NNY Business February 2016

B

Y usIness

// 2015 year-end real estate report:

jefferson co. home sales dip P. 24

FEBRUARY 2016 Volume 6 No. 3

nnybizmag.com

Competition, tradition fuel auto industry Many milestones in year ahead for local dealerships

***

THE INTERVIEW Blevins Motors owner John L. Blevins p. 28

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Inside FEBRUARY 2016

14

13 24 20

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COVER |

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BUSINESS BRIEFCASE |

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14 All revved up The north country’s auto sector is an ever-evolving industry embracing change. |

12 OUtlet mall planned A Miami developer has unveiled plans for an outlet mall near Fort Drum’s gate. |

SMALL BIZ STARTUP |

13 What’s old is new Evans Mills antique dealer boasts a loyal following, early success in new locale.

MANUFACTURING |

20 A capital investment Knowlton Technologies new owner Eastman Chemical pumps $3.5m into operation.

FEATURES |

24 30 years with pride Stefano’s Pizzeria marks a major milestone in Carthage. |

TOP TRANSACTIONS |

27 JEFFERSON COUNTY The top 10 property sales in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties topped more than $11m in December.

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BUSINESS SCENE |

38 NETWORKING, NNY STYLE From Jefferson to Lewis counties, businessmen and women connect for success. |

BUSINESS HISTORY |

44 death by innovation A once-thriving carriage industry in saw its death with early automobiles. |

ONLINE |

NNYBIZMAG.COM Connect with us online for daily updates, more photos and exclusive Web content.

February 2016 | NNY Business

|5

Contributors

BusIness www.nnybizmag.com

Chairman of the Board John B. Johnson Jr.

Editor & Publisher Lance M. Evans is executive officer for the Jefferson-Lewis and St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors. He weighs the merits of ‘For Sale By Owner.’ (p. 26)

Bob Gorman is president and CEO of United Way of Northern New York.

He writes about the toll that the heroin epidemic is taking on local nonprofits. (p. 31)

Jill Van Hoesen is chief information officer for Johnson Newspapers and a 28-year IT veteran.

She writes about the new Microsoft’s office Mobile software suite. (p. 32)

John B. Johnson

Co-Publisher

Harold B. Johnson II

Magazine Editor

Kenneth J. Eysaman

Magazine Associate Karee M. Magee

Contributing Writers

Norah Machia & Joleene Moody

Photography

Justin Sorensen, Amanda Morrison Jason Hunter, Stephen Swofford Jennifer McCluskey is an advisor for the state Small Business Development Center at SUNY Canton. She offers tips to boost Search Engine Optimization. (p. 34)

Jay Matteson is the agricultural coordinator for the Jefferson County Industrial Development Corp. He writes about the controversy around manure storage. (p. 33)

Joleene Moody is a freelance writer who lives in Pulaski with her husband and daughter. She writes about how coming close to quitting something can help you win. (p. 35)

Director of Advertising Michelle Bowers

Magazine Advertising Manager Beth Hornbarger

Advertising Sales

Justin Sullivan, Mike Hanson, Laurie Denesha, Barb Loomis, Jim Homa, Katie Nelson Amy Rivera, Cindy Aucter, Yvonne Houppert

Advertising Graphics

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

Circulation Director Mary Sawyer

Ted Booker is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer based in Watertown. In real estate this month, he writes about year-end home sales across the tricounty region. (p. 24)

MARKETPLACE Bianchi’s Catering ............... 21 Blevins Motors ...................... 41 Body Pros ................................ 7 Bonnie Castle Resort & Marina ............................... 23 C & M Auto ........................... 16 Camden Renewable Energy Systems .................... 23 Caskinette’s Ford ................. 38 Clayton Dental Office ........... 4 Coleman’s Corner ............... 21 Community Bank ................. 25 Creg Systems Corp. ............... 8 D.L. Calarco Funeral Home ..... 34 Dr. Guitar ................................ 4 Dunn-Glass Insurance ........... 9 Essenlohr Motors .................. 25 Fairground Inn ...................... 21 First Class Auto Glass .......... 17 Foy Agency ............................ 4

Fred’s Quick Lube .................. 4 Fuccillo Automotive ............ 16 Fuller Insurance ..................... 4 GWNC Chamber of Commerce ................ 18, 46 HD Goodale Co. .................... 4 High Tower Advisors ............ 30 Hospice of Jefferson County .................................. 45 Immaculate Heart Central Schools .................... 45 Ives Hill Country Club .......... 21 Krafft Cleaning ..................... 39 Lee Buick GMC .................... 32 Mary Kay Cosmetics ............. 4 NNY Auto Finder .................... 3 Northern New York Community Foundation ...... 27 Northwestern Mutual ............. 8 Nortz & Virkler Ford .............. 16

6 | NNY Business | February 2016

Ridge View Inn ..................... 21 Sea Comm Federal Credit Union ......................... 26 Stephen C. Foy Inc. ............. 19 TF Wright & Sons ................... 35 Truax & Son Insurance ........... 9 Tunes 92.5 FM ....................... 40 Waite Motorsports ................ 43 Waite Toyota ........................ 42 Watertown Auto Repair ....... 16 Watertown Daily Times Job Network ................................ 46 Watertown Savings Bank ...... 2 Watertown Spring & Alignment ............................. 16 Wills Wrecker ........................ 16 WPBS .................................... 48 WWTI 50 TV ............................ 47 Ziebart Tidycar ..................... 16

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. © 2010-2016. 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 bhornbarger@wdt.net, or call 315-661-2325 In St. Lawrence County, e-mail blabrake@ogd.com, or call 315-661-2507 Printed with pride in U.S.A. at Vanguard Printing LLC, Ithaca, N.Y., a Forest Stewardship Certified facility.

Please recycle this magazine.

|

INTERVIEW

|

|

About THE COVER

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28 rolling with change Some 47 years after Leland Blevins opened a Dodge dealership, the business is reaching new heights.

We visit with present owner John L. Blevins for his perspective on the region’s automotive industry. |

COLUMNS

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31 NONPROFITS TODAY 32 BUSINESS TECH BYTES 33 AGRIBUSINESS |

DEPARTMENTS

8 9 10 12 13

34 SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS 35 entrepreneur’s edge

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EDITOR’S NOTE PEOPLE ON THE MOVE ECONOMIC SNAPSHOT BUSINESS BRIEFCASE SMALL BIZ STARTUP

26 36 48 44

real estate roundup CALENDAR BUSINESS SCENE BUSINESS HISTORY

For this month’s cover shot, photographer Amanda Morrison captured F.X. Caprara President Charlie Caprara at his family company’s new Honda franchise, under construction off Bradley Street in Watertown. In our cover story, which begins on page 14, writer Joleene Moody examines north country’s automotive industry as many dealers make new investments in growth and expansion.

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February 2016 | NNY Business

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f I were a betting man, I’d wager a guess that most adults take for granted the car or truck that carries them wherever they want to travel.

Once the novelty of earning a seat behind the wheel wears off, driving becomes a rather pedestrian task that is occasionally punctuated by the thrill of speed and the annoyance of traffic in areas of the country more congested than ours.

In my nearly 42 years, I’ve been blessed to live in many different parts of the country — Boston, Denver, Atlanta — where daily traffic Ken Eysaman means a 30-minute standstill on a short stretch of interstate in a 65 mph speed zone. We Northern New Yorkers love our cars and trucks, but loathe the traffic our big city brethren battle daily. For many people, an automobile is the single largest purchase they’ll make in a lifetime of spending. In this month’s cover story, writer Joleene Moody visits four auto dealerships: F.X. Caprara, Davidson Auto Group, Nortz & Virkler Ford, and Mort Backus & Sons. Joleene’s story, which begins on page 14, is a story of four car families who have enjoyed the competitive industry that is our automotive sector. n

n

n

20 Questions — John L. Blevins grew up in the automotive business in St. Lawrence County. Forty-seven years after Leland Blevins opened a Dodge dealership, Blevins Motors, has adapted through decades of change in the auto industry to a multi-brand auto dealership and an RV dealership. We sat down with John to talk about the evolution of the industry and how local dealerships can succeed in a highly competitive, shifting landscape.

BUSINESS SCENE — This month’s Scene section, which begins on page 38, features 50 faces from more than three dozen business and organizations across the north country.

On Jan. 20, we joined the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce at Tunes 92.5/104.5 FM WBLH Radio, Watertown, for January’s Business After Hours. On Jan. 21, Lewis County Editor Jeremiah Papineau joined the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce for Business After Hours at Snow Ridge Ski Resort, Turin.

On Jan 22, we joined Watertown’s Downtown Business Association for its annual membership awards night at Savory Café, Watertown. Congratulations to the fine businesses and organizations that were honored.

On Jan. 27, we joined the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce at the Ramada Inn for the 2016 Economic Forecast breakfast, an event that the magazine was proud to sponsor.

Finally, on Jan. 28, we joined the EMERGE Professional Group of NNY for its first networking mixer at Savory Café, Watertown. n

n

n

I am pleased to welcome Karee Magee to our team. She joined NNY Magazines in late November as a magazine associate. A north country native, Karee grew up in the Clinton County hamlet of West Chazy before attending SUNY Potsdam, where she earned a bachelor’s in English literature. She later attended the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, Chicago, where she earned a master’s in magazine journalism. Before she joined NNY Magazines, she worked as a reporter for the Bismarck, N.D., Tribune. Karee is thrilled to be home in her native New York and looks forward to warner days when she can explore the north country’s great outdoors.

Yours in business,

nex t month

I

n March, our annual Women in Business issue, writer Norah Machia visits a handful of women who have answered the call for public service.

From city and county managers to district attorneys, women are making a positive mark on Northern New York.

Also coming next month: n 20 QUESTIONS: We sit down to an indepth interview with Jefferson County Sheriff Coleen M. O’Neill, the first woman to win election to a sheriff’s post in New York.

8 | NNY Business | February 2016

n BUSINESS HISTORY: A look through our archives at a north country business. n PLUS: NNY Snapshot, Economically Speaking, Entreprenuer’s Edge, Commerce Corner, Nonprofits Today, Business Tech Bytes, Small Business Success, Real Estate, Agribusiness, and Business Scene. n VISIT US ONLINE at nnybizmag.com.

Follow us on Twitter for daily updates at @NNYBusinessMag, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/nnybusiness, and view eEditions at issuu.com/NNYBusiness.

P E O P L E O N T H E M O VE

New community manager at Fort Drum Mountain Community Homes

Joshua Kennedy recently joined the staff of Fort Drum Mountain Community Homes as community manager for the Adirondack Creek community.

Before pursuing a career in property management, Mr. Kennedy left his hometown of Gouverneur to Kennedy become a special signals analyst in the U.S. Navy. After five years of service he went on to graduate from North Carolina State, where he majored in sports management with a minor in coaching education.

Upon graduation, Mr. Kennedy took a job with Red Lobster to obtain management experience. After three years as manager, he moved on to a property manager position with student housing in the Potsdam area where he has worked for the past few years before joining Fort Drum Mountain Community Homes in October.

Named director of Tug Hill commission

Katie H. Malinowski, who joined the New York State Tug Hill Commission in 1998, has become its first female executive director.

The commission’s board decided on Jan. 25 to appoint Ms. Malinowski as the fourth executive director to lead the non-regulatory state agency. Based Malinowski in the Dulles State Office Building, the commission serves municipalities across the Tug Hill region, which encompasses 41 towns and 20 villages across Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego and Oneida counties.

Ms. Malinowski had served as acting executive director since the retirement last July of John K. Bartow Jr. She was previously the director of natural resources, a position that’s expected to be

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.

filled this year.

Ms. Malinowski said her workload has broadened as the head of the commission.

Though she will spend more time in Albany to stay in touch with legislators and state agencies, she plans to stay involved in providing guidance to municipalities across the region.

Ms. Malinowski earned a bachelor of science degree in environmental studies in 1995 from SUNY Binghamton. In 1997, she earned a master of science degree in environmental affairs from the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs.

The 42-year-old said that after joining the commission, the first project she was involved in was the Maple Ridge Wind Farm in Lewis County. She spent several years conducting research to provide town officials with useful information about the 195-turbine, 320-megawatt project. The wind farm, which became operational in 2006, encompasses the towns of Martinsburg, Harrisburg and Lowville.

As part of their research, she said town officials from Lewis County visited the Madison County wind farm — the first operational project in the state. Among other things, the commission developed an issue paper on the Maple Ridge project for municipalities.

Ms. Malinowski said the commission will continue to serve as a resource for municipalities to understand how to address issues. “We want to look at the landscape regionally and statewide to make sure we deal with new opportunities and issues,” she said.

years helped to build the firm’s wastewater engineering portfolio. He was involved with the planning, design and construction oversight of every wastewater treatment plant the company completed over that time frame, company officials said.

“Bob’s thoroughness in design Parker and meticulous nature has set the standard at Bernier, Carr and built the reputation that we enjoy for having wastewater treatment plants that run well for many years and help to keep our local waterbodies clean,” Bernier, Carr CEO Kevin Lewis said. “Bob has taught everyone in the engineering division everything that we know about wastewater treatment processes. He has set the bar very high and given us the tools to maintain the high standards that he has set. Bob will be missed by all of us who have worked with him for so long and that his departure will leave a big hole to fill.”

Retires from Bernier, Carr & Associates

Longtime Bernier, Carr & Associates employee Bob Parker retired in December to pursue other interests and to spend more time with his family after more than 30 years with the firm.

Mr. Parker started working with BCA on Nov. 1, 1981, and during the last 34

February 2016 | NNY Business

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Average per-gallon milk price paid to N.Y. dairy farmers December 2015 $1.64 November 2015 $1.62 December 2014 $2.14

23.4%

Source: NYS Department of Agriculture

349,266 in December 2015 366,487 in November 2015 371,791 in December 2014

Average NNY price for gallon of regular unleaded gas

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

December 2015 $2.21 November 2015 $2.26 December 2014 $2.94

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

24.8%

30.0%

19.0%

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

December 2015 $2.47 November 2015 $2.37 December 2014 $2.84

91,100 in December 2015 91,700 in November 2015 90,900 in December 2014

13.0%

0.22%

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

112, median price $141,450 in December 2015 96, median price $142,450 in November 2015 100, median price $125,000 in December 2014

51, median price $77,000 in December 2015 58, median price $74,700 in November 2015 44, median price $110,000 in December 2014

12.0% Sales

13.2%

15.9%

Price

30.0%

Sales

Price

Source: St. Lawrence Board of Realtors Inc.

