosure) Lisa Weldon, Watertown, referee, Megan M. Dingman and Jason L. Davis, sold to PHH Mortgage Corp., Mount Laurel, N.J, $75,000. n Town of Champion: 3.947 acres, intersection of Cole Road and state Route 26, town of Champion, Carthage, sold to James Uhlinger Sr., Three Mile Bay $30,000. n Town of Pamelia: Lot 2, Liberty Residential Subdivision, R. Thomas Keller, Watertown, sold to Kory M. Wells and Kathleen S. Wells, Watertown, $235,000. n Town of Watertown: 5.17 acres, County Route 159 (Gotham Street Road), Mark G. Gebo, executor, estate of Aline C.J. Taylor, late of town of Watertown, sold to Julee Kae Petersen, Watertown , $55,000. n Town of Watertown: 9.71 acres, County Route 159 (Gotham Street Road), Mark G. Gebo, executor, estate of Aline C.J. Taylor, late of town of Watertown, sold to Steven J. Hall General Contractor Inc., Cape Vincent, $60,000. n City of Watertown: 0.115 acre, Charles Street, Steven E. Roberts and Karen A. Roberts, Watertown, sold to Matthew R. Gowens, Saint Roberts, Mo., $179,000.

On the Web n NNY Business magazine is now on the Web at WWW.NNYBIZMAG.COM. For a listing of all real estate transactions in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties, visit us online and click on ‘Data Center.’ ley Park Drive and Shirley Drive, William F. Hanna, Adams, sold to Andrew K. Cook and Amy K. Cook, Fort Riley, Kan., $241,000.

June 20

n City of Watertown: Stone Street, Jack A. Sorrell and Charlene M. Sorrell, Watertown, sold to Raymond Floyd III and Joni L. Floyd, Dexter, $54,500. n Village of Black River: 0.633 acre, 128 LeRay St., Rebecca J. Rohan and Shawn D. Rohan, Black River, sold to Benjamin J. Crauder and Kerri L. Crauder, Fort Drum, $188,000. n Town of Adams: 1.05 acres, Adams-Henderson road, Jason Borg and Jessica Borg, Adams, sold to Jeremy L. Shepherd, Carthage, $190,000. n Town of Cape Vincent: Humphrey Road, Mark C. Baker and Mary S. Baker, Susquehanna, Pa., sold to Michael T. Bice, Watertown, $63,000.

n City of Watertown: Two parcels, Thompson Boulevard, Charles A. Stewart and Janet M. Stewart, Watertown, sold to Eric Moore and Rachel Moore, Watertown, $173,000.

n Town of Rutland: 8 acres, 18291 County Route 161, Jeffrey L. Baker and Jessica A. Baker, Watertown, sold to Daniel A. Simons and Shelly K. Simons, Puyallup, Wash., $285,000.

n Village of Adams: 0.528 acre, intersection Val-

n City of Watertown: 0.127 acre, Mullin Street, Tom

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NNY Business | July 2012

H. McCollom and Katie E. McCollom, Watertown, sold to Tracy L. Leonard, Watertown, $150,000. n Town of Watertown: State Street Road, Deborah L. Gillette, trustee, Marilyn J. Chisholm Irrevocable Trust, and Marilyn J. Chisholm by Deborah L. Gillette, attorney in fact, Watertown, sold to Sheena M. Harris, Watertown, $79,000. n Village of Black River: Maple Street, Herminio N. Cruz and Janette R. Cruz, Black River, sold to Jonathan Roselle, Black River, $194,000.

June 19

n City of Watertown: 306 N. Indiana Ave., Mark A. Brown, Watertown, sold to Oliver O. Buck III and Patricia Londino-Buck, Watertown, $129,000.

June 18

n Town of Lyme: 5.9 acres, Old Town Springs Road, Robert Connors, Livonia, sold to Carl Boler and Rosalie Lajner, both of Watertown, $65,000. n Town of Hounsfield: 0.55 acre, bank of Black River Bay, John V. Capozza and Alice J. Capozza, Syracuse, sold to Mervin Roggie and Gayla Roggie, Lowville, $94,000, n City of Watertown: 0.385 acre, 469 S. Meadow St., Kenneth G. Bodah Jr. and Beth A. Bodah, Watertown, sold to Brianne M. Raymond, Watertown, $100,000.

$2,639,500 County real estate sales recorded over 4-day period, June. 18-21, 2012

R E A L E S TAT E / s t. lawre n ce c o u n t y The following property sales were recorded in the St. Lawrence County clerk’s office:

May 29

Town of Colton: Unknown acres, part of Lot 20, bounded by Woods Road, Janet M. Bearce, Springfield, Va., sold to Gerald F. and Mary Jane Butler, Cold Springs, $82,500. n City of Ogdensburg: Unknown acres, situate in Block 39, bounded by Jay Street, Shauna Halpin, Ogdensburg, sold to Joseph D. and Meagan E. Lalonde, Ogdensburg, $67,000.

May 25 n Village of Canton: Unknown acres, bounded by West Street, Carol A. Robert, Kemptville, Ontario, sold to Linda Fay, Canton, $95,000. n City of Ogdensburg: Unknown acres, part of Lot 2 and all of Lot 3 in Block 257, FJL Inc., Ogdensburg, sold to EWJH LLC, Ogdensburg, $72,500. n Town of Stockholm: 4.32 acres more or less, in Section 49, bounded by Knapps Station, Cynthia J. Bronson, West Stockholm, sold to Joseph and Tommiann Russell, Potsdam, $75,000. n Village of Potsdam: 0.43 of an acre more or less, in Lot 19, bounded by Pleasant Street, M. Lawrence and Judith J. Lasser, Potsdam, sold to Daniel J. Dudek and Gail A. Anderson, Eagle Bridge, $168,500. n Town of Rossie: 1.18 acres more or less, bounded

by County Line Road, John E. Plante, Rossie, sold to Tosha A. Tharrett and Stephen M. Nichols, Gouverneur, $76,600. n Town of DeKalb: 1.17 acres more or less, bound-

ed by Old DeKalb Junction-Hermon Road, Wayne and Trudy Denesha, DeKalb Junction, sold to Noah G. Putnam, Gouverneur and Mistori L. Mattice, Rensselaer Falls, $78,000. n Town of Fowler: 1.01 acres more or less, bounded

by County Route 22, Kevin J. Fishel, Gouverneur, sold to John C. and Nicole E. Suits, Gouverneur, $90,400.

Lewis County sales n Recent property sales for Lewis County were unavailable at press time. To view updated sales from Lewis County, visit us on the Web at WWW.NNYBIZMAG.COM.

n Village of Massena: 0.15 of an acre more or less, in Lot 16 of Block 9, bounded by Bishop Avenue, Justin D. and Courtney L. Chamberlain, Massena, sold to Kristopher J. Cyrus, Massena, $79,000.

Block 1, unknown acres bounded by Warren Avenue, unknown acres bounded by Lucky Street, Alan J. and Sharon L. McGrath, Massena, sold to William C. Jaggers Jr. and Amy L. Jaggers, Malone, $665,000.

n City of Ogdensburg: Unknown acres, in Block 172, bounded by Main Street, Cathy A. Kozlowski, Ogdensburg, sold to Jennifer A. Montroy, Ogdensburg, $51,000.

n Village of Massena: 0.18 of an acre more or less, bounded by Middlebury Avenue, Leon J. and Alice A. Giroux, Bradenton, Fla., sold to Christopher L. and Briana L. Morris, Massena, $58,000.

n Village of Massena: 0.28 of an acre more or less, in Lot 2, bounded by Reed Road, Dawn M. Snyder, Massena, sold to Aaron Arquette, Massena, $63,000.

n Village of Massena: 0.37 of an acre more or less, bounded by Hatfield Street, Micheline Durocher (administrator), Giacomo Festa, Massena, sold to Lillian Roy, Norfolk, $69,500.

May 24

n Town of Massena: 1.29 acres more or less, bounded by Racket River Road, North Country Savings Bank, Canton, sold to David K. and Mary E. Young, Heuvelton, $74,000.

n Town of Norfolk: 4 acres more or less, Lot 65, Carol C. Lawrence, Burke, sold to Stephen E. Blais, Massena, $35,000. n Town of Hermon: Unknown acres, bounded by Campbell and Dewey roads, James and Joan Woodrow, Hermon, sold to Andrew and Katherine Boos, Skaneateles, $200,000. n Town of Oswegatchie: Unknown acres, bounded

by Lee Road, Donna M. King, Ogdensburg, sold to Dorothy J. Hooper, Ogdensburg, $40,000. n Town of Massena: 3 parcels, unknown acres in

n Town of Canton: 1¼ acre more or less, bounded

by Wright’s Lot, Community Bank N.A., Watertown, sold to Leigh B. Rodriguez, Canton, $50,000.

$2,190,000 County real estate sales recorded over 7-day period, May 24-29, 2012

July 2012 | NNY Business

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20 questions

Marketing

W

ith all its natural splendor, many people say the north country is a best-kept secret.

Since 1997, Wisconsin native Gary S. DeYoung has worked to share some of the secrets that attract thousands each year to the region’s fresh waterways and unspoiled assets. We sat down with Mr. DeYoung to talk about a part of NNY’s economy that, despite a slow-paced national economic recovery, is a bright spot.

1

NNYB: You’ve said that Canadians are temporary tax payers that lower the tax burden for residents.

With the Canadian dollar close to par, how will we continue to benefit from Canadians spending money in our region?

DEYOUNG: Last year we had over a million Canadians returning to the U.S. using the Thousand Islands Bridge. Most of them were staying overnight.

