NNY Business November 2014

B

Y usIness

// Graymont quarry mines new

potsdam sandstone source P. 24

NOVEMBER 2014 Volume 4 No. 12

nnybizmag.com

***

THE INTERVIEW

Melinda M. Gault.

Community Action Planning Council p. 30

retailers rejoice $2.95

/nnybusiness @NNYBusinessMag

Holiday season is ‘make or BREAK’ time for many // Northern New York’s Premier Business Monthly //

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Inside NOVEMBER 2014 15

16 24 44 |

COVER STORY |

16 A RETAIL BOOM TIME Black Friday is the traditional start of holiday shopping and for some, it’s make or break. |

ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY |

24 SANDSTONE BOOM Demand is growing for new Potsdam sandstone at the Graymont quarry.

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SMALL BIZ STARTUP |

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REAL ESTATE |

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15 A PLACE TO PAMPER Three years ago, Julie C. Freeman never thought she’d own her own spa and salon. |

25 TOP TRANSACTIONS Top 10 property sales in Sept. in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties totalled $7.05m.

BUSINESS SCENE |

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

BUSINESS HISTORY |

44 as the globe turned Watertown’s Globe Store was a place of high fashion and class for nearly 80 years.

VISIT US ONLINE 24-7 AT NNYBIZMAG.COM FOR DAILY UPDATES AND WEB CONTENT

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November 2014 | NNY Business

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C o n tr i b u t o r s

BusIness www.nnybizmag.com

Chairman of the Board John B. Johnson Jr.

Michelle Capone is regional development director for the Development Authority of the North Country. She writes about the Association of the United States Army’s local role. (p. 32)

Lynn Pietroski is president and CEO of the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce. She offers some advice on how to manage and overcome adversity. (p. 34)

Rande Richardson is executive director of the Northern New York Community Foundation.

He writes about the season to ‘give well’ so our communities can ‘live well.’ (p. 33)

Publishers

John B. Johnson Harold B. Johnson II

VP News Operations Timothy J. Farkas

Magazine Editor

Kenneth J. Eysaman

Staff Writer / Editorial Assistant Lorna Oppedisano

Graphic Design / Layout Lauren Harrienger

Jay Matteson is the agricultural coordinator for the Jefferson County Industrial Development Corp. He writes about the latest steps under way in agriculture education. (p. 35)

Jill Van Hoesen is chief information officer for Johnson Newspapers and a 28-year IT veteran. She outlines some important things for businesses when honing their mobile strategy. (p. 36)

Sarah O’Connell is an advisor for the state Small Business Development Center at SUNY Jefferson. She writes about lessons learned during her days at Clarkson. (p. 37)

Photography

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

Director of Advertising Michael Hanson

Advertising Graphics

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

Circulation Director Mary Sawyer

Lance M. Evans is executive officer for the Jefferson-Lewis and St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors. He explains New York’s property tax cap law and its impact on real estate. (p. 25)

Lorna Oppedisano is a a staff writer and editorial assistant for NNY Magazines. In our cover story this issue, she goes behind the scenes of the region’s holiday retail business. (pg. 16)

MARKETPLACE AIB Inc. Insurance ................. 8 Beardsley Design ................. 27 Caskinette’s Lofink Ford ...... 38 Center for Sight .................... 39 CFS Eye Boutiques of NNY .... 19 CFS Hearing .......................... 21 CFS MediSpa ........................ 43 Cheney Tire .......................... 23 Clayton Chamber of Commerce ........................ 7 Clayton Dental Office ......... 22 Coleman’s Corner ............... 46 Community Bank ................... 4 Community Bank Wealth Management ....................... 18 Cortel Improvement ............ 45 Creg Systems ....................... 27 Development Authority of the North Country ............ 34 D.L. Calarco Funeral Home ... 14 Fairground Inn ...................... 46 Foy Agency ............................ 8

Fuccillo Auto Malls .............. 23 HD Goodale Co...................... 8 High Tower Advisors ............ 30 Hospice of Jefferson Co. ..... 21 Howard Orthotics ................. 32 Immaculate Heart Central Schools ...................... 9 Innovative PT Solutions ........ 33 Jefferson County Economic Development ..... 45 Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors ............................. 26 Ken Piarulli / Ameriprise Financial ............................... 10 Krafft Cleaning Service ....... 42 LaValle Transportation ........ 37 Morgia’s Pasta ..................... 11 Nationwide Insurance ........... 8 NNY Business .................. 10, 31 Northern New York Community Foundation ...... 20 Nortz & Virkler Ford .............. 23

6 | NNY Business | November 2014

Number One Speed ............ 23 NY State Department of Health ................................. 3 RBC Wealth Management .... 9 Sea Comm Federal Credit Union ......................... 24 Shred Con ............................ 36 Slack Chemical Co. ............ 35 St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union ......................... 48 SUNY Potsdam ..................... 11 Waite Motorsports ................ 41 Waite Toyota ........................ 40 Watertown LDC .................... 25 Watertown Savings Bank ...... 2 Watertown Spring & Alignment ......................... 23 Weichert, Realtors — Thousand Islands Realty ....................... 26 Well Communications ......... 46 Widrick Auto Sales ............... 23 WWTI-50 ................................ 47

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. © 2010-2014. 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 keysaman@wdt.net Advertising For advertising rates and information in Jefferson and Lewis counties, email mhanson@wdt.net, or call 315-661-2305 In St. Lawrence County, e-mail knelson@ogd.com, or call 315-769-2451 Printed with pride in U.S.A. at Vanguard Printing LLC, Ithaca, N.Y., a Forest Stewardship Certified facility.

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November 2014 | NNY Business

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|

INTERVIEW

|

|

ON THE COVER

|

28 A HELPING HAND UP Melinda M. Gault is inspired each day to lead the Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County as the needs of less fortunate Northern New Yorkers continue to grow. |

COLUMNS

|

32 ECONOMICALLY SPEAKING 33 NONPROFITS TODAY 34 COMMERCE CORNER |

DEPARTMENTS

10 11 12 14 15

35 AGRI-BUSINESS 36 BUSINESS TECH BYTES 37 SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS

|

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

25 38 40 44 46

real estate roundup CALENDAR BUSINESS SCENE BUSINESS HISTORY NEXT MONTH

For this month’s cover photo, Photographer Justin Sorensen styled a shot of Graphic Designer Lauren Harrienger on Watertown’s Public Square, which Lauren went to work on to create a festive illustration of holiday retail shopping in the city’s downtown center. Our cover story, “’Tis the season for shopping,” by writer Lorna Oppedisano, begins on page 16.

November 2014 | NNY Business

|9

I

EDITO R’S N O T E

20UNDER40

NORTHern new york’s emerging leaders

Save

the date.

Join us for a luncheon at Hilton Garden Inn, 1290 Arsenal St., Watertown, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 10, to recognize the 2012 Class of 20 Under 40.

Look for profiles of this year’s class in December’s issue of NNY Business.

Luncheon is $20. Register and pre-pay by noon, Wednesday, Dec. 3, at nnybizmag.com and save $2.

Need a hotel room the night before?

Mention 20 Under 40 for a discount.

Sponsored by:

n this month’s issue, our cover story focuses on the retail boom of the holiday season, which traditionally kicks off on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.

In a good year, holiday retail sales rake in 20 percent of annual sales for major retailers. In recent years, attention has shifted slightly from the annual blitz by big box retailers to lure customers in ever earlier after holiday turkey to small business. In 2010, American Express launched an initiative called Small Business Saturday, which helps to promote “shopping small.”

Magazine Staff Writer Lorna Oppedisano got the rundown from chambers of commerce and other organizaKen Eysaman tions that work to promote the retail and tourism industry for a behind-the-scenes look at this frenetic time of the year in one of New York’s largest economic sectors: retail.

Her story begins on page 16.

20 QUESTIONS — This month we sit down

to a conversation with Melinda M. Gault, executive director of the Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County as the agency celebrated its 50th anniversary. Born from federal legislation signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, CAPC of Jefferson County works to help lift people from poverty by providing those who may be struggling with tools to become self-reliant. Our interview with Ms. Gault begins on page 28.

BUSINESS SCENE — This month’s scene section, which begins on page 40, features 46 faces from nearly three-dozen north country businesses and organization across the tricounty area. On Oct. 15, we joined the Greater

Jefferson County Economic Development

www.nnybizmag.com

10 | NNY Business | November 2014

Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce for its annual Business Networking Expo at the Bruce M. Wright Memorial Conference Center.

On Oct. 23, we joined the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce for its Annual Dinner at SUNY Potsdam. The chamber presented its Business of the Year honor to Commercial Press, Canton, and its first-ever Customer Service Excellence Award to The Ole Smokehouse, Madrid. On Oct. 29, we joined the Carthage Area Chamber of Commerce for its annual dinner and awards banquet at the Sahara Restaurant. The chamber named Thomas H. Piche, Carthage Savings & Loan Association president and CEO, Business Person of the Year. Carthage Free Library earned the Nonprofit Business of the Year award. Jeanette Turner, owner of Sew What Quilts and Embroidery, was presented with the organization’s New Member Spotlight of the Year award. The chamber also honored former longtime Carthage residents Terry and Maria Roche via a Skype connection from their new home in Charlotte, N.C. Finally, on Nov. 6, we joined the Clayton Chamber of Commerce for Business With A Twist at the Thousand Islands Arts Center.

20 UNDER 40 — On Page 31, you’ll find the list of selectees for our 4th Annual NNY Business 20 Under 40 program that honors emerging leaders who show promise in their professions and communities. We are extremely encouraged by the number and quality of nominations this year. On Wednesday, Dec. 10, we will recognize the class of 2014 during a luncheon at the Hilton Garden Inn, Watertown. Look for more information on our website, nnybizmag. com, where you can register and pre-pay for the luncheon. All selectees will be profiled in our December issue, which will be unveiled at the luncheon.

PEOPLE O N T H E MO V E

Lender specialist joins Syracuse SBA office

Grace H. Conners has joined the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Syracuse office as lender relations specialist.

She will focus on marketing SBA lending programs and conduct lender outreach, training and development.

Prior to the SBA, Ms. Conners spent about four years at Solvay Bank in various financial positions. She also has more than six years of experience in community banking. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Hartwick College. She lives in East Syracuse.

Named associate at Malone law firm

Kelly Poupore recently joined the Malone law firm of Fischer, Bessette, Muldowney & Hunter LLP as an associate attorney.

Ms. Poupore, a Malone native, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Notre Dame University in 2009, and received a J.D. from Seton Hall Poupore College of Law in 2014. Ms. Poupore will practice law in the firm’s Malone and Tupper Lake offices.

She is a graduate of Franklin Academy in Malone, where she was a star athlete on the girls basketball, soccer and softball teams.

Former NNY resident opens new law firm

North country native Gary McDermott, a Charlotte, N.C., corporate, finance and real estate attorney, recently opened his own practice, McDermott Law PLLC. The new firm specializes in real estate, finance and business law. Mr. McDermott’s clients include start-ups, established national McDermott companies, nonprofit associations and investors.

Mr. McDermott spent eight years practicing in the Charlotte office of Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, where he was a partner.

The McDermott Law team also includes Jamie Brant, a paralegal and office manager.

Got business milestones? n Share your business milestones with NNY

Business. Email news releases and photos (.jpg/300 dpi) to editor Ken Eysaman at keysaman@wdt.net. The deadline for submissions is the 10th of the month for the following month’s issue. Photos that don’t appear in print may be posted on our Facebook page.

Massena chamber names new associate director

The Greater Massena Chamber of Commerce announced the promotion of Denise M. Furnace to associate director.

Ms. Furnace most recently held the job of office assistant and will succeed Penny Pullmain, who is retiring. Her responsibilities will include planning and coordinating events and daily office management.

A Massena Central Schools and SUNY Potsdam graduate, Ms. Furnace has a background in retail, state and county government. She has served as publicity and event chairwoman for the American Cancer Society’s Massena-Louisville Relay for Life and has volunteered the Massena Neighborhood Center and Meals on Wheels.

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Black River veteran earns professional certification Ryan Farris, Black River, recently graduated from National Tractor Trailer School in Liverpool. He has begun a new career as driver for Cranesville Block Company. Prior to graduation, he served in the military.

Mr. Farris earned completed 225 hours of training in NTTS’s contract training course. Included in the course were Department of Transportation rules/regulations, hours of service, trip planning, and behind-the-wheel instruction on a variety of equipment operated on secondary roads, city streets, and interstates.

Were you or your business featured in a recent issue?

Contact your account representative to order custom plaques or page and photo reprints suitable for framing.

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

Call 315-782-1012 or (800) 724-1012 to Subscribe Today.

The Magazines of Northern New York.

Local Business. Local People. Local Culture.

Because Main Street is closer than Wall Street.