Source: Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors Inc.

NNY unemployment rates United States

5.4

4.8 November 2015

December 2014

4.8 December 2015

4.7 November 2015

December 2014

4.7 December 2015

5.6

7.9

New York State

5.9 November 2015

6.7 December 2015

6.1 November 2015

7.0

6.0 December 2015

Lewis County

December 2014

St. Lawrence County

7.5 December 2014

6.5 November 2015

6.8

Jefferson County

December 2015

ECON SNAPSHOT

December 2015 $2.33 November 2015 $2.42 December 2014 $3.33

6.1%

$1.38 on Dec. 30, 2015 $1.33 on Nov. 30, 2015 $1.16 on Dec. 30, 2014

Average NNY price for gallon of home heating oil

10 | NNY Business | February 2016

(Percent gains and losses are over 12 months)

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

December 2014

NNY

Economic indicators

Source: U.S. Department of Labor and New York State Department of Labor (Not seasonally adjusted. Latest available data reported.)

Note: Due to updates in some “Econ. Snapshot� categories, numbers may differ from previously published prior month and year figures.

Economic indicators New automobiles (cars and trucks) registered in Jefferson County

Trucks Cars 117 in December 2015 396 in December 2015 111 in November 2015 318 in November 2015 338 in December 2014 127 in December 2014

17.2%

NNY

7.9%

Source: Jefferson County Clerk’s Office

Passengers at Watertown International Airport

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

2,655 inbound and outbound in December 2015 2,593 inbound and outbound in November 2015 3,211 inbound and outbound in December 2014

2,305 in December 2015 2,290 in November 2015 2,407 in December 2014

17.3%

DBAs

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

DBA (doing business under an assumed name) certificates filed at the Jefferson County Clerk’s office Dec. 2 to Dec. 31, 2015. For a complete list of DBAs filed in past months, visit www.nnybizmag.com.

Jan. 29: Underground Statements, 20721 State Route 12F, Watertown, Kimberly L. Harten, 20721 State Route 12 F. Jan. 26: Love and Leashes, 744 Lansing St. Watertown, Alicia Ann Crawford, 744 Lansing St., Watertown Jan. 25: Car Keys, 16947 Churchill Road, Watertown, Eric P. Rowland, 15674 Eimcke Place, Watertown, Brandon J. Sweet, 16947 Churchill Road, Watertown Jan. 22: Cam Driving School, 17072 State Route 3, Watertown, Loren Clinton, 17072 State Route 3, Watertown Miley Mending & Embroidery, 8030C General Patton St., Fort Drum, Rebecca Marie Phillips Miley, 8030C General Patton St., Fort Drum Guffin Bay Woodworking, 9222 County Route 125, Chaumont, Thomas S. Strejlau, 9222 County Route 125, Chaumont Jan. 21: RH Contracting, 135 Flower Ave. E., Watertown, Ronald A. Hamblin Jr., 135 Flower Ave. E., Watertown

Jan. 11: Rainbow Renaissance Learning, 123 Bowers Ave., Watertown, Marie Suzanne Rainbolt, 123 Bowers Ave., Watertown Jan. 7: Nightfighter Security, 6145A Meadow Wood Drive, Fort Drum, Zamar Devonn Turner, 6145 A Meadow Wood Drive, Fort Drum Under the Camphor Tree, 335 E. Joseph St., Cape Vincent, Melissan Rookman, 355 E. Joseph St. Cape Vincent Saw Barn, 26214 U.S. Route 11, Evans Mills, Timothy A. Danks, 22451 County Route 47, Carthage Peace of Mind Home Connection, 740 S. Massey St., Watertown, Allyson Elizabeth MacNay, 740 S. Massey St., Watertown Jan. 6: Reed Haven Associate, 17410 Cady Road, Adams, Dan D. Reed, 17410 Cady Road, Adams Center, Joanne M. Reed, 17410 Cady Road, Adams Center, Alan G. Reed, 17410 Cady Road, Adams Center, Andrew C. Reed, 18136 County Route 63, Watertown, Justin D. Reed, 18134 County Route 63, Watertown

Huttons Barbershop, 67 North Main St., Adams, Lisa M. Hutton, 18965 County Route 91, Adams

Chateau White’s Pottery, 111 Esselstyne St., Cape Vincent, Dean White, 111 Esselstyne St., Cape Vincent, Susan Castle, 111 Esselstyne St., Cape Vincent

Jan. 15: Pie Zanos Pizza, 1322 Washington St., Watertown, Thomas G. Ierlan, 15303 Heritage Drive, Clayton, Nicholas D. Morgia, 18222 County Route 65, Watertown

Julie’s Custom Cakes, 208 Paddock St., Watertown, Julie Piazza Kelly, 208 Paddock St. Watertown

Jan. 13: GS Construction, 511 Cooper St., Watertown, Gary R. Shattuck, 511 Cooper St., Watertown

Jan. 5: Rothy Custom Tshirts, 21182 Salmon Run Mall Loop W., Watertown, Bradley Steven Roth, 26328 Lanner Lane, Evans Mills

North Star Property Services, 123 North Pleasant St., Watertown, Michael Hall, 37009 State Route 3, Carthage

Paintless Dent Repair of NNY, 497 Newell St., Watertown, Nicholas Sherwood, 497 Newell St., Watertown

Gracey Stoney Acres, 27123 State Route 283, Calcium, Michael J. Gracey, 27123 State Route 283, Calcium, Mary Rita Gracey, 26819 State Route 283, Calcium

Sech Family Farms, 33656 Lamb Road, Carthage, Matthew J. Sech, 33656 Lamb Road, Carthage

Jan. 12: CHO Design, 808 Huntington St., Watertown, Carolyn H. Osborne, 14110 County Route 68, Rodman

Jan. 4: PRW2 Delivery Service, P.O. Box 157, State Route 3, Great Bend, Prennis Ray Williams II, P.O. Box 157, State Route 3

transactions

Source: Jefferson County Board of Legislators

4.2%

February 2016 | NNY Business

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business briefcase MILESTONES

Watertown Chamber names award winners

The Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce recently announced recipients of 2015 Business of the Year awards.

Recipients are Krafft Cleaning Service (for-profit, more than 50 employees), Children’s Home of Jefferson County (nonprofit, more than 50), RBC Wealth Management (for-profit, 50 or fewer) and United Way of Northern New York (nonprofit, 50 or fewer). The recipient of the Farm & Craft Market Vendor of the Year award, which recognizes vendors for their accomplishments at the Watertown market on Washington Street, is Coyote Moon Vineyards, Clayton.

Awards will be presented during an annual awards presentation and luncheon at 11:30 a.m. March 3 at Savory Downtown, 300 Washington St. The awards are designed to recognize Jefferson County businesses and organizations that have invested in the region and achieved economic success. Recipients were selected by a committee composed of a diverse group of business leaders.

To register for the awards luncheon, contact the contact the chamber at 788-4400 or events@watertownny.com.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Schumer urges more funding for EDA vital to job creation

Sen. Charles E. Schumer has revealed that hundreds of job creating applications to the U.S. Economic Development Administration go unfunded each year, and he’s pushing to make the pot of funding bigger.

Mr. Schumer, D-N.Y., announced Wednesday that the EDA is unable to fund nearly 800 applications nationwide each year because it doesn’t have enough available funding. He has urged federal appropriators to significantly increase EDA funding this year, according to a news release from the senator’s office.

The EDA offers grants for a range of projects such as sewer upgrades, business incubators, industrial parks and regional innovation plans. Grants are provided to local and state governments, economic development agencies and nonprofits.

Though EDA funding plays a critical role in economic development, there is only enough funding for a fraction of the applications received each year, according to data 12 | NNY Business | February 2016

from the senator’s office. In 2013, for example, the administration received 1,476 applications totaling about $2.5 billion. But because the agency only had $183.4 million to spend, it was able to fund 670 applications.

In a prepared statement, Mr. Schumer said that although EDA grants can provide “a real shot in the arm” for upstate New York communities, “job-creation opportunities are missed because the agency has been shortchanged for more than a decade.

A worst-case scenario is when a community has done the hard work of attracting a new company to their backyard, but the business decides to move somewhere else because the EDA application for a modest infrastructure improvement was stalled.”

During the last few years, the office said, more than 100 unfunded grant applications were submitted to the EDA for projects in New York. A handful of those applications were submitted by applicants in the north country. In St. Lawrence County, from 2011 through 2014, there were seven unfunded grant applications, totaling about $4.2 million, and no funded applications. Over the same period in Lewis County, there were three unfunded applications, totaling about $2.5 million, and no funded applications; Jefferson County, meanwhile, had no unfunded applications and received a $55,000 grant.

In Jefferson County, one project that could eventually be eligible for EDA funding is the business park being planned at Watertown International Airport in the town of Hounsfield. The Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency has already spent more than a half-million dollars on preliminary studies for the proposed park. It has acquired roughly 100 acres in the area.

David J. Zembiec, deputy CEO for the JCIDA, said he’s pleased that Mr. Schumer is pushing for more EDA funding.

“We’d probably look at putting funding toward running infrastructure to the park,” he said.

RETAIL

Outlet mall in the works Near Fort Drum

A Miami developer is considering building a 600,000-square-foot outlet mall with a multi-purpose arena near Fort Drum’s main gate off Route 11 in LeRay, according to the town supervisor.

LeRay Supervisor Ronald C. Taylor said the developer, whom he declined to name, has met twice during the past six months with town officials to discuss the possibility of building the massive outlet mall and arena on property near Walmart Super-

center off Route 11.

The project, which the developer has estimated would create roughly 1,500 jobs, would be located between Taylor Road and Gould Corners Road on property owned

by California developer Fidelity American Holdings Corp., Mr. Taylor said. The company owns 347 acres on the north side of Taylor Road. That mile-long connector links Johnson Road at the Walmart intersection to Kestrel Drive, which leads to Eagle Ridge Village.

About six months ago, Mr. Taylor said, Fidelity decided to abandon its plan to build a 304-unit townhouse complex at the site called The Commons at Fleming’s Farm. Fidelity bought the property in 2005 from Lyle C. and Eleanor B. Fleming, who operated a dairy farm there for 44 years.

Mr. Taylor said that Linda W. Luther, principal for Fidelity, decided not to move forward with the townhouse project because of the abundance of new rental housing in the Watertown area that was built in recent years to meet the demand at Fort Drum.

He said that Fidelity, which had planned to invest $55 million to $60 million on the project, postponed breaking ground due to the uncertainty of potential troop cuts at Fort Drum. The town approved the site plan for the project in June 2014.

“She held off last year to see what sequestration was going to do to Fort Drum,” Mr. Taylor said. “But now most people will say there’s already substantial housing in Jefferson County, so why build another 300 units? There are apartments for rent everywhere and the occupancy is low.”

Mrs. Luther did not return multiple calls seeking comment.

Mr. Taylor said the Miami developer expressed reservations about how Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s $15-an-hour minimum wage proposal and the weak Canadian dollar could affect the project. The governor’s proposal would gradually raise the current minimum wage by $6 an hour, peaking at $15 in 2021.

A water line is already available on Taylor Road for the site being eyed by the developer, Mr. Taylor said, and a sewer line is in close proximity. He could not say how the developer would plan to have traffic flow in and out of the site. But he noted that Taylor Road was not built to accommodate a high volume of traffic.

Mr. Taylor said it is possible the developer could explore building an interchange for the mall off Interstate 781, a 4.8-mile highway linking Route 11 to Interstate 81 through the towns of LeRay and Pamelia.

The highway, also known as the Fort Drum connector road, opened in December 2012.

— Ted Booker

Small Bu siness sta rt up BUSINESS

Attic Treasures Antiques and Gifts THE INITIAL IDEA Being surrounded by antiques growing up, Susan M. Sunderland and her brother, Dale Munn, discovered a passion for items that were rich with stories.

“It’s kind of like history to see how things were done years ago,” Mr. Munn said. “Everything was built from a little bit of nothing.

It’s all homemade.”

While Mr. Munn explored his love for antiques as a collector, his sister tried her hand at selling the items from her home off and on for 12 years.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” Ms. Sunderland said. “I just thought one day I would start it.”

In December 2014, though, Ms. Sunderland partnered with her brother to open Attic Treasures Antiques and Gifts, a fullservice store in Evans Mills.

TARGET CLIENTELE Customers who shop

at Attic Treasures they are looking for their own piece of history, Ms. Sunderland said, whether they are collectors or regulars who use the items to decorate their homes.

“I like to focus on our local area and anything from the Adirondacks,” she said.

Ms. Sunderland said that she’s found her customers prefer antiques from the north country because they want to know the history behind the item and connection to it.

“We’ll ask when we buy something where it came from and get the most history behind an item as we can,” she said. “It’s fun to just research some of the stuff and to explain to people how things work.”

Ms. Sunderland has found that even items as simple as milk crates are popular because repurposing and DIY projects have become very popular.

The store keeps a sign-in book, though, for customers looking for a certain item that isn’t available and Ms. Sunderland said that they will try to find it.

“You never know when you hit an auction or a sale what you’ll find,” she said.

They were recently able to find two tobacco baskets, Ms. Sunderland said, which were on the list.

The baskets were popular enough to start an argument between three people who wanted one of them.

“We almost had a brawl,” she said.

Not to worry, though, because Ms. Sunderland said that while items don’t last long in their store, they have fresh inventory every week.

THE JOURNEY It was a long process for Ms. Sunderland before opening to customers

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS

“They followed me from one place to another. People

who have been my customers for the last 16 years.

We have a great following.”

— Susan M. Sunderland, owner, Attic Treasures Antiques and Gifts. in Evans Mills. Twelve years ago, she began her first endeavor by selling antiques out of her eight-bedroom farmhouse in town.

“It had three living rooms and eight bedrooms, and we only had two children,” she said.

Her antique business started in the garage before it became large enough to take over her house.

During that time, Ms. Sunderland began to travel with a truck and trailer from Northern New York to Virginia, Massachusetts and Connecticut to find unique items to bring home.