There are a couple of benefits. The tax structure encourages Canadians to stay overnight and take more back. That helps our hospitality businesses in Watertown and all the way down 81 to Syracuse and the Finger Lakes. We want them to stay for a nice meal, do some recreation and take in some entertainment. I’m starting to see that happen with conversations we have at the welcome center. People just asking for directions to the mall last year are now saying ‘Where can I take a bike ride?’

2

NNYB: What precautions must our region have in place to retain or replace those revenues that could be lost if the dollar swings the other way and the American dollar is less favorable?

DEYOUNG: That happened in the 1980s, you can look back at the records and see that Alex Bay lost about 30 percent of their hotel occupancy in the span of a couple of years when the Canadian dollar suddenly dropped. In the end, it’s about product and I represent both sides of the border, so we are saying this to Canadians now. You have to give people good reason to come over and reasons above that it’s cheap. It’s getting people to find entertainment and recreation here. It’s a challenge we are always going to have in terms of cross-border shoppers. People are price sensitive.

They are going to go where the best deal is.

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secrets NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS

NNY’s best-kept

n TI tourism director Gary S. DeYoung confident region will continue to attract

3

6

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NNYB: So your agency represents both sides of the border, both U.S. and Canadian tourism?

DEYOUNG: Our agency is unique in that it is a partnership between the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority and Jefferson County. On the U.S. side, we are the official tourism agency for Jefferson County. One third of my salary is paid by the Canadian Federal Bridge Corp. The bridge agencies have a vested interest in getting people to go back and forth across the bridge. Since the 1950s the realization was that the further we get away from here, the less the border matters to people. For someone from Pennsylvania or Ohio to take a vacation here, it makes sense to promote both Fort Henry and Boldt Castle, Sackets Harbor and Gananoque.

NNYB: What challenges are you facing in the post-9/11 tourism industry?

DEYOUNG: It’s tough trying to promote that seamless border and easy cross-border experience. A lot of easing that is communication. A lot of it is trying to let people know what to expect, how long the wait is going to be, what kind of information they need to present when crossing the border, etc.

That level of confusion is most frustrating.

5

NNYB: What can be done about marketing our region as a four-season destination, not just a summer and fall destination?

DEYOUNG: Marketing follows product. You have to have a product to market. Our challenge in Jefferson County and north of the border is that we need winter tourism on the recreation side.

We need the trails. The county has been working on that for quite a few years now, getting access to trails like we see in Lewis and Oneida counties. We just don’t have it. We can invite people but unless we can give them something to do, it doesn’t make a lot of economic sense.

NNYB: With the mild and unpredictable win-

ters in most recent years, does that impact tourism at all?

DEYOUNG: This conversation comes up all the time and everyone says we ought to do more winter. I worked in Wisconsin for years and we had a ski hill and the county had snowmobile trails and everything. That experience taught me that winter weather is less reliable than summer weather. Even on the most dismal day of the summer you can take a boat on the water and float it. The wrong day in January and you might not be able to go anyplace on your snowmobile. The winter makes the investment tough. Years ago we had a lot of outdoor water parks, in the 1980s. They discovered quickly that they couldn’t pay the bills if it was a cold, rainy summer. The same thing applies for winter.

NNYB: We have seen a surge in grassroots efforts to draw people to places like Clayton with Sailing Seaway Clayton, and Sackets with the Made in NNY Festival. How do efforts like that help with the bigger picture?

DEYOUNG: Events are things people really look forward to. We have a lot of traditional events in the region, with the French Festival, Pirate Days and the antique boat show. A lot of these are annual reasons people come to the region, which is great. It gets a new set of customers in that aren’t your typical people who come every weekend to fish or have a cottage here. I’m hoping as we continue to promote events we will become more strategic about it and that we will say we could use events to bring people in the spring, because we have a tough time getting May open or would we like to target this kind of customer that spends more money? I think more of that is happening.

Talking to promoters, they’re thinking about making money putting on an event, but how it will help with the community and serving what the community wants to do.

NNYB: Technology and social media has given you an advantage in promoting the area,

20 questions

8

with your agency recently launching a smartphone app. How has that changed the playing field?

DEYOUNG: The app was developed by a company out of Toronto that had been servicing agencies in Corning and Kingston and the Adirondacks.

They created this nice, systematic way for tourism offices to get in the app business. We have had 1,100 apps downloaded on the iPhone. We saw in analyzing our web traffic that mobile browsers had gone from less than 5 percent to now to close to 10 percent of web visits in the last two years.

Everything we’re hearing is proof in the pudding at our own statistics that we needed to be mobile. It gets our information out there and I suspect we will be doing other programs along those lines.

9

NNYB: When it comes to opportunities with social media marketing, is it the more the better?

DEYOUNG: I don’t think it’s the more the better.

At the agency, we are like community editors. We are responsible for gathering all this information, sifting it, organizing it and deciding what to present to the rest of the world. That’s a tough task.

When you have to present it in 50 formats instead of two or three formats, that’s very difficult and you end up putting a lot of static in the system. We are trying to be smart.

10

NNYB: Are there any assets in the north country that, in your mind, remain best-kept secrets that could us some more attention?

DEYOUNG: The whole north country is a bestkept secret. I am amazed by how many people come into our office after crossing the bridge and say ‘what’s the deal with all of these islands out here?’ I think right now the emerging trend is food and wine and doing those kinds of activities. I think we will see products being developed around that. One of the things we don’t think about in tourism a lot is the fact that we are a vacation home destination in Jefferson County.

We have something like 7,000 vacation homes.

I personally think we need to think strategically about how we interact with those homeowners, how can we get more business out of them, serve them better and encourage them to get involved in the community. We see tourists and parking lots full of people but sometime the people here all of the time the cottages get lost in the mix.

11

NNYB: How much competition is there between communities in our area in terms of garnering tourism?

DEYOUNG: The local communities are all competitive. On the U.S. side with Sackets Harbor, Alexandria Bay, Clayton, Cape Vincent, they all have their own chambers. In Brockville, Gananoque and Kingston, they all have their own programs, too. To some degree there is a level of competition there but it’s our job at the agency to rise about that level of competition and find common ground where they can agree that we are in this together.

12

NNYB: This area has always been successful in capitalizing on its historical assets; what ways do you think we can continue to improve on marketing our history?

DEYOUNG: It’s something that challenges us to be better partners across the region. We are very proud of our little communities. With things like the War of 1812, it doesn’t make sense to tell the story without looking on both sides of the border. Light-

NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS

Gary S. DeYoung, director of tourism, 1,000 Islands International Tourism Council, discusses some of the latest tourism initiatives in Northern New York. house enthusiasts aren’t going to show up in Cape Vincent and not continue on to Alexandria Bay and continue on to Sodus Point. Engaging social media kind of expands those connections and builds those relationships. It is allowing us to start talking to people that say they’re interested in [Frederick] Olmsted design and gardens we can say we have one in Watertown or people are particularly interested in architecture and lighthouses. We worked for years with the Seaway Trail, which is based in Sackets Harbor, along the idea that they have this entire heritage, whether it’s maritime heritage, the boat museum and lighthouses or military heritage, finding the folks that are interested in that has always been a challenge. We are continuing to want to do that. It’s work intensive but someone has to gather that information and find where that audience is.

13

NNYB: Boldt Castle has long been a draw for island tourism, what kind of investment does that represent for your agency?

DEYOUNG: It was purchased in 1977 and each year there is about $500,000 worth of renovations made, so about $17 million or so have been put back into the castle. It’s a big investment but what’s even more interesting is that it is self-sufficient. It’s not based on state or federal grants or based on taking money out of the tolls and putting it into the castle. It generates its own money. It’s been that way since the beginning. The castle came with Tennis Island, which they were able to sell that land to give some seed money. As admission grew, that money was put back into the project.

14

NNYB: Your wife is a shopkeeper in Clayton, as a person with a personal tie to the retail sector, is the economy improving regionally?

DEYOUNG: We have owned Porch and Paddle for about 12 years and we’ve seen real steady growth. Like any other retailer in the last four years or so, it wasn’t as robust as the early years in terms of growth. It’s a good, solid business.

The Gary S. DeYoung file JOB: Director of Tourism, 1,000 Islands International Tourism Council.

AGE: 56.

FAMILY: Wife, Peggy; two sons, 35 and 33.

HOMETOWN: Alto, Wisc.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree, University of Wisconsin, Green Bay. PROFESSIONAL: Director of Tourism at the 1,000 Islands International Tourism Council since 1997, previously worked for 10 years at Promotion Management Inc., Wisconsin.

Recommended READ: “I mostly read these trashy spy novels and sci-fi things. The last thing I probably read was by Whitley Strieber.”

She focuses on the vacation home owner especially, so she is seeing some of the trends that I would expect as the baby boomers start to retire and take over those vacation homes and want them to be multigenerational and invest more money in them. They are spending money with local contractors and decorators.

15

NNYB: From your point of view, have gas prices starting to creep downward had any effect on tourism? Is the staycation still popular?

DEYOUNG: A staycation to me is going into my hot tub on the back deck with a beer, that’s a staycation. We are seeing some relief. I haven’t heard many complaints through the national associations or locally about fuel prices this year. People are used to the level it’s at. It’s good that they have fallen psychologically. I was always taught, and I think it’s true, that the prices aren’t as scary as fuel availability. Back in the 1970s when there were shortages, you would get some place and worry

July 2012 | NNY Business

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20 questions about spending half the day trying to get your tank filled. Fortunately, we haven’t run into that situation. Where fuel prices have some impact is in recreational use, with ATVs, boating on the river; I think people think a little more about that.

16

NNYB: In making wineries more inviting to foreign tourists, what steps do you think we need to take to level the playing field?