November 2014 | NNY Business

| 11

NNY

Economic indicators Average per-gallon milk price paid to N.Y. dairy farmers September 2014 $2.23 August 2014 $2.25 September 2013 $1.85

20.5%

ECON SNAPSHOT

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

Source: NYS Department of Agriculture

451,754 in September 2014 589,003 in August 2014 451,311 in September 2013

Average NNY price for gallon of regular unleaded gas

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

September 2014 $3.60 August 2014 $3.69 September 2013 $3.77

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

4.5%

Average NNY price for gallon of home heating oil

12 | NNY Business | November 2014

(Percent gains and losses are over 12 months)

September 2014 $3.67 August 2014 $3.72 September 2013 $3.84

4.4%

$1.12 on Sept. 30, 2014 $1.09 on Aug. 29, 2014 $1.03 on Sept. 30, 2013

0.1%

3.8%

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of N.Y.

Average NNY price for gallon of residential propane

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

September 2014 $3.01 August 2014 $3.00 September 2013 $2.93

91,800 in September 2014 89,100 in August 2014 91,500 in September 2013

2.7%

0.3%

Source: NYS Energy Research and Development Authority

Source: NYS Department of Labor

Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors single-family home sales

St. Lawrence Board of Realtors single-family home sales

106, median price $126,500 in September 2014 142, median price $136,000 in August 2014 117, median price $143,000 in September 2013

68, median price $76,000 in September 2014 57, median price $96,000 in August 2014 63, median price $87,000 in September 2013

9.4% Sales

11.5% Price

Source: Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors Inc.

7.9% Sales

12.6% Price

Source: St. Lawrence Board of Realtors Inc.

NNY unemployment rates Jefferson County

6.6%

September ’14

6.9%

August ’14 September ’13

8.7%

St. Lawrence County September ’14

6.8% 7.8%

August ’14 September ’13

8.5%

Lewis County September ’14

6.7%

August ’14

6.8%

September ’13

8.4%

Source: New York State Department of Labor (Not seasonally adjusted. Latest available data reported.) ** Latest available data reported due to annual data updates at the New York State Department of Labor.

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

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

Trucks Cars 144 in September 2014 497 in September 2014 140 in August 2014 562 in August 2014 571 in September 2013 135 in September 2013

12.9%

NNY

6.7%

Source: Jefferson County Clerk’s Office

Passengers at Watertown International Airport

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

3,365 inbound and outbound in September 2014 4,561 inbound and outbound in August 2014 3,441 inbound and outbound in September 2013

2,296 in September 2014 2,267 in August 2014 1,900 in September 2013

17.4% Source: Jefferson County Board of Legislators

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 Oct. 2 to Oct. 31, 2014. For a complete list of DBAs filed in August and in past months, visit www.nnybizmag.com.

OCT. 31: Nexus, 212 Franklin St., Watertown, William Seth-Michael Hill, 207 Parker St., Watertown.

OCT. 16: Matt’s Handyman Service, 117 W. Bronson St., Dexter, Matthew A. Netto II, 117 W. Bronson St., Dexter.

Hart Impressions, 12043 County Route 79, Adams, Julie A. Mason, 12043 County Route 79, Adams.

Wintonbury Farm, 33562 County Route 194, Antwerp, Richard Baker Johnston Jr., 33562 County Route 194, Antwerp.

Newman’s Heating and Plumbing, 26670 Andrew Drive, Watertown, Timothy A. Newman, 26670 Andrew Drive, Watertown.

OCT. 15: Mission Ready IT Solutions, 46679 Carnegie Bay Road, Alexandria Bay, Matthew R. Jobson, 46679 Carnegie Bay Rd., Alexandria Bay.

OCT. 30: True Artworx, 1119 Academy St., Watertown, Robert P. Nethken, 1119 Academy St., Watertown.

Peterson’s Ponderosa, 34682 Wood Road, Clayton, Lance L. Peterson, 24682 Wood Road, Clayton.

J Bird Tours, 18081 N. Adams Heights, Adams, Celia E. Cook, 18081 N. Adams Heights, Adams.

Nelly Clean, 11946 Acadmey St., Chaumont, Maria N. Richardson, 11946 Academy St., Chaumont.

OCT. 28: Taste of the States, 35376 Putnam Hill Road, Carthage, Kyle J. Gyurko, Shane M. Jackson and Danielle L. Pearson.

OCT. 14: A Dana’s Do Right, 23880 Route 12, Watertown, Radana R. Reynolds, 39411 County Route 21, Theresa.

OCT. 27: George Ann Cave Photography, 8021-C Jefferson County Drive, Fort Drum, Jennifer L. Cave, 8021-C Jefferson County Drive, Fort Drum.

Attictreasures Antiques and Gifts, 8707 Noble St., Evans Mills, Susan M. Sunderland, 29488 County Route 46, Evans Mills.

D’Vine Beauty Photography, 26074 Mountain Lane, Evans Mills, Kelly M. Breyer, 26074 Mountain Lane, Evans Mills.

CJ’s Maintenance, 1620 Huntington St., Apt. M3, Watertown, Corey J. Disco, 1620 Huntington St., Building M3, Watertown.

Massey’s Watertown Cab, 25119 County Route 53, Watertown, Scott D. Massey, 25119 County Route 53, Watertown.

Charbonneau’s Tree Service, 23150 County Route 144, Black River, John R. Charbonneau, 23150 County Route 144, Black River.

Mad Batter’s Creations, 99303B Hickory Drive, Fort Drum, 99303B Hickory Drive, Fort Drum.

OCT 10: Gina’s Wreath Creations, 11718A Orchard Drive, Fort Drum, Gina W. Dinola, 11718-A Orchard Drive, Fort Drum

OCT. 22: Sexy Girls Get Fit, 36285 Cutler Road, Carthage, Jessica Baker, 36285 Cutler Road, Carthage.

OCT. 8: Scotti Images, 30854 Pinewood Drive, Black River, Scott W. Soules, 30854 Pinewood Drive, Black River.

The Helper’s Hub, 1392 Cosgrove St., Watertown, Jennifer L. Tastor, 1392 Cosgrove St., Watertown.

Coffee Pot Cathy’s, 3 James St., Alexandria Bay, Cathy A. Klein, 148 Northern Ave., Alexandria Bay.

HPM, 313 S. Pleasant St., Watertown, Jennifer L. Harris, 313 S. Pleasant St., Watertown.

OCT. 6: Scofield Transport, 13202 County Route 66, Adams Center, Joseph A. Scofield, 13202 County Route 66, Adams Center.

OCT. 21: Health Integrations, 13520 Fuller Road, Adams Center, Carol A. Rivers, 13520 Fuller Road, Adams Center.

CHLB Sports, 99306-B Hickory Drive, Fort Drum, Heather Smith, 99306-B Hickory Drive, Fort Drum.

A Stroke of Genius, 8471 County Route 8, Cape Vincent, Maureen D. Bovier, 8471 County Route 8, Cape Vincent.

Scott Otis, Esq., 340 N. Michigan Ave., Watertown, Scott A. Otis, 340 N. Michigan Ave., Watertown.

OCT. 20: Christman Coffee, 2 S. Main St., Philadelphia, Dean M. Christman, 5 Aldrich St., Apt. 2, Philadelphia.

OCT. 3: Young @ Heart, 26383 Perch Lake Road, Watertown, Daniel E. Keruskie, 26383 Perch Lake Road, Watertown.

Big D Snowplowing and Lawncare, 24577 Giiford St. Road, Watertown, David P. Mathous, 24577 Gifford St. Road, Watertown.

Ms. Dawn’s Daycare, 25867 Mustard Road, Watertown, Dawn M. Wurtz, 25867 Mustard Road, Watertown.

ANB Tree Services, 7197 Lyng Road, Woodville, Alicia M. Lashway, 7197 Lyng Road, Woodville.

Tri County Maintenance, 24467 White Road, Watertown, Troy Kaiser, 24467 White Road, Watertown.

OCT. 17: White Caps Winery, 11544 County Route 125, Chaumont, Gail W. Miller, 11633 County Route 125, Chaumont

OCT. 2: Super Moon Designs, 26087 Red Tail Lane, Evans Mills, Marlette D. Toole, 26087 Red Tail Lane, Evans Mills.

Fisher’s Point Mobile Park, 41761 Orleans Ave., Orleans, Ventrice Real Estate Company.

Reczko’s Crafts, 24555 Route 12, Watertown, Robert M. Reczko, 24555 Route 12, Watertown.

transactions

DBAs

20.8%

November 2014 | NNY Business

| 13

BUSINE SS BRIEFCASE

National Grid changes to avoid spikes in winter

Utility giant National Grid has implemented changes to reduce the impact of swings in the electricity supply portion of upstate New York customers’ bills during the winter.

The state Public Service Commission has approved recommendations made by the utility that aim to provide it with flexibility to better manage the impact of volatile wholesale electricity prices.

While the new measures should help reduce swings in customers’ bills, the utility cautioned that severe cold weather can affect the market price for supply and the amount of energy a customer uses. On average, residential customers use 30 percent more electricity from November through March than they do in the fall and spring months.

The utility has projected electricity bills to be 3 to 9 percent lower than last winter, depending on location and assuming a return to more typical winter weather. Natural gas bills for home heating are also expected to drop from last winter, by about 10 percent.

A customer’s bill consists of two components — energy delivery and supply. The energy delivery portion of the bill includes the utility’s costs to operate and maintain its networks, including emergency services and storm restoration. Delivery rates, which are regulated by the PSC, are lower today than they were a few years ago.

Carthage chamber launches new website

The Carthage Area Chamber of Commerce has debuted its improved website.

“We are excited to unveil our updated website,” said Teri L. Ellis, chamber president, during the group’s business awards

135 Keyes Avenue, Watertown, New York

315-782-4910

14 | NNY Business | November 2014

dinner last month. “Our board of directors decided to update to a more organized and user-friendly site.”

After exploring various options, the board decided to have Christopher A. Lorence Public Relations and Marketing Services design the revamped site.

The new website connects with the chamber’s Facebook page and has key links to the local school district and newspaper.

“We felt it very important to place the Carthage Republican Tribune link and Carthage Central School links on the home page, offering instant access,” Mrs. Ellis said.

Site hosting is paid with income from banner ads. Mrs. Ellis said the upgraded website will benefit the community as well as provide information for people considering moving to Carthage.

“With just a click or two, [people] should have any answer to questions regarding our great New York community,” Mrs. Ellis said.

The website address remains the same at www.carthageny.info.

Sackets finishes 70-acre Augsbury site cleanup

Workers have finished the last phase of a six-year cleanup of the former Augsbury Oil Co. site, a key step in getting the property ready for redevelopment.

Nearly 4,000 cubic yards of soil was cleaned of petroleum contamination at a 7-acre area south of Ambrose Street near Bolton’s Farm in late October, Mayor Vincent J. Battista III said. Richardson & Sons of Ogdensburg started work on the site in July. Once the state Department of Environmental Conservation issues a final certification of completion for the entire 70-acre site, which is expected next spring, the village can start marketing the property

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to developers, Mr. Battista said. The total cost of the cleanup will run approximately $800,000, paid mostly by the DEC. Among potential uses for the site are a multipurpose recreational center, healthcare facility, retailer or manufacturer, Mr. Battista said. He said job creation will be a top priority as officials consider future development.

“The key thing is going to be how many jobs will it produce, because with employment comes demand for housing, more business downtown and a lower tax base for village residents,” Mr. Battista said.

Plans have already been made by officials to market the property, situated at the northwestern side of the village near Black River Bay, said Donald L. DiMonda, president of the Sackets Harbor Local Development Corp. Last spring, the LDC, which owns the site, hired CITEC Business Solutions of Potsdam for about $3,000 to develop a brochure to advertise the property. It has also agreed to hire Horizon Aerial Media Services of Glen Park to shoot aerial photos for the brochure using a drone.

Mr. DiMonda said he is optimistic that the site — close to County Road 75 and about 8 miles from Interstate 81 — will be attractive to commercial developers.

Depending on its success, the LDC could later decide to broaden its marketing strategy to attract clients across the state and country, he said.

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

Small Business startup BUSINESS

Mint Julep Spa and Salon THE INITIAL IDEA

If you asked Julie C. Freeman a few years ago if she would ever own her own spa and salon, the answer would have likely been no. After completing cosmetology school in 2011, Mrs. Freeman planned only to rent a booth and call it a day.

“I honestly wasn’t looking to buy,” Mrs. Freeman said. “It just happened to fall in my lap and I took advantage of the opportunity.”

A little more than a year ago, Mrs. Freeman was renting space at Curled Salon when, one day at lunch, the owner told staff that they planned to sell the business. After a talk with her husband, Robert, who owns Clarence Henry Coach and Freeman Bus Corp., Mrs. Freeman decided to buy the salon.

“Within a week, I was a salon business owner,” Mrs. Freeman said. “I never thought I would be in this position, owning [the salon] and helping people flourish in their business.”

Today, that business is Mint Julep Salon and Spa on Mechanic Street in Watertown.

TARGET CLIENTELE

Mint Julep Spa and Salon offers everything from hair services, priced $15 to $150 and up, to makeup work and spray tanning, priced $35 to $45 and up, to spa services, priced $15 to $75. The spa and salon also offers a few spa package deals, ranging from $80 to $210. When Mrs. Freeman bought the salon, she was aware that the spa side of the business was important. “People like to go where you can get everything done in one place,” Mrs. Freeman explained.