“We like to find things you don’t see at other dealers,” she said.

After several years of selling antiques, though, the business was put on hold when Ms. Sunderland moved from Evans Mills to Theresa, but it was only a brief hiatus.

Her new property had a chicken coop that she turned into Attic Treasures Chicken Coop.

“That was my favorite store,” she said.

She kept the Chicken Coop open for four years before considering a move back to Evans Mills.

“I wanted to get my store going again, but I didn’t really have the ability to do it on my own,” Ms. Sunderland said.

She enlisted the help of her brother who procures items for her and helps manage the store as what Dale Munn refers to as a “silent partner.”

For Ms. Sunderland, the most amazing part of the journey from Evans Mills to Theresa and back was the loyalty of her customers.

“They followed me from one place to another,” she said. “People who have been my customers for the last 15 years. We have a great following.”

She said people are eager for new items and specials that they check the store’s Facebook page every week.

IN FIVE YEARS Despite a great following and repeat customers, Ms. Sunderland is hoping to grow her customer base, which is proving difficult because the store isn’t on a busy road.

“My journey is to expand into something a little bigger,” she said. “People just fly by here. There’s a little place I have my eye on.”

That place will remain in Evans Mills.

“We like it here,” she said. “This is where I started. It’s home.”

A move isn’t here only plan, though. Ms. Sunderland has outlined plans to begin gift lines, a primitive line and exploring further into repurposing.

She is working on a marketing plan, involving possible advertising in publications like the Mountaineer, to increase foot traffic, as well as including part-time positions at the store, so she can pick items herself.

— Karee Magee

WHERE 8707 Noble St., Evans Mills | OPENED December 2014 | WEB Facebook.com/attictreasuresantiquesandgifts

February 2016 | NNY Business

| 13

C OV E R STORY

north country’s

Auto industry rolls with change with honda franchise set to open after years-long hiatus, dealerships across the north country invest in growth

T

Traveling south on Interstate 81 from the north country to Syracuse, one can’t miss the F.X. Caprara car complex just south of the Pulaski exit. Less than two years old, the campus is the Caprara family’s largest dealership to date. It’s not their first familyowned dealership and it won’t be their last.

Charlie Caprara, president of F.X. Caprara Chevrolet Buick and Ford in Pulaski is proud to add a shiny, new Honda franchise to the portfolio of auto dealerships.

“We are ecstatic,” Mr. Caprara said. “It took two years for Honda to make a decision.

They were very careful. They crossed every T and dotted every I before we were awarded the opportunity and we are just tickled.”

The careful decision came after Honda withdrew the franchise from the DealMaker Auto Group in 2010. American Honda Finance Corp. filed a lawsuit the year prior asking that more than 100 vehicles be seized from DealMaker’s Honda dealerships in Watertown and Potsdam, this after financial issues with DealMaker began to emerge.

The litigation caused Honda to be leery of allowing another franchise in the area for quite some time. But in 2011 they opened up the bid. Dealers across New York State scrambled to win the franchise. Like anything else, only one could take the cake.

“It wasn’t an easy franchise to obtain,”

14 | NNY Business | February 2016

BY Joleene moody | NNY BUSINESS

Mr. Caprara said. “Honda rescinded it seven years ago. But it wasn’t until three years ago we were able to bid. And we weren’t alone. Several other local dealers bid, as well as dealers in Rochester and Albany. While we were all fighting for the win and going through numerous interviews, F.X. Caprara was ultimately selected to operate a new Honda franchise in Watertown.”

Now under construction on Bradley Street near Interstate 81, the Caprara Honda franchise is slated to open in April. Set miles apart from the showcase of dealerships on auto row on Outer Washington Street in the town of Watertown, the new car lot stands alone. One might think the decision to build there is unconventional. And it is — intentionally so.

“It was Charlie Caprara’s decision to put it there,” Mr. Caprara said of himself with a laugh. “Whether it’s a success or not is something I’m always going to have to worry about. My brother and father initially felt it should have been built on auto row.

But there were many things that came to me that I felt would be an advantage. The biggest was proximity. Like our Pulaski store, I wanted it to be visible from Route 81. Now when somebody comes from Potsdam or Canton or Saranac, they don’t have to drive through the city to buy. They can come down Route 11 or Route 3 to I-781, hop on

81, and then get right off at Bradley Street.”

Now three generations in, the Caprara family is one of the younger car-selling clans in the north country. The first generation began with the late Francis Xavier Caprara, who died last year. His business budded on Perch Lake Road in Pamelia in 1974 where he sold used cars from his back yard.

With the help of his wife, Helen, the business grew. Today, Francis’s three children and their children maintain the business.

Charlie Caprara is president of the Pulaski complex. He and his wife, Maureen, are also the face of F.X. Caprara, turning out car infomercials regularly. Billy Caprara, Charlie’s brother, takes the helm as president of the Watertown stores. And sister Theresa Caprara handles human resources for the company. Charlie and Billy’s sons and daughters also have roles in the business.

It’s a business that processes the sale of between 1,200 and 1,400 vehicles a month, the large majority being SUV and truck sales. And while some auto dealers believe fuel prices dictate the kind of vehicle consumers buy, Charlie Caprara does not.

“I don’t think gas prices play a role,” he said. “I truly believe that when it comes to any type of car, gas is not the primary factor in determining what kind of vehicle the consumer is going to buy. When gas was

C O V E R S T O RY

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS

Construction continues on the interior of F.X. Caprara Honda off interstate 81 at Bradley Street in Watertown. The dealership is on schedule to open to customers in April, marking the return of a Honda franchise to the north country after the former DealMaker Honda closed its doors in 2010.

nearly $5 a gallon, people still drove trucks.

Why? Because people want to drive what they want to drive.“ With Honda slated to open in a few weeks, that gives consumers even more options to drive what they want to drive. F.X. Caprara Honda will employ between 40 and 50 people, bringing Caprara’s total workforce to roughly 400.

The new store will be the ninth auto dealership in the conglomerate. Other Caprara dealerships sell Buicks, Chevrolets, Chryslers, Dodges, Fords, Jeeps, Fiats, Kias, and Volkswagens.

A celebrated family affair There aren’t too many businesses today that can say they’ve been operating for 100 years. But the Nortz & Virkler Ford dealership in Lowville can. Not only can they say it, but they can add that the dealership has been run successfully all 100 years by the same family. Now three generations deep, Nortz & Virkler has much to celebrate, not the least of which is the fact that this dealership, nestled neatly in the heart of downtown Lowville, is also considered one of the oldest continuing Ford families in the state.

“We’re definitely one of the oldest dealers in the country,” Nicholas W. Nortz said, “but where we fall on the scale with that, I

don’t know. In the top 25, I imagine. As far as New York state, we are one of three continuing Ford families in the country.”

For Ford, that’s a big deal. Big enough that a representative from the company will make her way to Lowville in June to help them celebrate their century-old milestone. At that time, Mr. Nortz and the rest of his family will learn just where they fall of the scale as one of the oldest Ford dealerships in the United States and New York state.

A history lesson If you step into Mr. Nortz’s office, the framed pictures on the walls talk. They share a story of humble beginnings with a savvy guy by the name of Art Virkler. Mr. Virkler started his business by selling a line of Fordson tractors in the tiny town of Lowville. In his own beginnings, Henry Ford used the name Fordson to include his son, Edsel, in the business name. Mr. Virkler began his business in 1916 on a dusty dirt road better known today as South State Street. He parked a handful of the Fordson tractors along the road and worked his magic. But as his tractor business grew, so did his need for more hands. That’s where the Nortz family comes in.

“My grandfather, Hank Nortz, went to work for Art as a salesman when he was 16 years old,” Mr. Nortz said. “When he was his

early 20’s, Art decided to take my grandfather on as a partner. From there it just grew. “ The Virkler family is no longer part of the business. They stepped away in 1969. Nonetheless, the Nortz family continues to use the name for both honor and recognition.

“The names Nortz and Virkler have always been associated with the north country, first with tractor sales and then as pioneers in snow removal equipment,” Mr. Nortz said. “My grandfather did a lot of business with the townships before there was any state bid process. He sold Ford F-800 100 horsepower four-wheel drive trucks. And on the front, a Frink snowplow.”

What’s new Today, the dealership boasts a fresh look with its newly renovated lot, a feat that Mr. Nortz is proud to say remained on schedule.

“We recently renovated the whole building and doubled the size of our service department and showroom,” Mr. Nortz said.

“It was quite a task. MTL Design out of Watertown did a great job for us. They were right on schedule. We started the renovations in July 2014 and finished in February 2015.”

This gives the dealership a lot of room for the most innovative truck that Ford has created yet: the new F150 Limited, completely redesigned with an aluminum-alloy February 2016 | NNY Business

| 15

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body and steel frame. The weight of the new vehicle is 700 pounds lighter than the previous generation. Mr. Nortz said this alone will go miles with buyers looking to further take advantage of today’s lower fuel prices.

“I think this is where the industry is going as a whole,” he said.

Everyone is looking for better fuel economy. One of Timothy O. Nortz the ways to do it is to lighten up your product.

Ford still has to meet specific economic and emission standards, so the government is pressing hard to get them to hit those target numbers. As far as the Nicholas W. Nortz buyer, if someone has to trade a vehicle to drop the cost of going down the road, it wasn’t a good buy to begin with. Some people make hasty decisions without thinking things through. This truck is going to change that.”

Nicholas W. Nortz and his family will begin celebrating their centennial on Thursday, June 2. The event will roll for two days and include a vintage car show, live music and plenty of food. The public, which he so generously thanks for their years of dedication and service, is more than welcome.

Davidson dealerships develop The family-owned Davidson Auto Group was born in the Mohawk Valley, raised in Rome and Watertown, and is happy to announce the birth of its newest addition in Clay. For co-owner Dwight E. Davidson, a third Ford franchise is just what the family was looking for.

“We’re very excited to expand into Clay,” Mr. Davidson said. “It completes a Davidson triangle that touches every corner of Central New York, which gives us an opportunity to better serve our customers. Our family business affords us the ability to expand because there are plenty of us to go around.

Davidson Auto Group is operating in its third generation. It began when Donald Davidson Sr. opened the doors to his first dealership in 1960. Some 20 years later, Dwight Davidson stepped up to join the business after he graduated from Syracuse University.

At the time there was no Chevrolet dealer in Watertown and the bid was wide open. Mr.

C O V E R S T O RY

Construction continues last month Davidson Ford Auto Group’s new Ford dealership on state Route 31 in the town of Clay.

KEN EYSAMAN | NNY Business

Davidson Sr. won the bid and a whole new world of expansion began for the Davidsons in the north country.

A new beginning As business in Watertown boomed, so did the family’s desire to expand even further.

So when the Honda franchise became available, Davidson Auto Group was quick to put in a bid in the fall of 2011. The bid was since awarded to competitor F.X. Caprara but that didn’t dampen the family’s desire to grow.

Late this spring, Davidson Auto Group will open the doors to its newest location in Clay.

Interestingly, to obtain the space in Clay, different territorial lines had to be drawn so the Ford franchise could effectively meet the needs of customer demand.

“In April of 2015 we bought out Fred Raynor Ford in Fulton,” Mr. Davidson explained. “We wanted to move that franchise to Clay. When we looked at the Clay location we analyzed market performance and saw that the Ford franchise might be willing to put another truck franchise back there. Franchises have territories and control where you can operate. Because Clay is a different territory than Fulton, Ford had to approve our request and redraw the territory. “ With new lines drawn, plans to build were implemented and are still ongoing.

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COV E R STORY Davidson Collision and Precision Car Wash.

Purchase trends The American Automobile Association recently published that gasoline prices are the lowest they’ve been this time of year since 2009. The association estimates that Americans saved more than $115 billion on gasoline in 2015 compared to 2014, which was an average of roughly $550 per licensed driver. Mr. Davidson said this is good news for America’s truck and SUV lovers. He firmly believes car and truck sales are dictated by the national average of fuel.

“The average fuel economy of a vehicle being sold this year went down nationally,” he said, “and that was driven by the price of gas because it went down substantially.

So people started buying more trucks and SUV’s. This show us that gas prices are absolutely a driver of what people buy. When gas prices were high, people that had large SUV’s and pickup trucks were coming in to trade or buy an economy car. This was tough for some because in the United States, people love their trucks and SUV’s. It’s just woven into the fabric of our country. And of course when you get into places like the North Country, they are a very popular buy.

Right now people are these vehicles like crazy because gas is so inexpensive.”

Mr. Davidson said today’s larger trucks and SUV’s aren’t purchased just for workloads or towing anymore. Families consider the vehicles all-inclusive, utilizing them for both work and play. And with falling gas prices on the rise, it gives buyers an even greater incentive to invest. But that investment isn’t one sided. In order to provide customers with the very best vehicle selection and customer service, Davidson Auto Group has to invest, too. And not just in the way of dollars.

“The investment of a top-rated car dealership is very substantial,” he said. “It’s highly capital intensive. You have to invest in your people, the facilities, equipment, and of course the vehicles to sell. That adds up to a substantial investment in time. But we love it. If we didn’t love it, we wouldn’t do it.”

Doors to the new auto complex in Clay are expected to open in May. The Davidson Auto Group looks forward to the growth of the third generation that will ultimately foster a very successful fourth generation.

Mort Backus and Sons The state’s largest county is home to one of the most humble auto dealerships. Mort Backus and Sons Chevrolet Buick has been the pride of Ogdensburg for 60 years. Now mov-

ing into its third generation, brothers Jack, Pat, Mike, and Paul Backus recall the early days when their parents, Mort and Marie began.

Mort Backus operated the family farm and ran a trucking business when he bought his first used vehicle to sell. His wife Marie tended to the paperwork. When the couple saw the profitability, they decided to dig into the car business a bit more, and for good reason.

“There are four of us, all three years apart,” Jack said. “Dad figured he needed to have more income to support us, so he started selling one used vehicle at a time. He’d put it out by the road with a for sale sign on it.”

And so it began. Locals became familiar with Mort Backus and his new side business, and would go to him for their transportation needs. Soon one car turned into two and two into three. To fine tune the vehicles, Mr. Backus worked out of a stall in his backyard. By 1954, Mr. and Mrs. Backus became a used car dealer after receiving their first set of dealer plates. More cars were bought and more cars were sold. Four years later they would take the plunge into a full-fledged used car dealership and construct a new building with a brilliant showroom and efficient service bays.

