NNY Business June 2017

B

Y usIness

// 20 QUESTIONS INTERVIEW: St. Lawrence County

Leadership Institute’s, Josh LaFave. Pg 34

JUNE 2017 Volume 7 No. 7

$2.95

nnybizmag.com

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// NORTHERN NEW YORK’S PREMIER BUSINESS MONTHLY //

2 | NNY Business | June 2017

Fish. Ride. Golf.

SO NEAR • SO EASY

SO FUN 100s of miles of trail, incredible golf deals and world class bass, carp and muskie fishing.

Discover it all in St. Lawrence County, NY.

For more information or a Free Travel or Anglers Guide visit:

www.northcountryguide.com 1-877-228-7810 fishcap.net

June 2017 | NNY Business

|3

Watertown’s Oldest - and Newest - Irish Pub! • Guinness On Tap! • Harp On Tap! • Offering Daily Specials!

• Take-Out Available!

Open Daily at 11:00AM • Sunday at Noon

Family owned and operated since 1978 Happy Hour .......Monday-Friday 4-7pm

Gourmet Sandwiches, Pizza, Wings, Steaks, Chicken, Soups and Salads 852 COFFEEN ST., WATERTOWN • 315-782-7335

849 Lawrence Street, Watertown, NY 782-6888 Serving Lunch & Dinner Monday-Thursday 11:00am to 10:00pm Friday & Saturday 11:00am to 11:00pm

Great Salads • Steaks • Seafood F KIDS MENU F

Always Open 7 Nights A Week - Year Round!

Old Fashioned Milkshakes & Ice Cream

PIZZA SERVED TILL MIDNIGHT

Open Mon.-Sat. 6AM - 9PM • Sun. 7AM - 2PM

Lunch Served Saturday & Sunday 202 W. Main St • Sackets Harbor • 315-646-3463

Coffeen Street • Watertown • Exit 46 off I-81

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner • Homemade Desserts

Takeout (315) 782-7878

PEARL’S PASTRY SHOPPE ALWAYS, “GOODER THAN HECK”

We e Welcom ering Pre-Ord

Come Try Our Homemade English Muffins They are the Best In The North Country!

Hours: Tues.-Sat. 6 a.m. - 2 p.m. • Sun. 7 a.m. - Noon Pearlspastryshoppe.com / Find Us On Facebook

10 Main Street, Adams, NY / 315.203.0032

The Genuine. The Original.

Overhead Door Company of Watertown 25223 NYS Route 3, Watertown, New York

(315) 788-4390 www.ohdwatertown.com 4 | NNY Business | June 2017

126 Bellew Avenue, Watertown

315-788-0805

NEW PATIENTS WELCOME

www.docschonfield.com

Participating With United Concordia, Cigna, Delta Dental, Guardian, Metlife, NYS Teamsters, United Healthcare PPO and United Healthcare Community (Family Health Plus, Child Health Plus & Medicaid)

>>

Inside JUNE 2017

14

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26 |

COVER |

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BUSINESS BRIEFCASE |

42 TILT OBTAINS FUNDING The Thousand Islands Land Trust gets project grants to continue trail development.

14 TOURISM TRAILS Tourism trails throughout the tri-county region see economic stimulation. |

12 EXCELLENCE AWARDS Tri-county businesses win SBA Small Business Excellence Awards. |

SMALL BIZ STARTUP |

13 DAILY FIXX COFFEE CO. New coffee shop in Salmon Run Mall adds new energy to food court.

FEATURES |

26 TASTE 1000 ISLANDS New craft beverage trail along Route 12 promotes tourism and locally produced goods.

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TOP TRANSACTIONS |

33 JEFFERSON COUNTY The top 10 property sales in Jefferson County topped more than $3 million in April.

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BUSINESS SCENE |

44 NETWORKING, NNY STYLE From Jefferson to St. Lawrence Counties, businessmen and women connect for success. | BUSINESS HISTORY |

38 SEAWAY TRAIL The ‘grandparent’ of tourism trails began in the late 1970s. |

ONLINE |

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

June 2017 | NNY Business

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CONTRIBUTORS

BusIness www.nnybizmag.com

Lance M. Evans is executive officer for the Jefferson-Lewis and St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors. Each month he writes Real Estate Roundup.

Jennifer McCluskey is a certified business advisor with the New York State Small Business Development Center at SUNY Canton.

Joleene Moody is a freelance writer who lives in Pulaski with her husband and daughter. Each month her column Entrepreneur’s Edge is featured.

Chairman of the Board John B. Johnson Jr.

Editor & Publisher John B. Johnson

Co-Publisher

Harold B. Johnson II

Magazine Editor Brian Kelly

Magazine Associate Editor Holly C. Boname

Editorial Design Holly C. Boname

Jay Matteson is the agricultural coordinator for the Jefferson County Industrial Development Corp. Each month his column Agribusiness is featured.

Bob Gorman is president and CEO of United Way of Northern New York. Every other month he writes his column, Nonprofits Today.

Jake Newman is a Watertown Daily Times reporter.

This month he writes the cover story about tourism trails and their impact on the economy.

Photography

Amanda Morrison, Justin Sorensen, Chris Lenney

Director of Advertising Michelle Bowers

Advertising Graphics

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

Circulation Director Mary Sawyer

Holly C. Boname is associate magazine editor for NNY Magazines. This month she writes about the newly developed Taste 1000 Islands Trail map and tourism.

Amber Stevens is the Program Manager of the North Country PTAC program located at the GWNC Chamber of Commerce, and a business owner from Lewis County.

MARKETPLACE

1000 Islands River Rat Cheese ........................30 American Paving ...........................................13 Antique Boat Museum ...................................33 Aubertine and Currier ...................................12 Bonnie Castle Resort & Marina ........................9 Caskinette’s LoFink Ford ...............................19 Clayton Chamber of Commerce ................30 Coleman’s Corner ...........................................4 Conboy, McKay, Bachman & Kendall, LLP .39 Dr. Guitar Music ..............................................37 Eagle Shoppe .................................................30 Fairgrounds Inn ................................................4 Fibonacci 321 .................................................30 Foy Agency ....................................................37 Fuller Insurance ..............................................37 GoodFellos .......................................................4 Goodrich ..........................................................4 H.D. Goodale Co. ..........................................37 HighTower .......................................................36 Hilda’s .............................................................31 Hospice of Jefferson County ........................25 Jefferson Community College ........................7 Jefferson Lewis Board of Realtors .................45 Karla’s Christmas Tree Shoppe .....................30 Lewis County Economic Development .......44 Michael Ringer Galleries ...............................30

6 | NNY Business | June 2017

Northern Flow Vineyards ...............................31 Nortz & Virkler, Inc. ........................................37 Overhead Door Company of Watertown .....4 Pearl’s Pastry Shoppe ......................................4 R C Congel .....................................................48 Rack’s .............................................................31 River Magic ....................................................30 Route 37 Building Supply ..............................24 Saint Lawrence Spirits ...................................31 Schonfield Dental ............................................4 Shred Con ......................................................32 Shorty’s Place ..................................................4 Snapshots Photo Booth .................................39 St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce ............................................................................3 T.F. Wright & Sons ............................................43 The Golden Cleat ..........................................30 Thousand Islands International Tourism Council ........................................20-23 Tunes 92.5 .........................................................8 Waite Motorsports ..........................................46 Waite Toyota ..................................................47 Watertown Savings Bank ................................2 Watertown Spring & Alignment ...................37 Ziebart............................................................. 37

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. © 2010-2017. 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.

Subscription Rates 12 issues are $15 a year and 24 issues are $25 for two years.

Call 315-782-1000 to subscribe.

Submissions Send all editorial correspondence to hboname@wdt.net Advertising For advertising rates and information in Jefferson and Lewis counties, email mbowers@wdt.net, or call 315-661-2345 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.

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INTERVIEW

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ABOUT THE COVER

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34 LEADING BY EXAMPLE

NNY Business sat down with Josh LaFave, executive director of graduate and continuing education at SUNY Potsdam and discussed his work with the Leadership Institute and it’s path forward. |

COLUMNS

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24 NONPROFITS TODAY 25 AGRIBUSINESS 40 BUSINESS HISTORY |

DEPARTMENTS

8 9 10 12

43 SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS 39 ENTREPRENEUR’S EDGE 38 COMMERCE CORNER

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

13 32 44 46

SMALL BIZ STARTUP REAL ESTATE ROUNDUP CALENDAR BUSINESS SCENE

For this month’s cover story, NNY Business focuses on tri-county trails that support the history of the region and promote the many locally produced goods. These trails encourage tourism and bring economic stimulation, from the Maple Trail in Lewis County to the 1000 Islands Wine Trail along the St. Lawrence River.

June 2017 | NNY Business

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E DI T OR ’ S NOTE

W

hat started as an idea to link sites along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River in a form that allowed a traveler to enjoy the commonality of particular tourist stops has grown into a regional effort to highlight tourism-related businesses that dot the north country.

The Seaway Trail was the first such trail in the area. Initially proposed in the 1970s as an about 200-mile scenic route through the area which would feature signs directing travelers to points of interest, such as lighthouses or historic battle sites, the trail is now a 518-mile route that extends to the Ohio state line.

As writer Jake Newman points out in this month’s NNY Business cover story, the tourism trail concept has now been extended to include food, wine, art and other interests, organizing specialty businesses into a network that makes each easier to find and patronize than if each tried to stand alone in a rural area.

The trail system wipes away town, village or county borders, allowing municipalities to work together to promote regional interests and providing

greater leverage in obtaining grant money that can be used to boost economic development. It can figuratively put some smaller communities and businesses Brian Kelly “on the map.”

Not every idea for a trail tie-in has worked and the jury’s still out on some others, but solid concepts like a wine trail appear destined to last. The hope is that 40 years from now the wine trail’s presence will have become as ubiquitous as the Seaway Trail has become in the past 40 years.

Also in this issue, we glean some thoughts on leadership from Josh LaFave, executive director of graduate and continuing education at SUNY Potsdam. The college and the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce have collaborated to bring back the St. Lawrence Leadership Institute after a six-year absence.

The group meets monthly in an effort

to develop leadership skills, learn about civic awareness and community engagement and network with others in a variety of professions. People often talk about the importance of leadership, but if you ask a hundred people for their definition of what leadership means, you’re likely to get a hundred different answers.

We gave Josh a crack at that question and one sentence in his response stood out for me: “Leadership is not in a title and it knows no limits.” I like that answer, because I believe you never know where leadership will come from or who will ultimately emerge as a leader.

It’s not always the person everyone expects and I’m pleased that someone in position to shape future leaders realizes that.

With summer preparing to peak soon, I’ll leave you with encouragement to take some time to travel a few scenic byways or back roads in search of unique offerings. If you do, remember one thing: There’s a map for that.

Enjoy,

NE XT M ONTH

I

n July’s issue of NNY Business, the focus of the magazine is on the Northern New York agriculture throughout the tri-county region.

Also coming next month: n 20 QUESTIONS: NNY Business sits down with a business leader in the community.

8 | NNY Business | June 2017

n PLUS: NNY Snapshot, Economically Speaking, Entrepreneur Edge, Commerce Corner, Nonprofits Today, 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 NNY Newspaper Employee Retires After 28 Years

Northern New York Newspapers has bid farewell to longtime employee Susan Gardner after 28 years of dedicated employment.

Ms. Gardner began working for the company on October 24, 1988, and retired on April 21 as the advertising administrative assistant to move west to Colorado to live closer to her children and grandchildren.

“Sue Gardner was an asset to the Watertown Daily Times and the Johnson Newspaper Corporation,” said Michelle Bowers, advertising director at NNY Newspapers. “ Her historical knowledge and dedication will be greatly missed. She is irreplaceable but I wish her much enjoyment and I am happy she will be able to spend more time with her family.”

Matthew Cooper Joins Barton & Loguidice’s Watertown Office

Barton & Loguidice (B&L) has announced that Copenhagen resident Matthew J. Cooper, P.E., has joined the firm as a senior managing engineer in the Watertown office. With over 20 years of engineering and management experience, Cooper will help lead the firm’s continued growth as well as guide public and private sector projects for the firm’s north country clients. He is a state-licensed professional engineer and a graduate of Clarkson University with a B.S. in civil engineering.