All services and prices are listed on the salon’s website.

Mrs. Freeman specializes in ethnic hair. “It’s its own type of hair styling in itself,” she said.

“It’s going to take me twice as long for that type of hair than it would for a Caucasian person.”

She explained that some appointments she takes can last up to five hours.

THE JOURNEY

Mrs. Freeman did not get into the salon and spa business until relatively recently. In 2010, she began a program at Syracuse’s Phillips Hairstyling Institute, commuting from her hometown of Watertown to Syracuse every Tuesday through Friday. Just nine months later, she earned a certificate, a feat that takes some students up to two years. Mrs. Freeman cited her husband, daughter and stepdaughter as the support system that allowed her to achieve her goals.

Before completing this program, Mrs. Freeman had worked part-time jobs “here and there” because of her daughter’s medical issues.

“My main focus was getting her where she needs to be,” Mrs. Freeman said. “Now she’s

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS

“In the beginning, I had so much to do to make it on my own.

But it was all worth it.”

— Julie C. Freeman, owner, Mint Julep Spa and Salon where she needs to be. I’m proud of her. I’m proud of all of us.”

One of Mrs. Freeman’s part-time jobs was working as a receptionist at The Marcy Spa and Salon. At Marcy, she learned the communication and people skills side of the trade through scheduling and making client appointments.

More importantly, it was where she discovered her love for the craft.

“That’s really where I got my drive to do cosmetology,” Mrs. Freeman said. “I was following them around and asking questions all day long.

I definitely learned a lot.”

After earning a license and working at Curled Salon for two years, Mrs. Freeman bought the salon and began to make it her own.

The first step was to give it a facelift. Mrs. Freeman had help redoing the floors, but the rest — painting and redecorating more than five rooms — she did herself.

“I put blood, sweat and tears into this place,” Mrs. Freeman said. “Starting a business, you don’t have the money to have people come in and just pay people to do it. The first six months I was in here, any free moment I had, I was doing something.”

Mrs. Freeman kept the salon open through the remodel, working on hair during the day, and walls in the evenings.

The remodel was not the hardest part, though, Mrs. Freeman said. The struggle was getting the name out there as not only a new

business, but new ownership and management.

“I was bringing a business back to life, basically,” Mrs. Freeman said. “When you change ownerships, people ask, ‘Is this business going to make it?’ I’ve had people tell me that it takes three years for a new business to actually be solid.”

After being the owner for a year this month, Mrs. Freeman said the business is performing well for the salon business.

“In the beginning, I had so much to do to make it my own,” she said. “But it was all worth it.”

IN FIVE YEARS

At this point, Mint Julep Spa and Salon takes on an average of 15 appointments each week, which Mrs. Freeman said is perfect for the present staff of four.

“That’s all I want,” Mrs. Freeman said with a chuckle. “I’m married. I have a daughter. I have two dogs. I have a house. That’s enough for me.”

In the near future, Mrs. Freeman plans to rent out four more booths, which are now vacant and ready for rental, and hire another nail technician and massage therapist.

And in five years?

“I would like to be educating and teaching people to do what I do,” Mrs. Freeman said.

“I would love to have people learn from me — helping people help themselves.”

— Lorna Oppedisano

WHERE 165 Mechanic St., Watertown | FOUNDED November 2013 | WEB mintjulepspaandsalon.com

November 2014 | NNY Business

| 15

COV E R ST O RY

’Tis the

SEASON for SPENDING Holiday retailers cast high hopes for a season that typically rakes in 20 percent of their annual revenues

T

BY LORNA OPPEDISANO | NNY BUSINESS

Think back to a simpler time in the history of Black Friday. Remember when stores didn’t open their doors until 5 a.m.? Compared with today’s frenzied retail rush, it seems like a more relaxed time when stores weren’t ready and waiting for shoppers the moment they finished their last bite of pumpkin pie, fighting off the tryptophan from Thanksgiving turkey to snag a door-buster sale item.

Years ago, the Gonas family of Watertown would make an event out of the day, starting early in the morning — late by today’s standards. Shortly before 5 or 6 a.m., Kerri E. and George W. Gonas would carry their sleeping girls out of bed and prop them up in the car in front of a portable video player, hot chocolate wait16 | NNY Business | November 2014

ing in the front seat for when they woke up. The system was perfectly planned.

Mrs. Gonas was usually in charge of the “getaway car,” ready and waiting as Mr. Gonas raced out of the store with deals they’d hunted down in newspaper ads from the day before. The Black Friday adventures were usually over by 11 a.m., just in time to throw on a change of clothes and head to Hemlock Haven in Sandy Creek to pick out a Christmas tree.

Now the children are grown and old enough to stay home alone while Mr. and Mrs. Gonas hit the stores, albeit not as early as some other shoppers.

“We’re not as motivated to get out there as we used to be,” Mr. Gonas laughed.

The family has never gone out shopping

on Thanksgiving. “That crosses a line,” Mr. Gonas said.

Each year, big box stores around the country embrace the retail holiday of Black Friday with wider and wider arms. Some are outstretched to the neighboring national holiday of Thanksgiving, opening Thursday evening before the traditional start of the holiday shopping season.

Small local stores are another story altogether. Their holiday retail season, although smaller, tends to kick off on Small Business Saturday, a movement founded

by American Express in 2010 to “help businesses with their most pressing need — getting more customers,” according to the company’s website.

C O V E R S T O RY

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS

Sears associate Jesse James McConnell explains a warranty plan to a customer shortly after the store’s 4 a.m. opening for Black Friday in 2011. Small businesses have felt a squee in recent years as more national retailers open earlier on Black Friday. Some stores, like Kmart are opening on Thanksgiving Day this year.

Regardless of how you celebrate the start of this boisterous season, it most certainly is the season to shop.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2007 Economic Census, the most recent available, the retail sector was the largest employer in the state, making New York the third-ranked state in the United States by number of retail trade businesses. In Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties combined, retail sales brought in more than $3.2 billion, roughly 1.4 percent of the $230 billion in retail sales recorded in the state that year.

Last year, managers of several chain retail stores, such as J.C. Penney at Salmon Run Mall, noted that many customers who took advantage of the big box

stores’ sales started shopping Thursday night, took a break Friday morning, and continued to bargain hunt at about 8 a.m., according to a Nov. 30, 2013, Watertown Daily Times article. This resulted in higher sales than the previous year — customers would simply be on the floor buying more if they took advantage of the sales both Thursday night and Friday.

This year, many stores in Watertown’s Salmon Run Mall planned to open Thanksgiving evening. “The whole mall will be open by midnight on Black Friday,” said Karla Woods, mall marketing director.

While the list of stores opening on Thanksgiving won’t be known until closer to the date, Ms. Woods thinks

at least half the stores planned to open by 8 p.m. Thursday. In the past, many retailers have seen success by opening on Thanksgiving, she said.

“Not that everyone likes doing that, but business is business,” she said.

Of the stores that chose not to open on Thanksgiving last year, the majority of them are taking advantage of the shoppers’ interest and opening earlier this year, she said. Ms. Woods explained that retailers are confident in opening on Thursday because of the strengths of their Black Friday deals. The food court also planned to open early, Ms. Woods noted.

From Black Friday until Christmas Eve, the mall will offer shoppers extended hours. A list of retailers that plan to November 2014 | NNY Business

| 17

18 | NNY Business | November 2014

C O V E R S T O RY open early for Black Friday, as well as the mall’s holiday hours, will be listed on its website in the coming weeks.

Each year around the holiday season, the mall retail family grows as specialty stores move in. Ms. Woods cited Toys “R” Us Express and a calendar store among the ranks of the new shops. These stores will remain open through the holiday season.

The mall also plans to offer a shuttle service between the Hilton Garden Inn and Salmon Run Mall this year. Ms. Woods said this should alleviate some of the parking hassle associated with Black Friday shopping, especially for those not familiar with the north country, such as Canadian shoppers.

“I think it’s going to be a huge success,” Ms. Woods said. She added that the mall has plans to expand the shuttle service next year to include more hotels in the area, adding a little perk to those traveling to the north country to shop.

Being so close to the Canadian border, a portion of sales comes from travelers, as well as Northern New Yorkers. According to the 2012 New York 1000 Islands-Seaway Region Economic Impact of Tourism report produced by Empire State Development, tourism in the Thousand Islands region — an area that includes Jefferson, Oswego and St. Lawrence counties — is a $48 million industry, supporting 8,896 jobs. Jefferson County alone represents 49 percent of those sales. Of the total tourism industry sales in the Thousand Islands region, 17 percent came from retail and service stations, 24 percent from food and beverage sales, and 15 percent from lodging.

For a number of years, the 1000 Islands

Tourism Council has managed a program specifically aimed at attracting Canadian shoppers to the area. For the council, the shopping season starts early by American standards; this year, it began running the promotion right after Labor Day. “This is the fifth year that we’ve done a program specifically about shopping,” said Gary S. DeYoung, director of the 1000 Islands International Tourism Council. “This year, we’ve spent $22,000 on online and print ads. In previous years we’ve spent more.”

Upon arriving at the welcome center on the border, Canadians usually have some combination of three target destinations in the states: Waterloo Premium Outlets west of Syracuse off the Thruway, DestinyUSA in Syracuse, and Watertown’s Arsenal Street, Mr. DeYoung said. Although competition is strong, he said the council tends to see positive results from the annual shopping program.

Mr. DeYoung pointed out that the Canadian dollar has been hovering around an exchange rate of 88 cents to one U.S. dollar, and that does make a difference in the amount of money coming from Canada into the United States.

“It’s less of a value right off the top,” he said. “Some of the larger-priced items that they’re coming to buy might make people think twice.”

But not all Canadians trek to the states to compete for those Black Friday blowout sales, or any American winter holiday sales for that matter. A lot of Canadians are coming over the border to value shop, Mr. DeYoung said.

“They coming over to save money,” he said. “Sometimes that includes something as simple as groceries. Target,

Walmart, Sam’s Club; those kind of stores are popular.”

The longer the shopping trip, the better payoff as well; the longer someone stays in the United States, the more he or she can bring back without paying duty on it, Mr. DeYoung explained. There’s also more incentive to travel and shop as a group, so the number of people staying one night overnight has gone up as well, he said.

The obvious season of high occupancy for north country hotels is summer, when the 1000 Islands area is a highly trafficked destination. So during this off season, the kind of business that retail tourism brings to the area is really valuable, Mr. DeYoung said.

As Mr. DeYoung noted, the shopping season for Canadian travelers starts in the fall, when American minds are still stuck on candy corn and haunted houses, not the best deal for a flat screen TV. Some hotels offer deals to attract Canadian shoppers during this prime time. Despite the drop in the exchange rate, the Hilton Garden Inn, for example, takes Canadian cash at par, said Jody L. Pettit, the hotel’s general manager.

“Fall season advertising is based around shopping packages,” she said.

“Cash at par is considered a discount.”

Ms. Pettit explained that a number of discount packages are run year-round, but are advertised more in the fall, when most Canadians would take advantage of them. One deal being offered is the “Serious Shoppers Package,” which includes dinner, breakfast, coupons and gifts cards to the mall, Kohls, Target, and more, she said. While this package is run throughout the year, most Canadian shoppers are more likely to use it during the fall.

“Most of our weekends until Black

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C OV E R ST ORY Friday are filled with Canadians,” Ms. Pettit said. “[Their shopping season] starts on Columbus Day and runs through to Black Friday. Black Friday is the end for Canadian shoppers.”

After Black Friday, during what Americans would consider the holiday shopping season, weekends in December are usually booked with visitors from nearby cities and towns, such as Potsdam or Massena, Ms. Pettit said. n

n

n

For Americans, Black Friday marks

20 | NNY Business | November 2014

the start of the holiday shopping season.

For some, it’s a day to hit all the big box stores and finish holiday shopping all in one day. That strategy might not be what’s best for the local economy, though. When everyone flocks to the big sales, the little guys get left behind: the locally owned and operated businesses.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy’s 2013 Small Business Profile for New York state, published earlier this year, there were 2,039,018 small businesses in the state last

year. Of those businesses, 442,119 were businesses with employees, giving jobs to 3,760,551 workers. The SBA defines small businesses as “firms with fewer than 500 employees.” The report also cites earlier data from 2011 on the retail sector specifically: that year, there were 57,349 employer firms in the retail trade industry, employing 356,648 workers.

Many local shops pay little to no attention to Black Friday, knowing that national chain retailers have a tight grip on the shopping holiday. They instead try to focus on the season as a whole. If any one day is highlighted, it’s Small Business Saturday, this year falling on Nov. 29.

Small Business Saturday is a relatively new movement. Some small businesses simply aren’t familiar with the idea yet, especially those in more rural areas, such as Lewis County. The Lewis County Chamber of Commerce is doing the best it can to push Small Business Saturday, said Anne L. Merrill, executive director.