As the business grew, the four Backus boys watched and learned. Even after graduat-

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C O V E R S T O RY ing from Libson Central School District and heading off to college to create a life of their own, the roots of a true, family owned and operated business called them back home.

“We all went to college to do something different: Automotive tech, business administration, and industrial arts,” Mike Backus said. “All of it tied into the business. When we graduated, there was a need to fill some holes at the dealership. We decided to come home. This way we could spend time with our family and do what we knew best.”

“We are very fortunate to be doing business in Saint Lawrence County in Upstate New York where we can still conduct business with a handshake,” Jack added. “We were raised to treat the customer fairly with honesty and integrity. We’re very fortunate we can run a dealership where those traits are recognized and appreciated.”

In 1986, Mort Backus and Sons Chevrolet Buick shifted gears from a used car franchise to a new car franchise. The next generation of families who were served by Mort and Marie in the early days continued to buy from the Backus family, remaining fully committed to the dealership. Paul Backus will tell you it’s for a number of integrous reasons, including the fact that, “Our salespeople don’t sell cars. Our salespeople help customers buy cars.”

Talking to any one of the Backus brothers is like reading from a history book.

With contagious laughter, wit and personality, these seasoned businessmen recall the days when vehicles rolled with nylon tires and needed to be started with a choke. And while it’s an interesting look back, it’s even more interesting to look forward to all of the changes that make buying a vehicle today a completely different experience.

“Safety is bigger than ever,” Jack said.

“Major changes today center around that.

From seatbelts and air bags to land departure warnings and front-end alerts, these are all things that have saved lives. When we first started in the business, there were bad accidents. There are still accidents, but these features are saving lives. Everything engineered in the vehicle starts with safety.”

Today the dealership roars with success. It’s a success the brothers credit to their staff and the community around them. Without either of these, Backus might be just another dealership.

“In the small community we live in, you can’t stay around this long without taking good care of people,” Paul said. “Repeat business is what keeps us going. That, and our dedicated employees. They come to work every day with the same work ethic we do and care as much as we do. Without them, we can’t do anything.

Celebrating 60 years in the car business, Backus is proud to offer complete car care to

KEN EYSAMAN | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Paul and Mike Backus, Mort Backus & Sons, St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce executive director Brooke Rouse, and Jack and Pat Backus, Mort Backus & Sons. The St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce awarded the Backus brothers its Customer Service Excellence award last fall.

their patrons. Their Collision Center works vehicles inside out while their back office offers financing. It’s a one-stop shop that has no intention of slowing down anytime soon. With a third generation as part of their business model, the iconic dealership in Og-

densburg is ready for six more decades of iconic success. n Joleene moody is a freelance writer, blogger and speaker who lives in Oswego County with her husband and daughter. Contact her at joleenemoody.com.

February 2016 | NNY Business

| 19

M anufa cturing

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS

Knowlton Technologies headquarters on Factory Street, Watertown. Knowlton is one of the north country’s longest operating manufacturing firms, dating back to the early 1800s. Since Eastman Chemical Co. purchased the company in 2014, it has invested $3.5 million in capital improvements.

Eastman put $3.5m in Knowlton New owner has funded upgrades since 2014 takeover

By TED BOOKER

K NNY Business

nowlton Technologies has spent nearly $3.5 million on projects since its Factory Street plant was bought by Eastman Chemical Co. in the summer of 2014.

Eastman, headquartered in Kingston, Tenn., decided to dedicate the funding toward capital improvements as part of its takeover of the plant at 213 Factory St., said James S. Ganter, director of operations. Mr. Ganter, James M. Lee and Frederick G. Rudmann were former co-

20 | NNY Business | February 2016

owners of the plant, which designs and makes microfiber materials for a variety of applications.

As the plant’s parent company, Eastman gave Knowlton 2.5 years to spend more than $3.5 million on various improvements, Mr. Ganter said. He said nearly all of that funding has already been spent.

Among other projects, the funding went toward the demolition of the former 120foot smokestack; construction of several new offices; replacement and improvement of steel structures that support the building, and construction of a new tank unloading facility at the company’s BeeBee Island saturation division. A new

$1 million air flotation system for the treatment of water used at the mill is now being installed to help the company better capture and dispose of waste materials.

“The new water system should be running at the end of February,” Mr. Ganter said, adding that the plant uses about 1 million gallons of water per day. “Paper that we make is required to have a lot of water. This new system will ensure all fibers are removed from the water before it’s discharged into the Black River.”

Mr. Ganter said the plant, which has 134 employees, has maintained roughly the same staffing level it had when it was bought by Eastman, a massive company

M an u fact uring that employs 14,000 people worldwide.

But thanks to the research and development of new products that was made possible by Eastman’s acquisition, he said, it is possible that the plant might have “150 to 160 employees in five to 10 years.”

“It will depend on some of the new markets we get into,” he said.

Eastman, for example, has developed a new polyester fiber that has been tested at the Knowlton plant, Mr. Ganter said. Using the new material, the plant’s research and development division has been developing new several new products.

“It could be used to make medical and concert bracelets, packaging to return printer cartridges, as high-tech material for diesel oil filtration, and for building materials,” he said.

As those products gain traction in new markets, Mr. Ganter said, Knowlton could hire five to 10 employees in its R&D division within the next five years.

Though Eastman has acquired the plant, Mr. Ganter said Eastman made a significant reinvestment in the plant that would not have been possible under the former ownership structure. And the

company enabled Knowlton to maintain the same local management of the plant, rather having new leaders take over.

“They want us to continue to grow the business as we always have and to pursue additional markets,” Mr. Ganter said, adding that he is excited about the development of new products. Eastman “had us do research for various applications of their new fiber, and now that’s evolved into funding us to do the work on our own.” n TED BOOKER is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. Contact him at tbooker@wdt.net or 661-2371.

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| 21

F e atures

Three decades strong

30 years of pizza, pride and persistence for Stefano’s

By Joleene Moody

S

NNY Business

tefano’s Pizzeria & Restaurant in the village of Carthage is nothing short of iconic. Started in 1985 in a tiny building on State Street in the historic village, the pizzeria began quite small and unassuming, pumping out fresh Italian pies baked to perfection by Sicilian-born founder and owner, Stefano Magro.

Thirty years later, the Northern New York pizzeria has grown by leaps and bounds and today is primarily managed and operated by his two adult children, Stefania and Salvatore “Savie.”

With a restaurant in Carthage, Pulaski, and most recently, Mexico, there is no doubt the pizzeria will become even more iconic in the years to come. In the eyes of Mr. Magro, this would be ideal.

“We want to leave a legacy for our children and their children and we are proud that our restaurants will do that,” Mr. Magro said. “Our son opened the Mexico location a few years ago and he and his family live in Mexico now. Our daughter Stefania will take over the Carthage location when I decide to retire in another 200 years. Our hope is that our grandchildren will continue to do the same when they are old enough.”

Stefania Peebles is indeed at the helm in Carthage. She learned everything she knows from her father. Mrs. Peebles grew up in the restaurant, boarding the school bus in front of it in the morning, and getting dropped off again in the evening. Their home was in the apartments above the shop, making it possible for her father and mother to be close to home while running the restaurant from morning to night.

“I watched my father build this business from the beginning,” she said. “He just got better and better at what he was doing. When we were old enough

22 | NNY Business | February 2016

Destroyed by fire in 2002, Stefano’s Pizzeria & Restaurant on State Street, Carthage, has endured changing times. The business marked its 30 years in 2015 and now operates locations in Pulaski and Mexico.

WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES FILE PHOTO

my brother and I started working in the shop in between soccer practices and games.

We learned how to make the pizzas.

For me, it was a normal childhood: Stefano Magro I had parents who ran a business, and that’s just how it was.”

Born and raised in Italy, Stefano Magro, his siblings, and his parents left for the United States in 1973 in hopes of finding better opportunities for the family. They landed in Frankfort, N.Y.

It was here where Mr. Magro started working in a small pizzeria on weekends with one of his brothers. A passion for the business was immediately Stefania Peebles ignited. Before long, he was seeking a place to land with his own family and chose Carthage as his home.

Not long after he opened in 1985, Mr. Magro bought a larger space next door to the shop to accommodate a growing customer base.

Features More tables, a large banquet room in the back, and an expanded menu brought even more hungry patrons through the doors. Things were looking up. For many years, the business thrived, until tragedy struck. On March 4, 2002, an early morning fire tore through eight buildings on State Street, displacing dozens of families and local businesses, including Stefano’s. According to historical records, it was the same site as the Great Carthage fire of 1884.

For the residents of Carthage, time stood still that morning. But for Mr. Magro, he couldn’t let time be still for very long.

“We were literally watching the restaurant burn down, and my Dad was behind the scenes looking for a new space,” Mrs. Peebles recalled. “Before the fire was put out, we were moving appliances and whatever else we could save to a rental space down the block so we could open up a temporary location.”

It was during that fire when Stefania Peebles realized her father needed her more than ever. She was nearing the end of her freshman year in college when she made the decision to leave school and wholeheartedly become part of the legacy her father started so many years ago.

“When the fire happened we were devastated,” Mr. Magro said. “Everything we worked for was destroyed.

That night we watched the news and both my kids were interviewed. They were visibly shaken as they told the reporter that Carthage was their home and the restaurant their life. My wife turned to me and said, ‘This is our home. We have to stay.’ And here we are still.”

Today Mr. Magro pops in and out of the three Stefano’s locations, helping where and when he can. As he watches his two adult children assume responsibility of his legacy, he can smile proudly, knowing that his persistence and passion have paid off.

Stefano’s is iconic in Northern New York, and with the continued support of the community, its legacy will continue to unfold in the years ahead. n Joleene moody is a freelance writer, blogger and speaker who lives in Oswego County with her husband and daughter. Contact her at joleenemoody.com.

February 2016 | NNY Business

| 23

RE AL E STATE

Jefferson home sales slide in ’15 Real estate posts stronger year in Lewis, St. Lawrence cos.

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS

For sale signs are popping up all over Watertown, where a strong buyer’s market has been created by an influx of new housing stock and deployments at Fort Drum.

By TED BOOKER

H NNY Business

omes sold in Jefferson County in 2015 were dampened by a buyer’s market, while sales in Lewis and St. Lawrence counties were up from 2014.

An influx of new apartment complexes in recent years contributed to lower 2015 home sales in Jefferson County, where there is now a wealth of affordable housing options to choose from, said Lance M. Evans, executive officer of the JeffersonLewis Board of Realtors. He said home sales in the county slowed down during the second half of the year, a symptom of the “buyer’s market.”

“With more choices in Jefferson County now, people are going to rent first and look for the best possible deal,” Mr. Evans said last month. “They can shop around a little bit more.”

Compared with 2014, home sales in Jefferson County decreased in 2015 by 48 units, or 5 percent, from 897 to 849,

24 | NNY Business | February 2016

according to the Jefferson-Lewis board.

Sales during the fourth quarter decreased by 20 units, or 8 percent, from 264 to 244.

In Lewis County, 2015 home sales

“

With more choices in Jefferson County now, people are going to rent first and look for the best possible deal.

— Lance M. Evans, executive officer, Jefferson-Lewis and St. Lawrence boards of Realtors

climbed from 2014 by 33 units, or 20 percent, from 167 to 200; during the fourth quarter, they increased by 19 units, or 48 percent, from 40 to 59.

Like those in Lewis County, real estate brokers in St. Lawrence County also had a strong year, according to the county’s Board of Realtors: 2015 home sales increased from 2014 by 30 units, or 5 percent, from 589 to 619. Fourth-quarter sales fell by 13 units, or 8 percent, from 167 to 154.

Mr. Evans said he believes the Jefferson County market will probably experience a similar year in 2016. But the return of Fort Drum soldiers who were deployed overseas could have a positive impact on the market.

“Soldiers starting to come back will move more of the product,” he said, “whether it’s buying or renting.”

In Lewis County, he said, real estate brokers have said they sold a strong mix of homes to seasonal and year-round residents.

“Usually they’re selling to either yearround or seasonal people, but in 2015 they were doing both,” Mr. Evans said. “People came up in the summer and fall who wanted to buy.”

St. Lawrence County home sales were up from 2014 during the first, second and third quarters of 2015, Mr. Evans said, but they dropped during the fourth quarter. He said Alcoa’s announcement last fall of plans to downsize its Massena operation could have contributed to the fourth-quarter slowdown. The company is likely to downsize its operation sharply in 2019 unless the global aluminum market rebounds.

“People who weren’t sure about what Alcoa would do might have backed off and chosen not to buy,” Mr. Evans said.

The 2015 median home sale price in Jefferson County was up from the previous year by $4,300, or 3 percent, from $145,700 to $150,500; in Lewis County, the median price increased by $5,500, or 5 percent, from $111,500 to $117,000; in St. Lawrence County, the median price increased slightly from $86,920 to $87,000.

The Jefferson-Lewis board has 327 Realtor members and the St. Lawrence board has 185, Mr. Evans said. n TED BOOKER is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. Contact him at tbooker@wdt.net or 661-2371.

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February 2016 | NNY Business

| 25

R EAL E STATE ROUNDUP

Is for sale by owner worth your effort?

W

e are a hearty, independent kind of people in the north country. There are many things we do for ourselves that people in other places hire others to do. Based on data from a survey of homebuyers, selling your property yourself is not something you want to do yourself.

In 2015, 89 percent of all homes sold were done with the assistance of a real estate professional according to the National Association of Realtors Homebuyers and Sellers Profile report. Of the other 11 percent, 8 percent were “arm’s length transactions” where the buyer and the seller had no prior relationship with each other. The remaining 3 percent were sales to family members, neighbors or acquaintances.

The 8 percent “unrepresented seller” — also known as for sale by owner or FSBO for short — transactions is a record low for the survey that dates back to 1981. The 2015 median price of all FSBO homes was $210,000. Homes that sold with the assistance of an agent had a median selling price of $249,000, an increase of close to $40,000.

The reasons people decide to sell their home themselves vary. Almost half did not want to pay a commission. The second most common reason, cited about 20 percent of the time, was that the seller sold to a relative, friend or neighbor. About the same number, 18 percent, sold their home to a buyer who contacted them directly.