Cooper’s background includes municipal wastewater and water system projects throughout Northern New York as well as the design of numerous structures from treatment plant tanks to buildings, highways, bridges and site development. He will be responsible for all aspects of project management including initial feasibility evaluations, project scoping, funding and grant assistance, permitting, design, regulatory compliance, bidding assistance, and construction administration.

Got business milestones? n Share your business milestones with NNY

Business. Email news releases and photos (.jpg/300 dpi) to associate magazine editor Holly Boname at hboname@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.

“We are excited to have Matt Cooper join our Watertown office as he is a recognized leader in the community,” said Paul R. Czerwinski, P.E., principal and chairman of the firm’s board of directors.

“His municipal experience and extensive knowledge of the people, geography and facilities in the north country make him a valuable asset to the firm.”

Cooper is the recipient of the Northern New York Business Magazine’s 20 Under 40 Award for emerging leaders as well as the Central New York Business Journal’s 40 Under Forty Awards for business accomplishments and civic leadership.

Koch and Whitman Join Beardsley Architects + Engineers

Beardsley Architects + Engineers announced in May that Lawrence S. Koch, R.A., has joined the firm as architect and

Daniel J. Whitman, CPD, has re-joined the firm as plumbing senior designer.

Mr. Koch has over 30 years of experience in the architectural design of educational facilities, manufacturing facilities, administrative buildings, and county office buildings. He has served as a project manager for multi million-dollar design and construction projects, leading project teams and coordinating closely with clients.

Mr. Whitman has over 24 years of experience in the design of plumbing and fire protection building systems for commercial, educational, residential, retail, and medical facilities. He returns to Beardsley where he previously served as a department manager in addition to his work as plumbing designer.

315-482-4511 • 1-800-955-4511

31 Holland St. Alexandria Bay, NY 13607 events@bonniecastle.com www.bonniecastle.com

COMPLETE MEETINGS for 10 to 600 PEOPLE The Premier Convention Destination in the 1000 Islands

Located on the shores of the St. Lawrence River across from romantic Boldt Castle and minutes from the Canadian border.

Boardroom, Classroom, Theater and U-Shape set-ups available Breakout Rooms available and Outside Decks in Season Executive Meetings and Networking Receptions Numerous Menu Options available and Purchase Orders Accepted Access to 1000 Island Boat Tours, Golf, Wineries and Distilleries 128 Hotel Rooms • Indoor/Outdoor Pools • Walking Distance to Downtown

June 2017 | NNY Business

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Average New York surrogate* price for on-highway diesel

$1.84 in April 2017 $1.92 in March 2017 $1.84 in April 2016

$2.77 in April 2017 $2.75 in March 2017 $2.32 in April 2016

0%

Average NNY price for gallon of regular unleaded gas

Vehicles crossing the Thousand Islands bridge

11.9%

155,739 in April 2017 136,416 in March 2017 147,431 in April 2016 Source: T.I. Bridge Authority

17.1%

Vehicles crossing the Ogdensburg-Prescott bridge 53,001 in April 2017 47,399 in March 2017 47,634 in April 2016

Average NNY price for gallon of residential propane

25.7%

Ogdensburg Bridge & Port Authority

Vehicles crossing the Seaway International (Massena) bridge

Source: NYS Energy Research and Development Authority

192,496 in April 2017 187,020 in March 2017 187,488 in April 2016

Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors single-family home sales 91, median price $114,000 in April 2017 88, median price $119,500 in March 2017 86, median price $126,150 in April 2016

Seaway International Bridge Corp.

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

9.6%

$1.37 in April 2017 $1.33 in March 2017 $1.25 in April 2016

Price

St. Lawrence Board of Realtors single-family home sales 43, median price $69,500 in April 2017 55, median price $71,400 in March 2017 55, median price $75,000 in April 2016

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of N.Y.

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

7.3%

86,900 in April 2017 92,600 in March 2017 86,800 in April 2016

Price

Source: NYS Department of Labor

NNY unemployment rates

4.5

5.0

March 2017

April 2016

March 2017

United States

4.4

7.1 April 2017

6.6 April 2016

6.9 March 2017

6.6 April 2017

April 2016

6.5

7.1 March 2017

6.5

New York State

7.8

Lewis County

8.2

St. Lawrence County

April 2017

Source: Jefferson-Lewis / St. Lawrence boards of Realtors Inc.

Jefferson County

.1%

4.6

Sales

9.6%

April 2016

21.8%

2.7%

4.3

5%

Sales

11.3%

March 2017

$3.47 in April 2017 $3.55 in March 2017 $2.76 in April 2016

5.6%

4.2

$2.53 in April 2017 $2.60 in March 2017 $2.16 in April 2016

April 2017

ECON SNAPSHOT

Average NNY price for gallon of home heating oil

April 2017

$2.45 in April 2017 $2.37 in March 2017 $2.19 in April 2016

19.4%

*Prices are the composite area that includes New York, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia.

Source: U.S. DOE, Energy Information Administration

Source: NYS Department of Agriculture

10 | NNY Business | June 2017

(Percent gains and losses are over 12 months)

Average per-gallon milk price paid to N.Y. dairy farmers

April 2016

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 117 in April 2017 147 in March 2017 116 in April 2016

Cars 455 in April 2017 466 in March 2017 404 in April 2016

12.6%

NNY

1%

Source: Jefferson County Clerk’s Office

Passengers at Watertown International Airport

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

3,131 in March 2017 2,890 in February 2017 2,754 in March 2016

2,188 in April 2017 2,262 in March 2017 2,318 in April 2016

5.6%

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 April 1 to April 28, 2017. For a complete list of DBAs filed in past months, visit WWW.NNYBIZMAG.COM.

MAY 30: Uncle Georges Cookie Jar, 414 Barben Ave., Watertown, George R. Labarr, 414 Barben Ave., Watertown.

J. Bloom, 29221 Hadley Road, Black River.

K C Entertainment, 119 Flower Ave., Watertown, Kenneth C. Edick, 119 Flower Ave, Watertown.

MAY 10: Island Desires, 8 James St., Alexandria Bay, Tammy B. Mathous, 45901 State Route 37, Redwood, Sundi Empey, 35373 County Route 36, Theresa.

MAY 25: Calinix, 26142 Bonney Road, Watertown, Christopher A. Lupica, 26142 Bonney Road, Watertown.

R & S Properties, 16600 County Route 156, Watertown, Robert C. Delong, 16600 County Route 156, Watertown.

Barker Lawn Care, 16440 Thomas Road, Adams Center, Nathan C. Barker, 16440 Thomas Road, Adams Center.

Stich Rx, 18394 County Route 69, Adams, Renee Dyer, 18394 County Route 69, Adams.

Sunset Harbor, 21717 County Route 59, North Shore Road, Dexter, Thomas D. Mulligan, 21717 County Route 59, North Shore Road, Dexter.

MAY 9: Simple Life Farm, 32001 Gardnerville Road, Philadelphia, Kristin E. Monroe, 32001 County Route 30, Philadelphia.

MAY 23: Harbor House Inn, 103 General Smith Drive, Sackets Harbor, Sackets Harbor Leasing Company LLC, 103 General Smith Drive, Sackets Harbor.

MAY 22: Fairouz Sweets, 8551B Jackson Loop, Fort Drum, Medjkoune Fairouz, 8551B Jackson Loop, Fort Drum.

MAY 20: Willies Too Bulldog Tavern, 212 Canal St., Dexter, Crawford Properties LLC, 25161 Bonney Road, Watertown.

MAY 19: Sackets Services, 904 Brady Road, Sackets Harbor, James M. Storan, 904 Brady Road, Sackets Harbor.

CJP Contracting and Services, 35873 County Route 194, Antwerp, Jon C. Culbertson, 35873 County Route 194, Antwerp.

Wintergreen Island Rentals, 42964 Wintergreen Island, Clayton, Deborah R. Green, 42964 Wintergreen Island, Clayton.

Dealer Trader Auto Sales, 23072 State Route 12, Watertown, Tasha E. Gallo, 13906 State Route 11, Adams Center.

Get R Done Big Truck Automotive Collision & Repair Center, 13906 State Route 11, Adams Center.

MAY 18: North Country Transportation Services, 6145A Meadow Wood Drive, Fort Drum, Zamar Turner, 6145A Meadow Wood Drive, Fort Drum.

Mebstergalleries, 34990 Carter Street Road, LaFargeville, MaryEllen L. Wiskotten, 34990 Carter Street Road, LaFargeville.

MAY 17: In Good Time Groceries, 12487 County Route 72, Henderson, Kimberly A. Rehley, 12487 County Route 72, Henderson.

MAY 16: JP Transit, 31269 Middle Road, Watertown, Jason Pisarski, 31269 Middle Road, Watertown.

Residential Recovery, 5187 County Route 92, Lorraine, William H. Leroux, 518 County Route 92, Lorraine.

2 Onions, 1106 Coffeen St., Watertown, Abdul Sharifi, 25378 Virginia Smith 1, Calcium, Shah Amiri, 1106 Coffeen St., Watertown.

Pine Island Enterprises, 45135 Deer Point Road, Wellesley Island, Michael T. Wyble, 45135 Deer Point Road, Wellesley Island.

IAT Trucking, 18791 County Route 155, Watertown, Anisim Talambat, 18791 County Route 155, Watertown.

Cups Up, 1620 Huntington St., Watertown, Gary C. Ward, 1620 Huntington St., Watertown, Bridget A. Ward, 1620 Huntington St., Watertown.

Fort Drum Auto Locksmith Service, 15157 School St., Depauville, Larry A. Jensen, Sr., 15157 School St., Depauville.

Jensen Taxi Service, 15157 School St., Depauville, Larry A. Jensen, Sr., 15157 School St., Depauville.

MAY 8: Motors Edge Automotive, 503 Brown St., Dexter, Kevin M. Duffany, 12695 Bishop St., Adams.

Greenkeeper, 344 East Main St., Brownville, Michael Frasher, 344 East Main St., Brownville.

Road Dog Sales and Marketing, 519 West Mullin St., Watertown, George J. Bearup, 519 West Mullin St., Watertown.

Scooters Jobs and Services, 25377 State Route 126, Watertown, Gary T. Hreczan, III, 25377 State Route 126, Watertown.

MAY 5: A Second Glance, 25391 Hinds Road, Watertown, Janiffer L. Lee, 25391 Hinds Road, Watertown.

Monty’s Lawncare, 12872 County Route 72, Henderson, Henry Montondo, 12872 County Route 72, Henderson, Timothy Montondo, 740 Mill St., Watertown.

Ditch’s Marina, 8405 Cornell Road, Henderson, Donna Ditch, 8405 Cornell Road, Henderson, Thomas Ditch, 8405 Cornell Road, Henderson.

What Matthew Thinks, 106 Bishop St., Watertown, Matthew Munoz, 106 Bishop St., Watertown.

Fuller Mason Line, 30050 Burnt Rock Road, Cape Vincent, Neil J. Fuller, III, 18739 County Route 3, Clayton.

MAY 4: J P Ink, 323 West Hoard St., Watertown, Everett P. Shelmidine, IV, 623 Gotham St., Watertown, John D. Pfister, II, 323 West Hoard St., Watertown.

MAY 3: Mama’s, 426 A. Arsenal St., Watertown, Cassandra L. Daily, 426 A. Arsenal St., Watertown.

MAY 2: Tite Linz Custom Painting, 220 West Stone Road, Mexico, Craig Collins, 220 West Stone Road, Mexico.

AnCo Builders, 23587 State Route 411, LaFargeville, Anita M. Welty-Boute, 23587 State Route 411, LaFargeville.

GLC, 16583 Evans Road, Dexter, Gabriel A. Lines, 16583 Evans Road, Dexter.

MAY 15: Undeniable Ink, 26390 State Route 11, Evans Mills, Allah Hicks, 26726 Anable Ave., Evans Mills.

Massage By Elaina, Marcy Spa and Salon, 165 Polk St., Watertown, Elaina R. Gokey, 423 Frontenac St., Watertown.

MAY 12: New Generation Contracting, 108 Washington St., Antwerp, Gregory W. Corey, 108 Washington St., Antwerp.

MAY 1: Dales Contracting & Handyman Services, 16 Main St., Philadelphia, Dale L. Hale, 16 Main St., Philadelphia.We are the Streets, 1708 Ohio St., Watertown, Michael Lopez, 211 Central St., Watertown, Sarah C. Finley, 1708 Ohio St., Watertown.