DEYOUNG: it sounds like it’s a diplomatic process, at the federal level and there are much larger topics at hand. Is there a way to avoid having retail messed up because you could buy wine cheaper on either side of the border? Is there a way to have our farm wineries be able to promote themselves so people can have that

experience of buying it from the vintner. How to accomplish that at the federal level is the challenge, because it involves two governments. The U.S. has a little more flexibility on that.

17

NNYB: Northern New York has this popular, growing wine industry; does anything like that exist with our Canadian neighbors?

DEYOUNG: There is a huge wine industry north of Niagara Falls. We obviously have it in the Finger Lakes and in Prince Edward County outside of Kingston. The eastern basin of Lake Ontario, if we could match Prince Edward County we could have a nice wine region. We have wine there and we have wine here. The whole concept is that you begin to have the

same kind of place like going to central valley in Napa and Sonoma Coast in California. In my mind there are some incentives from a tourism standpoint to promote New York State and Ontario as the Great Lakes wine region to get people to come here from all over Canada and the eastern U.S.

18

NNYB: What could we do to build upon the success of the Watertown International Airport and the access that American Eagle Airlines has provided for the region?

DEYOUNG: In the end, it’s outlandish growth but it’s still a limited number of flights. The longterm goal is more flights, whether it’s to New York or Atlanta and other places they service.

From a tourism point of view, it opens up to an interesting opportunity. We haven’t looked much in the overseas business, but overseas visitors typically come into the U.S. through Los Angeles, New York City or San Francisco. New York City is a big player in that. We could convince someone coming into New York City that they could see the rest of New York by coming to upstate.

You could fly to JFK, a quick hop to Watertown and part of my trip to see the Statue of Liberty and one or two Broadway shows could include a charter fishing trip on Lake Ontario.

19

NNYB: In terms of supply and demand, has the area reached its saturation point in terms of hotel rooms?

DEYOUNG: In 2006 and 2007 we didn’t have enough supply; people were driving as far as Syracuse for rooms. When the hotel in Clayton is built and the Marriott is finished, we will have around 3,000 transient hotel rooms here. It’s going to be tough. That means we added close to 700-800 new rooms in the market in this decade after going for several decades with no change. Time will only tell if that’s too many. I think we need to create more demand than we have now to fill hotel rooms, we have to get in the meeting business and do a better job with group tours.

20

NNYB: How does meeting business have potential for the future of our hotels or a possible convention center in the future?

DEYOUNG: Conventions, meetings, conferences, there is opportunity in all of it, including training, reunions, and military reunions, all of it. I think that will be changing in the next couple of years with the Hilton last year and with the hotel property in Clayton having meeting rooms and in addition to downtown Watertown and Alexandria Bay will have hotels that offer that service. We’ll be working together with those folks to get more meeting business. We had three hotels go with us to the Empire State Society of Association Executives conference. I know as part of the CFA process the New York State Convention Bureau was asking for some money to get more involved in convention and meeting business in surrounding states to get regional organizations to have the ability to have small conferences back up in New York. We will be participating in that.

— Interview by Ken Eysaman. Edited for length and clarity.

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NNY Business | July 2012

PEOPLE, from page 9 sors to help build homes. Mr. Davis was selected from among 30 applicants and has experience with building surveys and preliminary construction work with the Habitat affiliate in Pennsylvania. He is a retired member of the military and worked with a Habitat affiliate in Philadelphia, Pa. Most recently stationed at Fort Drum, Mr. Davis retired from the Army on Jan. 1.

Hospice CEO hired

The Hospice of Jefferson County board of directors has named Diana K. Woodhouse as new CEO. Mrs. Woodhouse, the current education coordinator for Samaritan Keep Home, begins her duties on Aug. 1. She is a registered nurse and replaces former CEO Stephen Woodhouse P. Lyman, who resigned in February and left in April for family reasons.

Receives license

Fernando Batista-Roman, 27, Watertown, is a recent graduate of the National Tractor Trailer School, Liverpool. He has begun a career with Swift Transportation as a tractor-trailer driver. Mr. BatistaRoman was a member of the Army. He earned his certificate by completing 602 hours of training in the advanced commercial drivers course.

Included in the courses Mr. BatistaRoman completed are Department of Transportation rules and regulations.

Named vice president

Aimee Wilkins, Lake Placid, has been promoted to National Vice President, Independent Consultant at Arbonne International, Irvine, Calif.

Airbonne is a privately owned network marketing company and has produced skin care products based on botanical principles since 1980. The products are now shared throughout the world through Arbonne’s network of independent consultants.

Ms. Wilkins began her business as an independent consultant in May 2005 and became regional vice president in September 2006. She lives in Lake Placid with her husband John, an attorney, and has two children in college, Grace and John.

July 2012 | NNY Business

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E C ONO M I C A L LY S P E A K IN G

Regional councils promote growth

N

ew York launched a new approach to its economic development and job creation program with the establishment of regional councils across the state. This bottom-up approach, advanced by Gov. Cuomo, has enabled the region to create its own economic strategy and realign its regional priorities. As we enter the second year of the regional council initiative, the effort has been recognized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in a new report that places New York State in the top 10 states for growth, productivity and livability. The report can be found at: http://www. uschamber.com/press/releases/2012/june/ new-us-chamber-study-r.

The chamber report gives New York high rankings in Economic Output per Job, No. 4; Educational Attainment, No. 5; Per Capita Income Growth, No. 9; Business Birth Rate, No. 9; and Entrepreneurial Activity, No. 11. These factors all helped to advance New York over 11 places when compared to last year’s report.

These improvements have been achieved through a combination of New York’s efforts including: no new tax increases, on-time budgets, property tax cap and other initiatives like RechargeNY and the new NYWorks. The regional councils are but one of these improvements, but a critical one for local economic development initiatives.

A key element of the regional council’s efforts is the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process. This process is the entry portal to many state funding initiatives for both private and public development.

The streamlined approach provides for a single application per project accessing multiple agency programs. This year’s

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NNY Business | July 2012

format is more user-friendly and has improved functionality. There is also a mechanism to address time sensitive and confidential projects. For the first time, minority- and womenJim Wright owned business language will be included in all contract awards.

Utilizing published criteria and its Regional Strategic Plan, the regional council will evaluate and rank the project requests. The regional council evaluation is 20 percent of the overall ranking. It will also establish “priority projects.” To be considered for this designation, a project should be transformational and transformative. Such a project should exhibit the following attributes: capitalizes on a unique regional asset, unlocks a barrier to economic progress, demonstrates a positive regional impact, demonstrates a multi-county or regional impact and represents an innovative solution.

The first step of the application process is a basic decision tree: If your project meets the criteria for transformational, then you can submit additional information for consideration as a priority project.

In general, most public projects — park improvements, historic preservation, streetscapes, etc. — would not be considered “priority.” However, while not a priority, your project can still submit a CFA application and be funded.

Examples of priority projects are: water

line infrastructure that will benefit a significant employer and retain employment versus infrastructure that is for residential or minor commercial development; or a major housing development with several hundred units of community housing in an area of critical need versus a historic building renovation that will create six or eight apartments.

To be considered for a priority project, an applicant must complete a priority project form and a CFA application. It is highly recommended the applicant discuss this in advance with the Empire State Development staff or their local IDA or economic development officials.

It is very important that CFA applications focus on the vision and key strategies defined in the 2011 NCREDC Strategic Plan. All successful proposals should have a well-defined project with a strong budget. The applicant must demonstrate organizational capacity and credibility with a track record of past successes.

There should be a demonstrated need for the project. The development of partnerships and their roles are beneficial.

Last year, the NCREDC was one of the four best plans in the state, securing in excess of $103 million in state resources.

The council is committed to maintaining this level of effort and commitment. To do so will require new, innovative and successful projects to be advanced. Participation is encouraged and sought to help us achieve the vision we share for the north country economy. n James W. Wright is executive director of the Development Authority of the North Country.

He is a member of the North Country Regional Economic Development Council and a former member of the New York State Senate.

BUSIN E SS L AW

Take action in commercial court

M

any times a small business owner does not pursue a bounced check or customer’s failure to pay an amount due, thinking that it is too expensive. By the time attorney’s fees and court costs are paid, the cost of collecting the debt far exceeds the debt itself.

There is another option for a small business owner and that is filing an action in Commercial Claims Court. A Commercial Claims Court is the equivalent of small claims court for businesses. Commercial claims actions are limited up to $3,000, and a lawyer is not necessary. A commercial claims action can only grant a monetary judgment and cannot order or compel the defendant to perform any promise that was made in a contract.

A commercial claims action is designed for a corporation, partnership, association and even a municipal corporation to initiate a claim against a defendant. A commercial plaintiff is limited to no more than five commercial claims actions per month in New York. A corporation, partnership, association or municipal does not have to be represented by an attorney. A partner in a partnership or authorized officer, director or employee of a corporation who has authorization to settle the case or conduct a trial on behalf of the corporation can appear in court as a representative of a commercial plaintiff.

In Jefferson County, Watertown City Court may act as a Commercial Claims Court.

One of the first tasks a commercial plaintiff must decide is who to sue. If the defendant is a non-business, then the complete name and address should be in the company records. In addition, if the action arose as result of a consumer transaction, a “demand letter” must be sent to the defendant before a commercial claims action can be started.

A consumer transaction is where your busi-

ness provided money, property or services to the defendant and was primarily for personal, family or household purposes.

A copy of a demand letter can be obtained from the Watertown City Court Larry Covell Clerk and must be sent to the defendant at least 10 days and no more than 180 days before the lawsuit is started. The “demand letter” officially notifies the defendant of the obligation being sued for. In order to use the Watertown City Court as your legal forum, the defendant must live, work or have a place of business in Jefferson County. If the defendant does not, then the action must be filed in the appropriate court in the county in which the defendant does live, work or have a place of business.