The other 13 percent cited reasons such as not wanting to deal with an agent, an agent unable to sell the home or the seller had a real estate license.

So why do 89 percent of successful

26 | NNY Business | February 2016

sellers use a real estate agent?

Selling a home is a full-time job.

Unrepresented sellers often don’t understand the complexity, range and timing of tasks they’ll have to perform.

In a competitive Lance Evans market, sellers need every advantage they can get. Managing the appraisal process, inspections and buyer qualifications has become more complicated in a tougher credit market adding to the already intricate transaction process.

In addition, the unrepresented seller has limited access to effective fundamental marketing services, such as a multiple listing service, and normally cannot list their homes there without the help of a licensed real estate agent. The biggest problems for owners selling without professional assistance were getting the price right, 15 percent, selling within the planned length of time, 12 percent, preparing the home for sale, 11 percent, and understanding and completing paperwork, 9 percent.

Realtors have the insights and expertise homeowners need to sell their home.

Many sell hundreds, if not thousands, of homes over the course of their careers, compared to the average person who may only move a handful of times during their lifetime. In addition to today’s challenging marketplace, selling a home requires

more disclosures and legal requirements than ever before. Sellers also often underestimate the amount of time required to market and show their property, overestimate the value of their property, and must deal with security concerns about strangers having access to their home.

Realtors can help sellers set a realistic price and ensure that the proper paperwork and various disclosures and inspections are handled correctly. A real estate professional knows best how to prepare a home and maximize value, provide broader exposure to the market, and generate multiple bids than sellers on their own.

They are real estate professionals who are experts in marketing and negotiation, as well as understanding local market conditions. Realtors bring value to home sellers, and with their local market insights, can market homes to more buyers and save owners time and money throughout the home selling process. Unrepresented sellers often mistakenly think they will save money by foregoing professional advice and representation when in reality, as can be seen above, the median selling price for agent-assisted home sales is significantly higher.

There are more than 500 Realtors in Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, and Northern Oneida Counties ready to assist buyers and sellers. You can find them in the Realtor directories at www.nnymls.com and www.slcmls.com. n LANCE M. EVANS is the executive officer of the Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors and the St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors.

Contact him at levans@nnymls.com. His column appears monthly in NNY Business.

RE A L E STAT E / top transactions The following property sales were recorded in the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office in December:

unknown acres, bounded by Rock Hollow Road, Ronald W. and Cheryl A. Halladay, Hammond, sold to John A. and Sue A. Reed, Canton.

$1,830,000: Dec. 22, City of Watertown: No acreage listed, Coleman Avenue at Arsenal Street, Elliot A. Scott as trustee for Scott Family Trust and Steven Ross as trustee of Ross Family Trust, both of San Diego, Calif., sold to WPD Enterprises of Watertown LLC, Huntington.

$302,500: Dec. 1, Village of Waddington: Unknown acres, Lot 4, bounded by St. Lawrence Avenue, Paul J. and Diane E. Muckstadt, Waddington, sold to Weichert Workforce Mobility Inc., Morris Plains, N.J.

$1,300,000: Dec. 28, City of Watertown: No acreage listed, Bradley Street, Renzi Bros. Inc., Watertown, sold to Midway International Logistics LLC, Watertown.

$270,000: Dec. 1, Village of Waddington: Unknown acres, Lot 4, bounded by St. Lawrence Avenue, Weichert Workforce Mobility Inc., Morris Plains, N.J., sold to Gregory K. Hollis, Madrid.

$512,000: Dec. 17, Town of Cape Vincent: 0,9 acres, Bach Lane, Betty Ann Colby, Cape Vincent, as individual and executor of James M. Colby estate, sold to William F. Martin II and Ruby A. Martin, Centreville, Va.

$240,000: Dec. 16, Town of Potsdam: Unknown acres, Lot 36, bounded by Riverside Cemetery, Matthew L. and Noelle M. Stock, Colorado Springs,

$500,000: Dec. 30, Town of Henderson: 0.045 acres, Harbor Road (County Route 123), Linda D. Greene, Henderson Harbor, sold to Karen Omara, Dobbs Ferry. $475,000: Dec. 10, Town of LeRay: 1.569 acres, U.S. Route 11, Evans Mills, Butternut DG, LLC, Manlius, sold to I-Site Realty LLC, Alexandria Bay. $470,000: Dec. 17, Town of Champion: 5.492 acres, 33054 state Route 26, Jeffrey T. Fondak and Dorothy E. Fondak, trustees of Fondak Living Trust, Carthage, sold to Caillou’s Properties LLC, Watertown. $450,000: Dec. 15, City of Watertown: No acreage listed, 434 Eastern Blvd., Hendricks Commercial Properties, Beloit, Wis., sold to American Builders & Contractors Supply Co., Beloit, Wis. $375,000: Dec. 12, Town of Clayton: 1.9 acres, Lot 3, Dalton Lane, Andrew McNally V, Chicago, Ill., sold to Jonathan Taylor and Kristen Taylor, Clayton. $349,000: Dec. 3, Town of Clayton: Two parcels, 5.89 acres, Mason Point Road, Rodman C. Azar and Beverly C. Azar, Clayton, sold to Michael J. Shultz and Heidi H. Shultz, The Woodlands, Texas. $342,900: Dec. 24, Town of Clayton: No acreage listed, Route 12E, Jacob S. Johnson, Watertown, sold to Brent V. Sanford and Heidi B. Sanford, LaFargeville.

The following property sales were recorded in the St. Lawrence County Clerk’s Office in December: $1,400,000: Dec. 18, Town of Piercefield: 9.6 acres more or less, Great Tract 3, bounded by Woods Road, Tracy Ann Utzig, Basking Ridge, N.J., sold to Camp McElroy at Warren Point Lodge LLC, New York.

Colo., sold to Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman and Momota Zaman, Potsdam. $235,800: Dec. 15, Town of Morristown: Parcel 1) 26.80 acres more or less, Parcel 2) 4.78 acres more or less, Parcel 3) 57.11 acres more or less, Parcel 4) 37.86 acres more or less, Parcel 5) 20.55 acres more or less, Parcel 6) 16.07 acres more or less, Parcel 7) 10.58 acres more or less, Parcel 8) 27.43 acres more or less, Great Lot 9 and Great lot 12 in Mile Square 12, Lisa J. Whitmarsh, Ogdensburg, sold to Joe M. and Katie A. Miller, Ogdensburg. $225,000: Dec. 10, Village of Potsdam: Unknown acres, bounded by Market and Munson streets, Terra Development Inc., Potsdam, sold to The Bicknell Corporation, Potsdam.

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$630,000: Dec. 22, Town of Piercefield: Unknown acres, Lot 10, John J. and Kathleen L. Van Horn, Grand Junction, Colo., sold to Pamela G. Matt and Francis Matt III, New Hartford. $575,000: Dec. 15, Town of Pierrepont: Parcel 1) 11.98 acres more or less, Parcel 2) 10.15 acres more or less, Parcel 3) 27.18 acres more or less, Parcel 4) Unknown acres, bounded by Back Hannawa Road, Cynthia K. Randi, Canton, sold to LaPierre Management LLC, Colton. $360,000: Dec. 18, Town of Gouverneur: Parcel 1) 138.26 acres more or less, Parcel 2) 15 acres more or less, Lot 7, Lot 9 and Lot 10, bounded by Oswegatchie River, Sharon Jo Miller, Gouverneur, sold to The North Country Retreat LLC, Gouverneur

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$325,000: Dec. 30, Town of Hermon: 4 Parcels,

February 2016 | NNY Business

| 27

20 qu estions

JASON HUNTER | NNY BUSINESS

rolling with change

F

orty-seven years after Leland Blevins opened his standalone Dodge dealership, Blevins Motors, Inc., has transformed through decades of change in the auto industry to a multi-brand dealership with an eye for new prospects, including an RV dealership and partnering with Farmers Insurance to open Blevins Insurance Agency. Owner and general manager of Blevins Motors, Inc., John L. Blevins, sat down with us to discuss the evolution of the auto industry and how local dealerships can succeed in a highly competitive, shifting landscape.

1

NNYB: What family members are you in business with and what is it like working in a family business?

Blevins: My nephew, Cody Blevins, has been working with me for about a year now. He started last January.

He’s working in the parts and services department learning the back end of the business. My uncle Duane Blevins works in our Farmers Insurance agency. He partners with me in the Farmers Insurance business, which we just started about six to eight months ago. It’s tough to work with your family. I have walked out several times, but always come back.

You’re with them five days a week, 40 to 60 hours, and then on the weekends you can be with them, too. You want a little separation.

28 | NNY Business | February 2016

n For Blevins Motors owner, automotive

industry is one innovation after another

2

NNYB: Is there a succeeding generation working in the business?

Blevins: Cody is 20 years old and if he likes it he’ll probably go into it. My son’s only 13, so he hasn’t made any decisions on which way to go. After me, I do have a sister, but she works at another company.

She doesn’t work for the family business.

3

NNYB: Are you seeing consumers respond to fluctuating fuel prices in their purchase choice?

Blevins: I’ve seen gas prices at $4 per gallon and under $2 per gallon. The consumer seems to have a very short memory of when it was $4 per gallon because now they’re looking at trucks and other SUVs. It was probably two to three years ago. When the fuel goes down the truck market heats up a little bit and people are not so cautious about it.

4

NNYB: What’s the demand been for flex fuel or hybrid vehicles? How are sales locally?

Blevins: The demand for hybrids and flex fuels has gone down with the gas prices going down. The resale values on them drop. People aren’t going to pay that premium price when gas is $2.25 or

$2 per gallon.

5

NNYB: How and when did your family get their start in the automotive business?

Blevins: My grandfather started in 1969. Leland Blevins. He was a standalone Dodge dealer. In the ‘80s he added Chrysler and Plymouth. Then later on in the late ‘90s to 2000s we added Jeep to it. The Ford came in in the late ‘80s, early ‘90s.

My uncle, David Blevins, runs that one.

6

NNYB: How has your industry changed in the past 15 years with the advent of the Internet and pricing available to consumers online?

Blevins: In the ‘90s people would come to us and say you need a webpage. Some of the dealers fought it a little bit. They didn’t want to get a webpage. It was a lot to maintain, but it has changed the car business. My grandfather didn’t have this computer sitting on his desk. I think 90 percent of your consumers shop online. They know they want a Jeep Wrangler before they even get here. They’ve done some legwork, sitting home on their computer.

NNYB: What’s the best business advice you have ever followed?

2 0 q u estions

7

Blevins: I picked it up at one of the seminars I went to. You offer 100 percent of your customers 100 percent of your products 100 percent of the time and you should be successful. You’ve got to offer all of your products and insurances. It was probably the best thing I’ve learned over the years.

8

NNYB: Was credit ever an issue for you locally with consumers? Has it loosened up?

Blevins: You get a customer who fills out a credit application and you put it into four or five banks. One bank might flat turn them down; another bank wants them at 2.9 percent. No real rhyme or reason why that is that I can figure out. Leasing is really getting stronger in my area. It’s always been strong in the cities because they don’t drive too far, but up here it’s catching on. Cars are now so expensive.

People just can’t afford to buy on a five year loan, so they turn to leasing which really just another way to finance a car.

9

NNYB: What about the used car market? Seems now you can buy a gas hog for cheap. Is it difficult to move some of the less-efficient vehicles?

Blevins: Over the last 25 years, I’ve seen the used car market really good and I’ve seen the new car market really good.

I’d say 2013 and 2014 it was new cars.

They had just come out of bankruptcy. They really wanted to sell some cars, do some volume, the corporations. They had some really strong incentives and now the corporations are setting goals for the dealer. The used car side is good too. I think you’ll see that business starting back up again here.

10

NNYB: Where do you see your industry trending in 5, 10, 20 years? And your business?

Blevins: I’ve seen a lot of change. Cars are always getting better. They’re improving the gas mileage. I think the cars will get safer. I hear a lot about the cars that drive themselves. I don’t know if that will come around in my generation. Now they’ve got cars that come up on something that’s an obstacle and they’ll apply the brakes. A lot of safety features. When I started selling cars they didn’t have airbags.

NNYB: How do you compete with larger dealerships in the region?

JASON HUNTER | NNY BUSINESS

John L. Blevins, Blevins Motors owner and general manager, Potsdam, talks about challenges and opportunities the auto industry faces as vehicles become more efficient with advanced technology.

The John L. Blevins file AGE: 45 JOB: Owner and general manager, Blevins Motors, Inc., Potsdam FAMILY: Son, Leland Blevins, 13 HOMETOWN: Parishville EDUCATION: Potsdam High School CAREER: Started working part-time for Blevins Motors, Inc., when he was 14; began full-time in 1990 BEST BOOK YOU’VE READ AND WOULD RECOMMEND: “Who Moved My Cheese” by Spencer Johnson and Kenneth Blanchard

11

Blevins: Service. Anybody can get on the internet and buy a car from a dealer in Vermont or New Hampshire or down in Syracuse, but when that check engine light pops on and they’ve got to have it fixed that’s where the local dealer can shine. The guy in Vermont, he’s never going to see them. He doesn’t care.

12

NNYB: What drives repeat customers?

How do you create a memorable experience for the customer that leaves them feeling valued?

Blevins: I have sold cars to customers that my grandfather has sold to them.

Service is one thing that keeps them coming back. You’ve got to be able to fix their car and keep them happy. Good sales-

people and good employees keep them coming back. The customer will buy from people they like. They want the same guy.

A good deal has got to be good for the customer and good for the dealer too. The dealer can’t give away cars and keep going. Profit is not a dirty word. You can have a rapport with them. We’re such a small area. I see them out if I go out to dinner or a high school basketball game. You see a lot of customers there and you can talk to them. Some of those big dealers probably don’t see that. You get in the metros, they don’t know they’re customer.

13

NNYB: How many employees do you have on staff and how do you encourage them to think beyond the product?

Blevins: I have about 60 employees between the two stores. The sales guy is selling himself first and then the dealership and the service that goes along with the dealership. Some people just get it, some don’t. A guy was telling me the other day that the salesperson is a dying breed. They go out walk around the car, show them the features and they want to hand them a set of keys to drive down the road five or six miles. The good salesperson will go with them and they’ll hear their objections and try to overcome that.