MAY 11: KRB Farms, 29221 Hadley Road, Black River, Kristen

TRANSACTIONS

DBAs

13.7%

June 2017 | NNY Business

| 11

BUSINESS BRIEFCASE

Tri-county Businesses Win SBA Small Business Excellence Awards

Three area small business were recognized during National Small Business Week at the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 19th Annual Small Business Excellence Awards luncheon in Syracuse.

NY Small Business Development Center Canton honored Glow Skincare and Spa, owned by Carmen and Blake Gendebien and based in Canton, with a 2017 Small Business Excellence Award.

Glow Skincare and Spa provides an elegant, professional, and relaxing setting where customers escape everyday stresses. Services include facials, manicures, pedicures, makeup consultation, massage, body treatments, tanning, teeth whitening, waxing, and hydromassage. The highquality products include an all-natural skincare line and the same line of nail polish used in the spa at The Bellagio in Las Vegas. Glow also offers men’s services and “princess” services geared toward young girls. Glow sells retail spa products, including a branded line of Glow skincare and Glo Minerals make-up along with several product lines from local business women.

NY Small Business Development Center Watertown honored Buckingham Hardware/Bucks & Bolts based in Croghan with a 2017 Small Business

12 | NNY Business | June 2017

Excellence Award. Buckingham Hardware is a hardware store in Croghan owned by Todd Buckingham serving both Lewis and Jefferson Counties. Open seven days a week, the store also offers outdoor supplies for hunting, camping, fishing and hiking. With more than 22 years of ownership Todd has grown it to a multimilliondollar company that employs 14 people.

In 2013, Todd used SBA-backed 504 and 7a loans to open a new location, Bucks & Bolts, in Blossvale (near the eastern shore of Oneida Lake) which offers a similar line of products and is managed by his cousin, Jacob Buckingham.

Watertown Savings Bank honored Kingdom Strongholds, Ltd., owned by Jamie Wood and based in Watertown, with a 2017 Small Business Excellence Award. Page Fitness Center located in Watertown is a professional health and fitness training facility for adults. The center has a complete system devoted to obtaining results ensuring the right fit for each individual. This method includes customized training, nutrition and meal planning, proper supplementation and grocery shopping tours. The center builds these areas into a plan-of-action that incorporates cardiovascular and resistance training, flexibility/mobility training and professional coaching all wrapped up in one complete plan specifically designed

for each individual.

“The 19th Annual Small Business Excellence Awards luncheon gives us the opportunity to celebrate our business community leaders for their small business successes,” said Bernard J. Paprocki, SBA Syracuse district director. “Entrepreneurs find success not by avoiding failure but by dreaming the impossible and taking chances.”

Howl at The Moon Event Raises Over $7K

On March 24, The Phinney Charitable Foundation held the 1st Annual Howl at the Moon Dueling Piano event at the 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel in Clayton.

The event raised $7,250 and was donated to benefit the Clayton July 3rd fireworks display. The event will continue next year, again in support of the annual Clayton fireworks display fund.

SMAL L BU SIN E SS S TA RT UP BUSINESS

Daily Fixx Coffee Co.

A Watertown entrepreneur who wants to open a new coffee shop chain under the name Daily Fixx Coffee Co. opened the first site Tuesday at the Salmon Run Mall. The coffee shop, in the food court between the Flaming Wok and Jake's Wayback Burgers, serves signature coffees, gourmet espresso drinks like lattes and cappuccinos, pastries, smoothies, frappes, breakfast sandwiches and frittatas, said owner Adam P. Tontarski, who operates the shop with three employees.

"We are launching a brand," he said.

"Hopefully (this store) will be the start of many."

The signature coffees Mr. Tontarski and his staff serve include his Kajana blend, a dark roast blend with hints of chocolate and cherry, a caffeinated and decaffeinated medium roast house blend and a light roast fair trade Peruvian blend. He also serves his signature espresso.

Mr. Tontarski said he created his signature blends while training under a mentor and taking classes in North Carolina and Skaneateles, adding that he created his Kajana blend in 2014 the night before he opened his previous Skaneateles coffee shop, Creekside Coffee Bar and Books, which he closed in 2015.

Mr. Tontarski's approach to making coffee includes emphasizing the natural flavor of the coffee beans with no added flavors and roasting it as smooth as possible, he said.

"Each coffee bean has its own natural flavor," he said. "The better the bean, the better the coffee."

In addition to selling his coffee, Mr. Tontarski said he and his employees will teach customers how to brew his blends, which he will also sell in packages at

WHERE Watertown, NY

AMANDA MORRISON n NNY BUSINESS Adam Tontarski opened his new coffee shop Daily Fixx Coffee Co. in the Salmon Run Mall. The coffee shops sells drinks and a collection of pastries and breakfast foods.

the shop, both on-site and through video demonstrations on social media.

"It makes customers feel involved in a part of your business," he said.

Mr. Tontarski hopes to appeal to all demographics of coffee drinkers at Daily Fixx Coffee Co., he said, including a growing demographic of health-conscious customers.

The shop offers organic additives for smoothies and health foods like overnight oatmeal and chia puddings.

"We are trying to appeal and present a healthy option," Mr. Tontarski said.

Two new clothing stores will also open in the mall this week.

Torrid, which sells clothing for women sizes 10 to 30, and Jimmy Jazz, which sells brand-name clothing and footwear, will hold grand openings Saturday. Torrid will open next to American Eagle and Jimmy Jazz will open across from Zales, according to a news release from the mall.

"We're always happy to get new stores opening," said Karla R. Woods, the mall's marketing manager.

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AMANDA MORRISON n NNY BUSINESS Lynette Lundy-Beck stands near the Seaway Trail in Chaumont where a new informational kiosk about the trail and the village of Chaumont was placed recently.

COV E R STORY

THE TRAILS TO

ECONOMIC UPSWING

1 2

14 | NNY Business | June 2017

C O V E R S T O RY

As more businesses and initiatives related to tourism continue to pop up across the north country, there is an ever-growing effort to organize the area’s assets. One product of this attempt is a sprawling network of tourism trails that work to direct people to a winery, artistic exhibit or other attraction that will then lead to another similar experience.

Many of these trails in the north country are in their infancy, and some have yet to be completed. The goal is simple; to draw tourism dollars to the area and offer an array of businesses and attractions to compel visitors to return. While some of the first examples of such trails have fallen by the wayside due to lack of funding, others are built strictly to better equip the area in its attempt to target grant monies. Geography creates hardship for some trail initiatives, while others are held up by restrictions in funding.

Community-based trail movements have also sprung up, and more inclusive trails seem to be on the minds of organizers moving forward.

June 2017 | NNY Business

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C O V E R ST O RY While many of the north country’s food, wine and art trails are new, organizing amenities in this fashion is no novel concept according to Gary S. DeYoung, executive director of the 1000 Islands International Tourism Council.

“The trails idea has been around a long time. From my experience, it started with scenic byways which is a bit of a misnomer because they are not just structured because they are scenic, they are structured because they are scenic and have cultural and recreational amenities along the way,” he said.

Mr. DeYoung said the area along the St. Lawrence River is part of the Seaway Trail, a national scenic byway that runs along the river and Great Lakes, which has been around since late 1970s. Scenic byways from the national level have some sort of interpretation and planning associated with them that helps promote general tourism, he said.

He said while there used to be money earmarked for these types of trails by the National Highway Administration, the vision has changed and some of the funding has disappeared.

“The priorities at the national level changed from promotion and interpretation into bricks and mortar. So for years, we had a lot of ability using the Seaway trail to get all of the communities that, say, have historic lighthouses together and do some interpretation and copromotion,” he said. “Most of that kind of funding has dried up at the federal level so it is very difficult to pursue those projects anymore.”

Lately, though, New York State has picked up the slack when it comes to injecting money into trails initiatives.

“There is a network of state designated byways; Black River trail, maple trail … the north country tends to have a lot more of those than other parts of the state,” Mr. DeYoung said. “We have got kind of a spider web of trails that go through the Thousand Islands and Adirondacks.”

St. Lawrence County has created a wine trail to better market its vineyards and draw attention to what the county has to offer. While the trail is helpful, St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce Director Brooke E. Rouse said the size of the county and the relatively small number of stops along the trail make the initiative problematic.

“With the wine trail, the wineries are 30 miles apart and there is only three of them,” Mrs. Rouse said. “Our hope is that it inspires people to open more wineries.”

The “Wine Trail” distinction is very 16 | NNY Business | June 2017

C O V E R S T O RY specific, according to Mrs. Rouse. She for people to come and share what we decided her marketing funds could better said other similar businesses, like Kaneb have in this area.” serve her elsewhere.

Orchards, a cidery, do not qualify to be Ms. Spence credits Sue Maring, co-own- “We were just too far out of the loop,” included in the wine trail. er of Tug Hill Vineyards, with expressing Ms. Maring explained. “We decided to “It is hard to market that as just a wine interest in such a proposal. pull out of it and spend our advertising trail when it is just three wineries,” she “For us, we are the only winery in Lewdollars more in the Utica area because that noted. is County, so we need to have something is a little closer to us and there weren’t To work around the restrictive desthat ties together all of the other tourism other wine trails down there and we were ignation of the wine seeing a lot of people trail, Mrs. Rouse said coming up from that the county chamber area, so we thought is looking at a more that was a better marinclusive approach to ket for us.” marketing local pro Mr. DeYoung ducers. said while there are “We have been lookplenty of wineries to ing at developing a justify the Thousand culinary trail of some Islands Seaway Wine sort which is orgaTrail, there is a push nized through (New to be more inclusive York State Department along the St. Lawrence of Agriculture and River as well.

Markets) and Cornell

“We have gone Cooperative Extension from branding that have a couple people the Thousand Islands working on that,” Mrs. Seaway Wine Trail Rouse said. and now our promo “It is basically any tions … we call it Taste kind of farm-to-table 1000 which is a little experience that could broader definition and include a farm stand, would include the a farmers market, a brew pubs and the disfarm experience, a restilleries,” Mr. DeYoung taurant that is doing said. farm-to-table, a bed

St. Lawrence and breakfast or hotel County’s geography that is doing farm-tomeans many of its table,” she continued. attractions are sev“Our plan was also eral miles apart, and to feature any kind of Mrs. Rouse said the food related expericounty’s potential plan ence or business that would include more might not necessarily than just food and be locally grown.” beverage stops.

The cuisine trail

“We were also plan St. Lawrence hoping to mix our County is considering culinary trail with art is already the focus of and cultural aspects Mellissa M. Spence, because the challenge sustainable agriculture with our county being educator at Cornell so large is that there Cooperative Extension would be quite some JUSTIN SORENSEN n NNY BUSINESS of Lewis County. Ms. distance between those Don Moser wears a NY State maple t-shirt. Mosers Maple is featured on the Lewis County Maple Trail.

Spence said it has been specific locations on a long process, but that the trail, so we would 14 businesses have signed on to make up want to fill that with other attractions for type businesses in the area,” Ms. Marthe cuisine trail for Lewis County. people to visit,” she said. ing said. “We would be able to tie in the “It is going to basically be a 50 mile trail microbreweries, the cheese places, flower One such art and cultural aspect is the so you can do it all in one day if you want shops and the maple syrup producers.” barn quilt trend, which has been gaining to,” she said. “It involves the vineyard, popularity on two opposite ends of St. Ms. Maring said the idea works for her cheese processors, tree growers, landscap- business because her winery is relatively Lawrence County. Ruth McWilliams, the ing. There are also some restaurants on tourism and beautification coordinator isolated. After a brief attempt to join the there. So it is promoting local foods and for Colton, said the town is heading the Thousand Islands Seaway Wine Trail, she

June 2017 | NNY Business

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C O V E R ST O RY

AMANDA MORRISON n NNY BUSINESS Frank C. Venditti Jr., left, and his son, Frank III, own and operate Venditti Vineyards, which has benefitted greatly from being included on the Thousand Islands Wine Trail.

AMANDA MORRISON n NNY BUSINESS Shannon, left, and Elizabeth Hickey, Fort Drum, look at the quilts on display at the Fibonacci 321 gallery, Clayton, during the NNY Art Trail.

18 | NNY Business | June 2017

barn quilt efforts in the foothills in collaboration with Colton-Pierrepont Central School.

“The art teacher at the school has been very interested in barn quilts, so we have been working with students as young as in the fourth grade through the school art club,” she said.

“The barn quilt trails are really neat because they are really homegrown, which I always love to see communities find something that is a good fit for their community and something they truly believe in and have ownership of,” Mrs. Rouse added.