If, on the other hand, the defendant is a business, the commercial plaintiff must be certain that the correct entity is sued. Is the defendant a corporation, an LLC or partnership? A corporation’s or LLC’s name can be ascertained online at the New York State Secretary of State’s website. A partnership’s name can be verified in the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office. There is no need to send a “demand letter” to a business entity since it is considered a non-consumer transaction.

The next step is to initiate the law suit by filing a claim with the Commercial Claims Court Clerk. The appropriate legal forms can be obtained from the Watertown City Court Clerk. The commercial plaintiff must provide a brief statement of the facts that

form the basis of the action. If the claim is based on a consumer transaction, the commercial plaintiff must sign a verification that it has filed not more than five commercial claims anywhere in New York in the last calendar month and that a demand letter has been sent to the defendant within the appropriate time period. The court clerk will send the court papers informing the defendant of the law suit and the court date. If the court papers for some reason cannot be served on the defendant by the post office, it is the responsibility of the commercial plaintiff to hire a professional process server to ensure the court papers are serviced on the defendant.

Before trial, the commercial plaintiff should gather all of the evidence necessary to prove its case. If you are alleging damages, two different written itemized estimates of the cost of repair or service are needed.

If part of your evidence is testimony of witnesses or documents held by third persons, it will be necessary to request the court clerk to issue subpoenas. There are two types of subpoenas. The first commands a witness to appear in court to testify. The second is called a “subpoena duces tecum” and requires the custodian of documents to appear in court along with the requested documents. The party requesting subpoena is responsible for serving the subpoena on the individual, payment of witness fees and mileage.

If you have prepared your case adequately, trial will be simply telling the judge your side of the story and presenting evidence in chronological order.

n LARRY COVELL is a professor of business at SUNY Jefferson and an attorney. Contact him at lcovell@sunyjefferson.edu. His column appears every other month in NNY Business.

July 2012 | NNY Business

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C o mmerce c o r n er

Networking is key to biz success

A

business’ effect on the community is an important thing to consider, as community support can create a positive reputation, attract new customers and encourage customer loyalty, regardless of the size of the business.

I believe there is a misconception about economic development and the oversight of the role of small businesses. Small businesses call the community “home” and may be on Main Street, on the outskirts or a farm/ranch operation.

One reason for the lack of attention to small businesses often stems from a perception that they generate little in terms of jobs and dollars for the community’s economic engine.

Small businesses supply many of the goods and services that are necessary to keep a community vibrant and fresh. In looking at small business best practices, it is safe to assume these businesses have a vested interest in their community, resulting in returning some of their profits back into other businesses in the area or investing in the community as a whole. This, along with the community involvement of the business owners, makes small businesses more vital to local economies than large corporations, unless those corporations happen to be headquartered in that community. Small businesses also provide many of the employment opportunities in communities.

As human beings, we need community.

Community allows us to connect with people. In business, community is a way to connect with your audience. Once you’ve defined that target audience, you can do one of two things: engage in exist-

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NNY Business | July 2012

ing communities that reach your audience or start a community that attracts them.

For small businesses, networking is valuable tool and a great way to find out Lynn Pietroski who your ideal customers are and positioning yourself in front of them so they know who you are and what products or services you offer. If you don’t have a good network of contacts and connections, growing your business could be much more difficult.

Networking not only puts you in front of other business leaders in the community, but it also helps you meet potential customers face to face so you can sell yourself and your company to them. Even though networking can be challenging or intimidating at first, it can be beneficial in growing your business. Make sure to stay in touch with the people you meet because your next client might be them or someone they referred to you.

Even if your company is small, you don’t always have to go it alone. Here are some suggestions for reaching out to your larger community of small business owners: MAINTAIN POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH CO-WORKERS — Because good employees

represent a major resource in a small business, the time and effort the owner invests in nurturing that relationship has a huge

return on investment. Employees who feel seen, respected and appreciated almost always produce more than anticipated.

JOIN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS — Our community offers so many professional organizations such as Rotary, Kiwanis and Elk’s to name a few.

BREAK DOWN BARRIERS — Be aware that people have a tendency to maintain loyalty to brands and services within them. It goes without saying that if they feel that what they are exchanging money for is well worth what they paid, they remember and will want to do it again.

BE FLEXIBLE — Be pleasant, light-hearted and conversational. This is the situation in which you really make the most of the fact that you are a person, not just a business.

Find out what the person you’re talking to does and think of ways you could help them and they could help you. Discuss these openly. Make helpful suggestions and explain what you’re looking for.

People will be more open to you if you can help them too.

JOIN THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE —

Every community has a chamber of commerce and every chamber of commerce needs members and volunteers to help out and sponsor local events, workshops and serve on different committees.

Contact yours and ask how you can get involved. Associate your brand with the community you live in. It’s a great way to support your city, build name recognition and establish valuable connections. n Lynn Pietroski is president and CEO of the Greater Watertown North Country Chamber of Commerce. Contact her at ceo@watertownny. com. Her column appears monthly in NNY Business.

A gr i - b u s i n e s s

New event connects public, farms

O

n July 21 and 22, the first “Farm and Food Family Weekend” came to farms across Jefferson County. The event encourages families or anyone looking for something to do, to spend a day exploring all that Jefferson County’s agricultural industry has to offer. Farms and agricultural businesses participating in the program opened their doors, inviting the public to explore their operation.

Dani Baker, who, along with David Belding, owns Cross Island Farms on Wellesley Island, originated the idea. Dani attended an agricultural gathering and heard about a program in another county where farms were inviting the public into their operations on one weekend. The program was a great success, with thousands attending.

Dani approached me and Corey Hayes from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County with the idea of putting together a similar event in Jefferson County. For those that don’t know Dani, she is very good at making ideas happen.

Soon she had enlisted a core group of farmers and ag business people to help on a committee to organize the program. Key to organizing the event was the participation of Tillie Young from the Thousand Islands International Tourism Council.

The council provided their marketing expertise to develop a portion of their website, www.agvisit.com, for the “Farm and Food Open Door Weekend.”

Soon the committee had created a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ FarmOpenHouse and had links established from the county’s ag website

www.comefarmwithus. com. Sponsors including Jefferson County Chapter of Adirondack Harvest, Jefferson Bulk Milk Cheese Store, North Branch Farms and VenJay Matteson ditti Vineyards provided funding for the development of brochures. Information was sent out to farms and ag businesses across Jefferson County. To the amazement of the committee organizing the open house, 26 participants signed up for the first event.

The participants ranged from small vegetable operations, fruit farms, ag museums, pancake mix manufacturers, alpaca farms to farmers markets, feed manufacturers and dairy farms.

Organizers, including myself, thought we’d be lucky to have 10 or 15 participants in the first year. That would be the norm.

Having 26 participants covering all of Jefferson County put the program in reach of anyone in the public who didn’t want to travel far to enjoy the “Farm and Food Open Door Weekend.”

The purposes of events like this are many. Despite the amount of work that goes into planning and running these events, the end result is usually worth the investment. Inviting the public to tour your farm brings people closer to agriculture.

Ninety percent of our population in the United States is two to three generations

removed from farming. For many, one travels to the grocery store and purchases their food off the shelves or out of the coolers. The public has little to no idea what it takes to grow or manufacture our food.

So what? Do I want to tour a car manufacturer? No, not really; I just want a car that runs well and is functional. I don’t need to know what goes on inside the plant.

But there is a difference between the car I purchase and the food I eat. I can survive without a car, although my life would drastically change and be more difficult. I cannot survive without food. It is important to make certain we continue to grow enough food in the United States to feed our people, and, for that matter, much of the world. Misunderstanding and lack of knowledge are making it much more difficult for agriculture to grow what we need to eat, profitably.

Events like the “Farm and Food Weekend” help re-establish a connection between agriculture and the people we feed. Knowing who grows your food serves to reassure the public that our food is safe. And when regulations are proposed by local, state, and federal governments, like regulating the amount of dust a farm produces, or regulating the number of openings a barn may have in it, the public understands better and sometimes takes action when farmers are seen trying to fight the stupidity that threatens our food supply.

n Jay M. Matteson is agricultural coordinator for the Jefferson County Agricultural Development Corp. He is a lifelong Northern New York resident who lives in Lorraine. Contact him at coordinator@comefarmwithus.com. His column appears monthly in NNY Business.

July 2012 | NNY Business

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BUSIN E SS T E C H BY T E S

Can Microsoft keep Office relevant?

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eports are beginning to circulate again around Microsoft’s development of an Office app for the iPad. This is long overdue since Microsoft has really missed the boat when it comes to the mobile technology revolution that is happening all around us. The smartphone era has been a good five years in the making and Microsoft is barely competing with its Windows Phone platform. Lagging way behind iOS and Android with only 2.2 percent of the global smartphone market share for the first quarter of 2012, it has been reflected on Microsoft’s bottom line.

In 2012, Microsoft’s biggest revenue stream is now Microsoft Office, which has been around almost 30 years and dates back to the MS-DOS days. Microsoft built its domain on the omnipresence of the Windows platform, which in turn has propelled Microsoft Office into the de facto standard for productivity applications.

This has been a long time in the making and all began with the launch of Windows 95 and Office for Windows 95 on the same day. This virtually made Office the only game in town for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations on the latest and greatest Windows platform. This tactic worked for Microsoft as they cut WordPerfect off at the knees and we have yet to see a serious challenger to Microsoft’s dominance of desktop productivity apps since. While most businesses and consumers aren’t just buying Windows licenses but Office licenses, too, OpenOffice and Apple are left fighting over the snippets.