14

NNYB: What’s one myth about your industry that you’d like to dispel?

Blevins: Probably that all car dealers February 2016 | NNY Business

| 29

20 qu estions are dishonest. That’s a stereotype that we’ve been tagged with for generations. I think there probably are some car dealers around that are dishonest and not everybody I would say gets a fair deal. The ones that don’t are the ones you hear about the most.

It’s the guy that didn’t get a fair shake who’s telling everybody that he knows. We’re just trying to make a living just like anybody else. We have bills and stuff that we pay.

NNYB: What’s the tipping point for you when it comes to accepting risk? Are you

more of a short-game guy or long-game guy when it comes to business?

15

Blevins: We went down to the casino for our Christmas party. Some of the employees say aren’t you going to go out and gamble? I don’t really gamble.

I gamble every day when you take a car in on trade-in and you put X amount of dollars on it. You’re taking a gamble that you can sell it and make a profit.

I gamble every day buying and selling cars, but I don’t think there’s any tipping

point. I think I’m a little bit short game and a little bit long game, but I’m more hands on. I tell my customers and my employees, if you’ve got a problem my door is open and you can always come in and talk to me about it. We can always work through anything and hopefully come to an agreement on it.

16

NNYB: What’s the tipping point for you when it comes to accepting risk?

Blevins: We went down to the casino for our Christmas party. Some of the employees say aren’t you going to go out and gamble? I don’t really gamble. I gamble every day when you take a car in on trade-in and you put X amount of dollars on it. You’re taking a gamble that you can sell it and make a profit. I gamble every day buying and selling cars, but I don’t think there’s any tipping point.

17

NNYB: Is failure an important part of accepting risk and learning to be more successful?

Blevins: You’ve got to fail sometimes.

It’s not all going to be peaches and cream.

You’re going to have some hard days and you’re going to get punched in the nose a few days. You’re definitely going to fail a little bit if you do anything at all.

18

NNYB: Is employee recruitment and retention a challenge in this market?

Blevins: Automotive techs are very hard to find. There’s a BOCES down here and those kids come out of the program and I tell them if you stick with this and you get certified, you can probably go anywhere in the country and get a job.

Sales people are a dying profession, but there’s good ones out there.

19

NNYB: Who’s one of your greatest mentors? What has he taught you?

Blevins: My father has taught me everything I know about the car business. He was pretty good at it. Hopefully he’s taught me enough so I can be pretty good at it too. He did it for 45 years. The car business has been good to me and my family.

20

NNYB: What do you do for fun? Any fun side projects you’re involved with off the clock?

Blevins: I’m an avid hunter, outdoorsman. I go to Colorado usually every other year. We go elk hunting out there.

— Interview by Ken Eysaman. Edited for length and clarity to fit this space.

30 | NNY Business | February 2016

N onprofits T od ay

Nonprofits on front lines of heroin war

I

n her office at Pivot, Anita SeefriedBrown has created a collage with the faces of bright and promising young adults, all now dead from heroin and other opiate overdoses. One of the photos is of her late son, Herbie.

At Credo Community Center, Jim Scordo laments over the emotional toll heroin has inflicted on his staffers. They spend months helping addicts stay clean, building friendships and proclaiming each day as another small victory over addiction. Months later the phone rings. The staffer’s heart collapses as the caller sadly reports that just last night heroin lured the recovering addict back for one last deadly hit.

And emergency room personnel and paramedics already know our new grim statistic: Jefferson County is now averaging one opioide-related death a month. If it weren’t for the use of Narcan by first responders, the number would be much higher.

Jefferson County Sherriff Colleen M. O’Neill and District Attorney Kristyna Mills will tell you that stopping heroin use is like trying to stop an incoming tide.

O’Neill’s mantra is the same one other law officers cite: “We are here to enforce the law, but we can’t arrest our way out of this situation.”

And Mills last year looked into the eyes of a woman arrested for prostitution and only saw heroin staring back. Instead of working to convict her, Mills asked a jury to see the woman as a victim. They did just that and convicted her pimp, Vandon Jones, of “sex trafficking.”

(The New York legal community considers the Jones conviction a pioneering case, which is legal speak for “nobody else dared to go first.” And that is understandable; while sex trafficking carries an attractive greater penalty than fostering prostitution, it also demands a much higher burden of proof.)

Jones, said Mills, knew the power of heroin. He knew that if he could control when a woman would get her next fix, he could control her next act. So he didn’t find prostitutes by looking for prostitutes.

“He would drive around Rochester looking for women who were already addicted to heroin,” said Mills.

Why opiate-abuse is blowing up right now is the result of a perfect storm. A generation has grown up being prescribed drugs for everything. And more people have experienced the wonders of modern pain-killing medicines as formerly rare

Led by Pivot, the recently formed Alsurgeries — such liance for Better Communities is trying as joint replaceto dig the north country out of a hole. ment — have Several months ago, representatives of become common. all substance abuse agencies, the health So just as department and law enforcement began science has meeting as a steering committee. Everyone confirmed that knows what the solution is; the only holdsome people are up is finding a tree that grows money. genetically pre O’Neill has already committed her dedisposed to drug partment to be part of the Police Assisted and alcohol adAddiction Recovery Initiative (PARRI), diction, we now Bob Gorman which was developed by the police departhave more drugs ment in Gloucester, Ma., and recently being ingested by featured on “60 Minutes.” O’Neill says more people whose brains are hardwired dealers will still be arrested, but her defor addiction. partment is working to follow the PARRI The increase in heroin use can also be mandate, which is to get addicts into treatcharted with the implementation of New ment rather than York’s I-Stop get them behind legislation from bars. two years ago.

And finding Abusers of painaddicts is not a medication were problem, says illegally getting Mills. Heroin the same preaddicts who scription filled at want treatment several locations. are committing The new law crecrimes just to get ated a database arrested, thinkfor pharmacies ing it’s the fastest to check first to way to a detox Herbie Ross and Ashley Grant are two of the faces from eliminate doublecenter. It isn’t, a Pivot collage of pictures of young people who have dipping. Pain-pill died of drug overdoses. Pivot is the former Alcohol and and that just adds abusers, now stySubstance Abuse Council of Jefferson County. to the logjam at mied by technolthe county jail. ogy, soon figured

The alliance is planning to apply for a out that heroin would get the job done state grant to develop a recovery and outbetter and for less money than oxycontin. reach center in Watertown, says Seefriend Downstate drug dealers reponsed Brown. It is also trying to find a cadre promptly and suddenly the law’s good of volunteers who will stay with addicts intentions had paved a new road to hell, identified through PARRI until they can and its travelers arrive from every sociobe lodged in a treatment center, which in economic class. some cases will be states away.

As the number of heroin users rises, Heroin is a national issue, as evidenced the real kicker is this: There is no detox service in Jefferson County. Every Jefferson by the fact President Obama worked that very word into last month’s State of the County user who wants out has to do just Union address. More local deaths are an that: Get out of Jefferson County. assurity.

There is a detox unit at Canton-Potsdam But the community can also be assured Hospital, but according to Seefried-Brown that some heavy lifting has begun by our the chances of getting in are slim: “Persons nonprofits and governments. They all with opiate addictions are instructed to know that this problem will have to be call the St. Lawrence Detox Center at 7:30 a.m. every morning to inquire if a bed will resolved locally. be available that day.” n ROBERT D. GORMAN is president and And that’s how it is around the state.

CEO of United Way of Northern New York.

There are not enough treatment centers to Contact him at bgorman@unitedway-nny.org go around. or 788-5631. His column appears every other So now what? month in NNY Business.

February 2016 | NNY Business

| 31

b usiness tech bytes

Long wait for Office Mobile was worth it

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t’s here, it’s free and this has certainly been a long time coming.

Microsoft Office Mobile is finally now available for any mobile device you may own. Originally released in 1996, as Pocket Office for Windows CE, the first mobile version of Microsoft Office came complete with Pocket Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access. Eleven years and many updates later Redmond rebranded Pocket Office to Windows Mobile and, in June 2007, released Office Mobile to coincide with its release of the Windows Mobile 5 operating system. This version still boasted the core Microsoft Office Mobile apps of Word, Excel and PowerPoint, while adding OneNote in Office Mobile 2007.

By 2009, Microsoft was chasing its competitors in the mobile market and announced that Office Mobile would be released for the Symbian platform as a joint agreement between Microsoft and Nokia.

With dismal success, 2010 saw Microsoft debut Office Mobile 2010 with the release of the Windows 7 phone. Hoping to gain traction in the mobile arena, it was the first to allow Windows Phone users access and edit capabilities in a dedicated Office hub. This Office Hub, now preinstalled into the operating system gave mobile access to the desktop favorites of Word, PowerPoint and Excel, Still trying to catch up, 2012 saw the much anticipated Microsoft Office Mobile for Windows 8 Phone release. Redmond saw they still were not gaining market share of the quickly growing mobile device space and released Office Mobile for Apple and Android devices in the

summer of 2013.

In March 2014, the first dedicated version of Office for tablet computers was launched as Office for iPad. Originally not free, by November 2014, Microsoft was Jill Van Hoesen announcing not only the split of the “Office suite” app on iPhones into separate, standalone apps for the old standbys of Word, Excel and PowerPoint, they also included direct integration with Dropbox in the revamped version of Office Mobile for iPhone. January 2015 brought the “Windows 10: The Next Chapter” press event, where Redmond unveiled Office for Windows 10. Finally we saw a Microsoft product that was optimized for smartphones and tablets with basically “universal” applications that could run on both Windows PCs and Windows phones by sharing a similar underlying code. It did not stop there and in June of 2015, Microsoft released Word, Excel and PowerPoint as standalone apps in the Google Play Store.

Microsoft has really out done themselves with the recent release making mobile Microsoft Office apps available for iPad, iPhone, Windows Phone (if anyone still owns one?), Android devices and their own Surface tablet. Apple users can download all of the Office pieces, like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and

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Lync apps, separately from the iTunes App Store for free. The most recent update allows you to create and edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents on your iPhone. Android users can download the whole mobile Office suite in one app with an additional standalone app for One Note, Microsoft’s note-taking app.

Microsoft also automatically saves your work, so there’s no worry when you’re away from your desk and need to create a document, everything you need is in the apps for the mobile Microsoft Office Suite.

The mobile Microsoft Office apps allow users to edit and create documents for free on devices with screen sizes of 10.1 inches or less, though as with the iPad versions, an Office 365 subscription is required to unlock premium features and for commercial use. Tablets with screen sizes larger than 10.1 inches are also supported, but are restricted to viewing documents only unless you have a valid Office 365 subscription which will allow document creation and editing.

If you haven’t tried out the full mobile Microsoft Office Suite, you’re definitely missing out. Microsoft Office is still the standard software for home, office and just about everyone else who needs to write (Word), calculate (Excel) or present information (PowerPoint).

While the transition to mobile of our beloved Microsoft Office suite has so been slow, almost 20 years, in 2016 I can say “the wait has been worth it.” n Jill Van Hoesen is chief information officer for Johnson Newspaper Corp. and a 25-year IT veteran. Contact her at jvanhoesen@wdt.net.

Her column appears monthly in NNY Business.

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agrib u siness

We love to hate manure storage structures

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anure storage structures. I personally hate them. They smell when stirred up and they cause our farms and communities headaches.

Why do farms use them? Are they good or bad for our streams and rivers? How do they impact air quality? As debate rages in our community about the use of these farming practices, let’s tackle some of the tough questions. And I’m sure this column will generate more.

On Jan. 31, my wife, son and I were heading toward McCauley Mountain so my son and his friend could ski. As we pulled to an intersection, I looked to my left and saw a very frustrating sight. Manure had been spread on a field that sloped directly toward Sandy Creek near Rodman. The creek was at the bottom of a hill.

Manure was on top of snow and the snow was melting. I said to my family, “that is why we need manure storage structures.”

As the snow melts, the water from the melting snow will run downhill and carry with it bits and pieces of manure and nutrients into the stream.

Based on my environmental training and background, I doubt the runoff from this field alone on that day will have a significant deleterious impact on Sandy Creek.

The creek was flowing well with the amount of runoff from the melting snow and that would serve to dilute the nutrients coming from the manure. However, if more farms were spreading manure each day on fields that slope toward creeks and streams, the combined impact will degrade the quality of water and habitat in Sandy Creek.

If a farm that had to comply with the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation regulations had spread manure on that particular field over the snow, they could be significantly fined. In New York state, large farms that fall under the strict environmental regulations enforced by the Department of Environmental Conservation may still spread manure during the winter, but the practice is under strict control of a certified nutrient management planner who has walked the farm fields and determined where, when and how much a farm may apply manure during certain times of the season. In the case of

this particular field, even during summer months a planner would severely limit the timing and amount of manure application, if it would be allowed at all on that field, Jay Matteson because of its proximity and slope to Sandy Creek.

Large farms are basically required to build manure storage structures so that they do not have to spread manure on fields that should not receive it at certain times of the year. They must comply with these regulations. New York state will soon become stricter about winter spreading of

sulfide levels become quickly diluted with no impact other than the smell.

Methane gas is also given off from decaying organic matter including manure storage structures. This gas is odorless. It can be burned in concentrated form for energy production but a farm must build a structure to capture the methane gas and concentrate it to have the ability to burn it to generate electricity. We have two farms in Northern New York that have methane digesters to generate electricity.

The cost, more than $5 million, is prohibitive for a farm to consider and they are extremely difficult to manage. Methane quickly dilutes with mixing of air. It can be hazardous at its source, in confined spaces. I should point out that living near a wetland will provide exposure to methane gas and hydrogen sulfides as gas from the decaying organic matter at the bottom escapes to the surface.

There are numerous reports and scientific documents being presented by both sides of the debate raging in our community about siting manure storage structures. Some of the documents indicate studies of farm children living near manure storage structures have less incidence of asthma than those who don’t. Other reports say that a manure storage structure has a three mile impact zone and that the air is poisoned within that zone. As with any reporting, data can be manipulated to achieve the desired outcome.

I look around where I live here in Jefferson County. There are already many, more than people have ever paid attention to, manure storage structures. Some of these structures are in close proximity to neighborhoods and schools and have been there for many years. I look at how many farm kids I know whose house is close to the storage structure and they appear to be very healthy, happy and smart.