Hammond was the first community in the county to establish a barn quilt trail, an initiative that is community-based.

Both Hammond and Colton barn quilt trails each have more than 50 quilt blocks, and Ms. McWilliams said there has been interest from other communities between the two established trails.

“Right now, we have got this Canton push which is emerging as a way for us to keep pushing the barn quilt movement forward. We sort of hone in on parts of the county where there is interest and do some push, like workshops and events to bring greater attention at the community level,” she said.

Ms. McWilliams hopes to use the Dairy Princess Parade in Canton to push the barn quilt tradition. She said the St. Lawrence County Historical Association plans to hang several barn quilts from its red barn building on Main Street, near the center of the parade route.

Ms. McWilliams said the barn quilts have caught on well because of the individuality they allow people to illustrate.

She also said it has pushed some residents in the area to better maintain property.

“A lot of people just like to see these colorful images as they are driving around.

It has also prompted some people who have put up barn quilts to actually speed up some improvement projects to their building. We have had some buildings repainted or resided in preparation for the barn quilts to be installed,” she said.

Mrs. Rouse said she thinks some people feel a link between the barn quilts and the culture of the region.

“It is kind of public art, it is history, it is culture, it really embraces the agricultural heritage of this area while kind of providing something as people are traveling through the rural landscape of the county,” she said.

“We really get people to think about traditional quilt block patterns and how it relates to the place where their building

C O V E R S T O RY is,” Ms. McWilliams added. “A sense of place and history is tied in with what we are trying to do in Colton.”

The barn quilts may tie into another trails effort that has gained popularity in the north country recently, one that requires a slightly different means of travel.

“In Colton, we have them facing both the road and the water. Increasingly, we have people with camps or cottages or boat houses putting them facing the water so boaters can see them,” Ms. McWillliams said.

Blueway trails have sprung up across the area. Mr. DeYoung said the Black River Blueway trail includes boat launches and information that allows paddlers better access to the river. Ms. McWilliams has been heavily involved with the Raquette River Blueway Trail and said kiosks will soon be available along the route to inform interested parties of access points, history and other amenities.

Leigh B. Rodriguez is Canton’s economic developer and has a hand in creating the Blueway Trail plan for the Grasse River. She explained that blueway trails look at the communities along a waterway, inventories its assets and looks at how it can be enhanced and be marketed for more tourism while also maintaining the waterway in a respectful manner.

“It identifies places that might be good for a boat launch, for example,” she said.

“You want to promote public access to the river and appreciation and utilization of the river in various ways.”

Blueway trails are advantageous because they create cohesion between communities that share the river corridor, Ms. Rodriguez said.

“I think part of the goal is that looking at one community individually, it may not be a destination or a place where you would spend a significant amount of

time. But if you look at the entirety or a big stretch of the waterway and all of the communities along it and identify things to do all along the waterway, it might be a two or three day thing you could do,” she explained.

Mrs. Rouse also pointed to collaboration between municipalities as a benefit for the blueway trail idea.

“You are looking at communities that have never worked together, have never even thought of why they would work together,” she said. “Combining resources, leveraging resources to apply for grants to do some of the things that certainly would not be available to these smaller communities, it then gives them an opportunity to be on the map and work together to create an attraction.”

“It gets people from multiple communities talking together, thinking about marketing and branding together and sharing assets, which to me is the key in a place where resources are so limited.

It is so important to work together,” she continued.

Ms. Rodriguez explained that a blueway trail is a plan, something that can be used as leverage when applying for funding to complete development projects.

“It has a lot of community input into how it can be enhanced. For example, if there was a place identified for a boat launch, we could pursue money to put in a boat launch,” she said. “It gives us something to point to and say ‘look, this is something that has been identified by the community as a priority and now we want money to implement it.’”

Restaurants, emergency services and convenience items are keys to providing a complete blueway trail for visitors.

Ms. Rodriguez said that while there is no specific plan of attack for the Grasse River yet, she thinks the plan for the Oswe-

gatchie Blueway Trail makes sense.

The Oswegatchie Blueway Trail has broken up its plan into primary and secondary nodes along the river. Primary nodes offer services like a hospital, lodging and restaurants while secondary nodes will have gas and other necessary amenities.

“I think that makes sense because you need to have the amenities that people are going to need when they are utilizing the asset while they are there,” she said. “For example, Rensselaer Falls is on the Oswegatchie and they are a secondary node.

So if it is identified that a secondary node should have gas and convenience items, if those things aren’t in that community, that gives you a reason to say ‘hey look, if this trail comes together and we start marketing it, we really should put these things here.’”

While Ms. McWilliams said there is no official link between the blueway trail and the barn quilt initiatives, she believes it is a possibility for the future.

“I would say right now, the two aren’t hard-wired,” she said. “I am always looking for ways to connect the dots between things we are doing.”

From blueways and barn quilts to wineries and locally produced foods, mapping out the goods and services offered in the north country has become an increasingly popular effort in marketing the area. While geography and governmental restrictions create a roadblock for some local trails, others flourish on the backs of community volunteers. A major push is on to create as much cohesion as possible between foods, beverages and the arts to create a more inclusive and well-rounded experience for visitors, which will, in theory, allow the businesses, organizations and individuals involved to expose themselves to a more robust local tourism economy.

June 2017 | NNY Business

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NON PR OFITS TODAY

Greetings to the members of the Class of 2017!

T

hose of you who should have been in the Class of 2016 have already learned an important business lesson about this esteemed institution that honors you today: The journey is more important than the destination — as long as your check doesn't bounce.

And speaking of business, all of you will be looking for a job soon and there are a couple of things you ought to know.

Your perception of the job market and what you think employers are looking for is likely very different from what the job market is and what employers are actually looking for.

It's like the difference between a recession and a depression. A recession is when your neighbor loses his job. A depression is when you lose YOUR job.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson campaigned for president in the 1980s using this concept.

Even though national unemployment was 5 percent at the time, he would tell listeners: “But if YOU are the one without a job, the unemployment rate is 100 percent.”

Your perception of the job market is affected by the government, which relentlessly tinkers with the economy to create more jobs. Thus, you may be under the impression that everyone is doing his utmost to ensure that everyone has a job.

And you would be wrong.

Government says it wants full employment. But business and industry strive for minimum employment because minimum employment is the key to keeping down costs.

Thus, as you look for a job you should know this: Nobody really wants to hire you.

This is evidenced by the fact that in most cases, the job you will be applying for has been vacant for some time.

Business and industry often allow jobs to go unfilled for a while to control expenses and to learn — or be reminded — of just how important the job is to the company.

By the time you Bob Gorman show up for the interview, the company has only recently — and reluctantly — decided that someone must be hired.

There are some very sound business reasons for this reluctance.

1) You are costly. Your salary is all that you see, but the company sees health benefits, insurance, Social Security and a variety of other costs. You think you're getting paid $30,000, but to the company you are costing it $40,000 or more.

2) You don't know anything. You'll even admit it in a job interview by saying such things as, “I'm a quick learner,” or “you'll only have to tell me once.” To the company you are a person who won't generate a return on its investment for at least a year.

3) You have just spent four years in college being coddled in a manner the rest of the world can't afford to replicate. There are a lot of chuckleheads who six months out of college quit their jobs and run home to mommy after being wounded by some minor inconvenience. Thus, you are considered a flight-risk hire.

So if nobody wants you, how do you get a job? The first thing you must do is decide what you want to accomplish in your interview. That means you must

learn what the company wants to accomplish.

Of course, there are several things you shouldn't do during a job interview.

Never ask: * When do I get a vacation? * When do I get a raise? * Will I have to work overtime?

Never announce which sports teams you hate. Don't say church is for idiots. If asked about hobbies, don't meander into your sex life. And don't get cute and ask what the company is doing to save the Brazilian rain forest, unless the company is actually trying to save rain forests.

Obviously, what you say will be held against you. In a way, what you are trying to do is have a lively discussion without putting your foot in your mouth.

Make a list of questions and store them mentally. Learn about the company’s history on its website. They do not have to be great questions, but they will show that you are actually interested in learning about the company. How long does training take place? How many employees are there? Does the company encourage people to be involved in community activities? After all, most businesses and industries want to be good corporate neighbors and want employees who are on the same wavelength.

Basically, you have few advantages during the interview other than trying to control who is doing the talking.

Will any of this work? There are no guarantees, of course. Nobody has a sure-fire method for getting a job. But I do know how you can at least be asked to come in for that crucial job interview.

On your resume, write the following: SHORT-TERM GOAL “To do my job so well that within a year after I’m hired my supervisor will receive a promotion and a pay raise.”

I know this doesn’t jibe with your notion that the world is about you. But forget the jibe; you need a job. Trust me, this will work.

Good luck on your future, especially to those of you who added a self-inflicted extra semester or two to your debt load. n BOB GORMAN is president and CEO of United Way of Northern New York. Contact him at bgorman@untiedway-nny.org or by calling 315-788-5631.

24 | NNY Business | June 2017

AG RIBU S I NE S S

National Grid has Programs to Assist Agriculture

F

arms and agribusinesses considering improving their energy efficiency or an expansion project should look closely at the program National Grid offers. They have been a good partner to many farms across Northern New York offering financial assistance for energy projects. As an example, National Grid assisted a 430cow dairy just north of Albany in 2015.

The farm wanted to improve their energy efficiency and increase their productivity.

National Grid was able to help the farm achieve both objectives through $18,000 in energy efficiency incentives and a $50,000 grant from National Grid’s Economic Development Agribusiness program.

National Grid offers a variety of energy saving farm incentives. Improved lighting systems can increase milk production per cow and provide a better work environment for farm staff. National Grid provides significant incentives for converting old light systems to newer higher efficiency systems. There is a range of incentives offered depending upon the type of fixture.

Fans can be a huge electricity demand during the warm summer months.

Without fans, herd health and production can drop significantly. It is important to provide well-circulated air flow and cool temperature to keep your cows happy and minimize fly problems. Through National Grid’s help, farms may be able to obtain more efficient fans that improve air quality and cooler temperatures. In addition, variable frequency drives and controls can be put in place to allow fans to run only when needed adding additional savings onto a farm electricity bill.

Assistance on upgrading milking equipment may also be possible from National Grid. Variable frequency driven vacuum pumps, air compressors, pumps, air dryers, milk precoolers, heat exchangers and chillers are eligible for National Grid incentive payments. Many farms have already taken advantage of incentives from National Grid to upgrade this equipment.

Some of our farms located in the rural areas of Northern New York face limitations because of the power supply to the farm. In order to upgrade or expand facilities, farms sometimes face needing a three-phase power supply to farm instead of single-phase. This can be a very expensive proposition as the farm will incur the costs of running three-phase power to

the farm, if the supply is not present in front of the farm already. National Grid does have a grant program to decrease the cost of obtaining three-phase power. Potentially, dependJay Matteson ing upon the specific situation the farm faces, it may receive up to $200,000 for running three-phase power.

The National Grid Agri-Business Productivity Program is available to assist dairy farms, commercial farms, food processing businesses and controlled environment agricultural facilities with energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy projects and delivery or productivity improvements. To be eligible a business or farm must receive electric or natural gas from National Grid and be undertaking an energy efficiency project through

any public agency or utility program or be purchasing /installing equipment for a renewable energy project to service the facility. A project that is constructing or upgrading a new controlled environment agriculture facility may also be eligible.

Awards up to $50,000 are possible.

Our office has a great working relationship with the Economic Development and Corporate Citizenship office of National Grid in Syracuse. Mr. Joe Russo is great to work with and has worked hard to help farms and agribusinesses with their projects. If you are interested in learning more about these programs, please give our office, Jefferson County Economic Development, a call at 315-782-5865 or by email to coordinator@comefarmwithus. com or contact Mr. Russo directly at 315-428-6798. You’ll find a good partner through National Grid with your energy efficiency or expansion projects. n JAY M. MATTESON is agricultural coordinator for the Jefferson County Local Development Corp. Contact him at coordinator@comefarmwithus.com. His column appears monthly in NNY Business.

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June 2017 | NNY Business

| 25

The Taste

of Tourism

STORY 26 | NNY Business | June 2017

BY HOLLY BONAME | PHOTOS PROVIDED BY TASTE 1000 ISLANDS

The business of tourism is expanding, and why wouldn’t it be when new businesses and attractions have been on a steady increase across the north country. Historical trails are being promoted statewide and here locally the craft beverage industry is on the rise, developing an intriguing addition to the ever popular wine trails in New York state.