But these same customers are now facing a new dilemma — how to make Microsoft Windows and Office play nicely

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NNY Business | July 2012

with all the devices that are running iOS and Android platforms.

More and more people are turning to iPhones, iPads and Android devices since Microsoft has yet to offer Jill Van Hoesen anything really comparable.

Making other versions of Office for iOS and Android will basically give Microsoft a chance to participate in the success of the mobile technology revolution and win the hearts of many big volume licensing enterprises and consumers alike. Information technology support staffs that are now being forced to support iOS and Android will welcome the fewer headaches.

This could once again work to Microsoft’s advantage and truly be part of a master plan. Providing other “flavors” of Microsoft Office for competitive devices could be a marketing ploy aimed at promoting Windows 8 as the tablet operating system.

At the launch for the Surface Tablet PC on June 18, Microsoft’s Product Manager Steven Sinofsky stated “Surface is a stage set for Windows, it’s a tablet that works and plays the way you want to, a tablet that is a great PC, a PC that is a great tablet.”

With Google and Apple still so far ahead in the tablet category, has Microsoft finally recognized the need to provide some form of continuity between the Windows Office-based enterprise versions and the “Bring Your Own Device” revolution? Ac-

cording to Geoff Duncan of Digital Trends, “Microsoft will likely focus on the core applications of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, with OneNote already being available for free on all devices. Word and Excel will enjoy special status as no version of Microsoft Office can stand without them; they’re absolutely guaranteed to be part of any Office suite Microsoft offers for any platform.”

PowerPoint will be the most challenging on iOS, as it has never garnered much of a following from Mac users who have always preferred the already available Keynote. But again, the ability to have a PowerPoint presentation on an iPhone, iPad or Android tablet or smartphone hooked up to a projector at a meeting could be another major boon for the large group of enterprise users who rely heavily on the application.

A key point Microsoft is wrestling with now is that Windows and its Office suite of applications is not the center of people’s mobile universe and it doesn’t look like it will be anytime soon. Preston Gralla of Computerworld.com sums it up nicely, “Microsoft has been out in front on a number of occasions. It’s not that it can’t innovate; it’s that it doesn’t do a good job of turning innovations into market-changing products.”

Do you think that Windows 8 on the Windows Phone and Surface tablet will turn the whole mobile industry upside down? I’m not thinking it’s too likely. n Jill Van Hoesen is chief information officer for Johnson Newspapers and a 25-year IT veteran. Contact her at jvanhoesen@wdt.net.

Her column appears monthly in NNY Business.

S M A L L BUSIN E SS SU C C E SS

Addressing the employee problem

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ecently, I was researching the subject of problem employees for a couple of my clients, and Googled the topic. In the first place, in this economy, I’m kind of amazed that employees are giving anyone problems, but that’s a topic for another time.

So I went online and Googled the topic. According to a recent blog article on Swift Capital’s website, one of the top five stressors for small business owners is having employees. There’s lots of information out there on various business blogs about how to deal with problem employees, too. For example: “Don’t try to solve the employee’s problem yourself or try to force your own solution on the employee — just gently push the employee toward finding their own personal solution”, or “it’s… part of our job to keep our employees motivated and happy so that they will continue to be a contributing part of our organization for the long term. And to do that well we have to know the employees as individuals, and to help them through some of the personal issues that interfere with their ability to do their best work.”

Now, I will be the first to admit that there have been times that I have needed some flexibility in work hours to deal with illness in the family, child care issues, etc. I have been fortunate to have bosses who offered me that flexibility.

But I always tried to pay it back by producing above and beyond my expected duties to show my appreciation for the

breaks I had been given.

However, as I talk to many frustrated employers nowadays, it seems that many employees have an attitude of entitlement, that for some Sarah O’Connell reason they think they are owed something they haven’t even earned in terms of time off, wages and performance evaluations.

words from three talented and successful women entrepreneurs: Nell Merlino, founder of Count Me In for Women’s Success advises, “Hire slowly but fire quickly.”

Robin Wilson, CEO of Robin Wilson Home, a design company, said, “Employees should move your business forward, not make you lose focus—and if they are impeding your strategy due to their own agenda, then they should be warned once and reminded of the company goals. If they cannot do their job or meet their goals, fire them.”

And Barbara Corcoran, real estate expert and one of the stars of the reality show “Shark Tank,” advises, “Make sure you hire the right people. If you hire the wrong person, fire him or her.” She continued, “When I did bring in the wrong people, I fired them fast. I didn’t want the other employees to pay for my misjudgment.”

These are tough words from me. I was lucky to hire employees who believed in my business, and to have bosses who were able to work with me.

But it is a lot easier to hire the right person in the first place than deal with the repercussions and setbacks that come with hiring the wrong one.

These are tough words from me. It is a lot easier to hire the right person in the first place than deal with the repercussions of hiring the wrong one.

So I’m beginning to think that the best solution is to improve your hiring (and firing) skills in the first place. Herb Kelleher, founder of Southwest Airlines, said, “Hire for attitude — train for skills.”

Obviously when you’re hiring for certain jobs, you must have a certain skill set in your employees. But also looking for that good attitude can save you a lot of frustration in the future as you try to cope with an employee who at best doesn’t really care and at worst may be actively trying to sabotage your business.

So employers, if you’re finding yourself as frustrated with employees as some of my clients are, here are some wise

n SARAH O’CONNELL is a certified business advisor with the New York State Small Business Development Center at Jefferson Community College. She is a former small business owner and lifelong Northern New York resident. Contact her at soconnell@sunyjefferson.edu. Her column appears bi-monthly in NNY Business.

July 2012 | NNY Business

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chambeR / WEB directory

NNY CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE  Alexandria Bay

7 Market St., Alexandria Bay, NY 13607; 482-9531, www.visitalexbay.org

 Boonville

122 Main St., P.O. Box 163, Boonville, NY 13309; 942-6823, www.boonvillechamber.com

 CaNTON

60 Main St., P.O. Box 369, Canton, NY 13617; 386-8255, www.cantonnychamber.org

 Cape Vincent

649-3404, www.chaumontchamber.com

393-3620, www.ogdensburgny.com

 Clayton

 Old Forge

 Greater WatertownNorth Country

 Potsdam

517 Riverside Drive, Clayton, NY 13624; 686-3771, www.1000islands-clayton.com

1241 Coffeen St., Watertown, NY 13601; 788-4400, www.watertownny.com

 Gouverneur

 Henderson Harbor

 Sackets Harbor

P.O. Box 468, Henderson Harbor, NY 13651; 938-5568, www.hendersonharborny.com

 Carthage Area

 Massena

572 S. Salina St., Syracuse, NY 13202; 470-1800, www.centerstateceo.com

 Chaumont-Three Mile Bay

P.O. Box 24, Three Mile Bay, NY 13693;

BIZ Web DIRECTORY CITEC Manufacturing & Technology Solutions www.citec.org

Clarkson University Center for Entrepreneurship www.helpmysmallbusinesstoday.com www.facebook.com/CUEntrepCtr www.twitter.com/CUEntrepCtr

Development Authority of the North Country www.danc.org

Lewis County Industrial Development Agency

 Pulaski

3044 Route 13, P.O. Box 34, Pulaski, NY 13142; 298-2213, www.pulaskinychamber.com

 Lewis County

 Centerstate CEO

1 Market St., Potsdam, NY 13676; 274-9000, www.potsdamchamber.com

214 E. Main St., Gouverneur, NY 13642; 287-0331, www.gouverneurchamber.net

175 N. James St., P.O. Box 482, Cape Vincent, NY 13618; 654-2481, www.capevincent.org 120 S. Mechanic St., Carthage, NY 13619; 493-3590, www.carthageny.com

3140 Route 28, P.O. Box 68, Old Forge, NY 13420; 369-6983, www.oldforgeny.com

7576 S. State St., Lowville, NY 13367; 376-2213, www.lewiscountychamber.org 50 Main St., Massena, NY 13662; 7693525, www.massenachamber.com

 Malone

497 East Main St., Malone, NY 12953; 1(518) 483-3760, www.visitmalone.com

 Ogdensburg

1 Bridge Plaza, Ogdensburg, NY 13669;

304 W. Main St., P.O. Box 17, Sackets Harbor, NY 13685; 646-1700, www. sacketsharborchamberofcommerce.com

 South Jefferson

14 E. Church St., Adams, NY 13605; 232-4215, www.southjeffchamber.org

 St. Lawrence

101 Main St., First Floor, Canton, NY 13617; 386-4000, www.northcountryguide.com

 Tri-Town

907 Route 11 C, P.O. Box 297, Brasher Falls, NY 13613; 389-4800, www.tritownchamberofcommerce.com

Jefferson County Job Development Corp.

St. Lawrence River Valley Redevelopment Agency

Procurement Technical Assistance Center

U.S. Small Business Administration

www.jcjdc.net

www.northcountryptac.com

Small Business Development Center at SUNY jefferson

www.slrvra.com

www.sba.gov www.facebook.com/SBAAtlantic www.twitter.com/SBAAtlantic

www.watertown.nyssbdc.org www.facebook.com/WatertownSBDC www.twitter.com/nys_sbdc

Watertown Local Development Corp.

St. Lawrence County IDA / Local Development Corp.

Watertown SCORE

www.slcida.com

www.watertownldc.com

www.scorewatertownny.org

www.lcida.org

315-661-2399 / 1-800-724-1012

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NNY Business | July 2012

Friday, July 20

n Wine and Cheese Reception and Silent Auction, Macsherry Library, 112 Walton St. For event details as they become available, call 482-2241.