“I’m trying to get businesses to be engaged and offer a number of discounts,” she said. “Shopping local creates and supports local jobs. Each time you purchase something, it helps pay for the salary of a friend or neighbor.”

Small businesses often have a harder time of it — they have to work harder and be more creative, Ms. Merrill said. “The big box stores, they don’t care. They don’t have any ties to the product.”

This year, Lewis County is host to a new way to support local — a popup store. This type of local shop is exactly what it sounds like: a shop will “pop up” and occupy a retail space for a short period of time. The new store, Northern Tier Woodwrights, will occupy a storefront on South State Street in Lowville through December, offering works such as furniture, wooden toys and clocks from local artisans, Ms. Merrill said. The shop is being spearheaded by Edward J. Knapp, who owns Watson Woodworking on Chase Lake Road in the town of Watson.

“It will be a nice space and will provide another stop for holiday shoppers downtown,” Mr. Knapp told the Watertown Daily Times in an Oct. 1 article. According to a press release on the venture, the “shop will showcase high-quality and unique wood products produced right here in our region. This cooperative provides local woodworking shops a central

C O V E R S T O RY location to share what they have for sale this holiday season.”

Essentially, shoppers can buy a one-ofa-kind, locally sourced product.

Neighboring St. Lawrence County also prides itself on a variety of artisan products that bolster the local economy.

While the local businesses understand that Black Friday is a big box holiday and don’t try to compete with chain stores, there is a push in the area for Small Business Saturday, said Brooke E. Rouse, St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce executive director. What draws shoppers to St. Lawrence County is the individuality of products offered.

“Something that’s unique about this area is that you can buy local products, things that are made right here,” Ms. Rouse said. “We do somewhat have a reputation of being a place to shop for unique handmade items because we do have a really strong artisan home-based business culture here.”

That reputation reaches beyond the north country. The chamber also reaches out to Canadians as well, Ms. Rouse said.

“For Canadians, their dollar is going a lot farther than it would up there, if they were to go into a little boutique for example,” Ms. Rouse said, explaining that goods here are relatively reasonably priced.

Taking the present economy into consideration is important. As customers, people have to recognize that all businesses are struggling, Ms. Rouse said.

“Every single dollar that is spent locally is helping to pay an employee. It’s helping to pay taxes. It’s helping to bring sales tax to the needs of the municipality and county,” she said. “So everyone is benefit-

ting. Every dollar you spend is coming back to you in one form or another.”

Ms. Rouse explained that in a rural economy, such as St. Lawrence’s, small business adds up to being the largest employer.

“They’re employing local people.

They’re paying local taxes,” she said. “So it’s all part of building a local economy.

They play a role in the greater piece of livelihood here.”

While small business does seem to

thrive in more rural areas of the north country, that’s not the case universally throughout Northern New York. In the city of Watertown, it’s few and far between to hear about a small business doing well, said Sara C. Carpenter, Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce director of marketing.

“Working here, we’ve seen a lot of businesses come and go,” she said. “A lot of them just don’t have the money to advertise.”

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COV E R ST ORY

STEVE VIRKLER | NNY BUSINESS

Edward J. Knapp puts up a window sign for the new Northern Tier Woodwrights shop on South State Street in Lowville. The seasonal “pop-up” shop, featuring products from local woodworkers, is slated to be open from through mid-December.

In terms of Small Business Saturday, not many businesses in the area are planning something, said Kylie S. Peck, Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce outreach and development director. She said that while the initiative is starting to catch on, it’s been slow moving.

“There’s a few [businesses] in the area that would like to do something along those lines,” she said. “But I don’t think they know how to get started. I think people are really hesitant to put themselves out there.”

In a setting like Watertown, there are many reasons why shopping local is important. Of course, it’s good to show support for the local businesses, but that is not the only reason.

“It’s so important for people to shop local, not only for those businesses, but for

the local nonprofits,” Ms. Peck explained.

“And Watertown is filled with them.”

Ms. Carpenter agreed, citing this fact: just looking at the chamber’s member list, there are 53 nonprofits in Watertown.

The total number of nonprofits in the city is higher than that. That large group of organizations competes for the same pool of limited money, Ms. Peck said.

“The local businesses — the ones that have been here for 50, 60 years, and are family run — those are the people who are giving to the nonprofits that are serving the local community,” Ms. Peck said.

“So if you stop shopping at local stores and small business owners stop giving, then in turn nonprofits that help our region start to disappear.”

While it’s true that the many big box stores in Watertown have a grip on the

retail season, especially Black Friday, the horizon doesn’t look completely stormy for local small business. The Downtown Business Association, an organization that helps local Watertown businesses, is doing a number of things to promote the local retail sector during the holiday season.

“Small business is the backbone of the American retail economy. That’s what makes the economy thrive,” said David A. Winters, Downtown Business Association president. “It’s these places that give local people jobs. It keeps them employed, puts food on the table for their families. It’s a circle. We like to keep as much money as we can local.”

In an effort to keep money local, the DBA plans to hold special events in December. Among the events is a date night, in conjunction with the YMCA, so parents can have some alone time while they shop. Some stores will be open later hours, or offer special deals, Mr. Winters said. Later in the winter, the DBA plans to partner with the chamber its annual Snowtown USA event.

Mr. Winters has high hopes for the future of small business in the north country, especially in Watertown’s downtown community.

“Downtown businesses are the engine that makes the whole community run,” he said. “In the last couple years, we’ve seen a resurgence in businesses downtown.”

With recent investments and improvements to downtown buildings that total between $125 million and $150 million, Mr. Winters said, there should soon be more opportunities for businesses that need more space.

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C OV ER S TORY Black Friday / History n Most people know Black Friday’s story. It is arguably the biggest retail holiday, celebrated the day after Thanksgiving. But do you know the origin story?

The moniker took hold on a less than jolly note in the city of Philadelphia. Police officers, fed up with the amount of congestion the shoppers caused that day, contemptuously coined the term “Black Friday,” according to a BBC report. Apparently, retailers tried to give the day a brighter name, “Big Friday,” but weren’t successful. According to the article, retailers then claimed that the “black” in “Black Friday” simply meant “going into the black,” or when the retailers began to turn a profit. However, there is no evidence behind this.

Whatever the phrase originally meant, it didn’t spread from Philadelphia to the rest of the nation until the 1980s. “You see it spreading a little bit to Trenton, N.J., which is close by, but it doesn’t really start getting mentioned outside of Philadelphia until the 1980s,” Benjamin Zimmer, linguist and executive editor of Vocabulary.com, told the BBC. “It didn’t become widespread until the mid-90s.”

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“Hopefully by this time next year, you’re going to see businesses up in the Woolworth building,” he said.

In terms of the holiday retail season, Mr. Winters mentioned an event still in the planning phase that’s sure to be a hit: Tom and Jerry night. This “local concoction,” as Mr. Winters describes it, is already a lure for people to come downtown. Incorporate the alluring beverage into its own special evening and it’s sure to draw a crowd.

Downtown Watertown retail seems to follow the more rural trend to grab people’s attention throughout the season, and not just focus on the Black Friday holiday. Mr. Winters explained that downtown Watertown businesses do not follow a “wake-up-early-and-wait-in-line” approach; people get the “crazy stuff” done early, and then head downtown.

“Black Friday gives [downtown Watertown businesses] an opportunity to have people come down at their leisure,” he said. “There’s going to be a lot of great items that you don’t have to wait in line for. Come down here, grab some lunch and walk around for an hour. You’d be surprised what you can find.” n LORNA OPPEDISANO is staff writer and editorial assistant for NNY Magazines. Contact her at 661-2381 or loppedisano@wdt.net.

November 2014 | NNY Business

| 23

S t. lawrence county

Unique sandstone mined in Potsdam Reddish mineral appeals to Canada’s Parliament, big retailers

By ALAN RIZZO

L

NNY Business

ooking more like a Martian landscape than a sand and gravel operation, Graymont’s Potsdam quarry is now mining a recently discovered source of Potsdam sandstone. The company is selling the mineral in various sizes, and the larger pieces have attracted the attention of contractors restoring the Parliament buildings in Ottawa.

The stone was discovered a few years ago under a sand and gravel deposit during normal mining operations, said James S. Otis, a project manager in materials who has worked for Graymont for 40 years.

Holes were then drilled by the company to determine the depth of the deposit, and some of the rock was blasted apart to get an idea of what it looked like.Graymont, a Canadian company based in Vancouver, British Columbia, is one of the largest lime producers in North America.

The company has quarry, asphalt, and other operations in Potsdam, Ogdensburg, Massena, Malone, Plattsburgh, Keeseville, Lewis, Wells, Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake, according to Mark Coombs, a sales manager for the company based in Plattsburgh.

Mr. Otis said this is the first year the stone has been mined at the quarry, for which it obtained a state mining permit.

Last month, stone already extracted and crushed was loaded into what Mr. Otis described as a power screen and wash plant, a series of machines that separate, wash and pile the rock, removing sand so that it can be bagged and sold at retailers like Walmart as decorative stone.

24 | NNY Business | November 2014

James S. Otis, project manager for Graymont Stone and Concrete, walks past a power screen and wash machine where crushed sandstone is cleaned at the company’s Potsdam quarry on West Parishville Road.

JASON HUNTER| NNY BUSINESS

And while the crushed variety typically measures approximately ½ to 1¼ inch in diameter, it is now available in much larger sizes ranging from 6-inch cobbles to boulders 3 or 4 feet across for landscaping and other purposes, Mr. Otis said.

These larger pieces are what drew a mason and contractor working to restore the Canadian Parliament buildings to the quarry Sept. 28, according to Mr. Coombs.

He did not specify what company or companies they work for.

“They were happy to see there was a source that would be available,” Mr. Coombs said, adding that the contractors appreciated the color variation of the stone because the sandstone originally used in the Parliament buildings, which were built at different times and possibly from different deposits, also varies in color.

The stone was originally used in exterior

detail work above doorways and window arches on the buildings, according to a June article in the Ottawa Citizen.

“They can work to more closely match the stone that they’re replacing,” Mr. Coombs said, reporting that shades of sandstone at the quarry range in hue from light pink, to salmon, to deep red and purple.

He explained that in restoration work, raw blasted rock is cut to the shape desired and use for spot replacements.

The newly mined stone is available for purchase, although prices could not be quoted, because they depend on size and application. Those interested in larger pieces must visit the quarry to make a selection. To learn more about the stone and its costs, contact Graymont Stone and Concrete at 265-8027. n ALAN RIZZO is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. Contact him at arizzo@wdt.net or 661-2517

R EA L E STATE ROUNDUP

A tip of the tax cap — hold the line

W

hen local governments — county legislatures, town and village boards, school boards, and special taxing districts — start to work on their budgets, one item they consider is the property tax rate.

Since its enactment in 2011, New York has had a tax levy limit that caps property taxes at 2 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is less. There are provisions for increases due to one-time needs for large legal settlements and limited pension growth. Municipalities that wish to exceed the tax cap must have a public hearing prior to a vote and a 60 percent majority vote to pass the override. In cases like school districts, where the public votes on the budget, the budget vote must pass by the same margin to override the cap.

In general, Realtors oppose overriding the cap. Our state is No. 1 in the nation in terms of tax burden on its residents.

According to the Tax Foundation, the median property tax levy in New York is 96 percent higher than anywhere else in the nation. The Foundation’s 2014 edition of the State Business Tax Climate Index ranked New York last. When property taxes on local businesses increase, it does nothing to improve that statistic. In addition, New York’s overwhelming tax burden on homeownership from property taxes, mortgage recording taxes, transfer taxes, etc., totals thousands of dollars and makes homeownership unaffordable and out of reach for many residents. This not only hurts real estate, but also our economy and our citizens.

A check of the tri-county region on Tax-Rates.org shows that Jefferson County is in the top 15 percent of the

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country’s 3,143 counties, placing 473, while Lewis and St. Lawrence counties are in the top 20 percent in terms of actual median property taxes collected. When looking at tax as a percentage of Lance Evans income, Jefferson County is in the top 13 percent at 407, while Lewis County comes in higher at 393 and St. Lawrence lower at 472. Finally, when looking at tax as a percentage of property value, Jefferson County is 276 at 1.68 percent of median home value, St. Lawrence County is higher at 2.1 percent of median home value, or 55th, and Lewis County is lower, ranking 252 at 1.71 percent of median home value. These are higher than the state average of 1.23 percent.

Clearly, to become and stay competitive, we must strive to keep the tax cap in place. It will take effort from all levels of government in the state. We need to push our state legislators to work on mandate relief for our municipalities. Many of these unfunded requirements drive the budgets of local governments. In addition, we need to be vigilant whenever any governmental body talks about exceeding the tax cap. Many times it is passed as a “just-in-case” measure; however, it gives the body permission to raise taxes.

When a municipality stays within the cap, there is an additional payoff for residents. The Property Tax Freeze Credit is a

two-year tax relief program that reimburses qualifying New York State homeowners for increases in local property taxes on primary residences.