The only conclusive thing I can offer to the community is that when they stir the pit, it smells. Otherwise, well, you have already formed your opinion.

Let’s start with something upon which everyone will agree: When the manure in the structure is stirred up so it can be pumped to spread as fertilizer on farms fields, it smells nasty. manure. I believe the state may eliminate the ability of all farms to spread manure during the winter, which will present a huge challenge to smaller farms. As I have alluded to, manure storage structures are practices farms use to minimize their impact on the environment, and improve the quality of our streams, rivers and lakes.

They are expensive to build.

Recently, concerns were raised about air quality impacts from manure storage structures. So let’s start with something upon which everyone will agree: When the manure in the structure is stirred up so it can be pumped to spread as fertilizer on farms fields, it smells nasty. No one I know likes the smell. The smell is caused by decaying organic matter. Mostly hydrogen sulfides are being given off into the air. That is the rotten egg smell that reeks. Although hydrogen sulfides are quickly diluted with proper airflow, the rotten egg smell travels long distances on air currents. Travel in dairy country as farms are fertilizing their fields before crop planting and you most certainly will experience this odor. If hydrogen sulfide is concentrated at its source, such as in a confined area in a barn with no ventilation, it can be fatal. With air flow the hydrogen

n Jay M. Matteson is agricultural coordinator for the Jefferson County Local 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.

February 2016 | NNY Business

| 33

s m a ll business success

Maximize your SEO and boost business

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etting your website onto the first page of a customer’s online search results through Google, Bing, or another search engine is an important part of any online marketing campaign.

This is called “Search Engine Optimization”, and is the best way to reach customers who are searching for your product or service online. You can pay for ad space, above and to the right of the main (organic) search page, but there are also things that you or your Web developer can do to make your website rank well in the middle of the page. Whether you do your website yourself or you have someone do it for you, it can be helpful to know about these concepts to make sure your website is performing optimally.

First, you will want to register your website with Google, other search engines, and useful Web directories for your type of business. This will give you a local listing on the search engine if someone specifically searches for your business.

To reach more customers, there are other steps to take. First, create a list of keywords for your business. These are the words that people will type in a search query to find your business. Consider adding longer keyword phrases rather than short words, such as “shoe stores in Potsdam” rather than “shoes” since larger companies have often claimed all the first page Google real estate for the more general terms. There are other resources that can help you create an accurate list of keywords for your products or services.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

135 Keyes Avenue, Watertown, New York

315-782-4910

34 | NNY Business | February 2016

n Google auto-complete (start typing in a phrase and see what Google selects) n Use soovle. com to find other related words n Use Google trends: google.

Jennifer McCluskey com/trends/explore to see keyword popularity trends n Use Google keyword planner to see what search terms are the most popular: adwords.google.com/KeywordPlanner Once you have developed a list, there are several ways to use the keywords in your website. First, and most importantly, create interesting content on your websites that use these keywords. Don’t stuff keywords in there, make sure the text is user friendly. If you have created your keywords correctly it should be easy and natural to include them in your text.

Remember that it is most important to make your website sound good to your customers and convey your message.

There are other things you can do on the back end of your website that will help it be found easier. Make sure the page’s title, text-describing images, paragraph headers and sub-headers match up with your keywords for that page. Also make sure each of your website pages have a description that both matches up with keywords and clearly states to customers what they will find on that page.

Finally, when you create internal links between your webpages, make sure the text you link is something descriptive, like “check out our winter coats” rather than simply “click here.”

After you have created your website, there are several things that can help increase the amount of traffic of customers to your site. Use your social media accounts to drive traffic to your website by posting your website link regularly (not in every post though). Getting links from other websites, especially welltrafficked or authoritative sites, to your website can really improve your search results. These links can be hard to get, but if you do things like write articles, write blogs, comment on others’ blogs, or have other people link to your website it can help. Continue to add new content (like in a blog) or at least change content from time to time.

It will take some time for your website to gain popularity and for google to rank it higher than your competitors, but if you stick with it people will begin to find your business. Paid ad space can help get faster results if you are in a hurry to get your page listed for certain keywords, but the more you can do for free the better. Your local SBDC is available to assist you in learning more about online marketing and helping you make connections in your community to local Web developers. n JENNIFER McCLUSKEY is a business advisor with the New York State Small Business Development Center at SUNY Canton. Contact her at mccluskeyj@canton.edu. Her column appears bi-monthly in NNY Business.

(315) 782-4910 • 1-800-772-4201 • Fax: (315) 785-8248 www.dlcalarco.com • francee@dlcalarco.com

entrepreneu r ’s edge

Why quitting is difficult, but necessary

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encourage you to give up. Seriously.

It has come to my attention that quitting is probably the best thing you can do for your business, especially when you’re hanging from a seemingly weak rope, your legs dangling against a bumpy wall.

Not that long ago, I fled my home with a group of fierce women. There were five of us total. We left our work, our spouses, and our children behind.

The intention was to escape our oftenoverloaded lives for the quiet of the snowy Adirondack Mountains. We had some adventures scheduled, including a mountain hike, a yoga class and a few hours at a rock wall, a very tall, very bumpy, very intimidating rock wall.

Now I’ve attempted to scale these kinds of walls in the past. I never made it to the top. I told myself I didn’t need to, that the challenge was unnecessary. And, as I stood at the bottom of the 40-foot rock wall in front of me, I told myself the very same thing. I didn’t need to go up there. I had just climbed a 20-foot wall the next room over with great success thanks to the whooping encouragement of my fierce friends. So I didn’t need to double my victory. The climb to the top of the 20-footer was cool, for sure. It was an accomplishment. But it was enough, I told myself. I didn’t have anything else to prove. I was done.

A lie.

As I sat on a cushy mat underneath the archway of a small rock cave, I watched as, one by one, my fierce friends conquered the 40-foot wall. Sometimes they yelled and swore at the colorful stones when their feet slipped or their arms shook with fatigue. Other times they

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paused, holding on to grooved blue and red rocks with fully stretched arms, resting their flushed cheeks against the cold wall as they waited for their strength to return. I Joleene Moody just looked up, snapping my gum, and telling myself again, “I don’t need to do this. I have nothing to prove.”

That’s when my fierce friend Jody looked at me and said. “You have to go up.”

“Nah. I don’t feel like it,” I said. (Lie No. 2.)

“But you have to,” she said. “You can’t just give up. Think about what you do for a living. You help move people through fear. Think of the story you can tell once you hit the top.”

I hate when fierce friends are right.

And so I attempted my ascent, only to stop halfway up because the rocks became difficult. Smaller. Further apart.

“I don’t have the strength,” I told myself.

And I wasn’t in the mood. So I climbed back down. But as I watched my other fierce friends continue to reach the top, I thought, “I can do this. If they can do it, I can do it. I CAN do this.”

This second time, my ascent was faster.

I was more determined. When I hit the difficult part where I had given up 30 minutes prior, I took a deep breath. Or two or four, I don’t remember. I paused, pressing my warm face against the cold

wall. “This ascent is possible,” I told myself. So many people before me had done it, which means it was absolutely possible.

The only things making it impossible were the stories and lies I was telling myself. And frankly, I’m done with debilitating stories and lies.

With as much fire and determination as I could muster, I fought my way upward, finding strength in my arms and legs I didn’t know I had. Those tiny, difficult rocks became larger than life. I found the grooves, I found the fire, and before I knew it, my hand was slapping the top metal bar at exactly 40 feet. I had prevailed. And at the cost of sounding like a dork, I cried when I hit the top, I was so damn happy.

This might be a really difficult time for you. I know it seems like the entire world is against you. But I also know you can move past this. I don’t know you, but I do know you can do this. I know you can make it through. So many before you have done it, right? That means it’s possible. Right now you may have given up. And I’m glad you did. Giving up was necessary. You had to quit so you could experience the lowest version of yourself.

But now it’s time to ascend beyond that version to where the real you awaits.

The rope is stronger than you think. The wall is smoother than it looks. The rocks are less treacherous than they appear.

Fight your way all the way up. Fight hard. And I’ll see you at the top. n Joleene moody is a freelance writer, blogger and speaker who lives in Oswego County with her husband and daughter. Contact her at joleenemoody.com. Her column appears monthly in NNY Business.

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COMMUNITY / BUSINESS CALENDAR

Alexandria Bay Saturday, Feb. 27 n Polar Bear Dip 2016, 1 p.m., Bonnie Castle Resort and Marina, 31 Holland St. This year’s event will raise funds for River Hospital. Cost: Contact River Hospital for ticket prices. Information: River Hospital, 482-1270 or 482-4976.

Canton Tuesday, March 29 n Internship Fellowships: Improve Your Odds for Funding, 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monaco Room, 242, Student Center, St. Lawrence University, 23 Romoda Drive.

Informational session on applying for Career Services funding available to SLU students. Cost: Free. Information: stlawu.edu/career-services/event/ internship-fellowships-improve-yourodds-funding.

Carthage Wednesday, March 2 n Harlem Superstars Comedy Basketball Show, 7 p.m. Carthage Central High School gym, 36500 State Route 26. Tickets available at Carthage school offices, Stefano’s Pizzeria and from Carthage lacrosse players. Cost: Advance, $7; at the door, $8. Information: 493-5030.

Clayton Saturday, Feb. 20 n Fire & Ice Extravaganza, 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel, 200 Riverside Drive. The charity event offers fireworks, music, food and drinks. 2016 charity recipient: Troopers Assisting Troops. Information: 1000 Islands Clayton Area Chamber of Commerce, 517 Riverside Drive, 315-686-3771, info@1000islands-clayton.com or 1000islands-clayton.com.

Thursday, Feb. 25 n Business With A Twist, 5-7 p.m., Wood Boat Brewery, 625 Mary St. Networking, door prizes and food. Admission: $3 for Clayton Chamber of Commerce members; $5 for nonmembers.

RSVP online, 1000islands-clayton.com, through Tuesday, Feb. 23. Sponsored

by Clayton Improvement Association, WWTI-TV50 and the Clayton Chamber of Commerce.

Fort Drum Wednesday, March 2 n Resume Start to Finish, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Army Community Service, P-4330 Conway Road. Program designed to teach the basics of writing a resume.

Information: 772-9611 36 | NNY Business | February 2016

Monday, March 7 n Boots 2 Business, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Clark Hall, Mount Belvedere Blvd., Fort Drum. A two-day course for soldiers transitioning out of the service and interested in starting a business. Course offers information on business opportunities in the area, including home-based retail, service industry and online.

Participants will learn about researching potential markets and how to find licensing and funding opportunities. Requirement: three-day Department of Labor SFL-TAP briefing. Information: ACAP, 772-3434 or sbdc@sunyjefferson.edu.

Thursday, March 10 n Building Your Own Business, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Army Community Service, P-4330 Conway Road. The Small Business Development Center at Jefferson Community College partners with enterprise resource planning to provide information on starting a new business.

Information: 772-9611.

Saturday, March 19 n One Night, One Diamond, 6:30 to 11:30 p.m., The Commons on Fort Drum. An elegant evening of dining, dancing and a chance to win a half-carat diamond donated by Waterbury Fine Jewelers. Event proceeds will purchase designated medical equipment for use at Samaritan Medical Center. Information: ONOD@shsny.com.

Lowville Saturday, April 2 to Saturday, April 16 n 2016 Black River Valley Concert Series, 7:30 p.m., Lewis County Historical Society, Blue Room, 7552 State St. Featuring The Cadleys on April 2 and The Buskers on April 16. Cost: Individual season tickets, $110, includes one guest pass; at the door individual tickets, $20; at the door, family tickets, $45. Information: lewiscountyhistory. org or 376-8957

Massena Saturday, Feb. 20 n Hawkins Point Winter Children’s Festival, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., NYPA Hawkins Point Visitor Center, 21 Hawkins Point Road. Includes bobsledding and luge presentations, four-seat virtual bobsled ride, crafts and outdoor sledding. Cost: Free. Information: Greater Massena Chamber of Commerce, 769-3525 or info@massenachamber.com.

Old Forge Friday, March 11 to Saturday, March 12 n SnoFest, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Hiltebrant

Recreation Pavilion, 225 North St. Sponsored by Central Adirondack Association. Ski Doo, Yamaha, Polaris and Arctic Cat will premier their 2017 models. Cost: Free. Information: Old Forge Visitor Center, 369-6983.

Owego Thursday, Feb. 25 n Public Relations Workshop, 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Owego Treadway Inn & Conference Center, 1100 NY-17C. Workshop teaches how to use public relations as a marketing tool. Advance registration required. Cost: $30.

Information: Tioga County Chamber of Commerce, (607) 687-2020 or info@ tiogachamber.com.

Potsdam Saturday, Feb. 20 n SUNY Financial Day, 9 a.m., Flagg Building, Room 162, SUNY Potsdam, 44 Pierrepont Ave. Students planning to attend HCC or another SUNY institution are invited to learn about higher education funding opportunities. Information: suny.edu/studentevents.

Friday, March 25 n Powerful Presentations: Best Practices Using PowerPoint and More, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Crumb 204, SUNY Potsdam, 44 Pierrepont Ave. Learn how to use digital display, animations and how to deliver a lecture. Cost: Free. Information: 267-2000.

Wednesday, April 20 n Economic Fusion, 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Performing Arts Center, SUNY Potsdam, 44 Pierrepont Ave. Includes a creative idea competition, alumni entrepreneurship panel discussion and a SchmoozeA-Palooza to connect students with employers. Cost: Free. Information: potsdam.edu/offices/career/fusion/.

Syracuse Thursday, Feb. 11 to Sunday, Feb. 21 n Syracuse Winterfest, throughout Syracuse. Ten-day event includes games, sports, family activities, food, music entertainment and a treasure hunt. Information: syracusewinterfest.com.

Tuesday, Feb. 16 n Working and Learning Across the Generations, 8 to 10 a.m., Palace Theatre, 2384 James St. The CNY Association for Talent Development will explore the generations from communications, technology, learning and working, and offer ideas to navigate relationships.

Cost: members $25; nonmembers, $40.

Information / register: cnyastd.org, 546-2783 or info@cnyastd.org.