Friday, July 20 — Sunday, July 22

n 35th Annual Vintage Boat Show and Reception, opening reception, 6:30 p.m. Friday, Boldt Castle Yacht House. Show hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Sunday: Awards brunch begins at 10 a.m., Edgewood Resort. Show admission: $3; children ages 12 and younger, and members of the military with active duty identification, free. Opening reception: $15 per person in advance or $20 at the door. Awards brunch: $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

Saturday, July 21

n Thousand Islands Land Trust Summer Gathering, 6 to 8 p.m., at the home of Rob and Beth Reddick, location upon registration.

Annual TILT fundraiser and networking opportunity with food, live music and auction.

Tickets: $100 per person. Register: www. tilandtrust.org or 686-5345. n Thursday, July 26 Emerge NNY Summit, Edgewood Resort.

Sponsored by Watertown Jaycees. Featuring speaker Harvey Young of Franklin Covey, a national training company for professionals.

Theme: “Four Imperatives of Leadership,” focusing on the qualities that define wellrounded leaders. Information as it becomes available, www.emergenny.com or www. watertownjaycees.org.

Fridays, July 27 & Aug. 24

n Victorian Tea and Tour of Casa Blanca, 2 p.m., tours leave Uncle Sam’s Boat Tours at 2 p.m., boarding begins at 1:45 p.m. Sponsored by the Alexandria Township Historical Society. Visit Casa Blanca, the summer home of Edith Amsterdam and family, sip tea on the verandah overlooking Millionaire’s Row and the main shipping channel and enjoy a light lunch. Ticket: $25. Reservations: 482-4586.

Information: www.alexandriahistorical.com.

Cape Vincent Saturday, July 14 & Sunday, July 15

n 44th Annual French Festival, beginning with French pastry and French bread sale at 9 a.m. Saturday, Cape Vincent Fire Hall. Sponsored by the Cape Vincent Chamber of Commerce. Activities throughout the weekend in downtown Cape Vincent, including children’s programs, fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Saturday on the waterfront, arts and craft show and sale and antique car parade. Information: www.capevincent.org. Free admission.

Saturday, Aug. 11

n Autos on the River, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Village Green. Sponsored by Cape Vincent Chamber of Commerce. Car show, family events, children’s activities, farmers and craft market from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and free concert on the green from 5 to 7 p.m., spon-

sored by the chamber and the Cape Vincent Arts Council. Information: Cape Vincent Chamber of Commerce, 654-2481.

Clayton Friday, July 20

n Revival of the 1,000 Islands Old Fashioned Community Shore Dinner, 4 to 8 p.m., Coyote Moon Vineyards, 17371 County Route 3. Dine on salt pork sandwiches, hardwood fried fish, salt potatoes, corn on the cob, tossed salad and traditional French toast for dessert. All proceeds benefit the Thousand Islands Museum. Information: www.coyotemoonvineyards.com or 686-5600.

Saturday, July 21

n 1,000 Islands Concours d’Elegance Classic Car Show, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Antique Boat Museum, 750 Mary St. Unique and rare automobiles on display from throughout the region.

Free with museum admission: $13; senior citizens, $12; military, free; children ages 7 to 17, $6.50; children ages 6 and younger, free.

Information: www.abm.org or 686-4104.

Saturday, July 28

Third Annual “Howl at the Moon,” 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Coyote Moon Vineyards, 17371 County Route 3. Live music, wine tasting and wine slushies, farmers market, vendors, food, hayrides in the vineyards and crafts for children. Information: www.coyotemoonvineyards.com or 686-5600.

Thursday, Aug. 2

n Summer Exhibition Opening Reception and Auction, 5 to 7 p.m., Thousand Islands Arts Center and Handweaving Museum, 314 John St. Information: www.tiartscenter.org.

Richard Lockwood Civic Center. Sponsored by the Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce.

“Pride of New York” event with food, beer and wine produced in New York State. Information: www.ogdensburgny.com.

Sackets Harbor Tuesday, July 24

n Meet ‘n Greet, 6 to 8 p.m., the Farm House Kitchen, 17971 County Route 75.

Sponsored by the Sackets Harbor Chamber of Commerce. Rain date: Tuesday, July 31.

Admission: $10. Register: 646-1700.

Saturday, July 28

n Garden Party, 9 a.m. to noon, starts at the gazebo on Main Street. Benefits the Sackets Harbor Firemen’s Ladies Auxiliary. Refreshments and raffles. Tickets: $10.

Wednesday, Aug. 15

n Meet ‘n Greet, 6 to 8 p.m., Fort Pike Commons. Sponsored by Sackets Harbor Chamber of Commerce. Rain date: Wednesday, Aug. 22. Admission: $10. Register: 646-1700.

Syracuse Wednesday, July 18

n Exclusive screening of “Fixing the Future,” VIP reception, 6 to 7 p.m.; show, 7 to 9 p.m., Red House, 201 S. West St. David Brancaccio, host of NOW on PBS, visits communities across America using sustainable and innovative approaches to create jobs and build prosperity in today’s economy. Tickets: Advance, $15; show only at the door, $20; VIP reception and show, which includes food and beverage, $30. Register: Lisa Metot, 470-1870 or lmetot@centerstateceo.com.

Thursday, Aug. 16

Friday, Aug. 10 — Sunday, Aug. 12

n Thousand Islands Arts Center Antique Show and Sale, opening reception with wine and cheese preview, 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Cerow Recreation Park, James Street. Information: www.tiartscenter.org.

Fort Drum

n Speed Networking, 8 a.m., CenterState CEO Headquarters, 572 S. Salina St. Sponsored by CenterState Corp. for Economic Opportunity. Cost: Member, $10; non-member, $25. Register: www.centerstateceo.com or 470-1997.

Watertown

Thursday, July 19

Monday, July 16 & Tuesday, July 17

Monday, Aug. 13

Wellesley Island

n Business After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m., AmeriCU Credit Union, Building P10750 Riva Ridge.

Sponsored by AmeriCU and the Greater Watertown North Country Chamber of Commerce. Cost: Members, $8; members not registered, $10; non-members, $12. Register: www.watertownny.com or 788-4400.

n Fairfield Inn and Suites Job Fair, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., The WorkPlace, 1000 Coffeen St. The newly built Fairfield Inn and Suites will accept applications and have on-the-spot interviews.

Hiring full- and part-time positions. Information: www.fairfieldwatertown.com.

n Starting Your Small Business After Military Career, 9 a.m. to noon, Clark Hall, Mount Belvedere. Getting out of the military and not sure what to do next? Learn about business opportunities in Northern New York. Register: ACAP: 772-3434. Information: 7829262 or sbdc@sunyjefferson.edu.

Sunday, July 22

Ogdensburg

 GOT A BUSINESS EVENT or calendar item? Email nnybusiness@wdt.net. Deadline is the 10th of each month for the following month’s issue. Visit us on Facebook at www.facebook. com/NNY Business or www.nny bizmag.com for events calendar updates.

n Saturday, Aug. 11 & Sunday, Aug. 12 Wine, Beer and Food Festival, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday,

n Festive Evening 2012, starts at 4:30 p.m., Thousand Island Club. Sponsored by River Hospital Foundation. Annual fundraiser that has raised more than $877,000 since 2004.

Live and silent auction. Information, www.riverhospitalfoundation.org or 482-4978.

COMMUNITY / BUSINESS EVENTS CALENDAR

Alexandria Bay

July 2012 | NNY Business

| 51

BUSIN E SS S C E N E Clayton Chamber of Commerce Citizens of the Year Banquet at Cerow Rec Center

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

Top, from left, Tricia Bannister and Beth Rusho, Clayton Chamber of Commerce.

Above, from left, Jeff Garnsey, Classic Island Cruises, and Norma Zimmer, Village of Clayton. The Clayton Chamber of Commerce held its annual Citizens of the Year Banquet at Cerow Recreation Center on June 20, honoring sisters Linda L. Brown and Brenda B. Patch as the 2012 Citizens of the Year.

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NNY Business | July 2012

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

Top, from left, Bobby Cantwell, Cantwell and Associates, Clayton, and Melissa Wainwright, Patch Seaway International. Above, from left, Terry Fox, president, Rivergate Wheelers Club and Kathy Handschuh.

BUSIN E SS S C E N E Clayton Chamber of Commerce Citizens of the Year Banquet at Cerow Rec Center

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

Top, from left, Nicci Hudson, Clayton Dental, Patrick Patch, Patch Seaway International, and Catie Bogenschutz, Cape Vincent Correctional Facility. Above, from left, Chelsey Langridge, Mary Patch, and Thomas Patch Jr., Patch Seaway International.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

Top, from left, Linda L. Brown, K’s Motel & Cottages, Clayton, and sister, Brenda B. Patch, Patch Seaway International, 2012 Clayton Chamber of Commerce Citizens of the Year. Above, from left, Debbie Taylor and husband, Justin, Clayton town supervisor, George Kittle, Clayton deputy town supervisor and wife, Patti.

n VISIT NNY BUSINESS ON FACEBOOK at www. facebook.com/ nnybusiness to view more than 400 additional Business Scene photos from events across the north country since 2010.

July 2012 | NNY Business

| 53

BUSIN E SS S C E N E South Jeff Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at Ryan’s Lookout

JILL VANHOESEN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

Top, from left, Nicky Jareo and husband, Mark, Little Barn Bulk Foods and Koolers Ice Cream, Hounsfield. Above, from left, Nellie Mathous and Rebecca Wewer.

Ryan’s Lookout, Henderson, hosted the South Jefferson Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours on June 7. The evening was sponsored by Ryan’s, Moby Dick Charters, Henderson Harbor, and Little Barn Bulk Foods.