Taste 1000 Islands is among these new trails and attractions, and business owners along the trail say it’s bringing in crowds that have not been to the area before.

June 2017 | NNY Business

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FE AT U RE Woodboat Brewery is a microbrewery located in Clayton, along the St. Lawrence River in the Thousand Islands.

Located only a few blocks from the downtown business district and next to the Antique Boat Museum the brewery sees large crowds of tourists that are visiting attractions, stopping in once they realize there are locally crafted beers being produced right in town.

“I think the trails are an industry of their own,” Mike Hazlewood, owner and brewmaster at Woodboat Brewery in Clayton, said. “We get feedback from visitors that don’t know the individual breweries or attractions, but they recognize trails.”

“Taste 1000 Islands is a collective of local craft beverage makers in the Thousand Islands,” Julia Purcell, founder of Taste 1000 Islands, said. “We offer small batch wine, beer and spirits made with locally sourced ingredients along the St. Lawrence River.”

Their mission is simple: Increase awareness of local brands, encourage tourism to the region and provide fun and educational activities and experiences to visitors and residents alike.

The organization was created by Ms. Purcell and her Brooklyn-based production company in 2016. Partnering with seven local beverage producers, the organization began to develop a trail that would be inclusive of all types of attractions- from wineries to distilleries and breweries. Initially working with

28 | NNY Business | June 2017

F E AT UR E

Gary DeYoung, of the 1000 Islands International Tourism Council, it was clear that there was a draw to the area because of these local businesses. Ms. Purcell took that vision and applied for a grant from the state to build the craft beverage trail website, events calendar, form partnerships and run a complete public relations campaign with help from LL Marketing and Design who joined in early 2017 to help manage the project locally.

The trail was developed with an easy-to-follow day trip format along the St. Lawrence River. It starts in Cape Vincent, on Lake Ontario, and follows the river down, all the way through Clayton to Alexandria Bay. Ms. Purcell says the stops were strategically located along State Route 12, with only short drives in between each stop.

“Taste 1000 Islands has many partners around the region. Between the 1000 Islands International Tourism Council, the Antique Boat Museum, the Clayton Chamber of Commerce, the Clayton town docks, and many local restaurants, and businesses. And

while currently no money has been received, Empire State Development (ESD) has promised a matching grant from the New York State Craft Beverage Fund to continue the trail map and its many area stops,” Ms. Purcell said.

The craft beverage industry is relatively new to the region, which is why Taste 1000 Islands focuses not only on promoting the businesses themselves, but also the region as a whole.

“This is a new kind of tourism for our region. We are providing an activity and experience that allows visitors to not only taste locally hand crafted beverages, but to meet the people making them and to learn about the unique process,” Ms. Purcell said. “We are not only entertaining, but educating people on where their products come from and encouraging support of local products.”

Craft breweries are trending across the country. Mr. Hazelwood says that he sees people come to the Woodboat Brewery for that very reason.

“People are interested in craft brew-

ing these days, it’s a tourist attraction of its own. The trail map is tying everyone together and it’s a good thing,” Mr. Hazelwood said.

Ms. Purcell says that she would love to see people coming from near and far to experience and ‘Taste the 1000 Islands’.

“As our products develop, we hope to see ourselves as a world-class destination for tasting and learning more about the craft beverage process. We would like to offer organized tours, create more local partnerships and see new products developing and improving in the region,” she said.

June 2017 | NNY Business

| 29

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June 2017 | NNY Business

| 31

R EA L E STATE ROUNDUP

Realtors Advocate For Property Owners and Buyers

T

he month of May saw Realtors from our area join their counterparts across the state and nation to advocate for consumer friendly real estate issues and oppose measures that would hurt property owners and buyers.

During the week of May 15 to May 20, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) held its annual Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo in Washington, D.C. Attended by approximately 8,500 attendees from across the country and around the world, the week included about 200 meetings and events that covered many real estate topics and allowed Realtors to take an active role in advancing the real estate industry, public policy, and the Association.

The tri-county area attendees included Jennifer Dindl (Humes Realty and Appraisal), Carolyn Gaebel (Bridgeview Real Estate and Gaebel Real Estate Services), Lisa L’Huillier (Hefferon Real Estate), Brittany Matott (County Seat Realty), Al Netto (Weichert Realtors, Thousand Islands Realty), and Jennifer Stevenson (Blue Heron Realty), along with myself. During the week there were NAR and Women’s Council of Realtors committee meetings, idea exchanges with other Realtors and staff, and information and updates that will assist all of us in better serving the area’s real estate consumers.

On May 18, we met with Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and joined colleagues from around the state while meeting with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Senator Charles Schumer. We focused on three main issues.

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), of particular interest to our area, is slated to expire on September 30. Without reauthorization, NFIP cannot issue or renew policies in 22,000 communities where flood insurance is required for a mortgage. The

NFIP was created to provide incentives for communities to rebuild to higher standards and steer development away from flood zones. In exchange, communities gain access to flood maps, mitigation assistance and Lance Evans subsidized insurance to prepay for future damage and recover more quickly from flooding. The NFIP was last up for reauthorization in 2008. There were 18 shortterm extensions and a two-month shutdown before Congress reauthorized the program in 2012.

We asked our representatives to pass the “Flood Insurance Market Parity and Modernization Act,” which passed the House unanimously last year, and to enable consumers to meet federal requirements with private plans that often offer better coverage at a lower cost than the NFIP. Tax reform was also on our list of issues.

While no tax reform legislation had been introduced as of our meetings, there were several plans that had been discussed. Some of these would lower tax rates and raise the standard deduction, but would pay for these changes by scaling back existing real estate tax provisions. Proposals that limit itemized deductions, even if not directly changing rules applicable to mortgage interest, could have serious negative consequences for homeowners.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) analyzed a blueprint-like tax reform plan and noted that home-owning families with incomes between $50,000 and $200,000 would face

average tax hikes of $815 in the first year after enactment, while non-homeowners in the same income range would see an average cut of $516. Currently, homeowners pay 83 percent of all federal income taxes, and this share would go even higher under similar reform proposals. Homeowners should not have to pay a higher share of taxes because of tax reform.

Further, proposals limiting tax incentives for homeownership would cause home values everywhere to plunge. Estimates provided by PwC show that values could fall in the short run by more than 10 percent, with a larger drop in high-cost areas. It might take years for home values to rebound from such a significant decrease.

The final issue we spoke about was protecting sustainable homeownership. We asked our representatives to responsibly reform the secondary mortgage market. Failure to do so, while limiting costs imposed on homeowners, ensure proper loan disclosures, and fund necessary system upgrades for federal housing programs hurts the very fabric and underpinnings of our society.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac act as a backstop for mortgages and help to safeguard 30-year, fixed rate mortgages ensuring families are not shut out of homeownership.

We asked that these entities not be dismantled without identifying a viable replacement.

The week was productive and informative. It is important that our representatives hear from Realtors advocating for property owners. The information we received at the meetings will assist us as we work for housing opportunities in the area. 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.

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RE AL E STAT E / T O P T RAN SAC T I O NS The following property sales were recorded in the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office in the month of April: $612,361: Apr. 4, Town of Orleans: No

acreage listed, 42736 state Route 12, Todd J. Doldo, Watertown, as referee for Erica Jeror Netto, sold to Bayview Loan Servicing LLC, Coral Gables, Fla. $385,000: Apr. 6, Town of Alexandria: No

acreage listed, Tennis Island North, Section 2, Lot 40, Marilyn L. Pinsky, Jamesville, sold to David E. Sutkus, Edgewater, Md.

$378,274: Apr. 12, Village of Sackets Har-

bor: 3.087 acres, East Main Street, Justin F. Brotherton, Watertown, as referee for Thomas J. Caffrey estate, sold to Bank of America N.A., Plano, Texas. $375,000: Apr. 4, Town of Hounsfield: 13

acres, Foster Park Road, Patrick J. Burns, Dexter, sold to John T. Groves and Estrellita Groves, Dupont, Wash.

$355,000: Apr. 13, Town of Clayton: 0.85

acres, McCormick Lane, Jennifer E. Starks, Victor, sold to Eric Thomas Sheeder and Gayle Sheeder, Palmetto Bay, Fla. $355,000: Apr. 4, City of Watertown:

0.781 acres, Ives Street, Michael F. Angel, Watertown, sold to Anthony Filippelli, Yonkers.

$177,338.65: Mar. 3, Village of Massena:

Unknown acres, Lot 24, Block 2, bounded

by Claremont Ave., (foreclosure), Francis P. Cappello (referee in action), Leslie A. Larose, Lorraine M. King et al, no addresses given, sold to Federal National Mortgage Association, Washington, D.C. $175,000: Mar. 3, Town of Oswegatchie:

1.80 acres more or less, bounded by McIlwee Road and New York State Route 812, Stanley E. and Carole A. Davis, Heuvelton, sold to Columbus Midtown Properties II, LLC, Charlotte, N.C. $169,000: Mar. 3, Town of Lisbon: Parcel

1) 1.24 acres more or less, Parcel 2) 5.6 acres more or less, Parcel 3) 0.30 of an acre more or less, Lot 5, bounded by Nelson Road, Kathryn M. LaLonde, Bethel, Ohio, sold to Thomas M. and Lisa M. Ward, Lisbon. $150,278: Mar. 7, Town of Potsdam: Parcel

1) 16.5 acres more or less, Parcel 2) 3.51 acres more or less, bounded by New York State Route 56A and Sullivan Road, Gabriel and Renee Ockrin, Potsdam, sold to Timothy A. and Julia C. Swyka, Potsdam. $142,000: Mar. 6, Town of Oswegatchie:

Parcel 1) 0.365 of an acre more or less, Parcel 2) 0.289 of an acre more or less, bounded by Memory Lane, Victor Liberatore,

Jr., Angelina Liberatore, Jonathan Liberatore, Delaney Liberatore and Michael Liberatore, Blasdell, sold to Jason E. Blaisure, Edmeston. $140,000: Mar. 3, Town of Colton: 0.32 of

an acre more or less, Section 14, Township 10, Steven E. Moore, Potsdam, sold to Lewis and Marcy Lottie, Winthrop $126,300: Mar. 2, Town of Depeyster:

Parcel 1) 48.57 acres more or less, bounded

by West Road and Factory Road, Parcel 2) 63.30 acres more or less, Lot 22, bounded

by Fish Creek and Black Lake, Parcel 3) 48.71 acres more or less, Lot 22, bounded

by Heydron Road and Fish Creek Road, Samuel J. and Lena S. Swartzentruber, Heuvelton, sold to Joseph A. and Ella J. Gingerich, DePeyster. $120,000: Mar. 3, Town of Waddington:

2 acres more or less, River Lot 59, bounded

by Brown Church Road and New York State Highway 37, Randall G. Ball, Lisbon, sold to Bernard G. Kinch, Ogdensburg. $100,000: Mar. 3, Town of Lawrence: 10

acres more or less, Great Lot 37, Township 16, bounded by County Road 55, formerly known as County Road 195, Jerome and Donna Mussaw, Belfast, Tenn., sold to Heather L. Stone, North Lawrence, and Ronald Flannery, North Lawrence.

$345,000: Apr. 11, Town of Rodman: 2.58

acres, road from Whitford Corners to the village of Adams, Kathleen H. Burnham, Adams Center, and Carmel J. Carroll, Adams Center, as co-executors of Gordon F. Worden, and G. John Worden, Adams Center, sold to William H. King, Rodman. $266,000: Apr.28, Town of LeRay: 0.78

acres, Duffy Road, Alois Josef White and Kem Renee White, Watertown, sold to Andrew Egorho and Chika Egorho, Evans Mills. $259,779: Apr. 14, Town of Lyme: 1.08

acres, bank of Lake Ontario, John H. Parmeter Jr., Watertown, as referee for Carla A. Fowler, sold to Northern Federal Credit Union, Watertown. $259,000: Apr. 13, Town of Clayton: 0.85

acres, Lot 5, no address listed, Ronald J. Cooper, St. Pete Beach, Fla., sold to Matthew Turcotte, Clayton.

The following property sales were recorded in the St. Lawrence County Clerk’s Office in the month of March: $208,500: Mar. 7, Village of Massena:

Town of Louisville, 0.0447 of an acre more or less, Lot 1, bounded by Wellington Drive, Peter Jurgeneit, Massena, sold to National Residential Nominee Services Inc., Eden Prairie, Minn.