Thursday, March 31 n Nonprofit Awards 2016, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., The Oncenter, 800 S. State St. Event presented by M&T Bank recognizes individuals and organizations based on their practices in excellence, leadership, fiduciary responsibilities, management practices, creativity and impact on the nonprofit world. Cost: $45 Information: Joyl Clance, 5793918 or jclance@bizeventz.com.

Wednesday, April 6 n CenterState CEO Annual Meeting, 11:30 a.m., 115 W. Fayette St. Cost: Members, $65; table of 10 for members, $625; non-members, $80; table of ten for non-members, $775.

Information: CenterState CEO, lmetot@ centerstateceo.com.

Every Tuesday n Syracuse Business Connections, 3:30 to 5 p.m., North Central Assembly Church, 7463 Buckley Road. Information: Deb Angarano, dangarano@tsys.com.

First Wednesday of the month n Business Innovation Days meeting, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., The Tech Garden, 235 Harrison St. Entrepreneurs and small business owners meet with a counselor from the Small Business Development Center at Onondaga Community College for advice and assistance opportunities. Information: 498-6070 or SBDC@sunyocc.edu.

Every Wednesday n Introduction to Business Startup, Small Business Development Center, 4 to 6 p.m., Mulroy Hall, Onondaga Community College, 4585 West Seneca Turnpike. Information: 498-6070 or onondagasbdc.org. n Syracuse Business Networking, 6 to 7 p.m., Barbieri’s Restaurant, 304 S. Main St. Cost: Free. Information: Kim Bachstein, 414-8223 or info@SyracuseBusinessNetworking.com.

Every Thursday n Free Business Counseling with SCORE, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Tioga County Chamber of Commerce, 80 North Ave. Information: Tioga Chamber of Commerce, (607) 687-2020.

Every Friday n 40 Above: Workers in Transition, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Northern Onondaga Public Library at North Syracuse, 100 Trolley Barn Lane. Helping job seekers aged 40 and above in search of work. Information: John A. Cruty, 569-3964 or crutij@yahoo.com.

Watertown Wednesday, Feb. 5 to Sunday, Feb. 21 n Snowtown USA, a 16-day festival with events around the city. Planned events include opening and closing ceremonies skating under the stars, a winter softball tournament, laser tag and a karaoke night. There will be a Thompson Park Day and an Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds Day. Information: Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce, 788-4400 or chamber@watertownny.com.

Saturday, Feb. 20 n SUNY Financial Day, 9 a.m., Jules Building, Room 6-218, Jefferson Community College, 1220 Coffeen St. Students planning to attend HCC or another SUNY institution are invited to learn about higher education funding opportunities. Information: suny.edu/studentevents.

Wednesday, Feb. 24 n February Business After Hours, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Ramada Inn, 21000 NYS Route 3. Includes networking, prizes and food. Register by noon Tuesday, Feb. 23. Cost: preregistered members, $10; members, $12; nonmembers, $15.

Information: Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce, 7884400 or chamber@watertownny.com.

Thursday, March 3 n 2015 Business of the Year Awards luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Savory Downtown, 300 Washington St. The Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce presents the Business of the Year Award, the 2015 Entrepreneurial Award and The Greater Watertown-North Country Farm and Craft Market Vendor of the Year. Cost: contact the GWNC Chamber of Commerce for prices. Information: Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce, 788-4400 or chamber@watertownny.com.

Wednesday, March 16 n Business After Hours, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Carthage Savings & Loan, 146 Arsenal St. Includes networking, prizes and food. Register by noon, March 15. Cost: registered members, $ 10; non-registered members, $12; nonmembers, $15.

Information: Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce, 7884400 or chamber@watertownny.com.

Monday, March 28 n ServSafe Certification, 8 a.m. to 4

p.m., Extended Learning Center, E-129, Jefferson Community College, 1220 Coffeen St. Workshop teaches the skills needed to prepare and serve food safely.

Test is taken during final 90-minutes of the course. Those who need to retake the exam register for “exam only” portion.

Instructor: Pope Vickers. Cost: $275. Information: Continuing Education, 786-2438.

Tuesday, March 29, n North Country PTAC Matchmaker, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Bruce M. Wright Memorial Conference Center, 1291 Faichney Drive.

Opportunity to network with procurement and prime contractors and representatives from state and federal agencies in one-on-one appointments. Cost: early registration, $15; at the door, $20. Information: Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce, 788-4400 or chamber@watertownny.com.

Thursday, April 7 n Nothing to Cover Up – Cover Letters, 12:30 p.m. to 1:50 p.m., Jules Center, Room 6-111, Jefferson Community College, 1220 Coffeen St. Learn what to include in a cover letter. Open to all JCC students. Cost: Free. Information: Career Planning and Job Placement, 786-2371.

Monday, April 11 n Resume Success, 12:20 p.m. to 1:15 p.m., Jules Center, Room 6-111, Jefferson Community College, 1220 Coffeen St. Workshop has been modified to translate military experiences into civilian skills applicable to the workforce or college transfer. For JCC student veterans. Cost: Free. Information: Career Planning and Job Placement, 786-2371.

Thursday, April 14 n Job and Career Expo, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Bruce M. Wright, 1291 Faichney Drive. The largest hiring event in the north country with more than 100 employers and about 1,200 job seekers participating. Cost: $130. Information: Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce, 788-4400 or chamber@watertownny.com.

COMMUNITY / BUSINESS CALENDAR

Thursday, Feb. 25 to Saturday, Feb. 27 n New York Farm Show, New York State Fairgrounds, 581 State Fair Blvd.

The three-day event showcases products from the state’s agriculture & forestry industry, including equipment, plant products and technology. Cost: Free.

Tickets are available from many northeast equipment dealers or by writing to: New York Farm Show, P.O. Box 3470, Syracuse, NY 13220. Information: newyorkfarmshow.com.

Thursday, April 21 n Small Business Development Center’s Entrepreneurial Training Course, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Dulles Building, Room 3-106, 317 Washington St. A seven week course where new and existing business owners will receive tools and tips on how to develop sound business practices. Cost: $195. Information: Continuing Education, 786-2438.  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 Facebook.com/NNYBusiness or nnybizmag.com for events calendar updates.

February 2016 | NNY Business

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b usiness scene GWNC Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at Tunes 92.5 & 104.5 FM

From left, Steve Weed, Steve Weed Productions, Watertown, and Robert Dalton, Paddock Club, Watertown.

KAREE MAGEE PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Karen Strife, Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways, Watertown, Patti Shaughnessy and Shanie Strife, both of North Country Goes Green, Watertown. Tunes 92.5/104.5 FM WBLH Radio, Watertown, hosted the January Business After Hours at its Washington Street broadcast studios on Jan. 20.

38 | NNY Business | February 2016

From left, Pam Shelmidine, Sudsy Ewe, Adams, and Jodi Herrick, Mint Julep Spa & Salon, Watertown.

KAREE MAGEE PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Rhonda Carlisle, Matthew Hudson and Anne Marie Angus, all of the Hilton Garden Inn, Watertown.

b u siness scene GWNC Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at Tunes 92.5 & 104.5 FM

Alex Hazard and Michaela Richards, both of WWTI-TV ABC 50.

Carae Hoover, AAA Travel Center, Watertown, and Bryan Hoover, Hoover Builder Developer, Theresa.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Rick Reed, Agri-Services Agency, Rebecca Stone and Robert J. Hostetter, both of Farm Credit East, Watertown.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Linda O’Connor, Transitional Living Services, Watertown, and Brad Traynor, Kate Wilson and Bryon Perry, all of Knowlton Technologies, Watertown.

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b usiness scene Lewis County Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at Snow Ridge Resort, Turin

Cyndy Sisto and son, Nick Mir, co-owners, Snow Ridge Ski Resort, Turin.

JEREMIAH PAPINEAU PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Ann Frei, Freihof Lodge, Turin, and Helen McHale, Opossum Hollow B&B, Port Leyden. Snow Ridge Ski Resort, Turin, hosted January’s Lewis County Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours on Jan. 21.

40 | NNY Business | February 2016

From left, Kelsey Sammon and Theresa Sammon, Tug Hill Vineyards, Lowville.

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Dick and Donna Diller, Happy Hollow Campground, Lowville.

b u siness scene Watertown Downtown Business Association awards at Savory Café

Carol Loch, right, Downtown Business Association, Watertown, presents Diana Page Jordan, executive director, Jefferson County Historical Society, Watertown, with the DBA’s 2015 Community Servcie award.

Sarah O’Connell, left, presents Jamie Ganter, Knowlton Technologies site manager and former partner, with the DBA’s 2015 Downtown Institution award.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Ché Cass, April Johnson, and Lauren Garcia, all of April’s Cake Shop, Watertown, with the DBA’s 2015 Business of the Year award. The Downtown Business Association held its annual membership night and award presentation on Jan. 22 at Savory Café, Watertown.

From left, David Winters, Downtown Business Association president, presents Rande S. Richardson, executive director, Northern New York Community Foundation, Watertown, with the DBA’s 2015 President’s award.

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b usiness scene GWNC Chamber of Commerce Economic Forecast 2016 at Ramada Inn

Denise Young, executive director, Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization, Watertown, and Nick Russell, Community Bank, N.A., Watertown.

From left, Steve Hunt, Empire State Development, and Eric Virkler, Lewis County Economic Development.

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KAREE MAGEE PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, April Halladay, Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization, Watertown, Taylour Scanlin, Carthage Area Hospital, Carthage. The Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce held its 2016 Economic Forecast at the Ramada Inn, Watertown, on Jan. 27. Event sponsors included Community Bank, N.A., Carthage Area Hospital, Visual Technologies Corp., and NNY Business magazine.

Grant Sussey and Cynthia Lawrence, both of Watertown International Airport, Dexter.

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b u siness scene EMERGE Professionals Group of NNY at Savory Café

From left, Stephanie Mason, Samaritan Medical Center, and Haley Hercheck, Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization, Watertown.

From left, Elizabeth Wiley, Watertown Savings Bank, Watertown, and Shawna Cutuli, Watertown Family YMCA.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Katie Hoistion, Jefferson-Lewis BOCES, Watertown, and Meagan Antonelli, Samaritan Medical Center, Watertown. The EMERGE Professionals Group of NNY held its first networking event on Jan. 28 at Savory Café, Watertown.

From left, Philip Kauppinen, Grand New Flag, Watertown, Ann Mazur, Northern Lights Chiropractic, Watertown, and Jordan Walker, Thousand Islands Bridge Authority, Alexandria Bay.

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b u siness history

WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES FILE PHOTO

Carriage sent to pasture Auto fueled death of ‘buggies’ at turn of 20th century

T NNY Business

he appearance of the automobile in Watertown in 1909 marked the beginning of the end for the once-flourishing carriage industry and the horse and buggy days.

While there is some question as to who owned the first automobile in Watertown, historical accounts seem to assert that it was the late Louis W. Moore.

Mr. Moore was the employer of Frank W. Woolworth in the latter’s younger days and gave Mr. Woolworth the idea for the five-and-dime store that he would develop into the well-known chain of Woolworth’s Department Stores.

The vehicle Mr. Moore bought was manufactured by Foster & Co., Rochester. It was a steam Stanhope model that

44 | NNY Business | February 2016

carried 15 gallons of water and a sixgallon gasoline tank, enough to travel 75 miles. The gas buggy’s headlights were kerosene coach lamps, predecessors of the acetylene light. The 700-pound machine sold for $1,000, a cost of more than $25,000 today.

Five hundred Watertown residents watched as Mr. Moore’s new automobile, capable of doing up to 20 mph, was unloaded “and many gazed with interest at its subsequent flight up Washington Street,” according to a Watertown Daily Times article from the day.

And no wonder. The heyday of the carriage industry in Watertown was from 1880 to 1900, when it started drawing to a close because of the horseless carriage phenomenon. During those years however, it was a pace setter.

In 1875, the Watertown Spring Wagon Co. was incorporated for $100,000, manufacturing carriages in the Winslow Industrial Building on Factory Square.

They were the pioneer carriage firm in Watertown. The same company today would be worth more than $2 million.

Carriage-making in the north country was big business.

The four local companies engaged in the mass production of carriages and buggies at the turn of the century were Watertown Spring Wagon Co., H.H. Babcock Co., which had plants on Factory Street, Union Carriage & Gear Co. on Newell Street and Excelsior Carriage Co. on Sewall Island.

Carriages and wagons made in these factories found a market throughout the Eastern United States and provided em-

b u siness history ployment to several hundred mechanics.

In 1879, Henry H. Babcock, who came to the city in 1845 and engaged in two small manufacturing plants, entered the carriage business with his two sons under the firm name H.H. Babcock & Sons.

This triggered the beginning of what would become one of the leading carriage firms in the United States. Incorporated in 1882, Babcock & Co. manufactured horse-drawn buggies and developed wellknown, high-quality carriage lines that were shipped cross-country as well as to South America, Europe and South Africa.

An article from 1900 reports a recordbreaking season for the carriage industry.

“It is not evident from the present status of the industry that the passing of the horse is in any way imminent.”

But hold the horses. The market was changing.

Will C. Greene, a city bicycle dealer, decided to enter the automobile business and went to Syracuse to get a locomobile for himself. The Locomobile Company of America, a name coined from locomotive and automobile, produced steam cars beginning in 1899. Although finicky and unreliable, they were a curiosity and middle class Americans clamored for the latest technology.

A newspaper reporter accompanied Mr. Greene to Syracuse and recorded what may have been the first automobile trip between the two cities.

“We glided away from the company’s (Syracuse) office at 9:30 a.m. for the feat not previously accomplished by the horseless carriage,” the account began.

By 3 p.m., the locomobile had pulled up in front of the Randall House in Pulaski, roughly halfway to Watertown. They arrived home at 9:15 p.m., a quarter of an hour short of 12 hours.

Most city residents didn’t take the automobile seriously at first. It was nothing more than a curiosity. Horses attached to buggies and carriages still lined Public Square on Saturday nights.

But within 15 years, the carriage industry would be all but finished in the Garland City. n Business history is a monthly feature, often publiushed from the archives of the Watertown Daily Times. This month’s feature appeared in the June 2014 issue of NNY Business as ‘Bye-Bye Buggy.’

Visit watertowndailytimes.com to access digital archives since 1988, or stop by the Times, 260 Washington St., Watertown to research materials in our library that date back to the 1800s.

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