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NNY Business | July 2012

JILL VANHOESEN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

Top, from left, Marlene Mitaly and Danyelle Barrett, both of Business Sanctuary Mediums. Above, from left, Robert Walker and wife, Liz, South Jefferson Lions Club,

BUSIN E SS S C E N E GWNC Chamber of Commerce Arcade Street Block Party Business After Hours

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

Top, from left, Hillary LaClair and Timothy P. Sweeney, station manager, Tunes 92.5 FM -足足 WBLH, Watertown. Above, from left, Chris Page, co-owner, wife, Jessica, co-owner, and Danaisa Schnauber, program manager, Page Fitness and Athletic Club, Watertown. The Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce hosted an Arcade Street Block Party on June 21 for its June Business After Hours.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

Top, from left, Melissa Snyder, Watertown Housing Authority, Stacey Bristow and Lori Sears, both of YMCA. Above, from left, Gail Marsh and husband, Daryl, Home Again Farm, Theresa, and LeAnn Garcia, manager Chipotle, Watertown.

July 2012 | NNY Business

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BUSIN E SS S C E N E GWNC Chamber of Commerce Speaker Series at Black River Valley Club

KYLE R. HAYES PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

Top, from left, Jessica Katz, security analyst, Deborah Kessler, director of marketing and public relations, Kelly Palinski, product specialist, Mike Polce, president, and Michelle Senus, director of administration and human resources, all of M.A. Polce Consulting, Rome. Above, from left, Krista A. Kittle, spokeswoman, and Leslie DiStefano, Samaritan Medical Center. The Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce hosted “Social Media and Your Business” as part of the chamber speaker series on Tuesday, June 26, at the Black River Valley Club.

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NNY Business | July 2012

KYLE R. HAYES PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

Top, from left, Mark Holberg, owner, and Jessica Kelley, WayNorth Web, Watertown. Above, from left, Alexa Bennett, marketing supervisor, and Emma Kruger, Northern Federal Credit Union. M.A. Polce Consulting was the presenting organization for June’s speaker series event.

BUSIN E SS S C E N E Lewis County Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at Falls Pharmacy

CHRISTINA SCANLON PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

CHRISTINA SCANLON PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

Top, from left, Nancy Fruin, Sue Krist and Tina Paczkowski, all of Community Bank. Above, from left, Roy Hammecker, owner of Falls Pharmacy, Lyons Falls Liquor and president of Lyons Falls History Association, Gary Croniser, Nagy and Croniser, Lowville, and Darlene Croniser, local artist. The Lewis County Chamber of Commerce sponsored business after hours on Thursday, June 21, at the Falls Pharmacy.

Top, from left, Tim Paczkowski, Frontier Communications, John Exford, Scotty’s House of BBQ, Rome and Watertown, Beth Exford and John Hirschey, Hirschey and Associates, Lowville. Above from left, Larry Dolhof, owner of Dolhof True Value, Lyons Falls, Jared Thisse, Bernier, Carr and Associates, Watertown, and Brenda Van Nest, Benefit Specialists of New York.

July 2012 | NNY Business

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D ININ G G UI D E Café Mira 14 Main St., Adams (315) 232-4470

Gary’s Restaurant 5424 Shady Ave., Lowville (315) 376-6612

King Star Food Oriental 22265 U.S. Route 11, Watertown (315) 786-0246

Cam’s Pizzeria 25 Public Square, Watertown (315) 779-8900

G&F Italian Pizza and Restaurant 2972 E. Main St., Parish (315) 625-7177

Korean Grill 525 W. Main St., Watertown (315) 681-4226

Cavallario’s Cucina 133 N. Massey St., Watertown (315) 788-9744

Gold Star Deli 343 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 782-6155

Lake Ontario Playhouse 103 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-2305

Cherry Tree Inn 8541 State Route 3, Henderson (315) 938-7281

Goodfellos 202 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-3463

Manor Country Diner Route 11, Pierrepont Manor (315) 465-4400

China City 1125 Arsenal St. Suite 2, Watertown (315) 788-8289

Gram’s Diner 13 Main St., Adams (315) 232-4881

Limerick Hotel 16331 State Route 12E, Limerick (315) 639-6804

Church Street Diner 107 Church St., Carthage (315) 493-0997

Great Wall Chinese 300 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 788-7668

Lloyd’s of Lowville 7405 S. State St., Lowville (315) 376-7037

Coleman’s Corner 849 Lawrence St., Watertown (315) 782-6888

Harby’s Hots Outer Washington Street, Watertown (315) 788-2250

Lucia’s Italian Restaurant 11613 U.S. Route 11, Adams (315) 232-2223

Apollo Restaurant 1283 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 788-3569

Crossroads Diner 22474 U.S. Route 11, Watertown (315) 782-9591

Herrings Inn 35802 State Route 3, Carthage (315) 493-9829

Maggie’s on the River 500 Newell St., Watertown (315) 405-4239

Art’s Jug 820 Huntington St., Watertown (315) 782-9764

Crystal Restaurant 87 Public Square, Watertown (315) 782-9938

Highland Meadows Country Club 24201 State Route 342, Watertown (315) 785-0108

Mariano’s Pizza 981 Waterman Drive, Watertown (315) 788-8088

Bella’s Bistro 602 Riverside Drive, Clayton (315) 686-2341

Daily Buffet (Chinese) 1283 Arsenal St. Stop 8, Watertown (315) 786-8598

Hops Spot 214.5 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-BEER (2337)

Midway Ice Cream 891 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 405-4996

Bernardo’s Pizzeria 702 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 782-9500

Dano’s Pizzeria and Restaurant 24411 State Route 971V, Felts Mills (315) 773-3266

Home Deli Pizza & Subs 305 W. Main St., Watertown (315) 782-6340

Mo’s Place 345 Factory St., Watertown (315) 782-5503

Black River Valley Club 131 Washington St., Watertown (315) 788-2300

Erin’s Isle Restaurant 928 State Route 11C, Brasher Falls (315) 389-4100

Hot Diggity Dogs Salmon Run Mall, Watertown (315) 788-4844

Morgia’s Pasta 22560 Fisher Road, Watertown (315) 788-3509

Blue Heron 12050 Route 12E, Chaumont (315) 649-2240

Fairground Inn 852 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 782-7335

Ives Hill Restaurant 435 Flower Ave. W., Watertown (315) 775-4837

Mr. Sub Sandwich Shop Public Square & Mill St., Watertown (315) 782-1760

Boathouse 214 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-2092

Fireside at Partridge Berry Inn 26561 State Route 3, Watertown (315) 782-8401

Jean’s Beans 259 Eastern Blvd., Watertown (315) 788-7460

NuPier 13212 State Route 3, Sackets Harbor (315) 646-3312

Brookside Diner 1873 State St., Watertown (315) 782-9824

Five Guys 1290 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 221-4258

Johnny D’s 1 Public Square, Watertown (315) 782-6108

Original Italian Pizza 222 N. Massey St., Watertown (315) 786-0000

Brownville Diner 114 W. Main St., Brownville (315) 786-8554

Fung Hing Chinese 225 State St., Watertown (315) 785-9689

Karen & Jasper’s Bar & Bistro 1322 Washington St. Plaza, Watertown (315) 788-4110

Papa Tino’s Pizzeria 716 Mill St., Watertown (315) 782-7272

n A directory of independent coffee houses, bars and restaurants.

Full-service restaurants 1025 Ruyi Japanese Steak House 1025 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 405-4501 1844 House “An American Bistro” 6885 U.S. Route 11, Potsdam (315) 268-1844 2000 Chinese Restaurant 22070 U.S. Route 11, Watertown (315) 788-2000 La Bella Fonte 10700 U.S. Route 11, Adams (315) 232-4842 A & J’s Diner 455 Court St., Watertown (315) 777-4811 Andy’s Caribbean Cuisine 302 Court St., Watertown (315) 777-8658

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NNY Business | July 2012

D ININ G G UI D E Pete’s Restaurant 111 Breen Ave., Watertown (315) 782-6640

Read the reviews

Pickle Barrel Cafe 32523 Route 12, Depauville (315) 686-3640

 Log on to www.watertowndaily times.com to read restaurant reviews

by Watertown Daily Times restaurant critic Walter Siebel.

Pizza Shack 12699 State Route 3, Sackets Harbor (315) 646-2267

Get on the list

Rainbow Shores Restaurant 186 Rainbow Shores Road, Pulaski (315) 298-5110 Rajit 262 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 782-5513 Ramada Inn 21000 State Route 3, Watertown (315) 788-0700 Rhonda’s Place Family Diner 566 State St., Watertown Riccardo’s Market & Deli 710 Holcomb St., Watertown (315) 782-7810 Riverhouse 4818 Salina St., Pulaski (315)509-4281 Roberts Family Pizzeria 839 State St., Watertown (315) 786-2006 Roma Restaurant 19 Bridge St., Carthage (315) 493-0616 Romalato’s Gourmet Deli 450 Gaffney Drive, Watertown (315) 681-6653 Ryan’s Lookout 9290 State Route 3, Henderson (315) 938-5151

 Call NNY Business associate editor Kyle Hayes at (315) 661-2381 or email khayes@wdt.net to have your restaurant or bar listed in our monthly dining guide today.