As we compete to retain residents and businesses, we need to control tax increases or watch people and businesses move to other jurisdictions with a better tax climate. n

n

n

Annually, New York Realtor Associations nominate members for the New York State Realtor Honor Society based on the member’s prior-year service to all three levels — local, state, and national — of the Realtor organization. Some activities that qualify include service as an officer or director, committee work and classes taken. Local Realtors honored for their 2013 service include Walter J. Christensen, Jennifer Dindl-Neff, Linda J. Fields, Lisa L’Huillier, Gwyn Monnat, Karen Peebles, Korleen Spilman, and Jennifer Stevenson. n

n

n

The 2015 slate of officers in the TriCounty Chapter of Women’s Council of Realtors attended training in Latham from Oct. 19 to 20. The session was put on by the New York State Women’s Council of Realtors for incoming officers from the nine local state chapters. Local participants included Janet Handschuh, Debbie Staie, Carolyn Gaebel, David Barron, Lisa L’Huillier, and me. 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 / top transactions Top 10 property sales by price recorded in the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office in September 2014: $480,000: Sept. 10: Town of Alexandria: Canary Island, Robert F. Langley, Delray Beach, Fla., sold to David Lawrence Hess and Nancy Hess, Monsey, N.Y. $460,000: Sept. 11, Village of Alexandria Bay: Anthony Street, Susan A. Sovie, Watertown, as referee for D&D Estates Inc., sold to Anthony Street Apartments LLC, Cicero. $445,000: Sept. 12, Town of Henderson: 0.66 acres, no address, Suzanne M. Shute, Henderson Harbor, sold to Paul N. Coppinger and Elizabeth J. Coppinger, Easton, Conn., and Thomas W. Coppinger and Marjorie D. Coppinger, Sandy Hook, Conn. $425,000: Sept. 12, Town of Hounsfield: Lot 31, Campbell’s Point, Jason Feinberg and Shayne Feinberg, Geneva, sold to Richard C. Cuhna, Sackets Harbor. $397,500: Sept. 16, Town of Alexandria: Unnamed island, the most westerly island lying easterly of Ironsides Island, Thomas W. Bachert, New York, sold to Elizabeth LeTendre and John P. Cronin IV, Needham, Mass.

$350,000: Sept. 16, Town of Hounsfield: Lot No. 25, Blue Heron Landing Subdivision, Brian P. Green and Casey R. Green, Sackets Harbor, sold to Michael D. Cavaco and Emily M. Cavaco, East Greenwich, R.I. $350,000: Sept. 4, Village of Clayton: 0.395 acres, 305 Merrick St., Kathleen J. McGhee sold to Jody Garrett and Denise Miller as trustees of Doreen Garrett Grantor Retained Annuity Trust #4 for the benefit of Aidana Marks, Clayton. $350,000: Sept. 2, Hamlet of Depauville: Two parcels, 32487 state Route 12, Kirk S. Gilchrist and Carolyn Gilchrist, Depauville, sold to New Life Christian Church, Watertown.

Top 10 property sales by price recorded in the St. Lawrence County Clerk’s Office in September 2014: $657,620: Sept. 29, Town of Potsdam: 8 parcels, unknown acres, bounded by U.S. Route 11, Frederick D. Robar Sr., Potsdam, sold to Clarkson University, Potsdam. $400,000: Sept. 30, Town of Oswegatchie: 2.945 acres more or less, in St. Lawrence River Lot 12, bounded by Route 37, Jingtian Ma, Ogdensburg, sold to Ying Wang, Ogdensburg.

$360,800: Sept. 17, Town of Watertown: 5 acres, Cagwin Road, Ann Elizabeth Schreiber, Dubuque, Iowa, sold to Michael J. Jones and Shannon E. Jones, Evans Mills.

$375,000: Sept. 12, Town of Oswegatchie: 2 parcels, unknown acres, bounded by Route 37, 701-723 Canton Street Holdings LLC, Bethesda, Md., sold to Woodbranch Seaway LLC, New York.

$355,000: Sept. 25, Town of Hounsfield: 1 acre, Theriault Lane, Sackets Properties LLC, Sackets Harbor, sold to Gregory C. Walton and Jill E. Walton, Sackets Harbor.

$275,000: Sept. 25, Town of Pitcairn: Unknown Parcels, unknown acres, bounded by state Route 3 and North Portaferry Lake Drive, Land First Inc., Lacona, sold to David H. and Sandra

R. Jackson, Manlius. $270,000: Sept. 26, Town of Colton: 358 83/100 acres more or less, in Great Tract 2 of Section 33, Brian E. Wilkinson, Norwood and Robert E. Buhts (trustee), Robert E. Buhts Living Trust, Prospect, Ky., sold to Maury Tigner, Ithaca. $250,000: Sept. 17, Village of Potsdam: Unknown acres, in Mile Square Lot 48, bounded

by Leroy and Cottage streets, Patrick T. Choong and Margaret M. Cooper-Choong, San Marcos, Texas, sold to Patrick A. and Amy E. Roche, Pasadena, Calif. $242,500: Sept. 10, City of Ogdensburg: Unknown acres, in Lot 3 of Block 30, bounded

by Knox Street, Brian J. and Kathleen R. Wade, Ogdensburg, sold to Nathan Howell and Julie Eggleton Howell, Ogdensburg. $210,000: Sept. 22, Town of Hammond: 38.29 acres more or less, bounded by state Route 12, Veronica Bolus, Clarks Summit, Pa., sold to George Benvegno Jr. and Sally Benvegno, North East, Md. $204,900: Sept. 25, Town of Hermon: 0.15 of an acre more or less, bounded by Quad Road, Richard L. and Tina M. Selner, Leeds, sold to Christopher J. Krawiec, Webster. $200,000: Town of Pierrepont: 10 acres more or less, in Great Lots 34 and 43, bounded by Route 68, Erik J. and Jennifer M. Whittaker, Canton, sold to Emanuel and Michelle Manno, Gorham, Maine.

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20 questions

NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS

A golden year of service

T

he moment Melinda M. Gault, Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County executive director, walked through the agency’s doors, she felt like she was home, she said, recalling the day she first set foot in the building 21 years ago. Now that the organization has reached its half-century mark, Ms. Gault couldn’t see herself anywhere else. This month, she sat down with us to discuss CPAC’s mission, the importance of giving a hand up rather than a hand out, and the one person she would ask if they’ve got it right.

1

NNYB: How significant is a 50-year milestone for your organization?

GAULT: I think it’s very significant because 50 years ago, I don’t think President Kennedy or Johnson thought it would come to this. I know that their intentions are still the same mission, the same community action initiative.

I think it says something for an agency that’s still around after 50 years. It’s a nationwide program, so you have everybody celebrating at once. It’s been a festive year.

2

NNYB: Not too many people know that this agency is an outgrowth of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society initiative in the mid-1960s when, in 1964, he signed into law the Economic Opportunity Act, authorizing the funding of Community Action Agencies. What remains true today that was true 50 years ago?

GAULT: The mission. ‘People helping people’ is still the tagline. We still have the national agencies. We have similar programs

28 | NNY Business | November 2014

n Community Action Planning Council

lends a ‘hand up’ toward self-sufficiency — but not exactly the same — because the programs are based on local need. They’re all built on the strengths of the individual or the family. That’s the way it was 50 years ago, and that’s the way it is today.

3

NNYB: What is your mission and how does it help to build a stronger community?

GAULT: Our mission is to support and empower people through programs designed to alleviate poverty. But maybe what’s different from 50 years ago is that we promote selfsufficiency to advance community prosperity.

So we’re really just getting into, but want to continue, efforts that focus on jobs that pay a living wage and helping people get jobs with benefits not at a minimum wage, like many service industry jobs today. So job development and training, we want to get more into that and workforce development.

4

NNYB: What are the most pressing needs in the communities you serve?

GAULT: The most pressing, No. 1 need is transportation. Right now, emergency services and food, especially. We have been swamped with people who just can’t make ends meet. And they’re new faces. Probably 75 to 80 percent of the people we see every month have not been here before. I think that’s kind of telling of people not making enough money to make ends meet, even

if they’re working. We have a very small percentage of people who are on assistance who come here. I think it’s 4 percent. There are a lot of people falling through the cracks.

5

NNYB: What is the service area of your organization?

GAULT: Mostly Jefferson County. We have some programs that go into Lewis and St. Lawrence. The Child and Adult Care Food program reimburses child care providers for food they serve children in their home or in a center. We manage that for three counties. Our Nutrition Outreach and Education program serves just Jefferson County.

6

NNYB: Self-sufficiency one of your watchwords. How receptive are people to accepting help that lifts them from poverty?

GAULT: It may be surprising to some, but most people are willing to do anything they can to not be in the situation they’re in. People sometimes just don’t know about resources that are available. If we can offer a service, or the North Country Family Health Center can offer it, and they are lucky enough to get a job at Burger King, then those services get taken away from them — like subsidies for child care or food stamps.

And then they’re worse off than they were before. So they need support to help them stay on that route out of poverty. It’s very

2 0 questions frustrating when you’re twisting in the wind by yourself. But if you have people you can talk to, you can have coaches. ‘I couldn’t go to work today because my car died.’ There’s the boss, or maybe you can find a neighbor or friend, or maybe somebody from here will just go pick them up. It’s just the support that people need: the mindset to keep going, keep going, keep going, and set long-term goals. That’s what we see a lot of. People are just frustrated. The No. 1 need is jobs.

7

NNYB: We need a robust, diverse regional and local economy. What can we do to focus on job creation without depending so heavily on Fort Drum to pick up the slack?

GAULT: We need to collaborate and help small businesses with on-the-job training programs. We recently applied for a grant.

Our partner is The Workplace. It’s an onthe-job training program where — whatever field someone is in — we pay them to earn a professional certification that will hopefully land them a well-paying job. The grant also pays for half their salary for six months, so maybe a contractor could benefit and get a break on their wages. We’re doing that now, but I think more could be done. North country people are very entrepreneurial and very creative. We need more collaboration.

8

NNYB: A recent Watertown Daily Times article characterized your agency’s work as “trying to build opportunities in the community that are equal for everyone regardless of their economic status.” What are some of those “opportunities?”

GAULT: We have several programs. We have our Head Start program that helps children — 3- and 4-year-olds — with school readiness, so they are socially, emotionally and educationally more able to interact at the appropriate level with other children. We have a growing population of special needs children. It’s not just a child-focused program, it’s the whole family. They receive home visits from our staff, and model parenting techniques. They’re like a changed family from when they come in the door to the next year, or the following year. We have a lot of early childhood development training. Child care providers who work in their home or work in a center need to have so many hours of training to maintain their license or registration. We conduct a lot of video and teleconferencing training. We also teach childhood development associates and offer training necessary to work beyond an aid level.

9

NNYB: What’s the average length of contact the agency has with a small family?

GAULT: Right now, two years is about the longest. There are a few families we see regularly. But we’d like to increase that, because people just don’t have one problem. And it takes a lot of time to build a relationship where people trust you, and enable themselves to really look at what they’re doing as

NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS

Melinda M. Gault, Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County executive director, talks about her agency’s mission at its Davidson Street offices. The orgaization marks 50 years of service this year. a family and what more they can be doing for themselves. We do not see a lot of generational poverty. We see people who fall through the cracks or just have an emergency that gets them so far behind that they’re in trouble.

10

The Melinda M. Gault file AGE: 58 JOB: Executive director, Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County

NNYB: How are you funded?

FAMILY: Two brothers

GAULT: It’s a combination of federal, state, local government money and donations. Our food programs run almost completely on donations of food and cash. The community is just so giving and the people who receive assistance are the first to donate a dollar.

People who give are almost always not that well off. And they’re so proud to come in and put a dollar in the jar. It’s rewarding work.

HOMETOWN: Potsdam; lives in Watertown

11 12

NNYB: How many staff does your agency employ and what’s your payroll?

GAULT: About 145, give or take, full-time and part-time. It’s about $3 million in payroll.

NNYB: Last year, low- and moderate-income families were helped by dozens of agency staff and 1,254 volunteers who logged 12,888 hours. How important are volunteers to executing your mission?

GAULT: We couldn’t run our programs if we didn’t have volunteers. They’re very important, especially in Head Start. They sometimes come in the classroom and help with children by entertaining them, reading books, or helping with hand washing, toothbrushing and serving meals. When you think of 17 or 18 little 3- or 4-year-olds in a classroom, it doesn’t sound too bad. But when you’re in there with them, it’s a very big responsibility. Any help is welcomed. There’s a ton of paperwork for every program, so [volunteers] can actually free up time for a teacher or assistant to get caught up on that and to talk to the parents. In our food pantry, we always need volunteers. And our holiday programs, like the Angel Tree at the

EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science degree, Clarkson University.

PROFESSIONAL: Executive director, 12 years; deputy director, Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County, 9 years; contract administrator, New York Air Brake, 14 years LAST BOOK READ: “The Shack” by William P. Young

mall. That has to be staffed from when the mall opens until it closes every night.

13

NNYB: How could someone get involved?