June 2017 | NNY Business

| 33

CHRIS LENNEY n NNY BUSINESS

20 QU E STIONS

T

LEADING BY EXAMPLE

he St. Lawrence Leadership Institute has restarted after a six-year break. The program is run by the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with SUNY Potsdam. NNY Business sat down with Josh LaFave, executive director of graduate and continuing education at SUNY Potsdam and discussed his work with the Leadership Institute and it’s path forward.

NNYB: The institute took a six-year hiatus before being restarted this year. What prompted the program’s break?

LAFAVE: There were compounding factors that led to the break, none of which were from changes in the importance of such a program.

Turnover within areas that support the program, a weakened pool of prospects that stem from a variety of reasons are some of the factors that led to a decision to put the program on hold.

NNYB: What factors led to bringing it back?

LAFAVE: I recall having a few conversations with colleagues about the impact that it had on me, as well as the need for young professionals to get engaged and be a voice for change and civic engagement. As part of a vision for the Division of Graduate & Continuing Education at Potsdam, we were interested in discovering professional development program opportunities that connected us to the community through our core academic strengths and institutional resources.

As an alum, I reached out to those that were

34 | NNY Business | June 2017

n Leadership Institute back with new energy and

focus to develop next generation of young leaders. involved to open the dialogue of what could be, and how SLLI could be brought to life.

NNYB: How did SUNY Potsdam become involved?

LAFAVE: One of the key components to the mission of SUNY Potsdam is to serve the region for which we live. It is a fundamental piece to the importance of an institution of higher learning. Our division was interested in the fit with professional development perspective in mind. Part of the vision was to partner with the business administration department to deliver curriculum related to leadership and professional growth, and elevate outcomes associated with the program as well. Students will have the option to complete the program with the certificate, as before, or may also pursue academic credit by completing additional deliverables.

NNYB: What is its mission?

LAFAVE: The mission of SLLI is to foster the development of emerging and existing leaders for the advancement of St. Lawrence County and its communities.

NNYB: What advantages does an affiliation with SUNY Potsdam bring to the institute?

LAFAVE: I see the advantages both ways.

SUNY Potsdam is the grateful recipient of

supporting the program and learning from participants who will enroll from a variety of professional backgrounds in the county. We will learn from their experiences and will continually work collaboratively on shaping this impactful program. For SLLI, the institute will become an academic offering of the college with access to educational resources, experienced faculty, as well as the ability to earn college credit by completing this program. These resources, coupled with the mission of Potsdam and its commitment to our region make for a strong fit with many positive outcomes.

NNYB: Who might be a typical candidate for participation in the program?

LAFAVE: Participants will be someone committed to their personal and professional development, inspired by growth and desires to make significant impact in both their professional setting as well as in the community for which they live.

NNYB: Who might be an atypical candidate?

LAFAVE: The program is very transparent in what the outcomes are going to be. We welcome applications for anyone who has demonstrated deliberate intentions for growth, who is reflective in their leadership journey, and has a vision for their communities and passion for making a difference in any way for St. Lawrence County.

2 0 Q U E S T I O NS NNYB: What benefits can a participant expect to achieve?

LAFAVE: Participants can expect to benefit from opportunities to explore their own leadership identity, build upon knowledge in areas of communication, strategy, conflict/negotiations, and other critical pieces related to professional growth. They will also learn about issues facing St. Lawrence County, develop an awareness of opportunities for engagement, be staunch agents of change, and most importantly, develop a network of like-minded professionals.

NNYB: What is your definition of leadership?

LAFAVE: For me, leadership is about connection, inspiration, and change. Leaders facilitate the growth of those around them. They inspire the collaborative energies and strengths of others toward a common goal. Leadership is not in a title and it knows no limits. I see it as the creation of positive resonance that connects us as humans inspires us for more, and moves us forward in unison.

NNYB: How does networking with others potentially help build leadership skills?

LAFAVE: A robust network of professionals serves as conduits to resources, knowledge, and relationships. All of which are tools for solving problems, inspiring opportunities for collaboration, and bringing people together for common goals.

NNYB: What kind of critical issues facing the county will participants be asked to consider?

LAFAVE: There will be a goal to be as comprehensive as possible to expose participants to the many important topics/areas. We will be looking at topics such as Government & Justice, Business/Commerce, Education, Healthcare, Environmental, and Social issues just to name a few.

NNYB: Why is developing an awareness of issues facing the county important for participants?

LAFAVE: It is our collective responsibilities as residents of the county to be knowledgeable about the things that support and maintain our quality of life and safety, and general well-being.

The more we are aware of the issues, the more we can work collectively to solve problems of today to improve our home for the future.

NNYB: How much of a time commitment is required?

LAFAVE: The program will run for 10 months, with the final session being the program graduation. The commitment is one night a month, with various assignments and requirements in between sessions.

NNYB: Do you have ideas in mind for specific activities?

LAFAVE: One of the cornerstones of this

CHRIS LENNEY n NNY BUSINESS

program is that each month the class is held at different locations in the county. It is a very large county with many wonderful businesses, villages and towns to explore. Our plan is to have a class in “every corner of the county.” This is an inextricable component to building awareness of the county for participants. Leadership activities will include individual reflection using well respected evaluation tools, group projects, community engagement activities, and more.

The Josh LaFave File

NNYB: How do you think these activities will benefit participants?

CAREER: Higher education.

LAFAVE: The deliberate venue rotation is critical to exposure of all areas of the county and its communities. By addressing issues facing the

AGE: 35 JOB: Executive director, graduate and continuing education at SUNY Potsdam.

FAMILY: Married with two daughters.

HOMETOWN: Norwood, NY EDUCATION: Bachelors of science in business administration, SUNY Potsdam; MBA, Clarkson University.

LAST BOOK YOU’VE READ AND WOULD RECOMMEND: The last book I read was “The Levels of Leadership” by John Maxwell June 2017 | NNY Business

| 35

20 QU E STIONS county simultaneously with actually seeing areas of the county will no doubt be a memorable part of the SLLI experience. The activities associated with the topics on leadership are also beneficial as they are reflective in nature, and the tools that guide this reflection also helps participants put plans into action for themselves.

NNYB: What community resources do you plan to use to help participants strengthen their leadership skills?

LAFAVE: As an academic program at SUNY Potsdam, participants will have access to the incredible resources already in place on campus.

This will greatly enhance the course materials for the program. Externally, we are working on partnering with experts in the county that can speak to the issues facing the county and areas of opportunity for participants who are drawn to various topics. We are also working on securing hosting at venues throughout the county to host our class.

NNYB: How can it benefit an employer to have one of its employees participate?

LAFAVE:There are tremendous benefits to sponsor an employee to participate. The program will no doubt be transformative in the

professional growth of participants. Development of oneself as a leader has both sustained and transformative benefits not just in day to day work, but also in strategic thinking, relationships, and creative dispositions. This growth of an employee supports the value they bring to the organization short-and long-term by providing immediate benefits, as well as contributing to succession planning and organizational planning.

NNYB: How important is it to help foster better leaders and then retain them in the community?

LAFAVE: As a young professional who left the area, I was fortunate to be able to come back home to the place I call home. I see this often in my role at the college where north country natives relocate to other areas of the state. I’m reminded of a popular phrase that states “Be the change you want to see in this world.” There are many gifted professionals in St. Lawrence County who can and should be the future leaders of the county working to shape a future that is sustainable to retain that population. By providing tools and inspiring this very population to be a part of the change, they can, collectively shape a county that they will be committed to be a part of for a very long time. Leaders can be anywhere. These change agents do not necessarily need to be in legislation. Every board, every committee, or any other opportunity are all a makeup of the future we are referring to.

NNYB: You are an alumnus of the institute.

What is the most important lesson you took from the program into your career?

LAFAVE: For me, the most important lesson was the importance of personal growth. Even the most influential leaders need to be continually challenging oneself, and willing to accept that they can always improve, and must remain humble. The program provides you with tools to test your own assumptions about who you are, enables you to think critically and develop a plan of action for how you will move forward renewed in your commitment to make a difference.

NNYB: How does it feel to know that you are now among the people helping to shape leaders?

LAFAVE:I am grateful for the opportunity to work with the leaders of the St. Lawrence County chamber, as well as the members of our committee to think about how we can deliver on the promise of SLLI. While we call St. Lawrence County home for a variety of very different reasons, it is up to us to work together to keep those reasons sustainable while creating new ones for others for generations to come.

~ Interview questions by Brian Kelly. Edited for length and clarity to fit this space.

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COM M E R CE CORNER

B

Your PTAC Counselor and Their Services

efore taking you on a journey through a typical day as a PTAC counselor, I’d like to preface this with a brief explanation of what “PTAC” stands for, and why, if you’re a business owner, you may want to consider giving your local PTAC office a call. PTAC, the first of many acronyms you’ll find throughout this article, stands for Procurement Technical Assistance Center. It is a designation given to over 3oo offices nationwide that provide costfree assistance to U.S. businesses who participate, or have the potential to participate in the government marketplace.

Something that is crucial to keep in mind here is that the government buys just about everything! Are you a small business selling a product or service? If so, chances are high that some form of government, whether on the federal, state or local level, could potentially have a need to buy what you’re selling some day. They just don’t know it yet. According to USASpending.gov, a Department of Treasury website that tracks federal spending and contracts, more than $9 billion in federal contracts were awarded to New York state companies or organizations throughout fiscal year 2016 alone.

An additional $1.4 billion were awarded to subcontractors in the same year. These are significant dollar figures representing a market that simply should not be ignored due to the perceived complexity of doing business with the government.

With the continual expansion of Fort Drum’s infrastructure over nine years ago, came the apparent need for a regional PTAC in the north country, and with the help of organizations such as New York Business Development Corporation (NYBDC) and Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization (FDRLO), a PTAC program was established at the Greater WatertownNorth Country (GWNC) Chamber of Commerce in Watertown. North Country PTAC is now one of eight regional centers located in the state, and assists close to 600 clients across 11 of the most northern counties in the state. Federal funds awarded to firms located within this 11-county territory have reached just over $3 billion year-to-date in fiscal year 2017 making up for just 3 percent of the $99

38 | NNY Business | June 2017

billion in federal funds awarded across New York state so far this year.

All PTAC programs are unique in their own way and ours is no exception, as it is one of few Amber Stevens in the country whose host organization is a Chamber of Commerce. Not only is the GWNC Chamber the largest business association in the north country, but its close proximity to a military installation makes it an ideal host for the North Country PTAC program and a one-stop shop for all your business needs. It Is important to note that although there are many benefits to becoming a member of your local Chamber of Commerce, there is no membership requirement to receive the free and confidential services provided by the North Country PTAC program.

A PTAC counselor’s job is to act as a resource to businesses in pursuit of government contracts at federal, state and local government levels. On any given day, this could mean conducting one-onone counseling sessions where they are assisting clients with registrations and certifications, determining their company’s readiness to sell to the government, or advising businesses how to go about finding, pursuing and managing government contracts. Clients are also encouraged to sign up for the PTAC’s Bid-Match service, an electronic tool available to all businesses that will help them identify bid opportunities by sending email notifications when the client’s products and/ or services match requests for proposals (RFP’s) posted on online bid board sites.

In addition to one-on-one sessions, North Country PTAC coordinates and provides classes, training seminars and online webinars to provide the critical training and in-depth assistance our local businesses need to compete and succeed in defense and other government contracting. Throughout 2016 the program sponsored 35 networking and educational

events with a focus on a variety of contracting topics including, but not limited to Veteran Owned Business Certifications, MWBE Certifications, new acquisition procedures, specialized solicitations, federal contracting and many more.

Although assistance is targeted toward small businesses, especially veteranowned, and woman- and minority-owned enterprises, large businesses can benefit from PTAC services as well by participating in trainings, and with help identifying qualified subcontractors and suppliers.

Your local PTAC Counselor is not only meeting new people and learning new things every day, but is required to be an expert on all things related to government procurement. Although it is a challenging role that requires a solid understanding of stringent government standards and complex contract requirements, it’s fulfilling to know that the efforts put forth by the North Country PTAC program do, and will continue to, boost economic activity in the north country by helping local businesses navigate contracting processes.

North Country PTAC helps create jobs and drive economic benefits in our community. In 2016 alone, North Country PTAC increased its broad base of capable suppliers and enhanced competition by providing over 500 hours of counseling time, created or retained over 9,000 jobs, and added 92 new clients to its database.