Shorty’s Place 1280 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 782-7878 Shuler’s Steak & Seafood 802 Mill St., Watertown (315) 782-1429 Soluri’s Pizza 526 Factory St., Watertown (315) 782-2888 Stonefence Resort 7191 State Route 37, Ogdensburg (315) 393-1545 Stone Jug Pizzeria 104 Bartlett Road, Sackets Harbor (315) 646-1008 Suk Hui Hi’s Korean 1301 State St., Watertown (315) 785-9740 Super Wok Chinese Restaurant 20991 State Route 3, Watertown (315) 788-5389 Teriyaki Experience 21852 Towne Center Drive, Watertown (315) 785-9254

Sackets Harbor Brew Pub 212 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-2739

Thailand Thai Restaurant 1857 State St., Watertown (315) 788-6688

Sandy’s Luncheonette 5 Public Square, Watertown (315) 782-2935

The Place 1612 Ford St., Ogdensburg 315-393-3080

Savory Downtown 300 Washington St., Watertown (315) 782-8000

Thousand Island Club 21952 Club Road, Alexandria Bay (315) 482-9999

Sboro’s Restaurant 836 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 788-1728

Tico’s Mex Mex Grill 65 Public Square, Watertown (315) 836-4778

Tilted Kilt 1050 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 782-5458

Clueless 545 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 782-9006

Tin Pan Galley 110 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-3812

Crazy Legs Saloon 536 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 777-8333

United China Restaurant 144 Eastern Blvd., Watertown (315) 782-4432

Edge of the River Pub 519 W. Main St., Watertown (315) 788-0695

Violi’s Restaurant 209 Center St., Massena (315) 764-0329

Fat Boys 743 Huntington St., Watertown (315) 779-0087

Village Inn 8208 Main St., Harrisville (315) 543-9382 VV’s Mexican Kitchen Noble Street, Evans Mills (315) 629-4652 Walsh’s Pub & Grill 101 E. Main St., Brownville (315) 782-6065 Watertown Golf Club Grill and Bar 1 Thompson Park, Watertown (315) 782-5606 Willowbrook Golf Club 25075 State Route 37, Watertown (315) 782-8192 Wing Wagon 71 Public Square, Watertown (315) 836-3205

Coffee Houses Brew Ha Ha 468 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 788-1175 Chrissy Beanz Bakery 105 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-2330 Coffee Shop Carbone Plaza, Watertown (315) 782-0450 Danny’s Coffee 21181 Salmon Run Mall, Watertown (315) 782-7057

Fort Pearl Inc. 557 Pearl St., Watertown (315) 786-3333 Hitchin’ Post Tavern 404 Court St., Watertown (315) 782-9656 Hometown Pizzeria 4 W. Church St., Adams (315) 232-3000 Joe’s Tavern 548 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 782-9709 Kicker’s Lounge 498 Factory St., Watertown (315) 785-9392 Mick’s Place 204 Factory St., Watertown (315) 786-1992 Paddock Club 5 Paddock Arcade, Watertown (315) 786-6633 Pappy’s Bowlmor Lanes 227 E. Orvis St., Massena (315) 769-9877 Pewter Mug 1120 Gill St., Watertown (315) 782-0200 Seth’s Pub 558 State St., Watertown (315) 681-6645

Bars / Nightlife

Shootie’s Bar 504 Pearl St., Watertown (315) 782-9724

Artie’s Tavern 329 High St., Watertown (315) 782-9616

Time Warp Tavern 302 State St., Watertown (315) 782-9784

July 2012 | NNY Business

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BUSIN E SS H IS T O R Y

A stitch in time

n Davis Sewing Machine a once thriving manufacturer

T

Jefferson County Historical Society

he Davis Sewing Machine Co. manufactured a new and greatly improved machine for heavy work, which seems to have taken precedence over all others.

In the mid-1860s Job Davis, an inventor, traveled to Watertown and displayed his Davis Sewing Machine at the Woodruff house. The Davis machine was a great improvement over the sewing machine previously invented by Elias Howe and it aroused the interest of brothers John and Joseph Sheldon.

In February 1868, the Davis Sewing Machine Co. was started in Watertown by the Sheldons with a capital of $150,000, which was quickly increased to $300,000.

When the company started production, it was located in a building on Factory Street, then moved to another location on Beebee Island and later moved to still larger facilities on Sewall’s Island.

These facilities consisted of two buildings, the main structure, which was 175 feet by 40 feet, two stories high with an attic, and 40 feet by 30 feet wing, as well as an office building measuring 50 feet by 30 feet.

In April 1869, they received an order for 1,400 machines from a firm in Paris, with delivery in three months. All employees of the company worked full time to complete orders being received, which tested the full capacity of the factory. The Sheldon brothers’ office and sales room were rented at 1 Paddock Arcade.

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NNY Business | July 2012

JEFFERSON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

An advertisement for the Davis Sewing Machine, ca. 1870s. The manufacturer started producing sewing machines in Watertown in February 1868.

By 1875, the company manufactured in excess of $300,000 worth of machines.

The number of employees was 175 and assets of the company were about $1,000,000.

Since the Davis Co. did not own a foundry, they arranged

with Bagley and Sewall to do the casting of the iron parts.

Bagley and Sewall found that their contract with Davis was a very important one. The company was making castings for about 75 sewing machines each day and later the pro-

duction stepped up and there were weeks when more than 150 machines were manufactured each day.

What made the machine so revolutionary? The secret was in the “feed.” The feeds used previously were wheel-feed, which consisted of a revolving wheel that automatically moved forward at each stitch.

The Davis Machine had a “vertical feed.” This was a major improvement over the old method and allowed for smooth and flexible seams with stitches alike on both sides. It also allowed the sewing of any number of thicknesses without basting and operated equally well on the heaviest and lightest fabrics.

In the mid-1880s, Davis had 300 employees and was quickly moving forward. The company offered nine different models of machines, all featuring the vertical feed. Prices ranged from $55 for the ornamental machine on an iron stand with black walnut table top and large drawer to $150 for the full cabinet model that was highlyornamented with inlaid pearl and silver plated.

The black walnut case was lined and had four large drawers and a folding cover. Each machine was sent out with two hemmers’ braider, quilter, oilcan, screwdriver, four bobbins, one dozen needles and printed instructions.

The owners of the company were always looking for ways to advertise. They came up with an ingenious method with music. They enlisted the remaining members of the old Firemen’s City Band, outfitted them with new uniforms

and instruments and named them the Davis Sewing Machine Band.

The band was well known all over Northern New York and Canada and was certainly a new and different form of advertising for the company. Not only were they a good advertisement, they were also a very good band, winning international band competitions in Toronto. They would later be known as the Watertown City Band.

The Davis Sewing Machine Co. was at one time the largest company in Watertown. The company was a genuine Watertown concern and was principally financed and managed by well-known citizens of the community. To outsiders, it looked as if the company’s initial prosperity would continue. Unfortunately, by the late 1880s, things went terribly wrong.

Two main problems arose that had severe effects on the company. The first was shoddy workmanship. Products were being sent from the factory that did not have the same fine quality workmanship that the early workers had prided themselves in.

One of the main reasons for this was undoubtedly the demand for the machines. However, the more shortcuts taken to speed up production, the more inferior the product became. Demand dropped off due to the inadequate quality of the machines.

Another reason for the company’s fiscal problems was the fact that they were involved in a lengthy and costly lawsuit.

Even though they eventually won the suit, the damage took its toll and the company was on its way to financial ruin.

In January 1889, the Davis Sewing Machine Co. stockholders voted to transfer the company’s manufactory and place of business to Dayton, Ohio.

On January 13, 1890, about 80 residents boarded the train for Dayton. The company’s manager, Levi A Johnson, accompanied this first group. The company furnished the tickets for the employees and their families and paid for the freight on their household goods.

Some of the first employees to move included Melvin Chadwick, Edward Maltby, W. W. Cunningham, David Manson, C O’Leary, Fred Gettings, Thomas Spencer, Charles Rooney, as well as members from the Kennedy, Peters and Randolph families. Several other families joined them in the months that followed. n Business history is a monthly feature provided by the Jefferson County Historical Society. Visit www.jeffersoncountyhistory.org for museum hours and program updates and to learn more about the Jefferson County Historical Society.

July 2012 | NNY Business

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W H AT ’ S H A P P E NIN G H E R E ?

MEADOWBROOK TERRACE ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY Location: 21957 Cole Road, Champion

SIZE: 42,000 square feet on

approximately 10 acres. A 60-bed assisted living facility when completed.

COST: $9.5 million ARCHITECT: Nelson Associates,

Clinton

DEVELOPER: Murnane,

New Hartford

ESTIMATED COMPLETION: End of 2012

LOCAL JOBS: Approximately two dozen construction jobs and 30 to 40 new administrative, nursing, maintenance and housekeeping jobs at the facility.

— Compiled by Rebecca Madden

NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS

Construction continues on Carthage Area Hospital’s Meadowbrook Terrace, a 60-bed assisted living facility in Champion. The facility will provide more than 30 administrative, nursing, maintenance and housekeeping jobs.

N E X T M ON T H

I

n our August cover story, we examine the impact of the north country’s health care sector on the region’s economic health as medical services have grown.

Also coming next month:

n THE BUSINESS OF AGING: The graying of Northern New York has led to major investments in geriatric care facilities.

We examine the progress in our counties. n RECRUITING TOP DOCS: We go inside north country health care operations to examine the challenges associated with luring top clinicians to the region. n 20 QUestions: An in-depth interview with a north country business leader. n PLUS: NNY Snapshot, Economically Speaking, Commerce Corner, Nonprofits Today, Business Tech Bytes, Small Business Success, Real Estate, Agri-Business, Business History, Business Scene and more. n VISIT US ONLINE at our new website, WWW.NNYBIZMAG.COM, Follow us on Twitter for daily updates at @NNYBusiness Mag, like us on Facebook at www.facebook. com/nnybusiness, and view eEditions at www.issuu.com/NNYBusiness.

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NNY Business | July 2012

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