GAULT: They could call us at (315) 7824900. Probably the best person to ask for would be Rose Battista, our human resources director. Her extension is 232. She can help direct a potential volunteer to where they want to serve.

14

NNYB: How can our communities work together to help others overcome challenges that you aid people with each day?

GAULT: I think doing it together makes it so much better for the people we serve. We definitely don’t want to duplicate services; that’s crazy. I think we collaborate pretty darn well in Jefferson County. But I think sometimes we have to take a step back and say ‘Wait, what’s our mission? What are we doing?’ and then reach out more, and say ‘What can we do together to help families grow out of poverty?’ or find a medical home or prenatal care, whatever the need is that you’re working on that day. I think November 2014 | NNY Business

| 29

20 questions together is just better all the way around. I don’t think together means that somebody’s going to lose their job. I think it’s smarter.

Other people just have so much to offer.

15

NNYB: Going forward, to what degree will it become necessary for north country nonprofits to partner or consolidate back-end services in order to more effectively serve constituents?

GAULT: I think it’s going to happen. I think funding services are almost going to require smaller agencies to join together. I don’t think we’re going to have a choice in the future, maybe even on a regional basis, not just on a neighboring county basis. I mean a seven-

county basis. The North Country Regional Economic Development Council: that’s a great thing. There’s a lot of money that the governor freed up for that. It’s awesome.

But I think that’s the way things are going to go regionally. Money is going to be earmarked for different regions.

16

NNYB: Where would our community be without the work of your agency and staff?

GAULT: It’s really our goal to alleviate poverty. But unfortunately, that’s probably not going to happen in our lifetime. I think someone else would have to pick up the emergency services for sure. And the early childhood,

that’s really important. Studies have just come out about infant brain development, even still in the womb, some of the studies say. So we’re trying to locate some resources for that. We have one small program, and that’s an infanttoddler program only. A staff member goes around three counties, and she’s a specialist.

That would be sorely missed, I think, the early childhood piece. And weatherization — you’d have a 100 less homes per year weatherized, warmer, safer and using less energy.

17

NNYB: What do you see in store for the next 50 years of the organization? What do you still hope to accomplish?

GAULT: I think we’re going to grow, and I think it’s going to be in workforce development. We’re going to have partners.We’re going to work with families long enough to make a difference. We recently held our ‘Bridges Out of Poverty’ workshop. It was so great.

And a lot of people came from different agencies, and everyone agreed this is what we have to do. It’s a community-type thing. You have law enforcement and doctors, not just social workers, and they buy into this concept that low income people should have a say in what’s going on; what’s not working for them in the community, what is, how they can make it better, and how we can make it better. It’s going to be more collaborations and community efforts in the future. I would like to see us be able to do more case management work.

I think if we stick with the family longer, that’s going to be more effective than just seeing them for a month or two, or a year in Head Start. I would like for that to happen.

18

NNYB: In your tenure, what’s one success story that you are most proud of?

GAULT: There’s so many of them. I’ll give you one family’s example. A military couple, at Christmas time last year, had a fire. They were burned out of their house. They went to the Angel tree at the mall, and they didn’t really want to pick an angel; they wanted to pick a family that also had a fire in their house. They went to Walmart or wherever, and they came in with two carts just full of stuff, dishes and silverware and sheets and towels. Here they are living in a hotel, and they went out and bought this family clothes and all kinds of stuff. That stuck out for me because here was a couple who had nothing, and they were giving a lot to this family.

19 20

NNYB: If you could have dinner with any figure from history, living or dead, who would it be?

GAULT: President John F. Kennedy. I would ask him if we got it right.

NNYB: What’s the best advice you’ve ever followed and who did it come from?

151 Mullin Street Watertown, NY 13601

30 | NNY Business | November 2014

GAULT: I would have to say very simply, do the right thing. And that would be my mother.

It meant be ethical. You know right from wrong. Do the right thing.

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

2014

20UNDER40 NORTHern new york’s emerging leaders

Krysta Aten-Schell — Bernier, Carr & Associates | Allison Carlos — Washington Street Properties | Jill Chamberlain-Winters — New York Power Authority | Sarah Compo — New York State Sen. Patty Ritchie | Erica Demick — Vintage Doors by YesterYear’s | Rebecca Dunckel-King — Beaver River High School | Trevor Garlock — Northwestern Mutual | Dr. Shari Hogan — Watertown Pediatric Associates | Joey Marie Horton — North Country Family Health Center | Jacob “Jake” Johnson — Jake’s Lawn Care | Megan LaClaire — Perfectly Polished Nails & Waxing Spa | Aaron Miller — Miller Spraying | Michelle Monnat — Children’s Home of Jefferson County | Sam Purington — Volunteer Transportation Center | Michelle Quinell-Gayle — St. Lawrence NYSARC | Amanda Root — Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County | Stuart Schmitt — Watertown Family YMCA | Robert Sligar — Carthage Federal Savings & Loan | Lucas & Rebekah Wachob — Aldersgate Camp & Retreat Center | David Winters — Watertown Audiology

Join us for a luncheon at Hilton Garden Inn, 1290 Arsenal St., Watertown, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, to recognize our 2014 Class of 20 Under 40.

See page 10 in this issue for more details. Visit nnybizmag.com to register.

Look for profiles of this year’s class in December’s issue of NNY Business.

Sponsored by:

Jefferson County Economic Development

www.nnybizmag.com

November 2014 | NNY Business

| 31

EC ON OMI CALLY S PEAKIN G

Giving a local voice to our soldiers

R

epresentatives from the Northern New York-Fort Drum Chapter of the Association of the United States Army recently returned from the AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C. The annual meeting provides a forum for military leaders to discuss a wide range of topics from Army total force policy implementation, to military families, to force structure in 2025 and beyond. Panel discussions are open to all attendees, including soldiers, family members, and business and community leaders. The annual meeting is but one benefit that AUSA provides for our Soldiers and community members.

The Association of the United States Army is a private, non-profit educational organization created in 1950 that supports America’s Army — active, National Guard, Reserve, civilians, retirees, government civilians, wounded warriors, veterans, and family members. There are 125 AUSA chapters across the world. The Northern New York-Fort Drum chapter services the entire north country region.

The organization is the voice for all components of the Army. It speaks on issues that affect the Army through its legislative agenda. The agenda is drafted annually with input from local chapters.

The NNY-Fort Drum chapter regularly submits recommendations for resolutions to be adopted by the national committee to include in the legislative agenda like improvements to equipment and sustaining military benefits like pay and Tricare.

However, for AUSA to have a strong voice on Capitol Hill, it needs to have

the backing of a strong and vibrant membership.

At its core, AUSA is a membership organization.

Any individual or business that supports the U.S. Army can join.

Michelle Capone At the national level, AUSA provides education and professional development seminars. As mentioned, the annual meeting and exposition is an excellent chance for soldiers and community and business leaders to hear firsthand from speakers like the secretary of the Army and chief of staff about the challenges and opportunities that the Army faces. For anyone who attended this year’s meeting, the obvious challenge for the Army is sequestration.

Sequestration will have devastating impacts on the whole Army. If Congress does not act to stop sequestration, the Army plans to reduce active duty troop levels to 420,000. In addition, it will undermine training and maintenance of facilities and equipment that are necessary for a ready and resilient Army. The AUSA and its members are working to fight further reductions.

At the local level, the Northern New York-Fort Drum chapter not only supports the efforts at the national level, but provides local activities for soldiers and their families as well. The chapter co-sponsors Riverfest held annually in

Alexandria Bay, the Haunted Hayride and the Children’s Christmas Party with Fort Drum Family MWR. It provides scholarships to family members and National Guard and Reserve members to further their education. The chapter sponsors A Day in the Life of a Soldier where community members can spend a day with soldiers as they train at Fort Drum. It also sponsors Soldier 101, a crash-course for community members who want to learn about the Army culture. The chapter also has a Fallen and Wounded Soldier Fund that it uses to help soldiers or their family members who have problems or issues that arise that cannot be aided through other traditional programs.

By becoming a member of the Association of the United States Army you are assisting the entire U.S. Army whether active, National Guard, Reserve, wounded, veteran, retiree, ROTC / cadet, or civilian.

The organization provides a voice in the halls of Congress for our U.S. Army and at home. It also provides the programs and services to support the mission of our soldiers and their families. Whether an individual or a business, you are a member of a larger body that makes a difference.

Visit www.ausa.org for more information on the Association of the United States Army, or www.oneausa.org to learn more about the Northern New York-Fort Drum chapter. n Michelle l. capone is regional development director for the Development Authority of the North Country. Contact her at mcapone @danc.org. She is a member of the Greater Watertown Jaycees and Sunrise Rotary

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N O N P RO FIT S TO D AY

A season to ‘give well’ to ‘live well’

F

or nonprofits, including the Northern New York Community Foundation, the fourth quarter is especially critical.

More than one-third of all charitable giving happens in the last three months of the year. The best nonprofits have spent the first three quarters properly stewarding the gifts received previously, and have recognized the importance of articulating the ways those contributions have changed and shaped lives and have helped build a stronger community for us all.

Our community is fortunate to be blessed with advisors who have an appreciation for the work of the nonprofit community. They understand that we all benefit from a healthy community. They look for ways to most effectively align the charitable interests of their clients with the region’s most pressing needs.

As a center for community philanthropy, the foundation often works closely with financial planners and advisors, attorneys, and accountants, as they often know best the ways that their clients want to change the world.

Recently, one of those professionals mentioned to me that not everyone is charitably minded, and if they are, charity begins at home. In other words, their first priority is family and, for that reason, they are inclined to resist charitable giving. Hearing that, I realized that the nonprofit community could better articulate the ways charitable giving can benefit families, too.

All of us desire communities that are something more than mediocre. We want enhanced educational opportunities, access to quality health care, support ser-

vices, programs for children and families and a healthy environment. We place value on life-enhancing features such as libraries, museums and programs that support the arts, Rande Richardson culture and the humanities.

We look to our nonprofits to also provide opportunities to ensure a continuity of community leadership and stewardship, such as Youth Philanthropy and Next Gen programs. Imagine for a moment raising a family in a community where all of those things are absent. That would not be the setting where I would want my children and grandchildren to be raised.

Quality communities don’t happen without the commitment of the residents to ensure we have enriched quality of life for our families. From that perspective, charity does begin at home, but defined by more than just the four walls of one’s residence. I always ask people who are hesitant to make a charitable gift or to consider a charitable community legacy, to first be mindful that, even if family comes first, it is worth viewing some part of giving to be indirectly beneficial to them and their family, through a gift to support the place where they live.

Taking the “family first” concept one step further, there are opportunities to have families do good things together.

Aside from direct gifting to family members, some gifting can be in the form

of providing a setting in which families can engage their own next generation in supporting the community where their children and grandchildren will live, work and play. It is also a way to preserve cherished family values and interests across multiple generations. Simply the act of involving children and other family members in the conversation about what matters to them is of value. There are ways to smartly structure giving that provide families with added peace of mind that, while giving externally, there is a more enduring gift that occurs for the family as well. Family-named donoradvised funds are an ideal way to “test the waters” in formalizing a family giving experience in a safe, secure and properly stewarded way. In a place like Northern New York, each family leaves their imprint. This is too important to not be celebrated and remembered.

As you see the flow of requests from your favorite nonprofits this holiday season, remember that giving doesn’t have to be at the detriment of family. Done right, charitable giving can give new meaning to the thought that charity begins at home.

For many families, some of their greatest joy comes in collectively sharing the blessings they’ve been given. There are many reasons why Northern New York is the best place to spend a life. Whether it is time, talent or treasure, giving well to live well is a life-changing experience. Just ask those who have tried it.

n Rande Richardson is executive director of the Northern New York Community Foundation. He is a lifelong Northern New York resident and former funeral director. Contact him at rande@nnycf.org. His column appears every other month in NNY Business.

November 2014 | NNY Business

| 33

commerce corner

Always look for your silver lining

W

e are all familiar with the silver lining and that hopeful side we long to see just after a seemingly gloomy or challenging situation.

Whether any of us like it in our personal life and professional life, we face adversity and unforeseen challenges. Successful leaders deal with adversity head on. I have come to realize that regardless of our level of intellect, knowledge of our particular business, positive attitudes, clever or witty thinking, we each encounter moments of adversity that may make us question our ability to be the strong leaders we need to be.

However, adversity is a necessity and learning how to deal with it and overcome it makes us who we are.

Herodotus, the Greek philosopher said, “Adversity has the effect of drawing the strength and qualities of a man who would have lain dormant in its absence.”

Tips to overcome adversity n Be aware of adversity it surrounds you; however, how we handle it in all aspects of our lives carries from one facet of life to the other. n Build your internal resources — always have a plan. As much as we want to believe that we have all the answers, adversity and confrontation can make us question our judgments and how we handle a situation. Always remember that there is a silver lining in adversity; doing so can offer a person some closure to unexpected situations. In preparing for the worst-case scenario, we risk not even encountering the worst, because we

are prepared.

Continually remind yourself of the successes in your career or personal life. n Build external resources.