The overall database stands at 591 active clients.

If you own and operate an established business located in the north country, you are eligible to become a client of North Country PTAC. To do this, you can go to www.northcountryptac.com, click PTAC SINGUP at the bottom of the page, then complete and submit the online application form.

Feel free stop by or call the PTAC office located within the GWNC Chamber of Commerce between 8a.m. and 4:30p.m.

Monday through Friday at 1241 Coffeen St., Watertown, NY 13601 or 315-788-4400.

n AMBER STEVENS is the program manager of the North Country PTAC program located at the GWNC Chamber of Commerce, and a business owner from Lewis County. Contact her at astevens@northcountryptac.com or 315-788-4400.

E N T RE P RE N E U R’S E D G E

Silly Mistakes That Can Cost You a Client (Part 1)

H

ave you ever lost a client and weren’t sure why? It could be because you’re making silly mistakes you don’t even realize you’re making.

I have chosen to not work with people for some of the reasons below. I’ve also learned that some people have chosen not to work with me for the same reasons. Yes, I’ve learned the hard way. (Sigh.) We all do, right? Let’s help you avoid any hard lessons if we can. Here’s part one of a list of Silly Mistakes That Can Cost You A Client, and what you can do to avoid these mistakes:

1) NOT BEING CLEAR

If you’re not clear on what you do and how you do it, very few people are going to put money in your hand. It’s that simple.

When I was in search of someone to help me build a sales funnel, I talked to a few different entrepreneurs about how they would execute it. One marketer rambled on about things that didn’t even pertain to the funnel. After a full minute (which is a long time on Skype), I had to interrupt her and say, “Yes, that’s great and all, but that’s not even relevant. I’m asking you what you recommend as far as how I can execute this with a lead page and Instagram ads.”

She rambled on some more. Her inconsistency told me she didn’t really have a plan. She wasn’t clear. I thanked her for her time and ended the conversation.

WHAT TO DO:

If you’re not clear, your potential client won’t be confident. Know your business inside and out before you pitch your process.

If you don’t have the answer to a question, be honest about it. Honesty will take you miles further.

2) SPELLING THEIR NAME WRONG… CONSISTENTLY

Even a second time. But by the third round of emails or calls, you should know the name of my first-born by then. (Actually, my only born. I have one child, one dog, two cats, and one husband.

But I digress.)

answer all the questions asked of me.

WHAT TO DO:

Start at the top and read to the bottom.

Don’t miss a beat. If there are several questions in the email, reply below the questions in a different color so they can see all of your answers thoroughly. They will love you for it.

4) NOT RESPONDING TO THEIR EMAILS

Joleene Moody

WHAT TO DO:

Take 15 seconds to look at their name in their email. If you don’t have an email to reference, look them up on LinkedIn or on another social channel. If you really can’t find them anywhere, consider noting the possibility that you might have their name spelled incorrectly in your email. “My apologies if I’ve spelled your name incorrectly. I can’t find anything to reference it to. I am reaching out to you today…”

3) NOT THOROUGHLY READING THEIR EMAILS

Another pet peeve of mine. Maybe I’m anal retentive (I’ve been accused of this by my husband after I’ve carefully situated all of the chairs around our kitchen table five times over), but when I’m requesting THREE pieces of information from a client in my email and they only respond to the FIRST request, I crawl into a corner and cry.

This tells me they scanned the email quickly. So now I have to email them back with, “Great. Can you let me know about 2 and 3?”

I’ve been guilty of this, too, which is why it made the list. I now read everything very, very carefully, and make sure I

I was working with a woman who was making some beautiful graphics for me.

Beautiful. But she never responded to my emails in a timely manner. It drove me crazy. She would respond seven days later saying, “I’m sorry. My foot got caught in a door.” Or, “I’m sorry, I lost my computer.”

Sadly, I had to dissolve our short-lived relationship.

Let me be clear that I completely and totally understand that life intervenes. Been there. But when you don’t respond, you give your client the impression that they’re not that important to you. By not responding, you may be hindering their productivity schedule, too.

WHAT TO DO:

If you can’t get to a full response within 24 to 48 hours, hit reply and send a quick email that says, “Hi there! I got your email.

I’m busy removing my foot from the door and will be for the next few days. Please allow me to respond to you in full within the week. Will that work for you?” Make them feel like they matter.

Do any of these resonate with you?

Check out next month’s Entrepreneur’s Edge and we’ll dig into part two of Silly Mistakes That Can Cost You a Client. n JOLEENE MOODY is a freelance writer, blogger, and speaker who lives in Oswego County with her husband and daughter. Learn more at: www.takeyourvoiceback.com

This is a huge pet peeve of mine. HUGE. Especially because it’s damn near impossible to spell someone’s name wrong when it’s at the bottom of his or her email and on every social media channel they have.

If you can’t take the time to spell someone’s name right and be accurate, it could translate to you not taking the time to do a project right and be accurate, especially if you spell it wrong more than once.

I’ve had this happen to me several times.

I get that my name is spelled whacky. My mother chose to put three e’s in my name.

I can’t help it. But it is in ALL of my email correspondence and on every social media channel I have.

I can let a misspelling go the first time.

June 2017 | NNY Business

| 39

B USI N E SS HIS TORY

THE HISTORY BEHIND THE SEAWAY TRAIL

B

efore there was a wine trail, a cuisine trail or a quilt trail, there was the Seaway Trail.

The grandparent of all tourism trails in the north country was proposed in July 1977 by William E. Tyson, executive director of the now-defunct St. Lawrence-Eastern Ontario Commission.

The trail, as proposed by Mr. Tyson, was to be 200 miles of highways link-

BY BRIAN KELLY | NNY BUSINESS ing Fair Haven in Cayuga County to Rooseveltown in St. Lawrence County.

It would run along Routes 104A, 104, 104B, 3, 180, 12E and 37, passing such sites as Fort Ontario in Oswego and the Robert Moses-Robert H. Saunders Power Dam in Massena. Route 3 through the area had been designated as a “scenic” highway for decades.

Shortly after Mr. Tyson offered his proposal, the Watertown Daily Times

WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES FILE PHOTO Sen. H. Douglas Barclay, right, presents Mrs. William E. Tyson, center, with a framed pen, September 10, 1980, with which the Seaway Legislation was signed. Mr. Tyson was the executive director of the St. Lawrence-Eastern Lake Ontario Commission prior to his death on July 21, 1980.

editorialized that the project “should elicit a most favorable response.”

“Many sections of New York state have their own special features but few, if any, can offer the visitor as much in beauty as this area,” the Times wrote.

“Historically there are enough locations to stimulate and delight any traveler.

Each community along any of the routes near the water has a character of its own.”

A Seaway Trail association was formed with the mission of promoting tourism along the trail and assisting in informing the traveling public of the historic, cultural and natural resources along the route, according to an Oct. 13, 1978, article in the Times.

By January 1978, the Seaway Trail had a logo. More than 40 junior and senior high school students had submitted entries in a contest to create the symbol, with Nils Vinge, a Swedish exchange student attending Massena Central High School, offering the winning design, two foot prints crossing

WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES FILE PHOTO State Sen. John McHugh removes a flag to reveal a sign marking Sackets Harbor as a historic site along the Seaway Trail during a ceremony on September 28, 1986 observing New York State War of 1812 Day.

BU SIN E SS HI S T O RY a wave. Mr. Vinge received a $50 U.S. savings bond for the achievement. In May of that year, state Department of Transportation workers began erecting signs with the logo along the trail.

In March 1978, a bill sponsored by state Sen. H. Douglas Barclay, R-Pulaski, passed the state Senate and, shortly after, legislation sponsored by Assemblyman H. Robert Nortz, R-Lowville, passed the Assembly. Sen. Barclay later presented the pen used to sign the Senate bill to Margaret E. Tyson, the widow of Mr. Tyson, who died in July 1980.

According to Times archives, the idea was not universally embraced. Once incorporated, Seaway Trail Inc. went before the full St. Lawrence-Eastern Ontario Commission with a proposal to raise funds from both the private and public sector to promote the trail. The commission, however, determined that the promotions “were not in the best interest of the Thousand Islands Region.”

“The commissioners, after meeting with local government officials, decided proposals by Seaway Trail Inc., were not in the best spirit of a regional approach to tourist promotion,’ the Times reported in December 1978.

The commission instead voted to encourage “privately supported regional efforts to assist in the promotion of the Seaway Trail,” according to the Times.

The concerns raised by the commission included that the Seaway Trail’s corporation would be dominated by Jefferson County, would be in competition with existing agencies promoting tourism and would not benefit inland areas. The commission also complained that not enough people had involvement in the trail’s organization.

“We were shocked that we should have this reaction,” Vincent Dee, chairman of Seaway Trail Inc., told the commission. “We thought we were doing everything above board.”

Work on the trail continued and by January 1984 it had grown to become a 365-mile series of roads stretching from Niagara Falls to Massena. That month, the trail attained national recognition by the U.S. Department of the Interior,

which designated it “a national recreation trail,” a move planners hailed as a “major break-through.”

The following month Mr. Dee, a Clayton restaurateur and chairman of the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority, was elected president of the corporation. Mr. Dee, who had been involved with the trail since its inception, would lead the organization until 1995.

By then, the trail had extended its reach across the remainder of Lakes

Ontario and Erie in New York state and into Pennsylvania. In 1996, the U.S. Department of Transportation named it a National Scenic Byway.

Today, the trail is 518 miles long, passing through Rochester, Niagara Falls, Buffalo and Erie, Pa. It is officially now named the Great Lakes Seaway Trail and is based at the former Union Hotel in Sackets Harbor. For more information, visit www.seawaytrail.com.

June 2017 | NNY Business

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FE AT UR E

LAND TRUST GETS PROJECT GRANTS

AMANDA MORRISON n NNY BUSINESS Executive Director Jake R. Tibbles trolls in the water near a marshland area off of Picton Island on the St. Lawrence River.

T

he Thousand Islands Land Trust's efforts to implement new projects at its Zenda Farm preserve and conserve about half of Picton Island received grant funding from the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

DEC announced April 26 that it awarded TILT a $30,000 capacity grant and a $20,000 transaction grant through the Conservation Partnership Program, according to the department's website.

The department allocated $219,950 to be split among 12 awards for seven north country land trusts including TILT, the Adirondack Land Trust, Champlain Area Trails, the Indian River Lakes Conser-

42 | NNY Business | June 2017

vancy, the St. Lawrence Land Trust, the Lake Placid Land Conservancy and the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust.

Rebecca F. Dahl, coordinator for the Zenda Farms preserve, said TILT will use the $30,000 grant to renovate the about 1,200-square-foot creamery and retrofit its cooler, building off of the Clarkson University's honors program sophomore class's plan to add a learning kitchen, classrooms and retail space.

Grant funds will also be used to create an informational video about the farm's history. The once about 800-acre farm was founded by Merle L. Youngs, who built the creamery and several Jamesway Barns in 1939.

The cooler, once operational, will be used as a cheese aging room and allow the trust to collaborate with Homestead Heritage Cheese, an arm of Homestead Fields Organic Farms in LaFargeville owned by W. Edward Walldroff, to create Zenda farm-brand organic cheese, Ms. Dahl said. The trust plants to increase collaborative efforts with local businesses. "(We want) to go back to our dairy roots," she said.

DEC last year awarded TILT a $38,000 grant to use toward creating a strategic plan for increasing its services at the 405acre preserve.

That grant allowed the trust to hire a consultant and begin working with Clarkson to develop the plan, which included creamery renovations, a community-supported agriculture program, an apple orchard and expanding the Lois Jean and John MacFarlane Trail, Ms. Dahl said. TILT will work on implementing those ideas using this year's grant, Ms. Dahl said. "(It's) the marriage between natural resources and agriculture," she said.

The trust will use the $20,000 grant toward recovering its expenses for securing conservational easements in July for most of the eastern half of Picton Island.

Spencer T. Busler, director of land conservation, said the trust accrued fees for legal services, easement appraisals, a professional land survey and title insurance from purchasing easements for two parcels owned by Picton Island LLC, owned by members of the Heineman Family, in July, and the grant will "simply help recuperate some of the costs."

"We are very excited to receive this grant to continue our conservation efforts in the Thousand Islands," Mr. Busler said.

The two parcels include about 100 acres of land and about 10,000 feet of shoreline, and Mr. Busler said having easements for both parcels will protect that land and allow mammals, waterfowl and migratory tropical birds to continue using it as a stepping stone between Grindstone and Murray islands.

The trust acquired an easement for one parcel using a North American Wetland Conservation Act grant, while the other easement was donated by the Heinman Family.

SMAL L BU SIN E SS SUC C E S S

A

Advertising to Tourists

t the Small Business Development Center, my clients always want to know which type of advertising is “the best.” My answer is that it depends on what type of customer you are trying to reach. If you want to get tourists to come to your business, there are some key ways to market your business that you should consider. Signing up for one of the trails is a great first step, but there are several more ways to round out your marketing campaign:

SIGNAGE Make sure you have a professional sign for your business. If you are on a main road, this is especially important. Also keep in mind how fast people are going.

If someone is traveling at 55 mph it may be hard to read a sign with small font.

You will want to check with your town or village’s code enforcement to make sure you meet their signage regulations. If you are not on a major road, you may want to check with your town or county to see if you can set up a sign on the nearest major throughway. Temporary yard signs may be useful to highlight events or products.

ONLINE ADVERTISING At minimum, you should register your business with Google and with the other search engines, so that someone from out of town can find you when they pull out their phone looking for something to do.

Registration is free, and not too complicated, but if you need assistance your local SBDC can help with this. You will also want to make sure you register with websites where tourists will look to find your business, especially if you provide

Kitchens, Bathrooms, Tabletops, Desktops, Workbenches and Coffee Tables.

Choose from our Granite & Marble Selections. We also offer a Selection of Stone Veneer.

lodging or food services. Some examples include Yelp and Trip Advisor.

Get customers to review your business on the websites and search engines where you register. Many Jennifer McCluskey tourists rely on reviews to decide where to stay and what to do when they get there. If you get a bad review, make sure to respond and see if you can set things right.

If you are a tourism-focused business, it is more important for you to have your own website than it is for many other types of businesses. Out-of-town people will look online, sometimes exclusively, to find things to do. Make sure your website is optimized for mobile. Also develop a strong Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy so that people can easily find your business online when they search for related keywords. Google Adwords or something similar may be useful. You will also want to have an active social media presence. Use good visuals so customers will clearly understand your services. Social media ads can also be targeted toward people who are “interested in” an area or activity, rather than just people who live locally. If your business has a mobile app, you may want to look into beacons or geofencing, which are ways of targeting a customer for push notifications based on his or her location.

FACE-TO-FACE NETWORKING Make sure the local B&B’s and hotels are familiar with your business and can give directions if asked. Having business cards or brochures at these locations can help as well. If you can, it helps to have some sort of coupon code on the card so that customers will present the card when they come to your business. This will help you know which ad placements are the most effective.

Reach out to the local Chambers and make sure they have your brochures and are familiar with your business.

Out-of-town visitors frequently call the Chambers for ideas. Also having a link to your website from the Chambers’ sites can really build your SEO, since they are considered an authoritative source.

PRINT ADVERTISING Print ads may be useful as well. If a tourist picks up a local magazine or newspaper to find out what is going on in the area, they may come across your ad. You could also hang flyers at local popular campsites and state parks; just again make sure to include a code or incentive so you will know which ad placements are the best for your business.

If you need assistance with any of the above or in developing a more general marketing plan, contact the Small Business Development Center at SUNY Canton at (315) 386-7312 or the Watertown SBDC at JCC (315) 782-9262.

n JENNIFER MCCLUSKEY is a certified business advisor with the New York State Small Business Development Center at SUNY Canton.

Contact her at McCluskey

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June 2017 | NNY Business

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COMMUNITY / BUSINESS CALENDAR

ADAMS CENTER

CAPE VINCENT

SATURDAY, AUG. 26 Annual TaTa Run, 9 a.m., F.X. Caprara Harley-Davidson, 17890 Goodnough St. The Watertown Chrome Divas are hosting the 10th Annual TaTa Run to benefit local breast cancer agencies. Cost: Riders, $20; passengers, $15; $5 non-riders (meal only). Information: 315-583-6177.

SATURDAY, JUNE 25 Historical Weekend, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Cape Vincent. There will be a variety of fun, exciting and informative events taking place throughout the village. An encampment, reenactment, historical walking tours, lectures, period musical performances, period watercraft, tallships and crafters village are among some of the highlights. Cost: Free. Info: 315654-2481, email thecape@tds.net or log onto www.capevincent.org.

ALEXANDRIA BAY FRIDAY, JUNE 23 THROUGH SUNDAY, JUNE 25 Thousand Islands River Run, 2 p.m.

Friday to 5 p.m. Saturday, downtown Alexandria Bay. Includes musical performances, a motorcycle stunt group from Maine, a vendor area that shows off parts and custom bikes, and more. Cost: $20. Information: tiriverrun.com.

BLACK RIVER SUNDAY, JUNE 25 Michael J. Cerroni Memorial 5K Run/Walk, 7 a.m., 101 Public Works Drive. Benefits Michael J. Cerroni Memorial Scholarship.

Post-race festivities include food, live music, raffles and awards. Race day registration and packet pickup 7 to 8:30 a.m.; race start, 9 a.m.; awards ceremony, 10 a.m.; start of door prizes, 10:30 a.m. Cost: preregistered, $25; race day, $30.

Information: racedirector@michaelcerroni5k.com or michaelcerroni5k.com.

44 | NNY Business | June 2017

SATURDAY, JULY 9 THROUGH SUNDAY, JULY 10 49th Annual French Festival, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Cape Vincent. French pastries will go on sale at 8 a.m. at the Fire Hall on Broadway Street. Over 200 Artists and Crafters will line the streets of the village and will be selling their wares. The official opening ceremonies for the 49th Annual French Festival will be at 11a.m. at the reviewing stand in front of the American Legion on Broadway.

National anthems will be sung followed by Cape Vincent’s mayor and town supervisor welcoming event attendees. Shortly following the welcome Miss French Festival 2017 will be crowned by Miss French Festival 2016. The parade begins at 2 p.m. with Napoleon leading the way. The parade will include floats, bands and over 50 units from the United States and Canada. At 4 p.m. awards will be given out to the winning floats by the French Festival

Queen. From 4:15 p.m. through 6 p.m. bands will be performing in front of the reviewing stand. Cost: Free. Info: 315-654-2481.

CLAYTON FRIDAY, JUNE 9 THROUGH SUNDAY, JUNE 11 The Great New York State Food & Wine Festival, 3 to 8 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Cerow Recreation Park, 615 East Line Road. This is an event celebrating quality “Made in New York” food and wine products including candy and cheeses, nuts, sauces, herbs and spices, cookies and New York state wine. Taste and buy the foods and wine of New York state. Cost: $10 adults, includes wine glass; $9 military; $5 children; children under 12 free. Info: Cerow Recreation Park, 315-686-4310 or www.1000islands-clayton.com/ foodwinefestival/.

FRIDAY, JULY 15 THROUGH SATURDAY, JULY 15 49th Annual Decoy & Wildlife Art Show, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Cerow Recreation Park, 615 East Line Road.

This show features decoy artists from around the world, as well as wildlife pictures and taxidermist displays.

There will be hundreds of exhibitors, including national and international winners. Info: Cerow Recreation Park, 315-686-4310 or timuseum. org.

LOWVILLE FRIDAY, JUNE 9 THROUGH SATURDAY, JUNE 10 Beaver Camp Benefit Auction, 5 to 8 p.m. Friday; 6 a.m. Saturday, Lewis County Fairgrounds. Proceeds from the auction provide critical financial support to the summer camp program. Enjoy food, conversation, food and old-fashioned community. Friday auction BBQ dinner and preview items to be sold the next day. Saturday morning start with a pancake and sausage breakfast, followed by bidding and a BBQ lunch. Donations accepted.

MASSENA THURSDAY, JUNE 22 Tourism Awards Dinner, 4:30 to 8 p.m., River Road Restaurant at the Massena Country Club, 829 State Route 131. 2nd Annual Tourism

Awards Dinner, celebrating St. Lawrence County Tourism, and presenting awards for ‘Best to the Guest’ Tourism Excellence to Robideau’s Mahogany Ridge Bar & Grill and ‘Best Destination’ Marketing Initiative to Mare’s Wares Arts Fest. A brochure exchange will also take place prior to the event. You can bring your rack cards, and promotional materials to share. Cost: $42 per person. Information: St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, 315-386-4000.

POTSDAM WEDNESDAY, JULY 26 Business in the Spotlight, 5 to 7 p.m., 1844 House, 6885 Route 11, Potsdam. Meet and network with other area businesses in St. Lawrence County. Bring a prospective new member and be entered to win a prize. Spotlight series sponsors include: NNY Business magazine and Commercial Press Inc. Cost: $5.

Information: Jo Ann Roberts, 315386-4000 or jo@SLCchamber.org.

WADDINGTON THURSDAY, JUNE 29 Business in the Spotlight, 5 to 7 p.m., Clark House, 12-14 Main St., Waddington. Meet and network with other area businesses in St. Lawrence County. Bring a prospective new member and be entered to win a prize. Spotlight series sponsors include: NNY Business magazine and Commercial Press Inc. Cost: $5.

Information: Jo Ann Roberts, 315-

386-4000 or jo@SLCchamber.org.

WATERTOWN TUESDAY, JUNE 13 2017 Job and Career Expo, 2 to 7 p.m., Jefferson Community College, 1220 Coffeen St. The 2017 Job and Career Expo is the largest hiring event in the North Country. Last year over 100 employers’ participated with a turnout of more than 1,200 job seekers. If you have positions to be filled, register your business to attend. If you are seeking a job, bring your resume and dress for an on the spot interview. Cost: Free to the public; businesses, $130 members.

Information: Greater WatertownNorth Country Chamber of Commerce, 315-788-4400 or chamber@ watertownny.com.

THURSDAY, JUNE 22 Business After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m., Swan Bay Resort, 43615 State Route 12, Alexandria Bay. Includes networking, prizes and food. Bring your business cards, and a co-worker for an evening of networking. Cost: preregistered members, $10; members, $12; nonmembers, $15. Information: Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce, 315-7884400 or chamber@watertownny.com.

COMMUNITY / BUSINESS CALENDAR

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11 THROUGH SUNDAY, AUGUST 13 53rd Annual Antique Show & Sale, 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday, Cerow Recreation Park, 615 East Line Road. Wine and cheese preview Friday, special admission price and preview of antiques. Annual Antique show opens August 12 to 13. An array of exhibitors from the U.S. and Canada. A fundraiser for the Thousand Islands Arts Center, home of the Handweaving Museum.

Info: Cerow Recreation Park, 315686-4310 or tiartscenter.org.

 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.

It is a great time to buy or sell real estate.

The Jefferson-Lewis Board of REALTORS invites you to visit www.nnymls.com, then contact one of our members and let them show you how to in Northern New York.

www.nnymls.com

June 2017 | NNY Business

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B USI N E SS S CENE Thousand Islands Land Trust Annual Arbor Day Celebration

Left, Julia Boname, Clipper Inn Restaurant, and Terra Bach, Thousand Islands Land Trust.

HOLLY BONAME | NNY BUSINESS

Left, Glen and Barbara Hearn, of Wellesley Island, and Serena Buchan, Thousand Islands Art Museum, volunteered at the Thousand Island Land Trust’s annual Arbor Day Celebration at Zenda Farms in Clayton, NY.

46 | NNY Business | June 2017

Left, Williow Hollis and mother Chelsea Daily, Watertown Savings Bank.

HOLLY BONAME PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

Left, Lori Wilson Arnot, Clayton Co-op, and Ken Deedy, founder of the Thousand Islands Land Trust in Clayton.

BU SIN E SS S C E NE Carthage Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event at Caskinette Ford

Left, representing the Carthage Revolution Football Team, head coach Lamont Lane, general manager Penny Ellis and board member Brad Good

Left, hosts for the Carthage Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event was Caskinette Ford, represented by Joseph Archer, owner Rick Caskinette and general manager Lynn Leonard.

ELAINE AVALLONE PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

Left, Cassandra Kimball and Dawn Lelakowski, owner of Church Street

Diner, Carthage.

ELAINE AVALLONE PHOTOS| NNY BUSINESS

Left, Rodney Clement of CEM Machine Inc. and Adam Fuller of Fuller Insurance Agency attended the May 11 Carthage Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event at Caskinette Ford, Carthage.

June 2017 | NNY Business

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