As important as preparing oneself for the many adverLynn Pietroski sities in life personally and professionally, it’s just as important to establish a network of resources that can serve as a support system or sounding board to ensure that your emotions are not getting the best of the situation. Many professionals encounter similar situations and to have a network of individuals who provide support, guidance and understanding.

That can be invaluable. Spend time with like-minded people and allow yourself to vent and seek guidance but never dwell.

Dwelling is a sign that the situation has overcome you. n We are familiar with two monumental statements: What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. And this, too, shall pass. Apply those statements to all you encounter, even if it is a disgruntled employee or a decision that you must make knowing that it will be met with adversity.

ALWAYS REMEMBER n When times are difficult, we tend to appreciate the good times that we’ve had. This is inevitable. It doesn’t mean

we won’t see more good times in life. n Life, both personally and professionally, is a constant state of learning. Search for the learning opportunity in any adverse situation and find the silver lining. n Perception is an important key. Deciding how to handle the situation will be essential to overcoming it. n Always be prepared and equipped to handle situations with your best judgment in mind. n Silence can be golden. n Adversity is a guarantee.

Key Strategies to overcome Adversity in Management It can be as simples as employing a fivestep plan of action.

1) Acknowledge the problem. You know that the situation exists, so get your head out of the sand.

2) Communicate to the appropriate people. If you have a network, use it.

3) When appropriate, be direct and address the problem head on, do not be reactionary be proactive.

4) Move forward as quickly as possible, there are no proven positive outcomes related to dwelling on negativity. Be direct, but be smart and respectful 5) Correct the problem if there is a need.

Most importantly, we learn every day in all aspects of our lives; knowing these lessons have silver linings and that adversity teaches important lessons makes each struggle worth it. n Lynn Pietroski is president and CEO of the Greater Watertown North Country Chamber of Commerce. Contact her at ceo@watertownny. com. Her column appears monthly.

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www.NorthCountryRecycles.org 34 | NNY Business | November 2014

agri - business

Ag education a continuous effort

O

n Nov. 14, two-dozen community leaders from across Jefferson County watched sour cream be made, saw robots milk cows and learned how cow power is generated. These were among some of the things that participants in the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce Jefferson Leadership Institute learned about during agriculture day.

The JLI class was among thousands of people educated annually in Jefferson County about agriculture. Each year, there are many efforts to increase awareness of agriculture in hope that it will help people understand where their food comes from, the economic benefits of farming in our communities, and to clear up misperceptions about agriculture. These efforts also hope to provide enough understanding that our youth are encouraged to pursue agricultural careers and that policies and regulations considered by municipalities and agencies take agriculture into consideration.

The Jefferson Leadership Institute gives a unique opportunity to have adult community leaders spend an entire day learning about agriculture. Through the chamber’s program, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County and my office team up to highlight our ag industry. It’s impossible to cover all of agriculture so we try to pick out the critical topics to cover and the newest trends. Robotic milkers are a new trend with one farm already using them and two other dairies about to start using new systems.

Participants also learned about the use of drones in agriculture. Agriculture is expected to be the second largest user of drone technology in the foreseeable future, next to the military. Lucki 7 Ranch in Rodman provided JLI participants an opportunity to

learn about food production using natural methods and the efforts to market products grown in Jefferson County to larger supermarket and natural or organic food chains.

In Northern Jay Matteson and Central New York, the premiere agricultural education venue is Old McDonald’s Farm in Sackets Harbor. Owner Nancy Robbins and her family and staff expose thousands of children and adults each year to farming. The Moo Town Trolley tour of the 900-cow dairy farm gives visitors an up-close-and-personal introduction to how dairy farms operate. Even seasoned agricultural professionals learn something new when they ride the trolley.

The Jefferson County Agricultural Promotion Board and the Dairy Princess and her court work tirelessly throughout the year to educate thousands of children about the benefits of dairy products in our daily diets and about dairy farming. It is fun to see young children “light up” when the Dairy Princess enters the classroom and even better when they learn about the nutritional benefits of dairy products. The work of these young adults to promote our dairy industry is important. The highlight of their year is the Dairy Festival and Parade in June.

Many other activities should also be mentioned. Woods Family Dairy Farm in Cape Vincent provides a great educational program for local schools. Students travel out to the farm, tour the dairy and visit

with representatives of many aspects of the dairy operation from animal nutritionists to veterinarians. The annual Agriculture Extravaganza organized by Cornell Cooperative Extension and Jefferson County Farm Bureau provides an opportunity for fourthgrade students to learn about farming.

Environmental Awareness Days, organized

by Cooperative Extension for fifth-grade students includes agricultural exhibits as does the Jefferson County Envirothon run by the Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District.

One of my favorite opportunities to educate people about agriculture comes twice a year through Professor Cherie Ditch and her Business 101 class at Jefferson Community College. Every semester I challenge the nearly 100 college students in this class through a presentation on agricultural issues. We discuss issues such as immigration reform and labor, environmental regulations, food marketing, and antianimal agriculture groups. Success is when students challenge the topics I present and we have a good discussion about the opposing sides of each topic.

But whether it’s talking about agriculture to groups like the Watertown ItalianAmerican Club, sharing information on 790 WTNY’s Home Grown Show, or writing about agriculture in this magazine, much work remains to improve awareness about the county’s largest industry next to Fort Drum. There are many more efforts that go on each year and still not enough is accomplished. But we keep trying. n Jay M. Matteson is agricultural coordinator for the Jefferson County Local Development Corp. He is a lifelong Northern New York resident who lives in Lorraine. Contact him at coordinator@comefarmwithus.com. His column appears monthly in NNY Business.

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business tech bytes

Time to optimize mobile channels

B

y the time you read this, Halloween will be a distant memory, turkeys will be stuffed and the holiday season will be upon us. That can only mean one thing — ’Tis the season to spend!

This means consumers are already gearing up to shop this season and shopping habits have changed. According to 2014 study by IBM Digital Analytics Benchmarks, “during Q4 2013, mobile accounted for almost 35 percent of online traffic, up 40 percent year over year, with December 2014 sales on smartphones and tablets up threefold from 2011 to 19.1 percent.

With the holiday season still the money maker or breaker for many businesses, it is important to remember that Google research finds “52 percent of online smartphone shoppers used their phones throughout the shopping process during the 2013 holidays.” This trend will continue in 2014. Is your business ready? Now is not the time to rest on your laurels; you know the holiday season starts earlier and earlier each year. This trend doesn’t necessarily mean less brick-and-mortar shopping if your business is engaging, accessible and responsive on all devices.

Are you not addicted? Are you not going to preview your holiday purchases on your desktop, tablet or smartphone before you set foot in a store? Google and Nielsen partnered to produce a study on the “Mobile Path to Purchase,” which states, “On average, consumers spend 15-plus hours researching on mobile sites and apps. Mobile influences shoppers’ purchases across channels; 93 percent of those who research on mobile end up pur-

chasing a product or service, and most of these purchases happen in a physical store.

Proximity matters to these mobile consumers.

There’s a sense of immediacy for these shopJill Van Hoesen pers; 55 percent of the “I want it now” crowd who use mobile to research want to make a purchase within the hour, 83 percent within a day.”

Do mobile users know where to go to find you? Hopefully it is not too late, a Google Consumer Survey conducted this July showed, “29 percent of shoppers will start holiday shopping before Halloween, 19 percent will start shopping on Black Friday/Cyber Monday, and 48 percent will do so in early December. This survey also revealed that “most will wait to begin buying gifts until the holiday shopping period with consumer interest in Black Friday up 27 percent year over year from 2012, with search queries relating to the topic also starting about a week earlier.”

The 2013 MasterCard “Spending Pulse Report” did find “Black Friday remains the No. 1 in-store shopping day during the holiday season. The next best days, are Dec. 21 and 23 with Tuesdays and Wednesdays the most popular for mobile shopping, and Fridays and Saturdays the top days overall for in-store holiday shopping.”

This holiday season will be over before

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you even blink and your customers are already on the lookout for the best deals.

They are looking for a digital deal as well as more traditional in-store shopping holiday bargains. The Wall Street Journal reported in January “that foot traffic to stores in November and December plunged from $38 billion in 2010 to $17 billion in 2013. But the fact that consumers may have made fewer visits to retailers doesn’t mean overall sales were down.

In fact, retail sales for that same period increased from $681 billion to $783 billion.

So, although fewer people shopped instore, those who did bought more, adding value to each visit.”

More of your customers will also rely on their mobile device while visiting in person. A 2013 Google study done in conjunction with the Google Shopper Marketing Agency Council and M/A/R/C Research showed that “84 percent of smartphone shoppers use their device while shopping in a store, and one in three will use it to find the information they need rather than ask an employee.”

Make sure your business provides detailed information through your mobile channels. Your mobile offering should not only actively contribute to your customers in-store experience but also take them another step further by assisting them with their purchase and suggesting what else they may need that they haven’t even thought about yet. n Jill Van Hoesen is chief information officer for Johnson Newspapers and a 25-year IT veteran. Contact her at jvanhoesen@wdt.net.

Her column appears monthly in NNY Business.

small business success

Put tools from school to good use

I

had a phone call the other day from a junior at Clarkson University, asking if I would like to donate to my alma mater. It didn’t take me long to say “yes,” so I continued the conversation by asking him what his major was and what he was hoping to do with it (math and philosophy. He wants to be a teacher someday).

Afterward, I reflected on my own educational experience and how useful it’s been for me as a small business owner and as a small-business advisor.

I was a technical communications major in the very small liberal arts division of what was then Clarkson College of Technology. Technical communications teaches students the techniques involved in nonfiction writing, like descriptions, analyses, proposals, manuals, procedures, instructions, advertising, magazine articles and so on. Three of these techniques have proven especially valuable, and I have relied on them throughout the many years since I graduated.

I learned my first tool in my marketing class: “audience analysis.” It isn’t too big a leap to translate that concept into what we call target marketing, which is the No. 1 step for anyone who wants to start a small business. It all begins right there: figuring out who your ideal customer really is.

From there, you find out if enough of that group lives in your area, how you’re going to reach them with advertising, who your competition is, what price customers might be willing to pay for your product and so on.

This leads me to my next tool — market research.

One of the first courses I took outlined “information retrieval.” (Not to date myself, but this was Sarah O’Connell well before the Internet was a twinkle in anyone’s eye.) I learned the most effective way to track a particular research question to the logical source for an answer, which meant a lot of library time with trade journals, back issues of magazines, directories and lots more. Thank goodness for the computer — they don’t call me the Google Queen now for nothing.

As a business advisor, I have gradually developed many resources to share with my small businesses as they create their business plans, so I can be sure I’m directing them to the most up-to-date, reliable and accurate sources. I don’t just hand the answers over, because it’s really important for them to stay informed and aware of their particular business’s industry trends and changes. So I may point out websites for trade shows (tsnn. com) where they can find suppliers for their shop, or visit portals where they can get demographics on their ideal customer (census.gov), or direct them to the New York State Department of Transportation

(http://gis.dot.ny.gov/tdv/) to find out how many people drive by their location on an average day. I can help them scope out their competition — the state Liquor Authority (sla.ny.gov) lists all pending liquor license applications, and the DMV (dmv.ny.gov) lists all registered car repair shops. If I can’t find the right resource, the Small Business Development Center has a skilled and dedicated group of researchers in Albany to back me up.

The third tool I learned in marketing was called the USP — the “Unique Selling Proposition.”

We practiced this while coming up with an advertising campaign for a pretend product. (No stealing this idea: cereal coated with dry milk powder.)

Business owners should come up with a selling point to make themselves stand out from their competition for which they will be known. Their USP might be superior customer service, a great location or free delivery.

The flip side of that is the UAP — the Unique Anti-Selling Proposition. This is the situation for which you most don’t want to be known — like the dirty restroom or the rude salesperson.

So, for all you new and existing businesses, here are some cool tools I learned in school. n SARAH O’CONNELL is a certified business advisor with the New York State Small Business Development Center at Jefferson Community College. She is a former small business owner and lifelong Northern New York resident. Contact her at soconnell@sunyjefferson.edu. Her column appears bi-monthly in NNY Business.

November 2014 | NNY Business

| 37

COMMUNITY / BUSINESS CALENDAR

Alexandria Bay Saturday, Dec. 6 & Sunday, Dec. 7

n Kris Kringle Market, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, noon to 4 p.m.

Sunday, Thousand Islands Winery, 43298 Seaway Ave. German style indoor Christmas market. Shop local crafters, enjoy food, wine tastings and winery tours. Free admission. Information: 482-9306.

Cape Vincent Saturday, Dec. 6 & Sunday, Dec. 7

n Holiday House Christmas Gift Shop, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Community House, S. Market St. Sponsored by the Cape Vincent Arts Council and the Cape Vincent Chamber of Commerce. The event features local artists’ and crafters’ items for sale. Refreshments will be available. To participate as a vendor, deliver items marked with initials, inventory number and price, along with inventory list, to the Community House from 1 to 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5. Vendors are requested to volunteer to work a shift as a cashier. Twenty percent of each sale will go to the Arts Council and Chamber; no booth fee. Information: Shelley, 654-2481; Liz, 654-2413.

Carthage Thursday, Dec. 11

n Holiday After Hours Event, 5 to 7 p.m., Condino Dominic Motors Inc., 229 State St. Sponsored by Carthage

38 | NNY Business | November 2014

Area Chamber of Commerce. Information: carthagenychamber@gmail.com.

Friday, Dec. 5

n Sixth Annual Masquerade Ball, 8 p.m. to midnight, Clayton Opera House, 405 Riverside Drive. Hosted by the Thousand Islands Young Leaders Organization. Enjoy an evening with Fred & the Ed’s, drinks, dancing, silent auction, photo booth and more.

Proceeds to benefit 1000 Islands families in need during the holiday season.

Cost: $40; in advance, $35. Information: tiylo.org, 686-3512 Ext 20.

Thursday, Dec. 11

n December Business with a Twist, 5 to 7 p.m., Thousand Islands Museum, 312 James St. Sponsored by Clayton Chamber of Commerce.

Networking opportunity for Clayton Chamber members and guests.

Information, register: 686-3771, info@1000islands-clayton.com.

Ogdensburg Saturday, Dec. 13

n Thirty-first Annual Holiday Gala: Black and White, 7 p.m. to midnight, Frederic Remington Art Museum, 303 Washington St. Enjoy music by Lester Gates, cash bar, hors d’oeuvres, photo booth by Wendy June Photography, and a silent auction. Information: Museum, 393-2425; Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce, 393-3620.

Potsdam Saturday, Nov. 29 & Saturday, Dec. 13

St. Lawrence County Arts Council Art

Market, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, SLC Arts Academy, Downtown Snell Hall, 41 Elm St. These events are opportunities for community members to meet local artists specializing in fine art and handcrafts, see their work, and purchase in person from the artists. Free and open to the public. Information: SLC Arts Council, 265-6860.

Syracuse Monday, Nov. 24

n Fifth Annual SyracuseFirst Buy Local Bash, 6 p.m., The Landmark Theater, 362 S. Salina St. Presented by AmeriCU. Signature event of “Buy Local Month,” a campaign dedicated to increasing market share for local independent businesses during the holiday season. Event will feature live bands, local artists and regional food and beverages. Tasting stations highlighting local restaurants, farms and food producers will fill the venue, each serving a gourmet item that highlights its individuality. Advance tickets available until Nov. 24 at noon. Cost: $25; in advance, $20.

Information, register: centerstateceo. com, 470-1800 or 422-8284.

Thursday, Dec. 4

n CNYIBA International Business Forum: Chinese and European Standards for Electrical Devices, 9 to 11 a.m., Syracuse Center of Excellence, 727 E. Washington St. Registration at 8:30 a.m. This forum is designed to help companies interested in exporting electrical or electronic products to China or the EU navigate the certification process and permit your products to be legally sold in those

funding and operating tools. Must have three day DOL ACAP briefing before attending. Register, information: ACAP at Clark Hall, 772-3434.

Watertown

Friday, Dec. 5

Sunday, Nov. 30

n 2014 Holiday Craft Fair & Market, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dulles State Office Building, 317 Washington St. Benefits the Watertown Urban Mission. Featuring over 60 local small businesses. Cost: $2; under 12, free.

With each admission, receive $2 off coupon to the Impossible Dream Thrift Store and a ticket to win a door prize.

Information: watertownurbanmission. com or 782-8440.

Monday, Dec. 1

n “Shop Local and Support Local Business” decorating contest. Sponsored by Greater Watertown-North County Chamber of Commerce. Submit photos of your window space, doors, entry ways, or travel vehicles in your favorite “Shop Small” décor.

Be sure to include the “Shop Small” Colors, blue, white, and silver. Submit entries to the Chamber by Dec. 1.

Monday, Dec. 1; Thursday, Dec. 11

n Festival of the Trees Gala, 6 to 9 p.m. Benefits children’s programs and services offered at the Watertown Family YMCA and Samaritan Medical Center. The event will feature a live auction of trees, dinner and music. Cost: $70. Information: Michelle Nickles, 785-5745 or mnickles@shsny.com.

Saturday, Dec. 6 n Sugar Plum Ball at the Festival of Trees, 6 to 9 p.m., Dulles State Office Building, 317 Washington St. Benefits children’s programs and services offered at the Watertown Family YMCA and Samaritan Medical Center. Young ladies and their fathers, grandfathers, uncles, or other special men in their lives are invited to attend. Enjoy gourmet hors d’oeuvres, dessert, music and dancing. Reservations required. Information: Michelle Nickles, 785-5745 or mnickles@shsny.com.

Wednesday, Dec. 10

n Boots 2 Business, Clark Hall, Mount Belvedere Blvd., Fort Drum (Dec. 1); ACS Building, Fort Drum (Dec. 11). This is a two day course specifically for soldiers transitioning out of the service who are interested in starting their own business. Participants will learn about researching the potential market, finding licensing and funding opportunities, and

n 4th Annual NNY Business Magazine 20 Under 40 Luncheon, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 1290 Arsenal St., Watertown. 2014 Class of 20 Under 40, Northern New York’s young professionals who represent emerging leaders in their respective fields and communities.

Keynote speaker is Denise K. Young, Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization executive director.

RSVP at www.nnybizmag.com and click on “20 Under 40” or email nnybusiness@wdt.net by noon, Wednesday, Dec. 3. Luncheon is $20 and includes a house salad, fresh-baked rolls, cranberry and walnut-stuffed chicken with sage-infused cream sauce, red skin potatoes, green beans, chocolate mousse parfait and coffee, tea, decaf or water. Vegetarian option available. Need a hotel room the night before? Mention the 20 Under 40 event for a 12 percent discount. Sponsored by New York Air Brake, Watertown Savings Bank, Bernier, Carr & Associates, Architects & Engineers, Northern New York Community Foundation, Slack Chemical, Jefferson County Economic Development, Greater Watertown Jaycees, Thousand Islands Young Leaders Organization, Tunes 92.5 FM WBLH Radio, Hilton Garden Inn Watertown/Thousand Islands, Timeless Frames, Decor & Expressions, Watertown Family YMCA, and the Watertown Daily Times.

Wednesday, Dec. 17

n December Business After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m., location to be determined.

Sponsored by the Association of the United States Army. The premier networking event of the north country.

Join in for networking, prizes and food. Register by noon, Tuesday, Dec. 16.  GOT A BUSINESS EVENT or calendar item? Email nnybusiness@wdt.net. Deadline is the 10th of each month for the following month’s issue. Visit us on Facebook at www. facebook.com/NNYBusiness or www.nny bizmag.com for events calendar updates.

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business scene GWNC Chamber Business Expo at Bruce M. Wright Memorial Conference Center

From left, Amanda Vecchio, Samaritan Medical Center, Watertown, and Peggy Brouty, Riveredge Resort & Conference Center, Alexandria Bay.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Nicole Collins, research manager, Business Journal News Network, Syracuse, and Dony Kuriakose, business development manager, Business Journal News Network, Syracuse. The Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Business Networking Expo on Oct. 15 at the Bruce M. Wright Memorial Conference Center.

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From left, Kelly Habegger and Deborah H. McAtee, both of M&T Bank, Watertown.

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From left, Ron Quartulli, Krista Boulé and Steve Wood, all of Westelcom, Watertown.

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business scene St. Lawrence County Chamber Annual Dinner at SUNY Potsdam

From left, John Gray, Gray & Gray CPAs, Canton, and wife, Chris.

From left, Angela Gray, Gray & Gray CPAs, and husband, Jay Simmons, SUNY Canton.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, David Charleson, co-owner, Commercial Press, Canton, Steve Thornton, North Country Savings Bank assistant vice president, Tracy Charleson, co-owner, Commercial Press, and Brooke E. Rouse, executive director, St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce. Commercial Press was named 2014 Business of the Year during the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner Oct. 23 at SUNY Potsdam.

From left, Stephen Barkley, co-owner, The Ole Smokehouse, Madrid, wife, Robin, co-owner, and Brooke E. Rouse, executive director, St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce. The business received the first-ever Customer Service Excellence Award from the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce during its Annual Dinner.

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November 2014 | NNY Business

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business scene Carthage Area Chamber Annual Dinner at the Sahara Restaurant

From left, Shelly Stevens and Kim Stiles, sisters and co-owners of Little Sisters Inn at Herrings. The inn was named 2014 Business of the Year.

From left, Amy Gruner, Carthage Fiber Drum and T.F. Wright & Sons, Lydia Young, Campany, Young & McArdle, Lowville.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

Thomas H. Piche, president and CEO, Carthage Savings & Loan Association and Teri L. Ellis, Carthage Area Chamber of Commerce board president. Mr. Piche was named 2014 Business Person of the Year during the chamber’s annual dinner at the Sahara Restaurant Oct. 29.

From left, Robert Sligar, Carthage Savings & Loan Association and Carthage Free Library trustee; Mary Harding, library assistant; Linda McCullough, library director; Donna Barber, library assistant; Becky Heagle, library trustee; Bridget Fetterly, library trustee; Nusrat Hafeez, library trustee; Mark Hills, library accountant; and Tom Solomon, library trustee.

The Carthage Free Library was named 2014 Nonprofit Business of the Year.

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business scene Clayton Chamber Business With a Twist at Thousand Islands Arts Center

From left, Jeremy Wood, Garvin Construction, Clayton, Justin Taylor, Town of Clayton supervisor.

From left, Leslie Rowland, executive director, Thousand Islands Arts Center, Lauran Throop, Clayton.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Dan Throop, River Audio, Linda Brown, K’s Motel, Clayton, Don Lingenselder, Clayton Chamber board of directors. The Thousand Islands Arts Center hosted the Clayton Chamber of Commerce Business With a Twist on Nov. 6

From left, Alex Buduson, Clayton Chamber of Commerce, Tricia Bannister, director, Clayton Chamber of Commerce, Cassandra Kittle, WWTI-TV50, Jan Hampton, Thousand Islands Arts Center trustee.

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November 2014 | NNY Business

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business history

Globe Store left big legacy

For nearly 80 years, retailer brought fashions to downtown

By Lorna Oppedisano

W NNY Business

hen Hyman G. Ellis started selling men’s clothing out of a 20-by-25-foot basement, there’s very little chance he had any idea of the legacy his entrepreneurship would eventually leave. What started as a modest business in 1892 evolved into the monumental Globe Store, an institution “always recognized as one of the north country’s leading department stores,” according to an Oct. 27, 1973, Watertown Daily Times article that also referred to The Globe Store as the oldest family firm operated in one place.

During its 79-year legacy, The Globe Store served the north country well.

The company connected the area to the fashion capitals of the world, hosting many “back-to-school” fashion shows in conjunction with Seventeen magazine, as noted Times articles that appeared from August 1961 to August 1971.

As early as 1955, The Globe Store brought the latest fashions from Paris to the north country. A June 1955 Times article credits the store as the first in Northern New York to have direct coverage of that high fashion. The store received recognition over several years from the Brand Names Foundation Inc.’s retailer-of-the-year competition. It was also the first company in Northern New York to open a TV center. The Globe Store helped carry the north country through the great depression. Unlike many companies across the nation, the store actually saw growth during that time, the Times reported in November 1955.

For the majority of the years it operated, The Globe Store was located in the Cole Block on the corner opposite of Mr. Ellis’s original basement shop. The store moved to this location in 1894, just two years after Mr. Ellis had set up shop in that small basement room, according to an October 1969 Times article.

From there, The Globe just kept

44 | NNY Business | November 2014

WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES ARCHIVES

The former Globe store on Watertown’s Court Street was a downtown retail hub for nearly 80 years.

expanding. The next expansion came in 1907, when Mr. Ellis leased the store adjoining to his and began offering women’s wear, millinery and other articles, as noted in the 1969 article. In 1912, expansion continued when Mr. Ellis purchased the entire Cole house and Cole Block on Jackson Street, turning the top floor into an alteration room.

The growth did not stop there. In 1924, Mr. Ellis bought the adjacent property of the VanVleck building, 308 to 316 Court St., adding 56 feet of new frontage and 200 feet of depth to the store.

Two years later, on Dec. 13, 1926, Mr. Ellis died, leaving his son, Joseph, as the company’s president, according to the 1969 report. During his tenure as leader of the company, his sister, Rose Ellis Shapiro, served as vice president and buyer for women’s departments. Her husband, Israel A. Shapiro, was the general manager, secretary of the company and buyer for home furnishings and other departments.

According to an October 1973 article, these three Northern New York retail titans led the Globe to its greatest growth.

It was during this time that the store

underwent further construction, starting in May 1933. The old VanVleck building was razed and in its place was built a 15,000-square-foot brick and concrete structure. The new store was ready for use on Oct. 13, 1934, on the 40th anniversary of the founding of the store at its present site. The second floor of the new addition was complete in October 1935.

The building was renovated again in 1951, according to the 1969 article. This renovation included a new façade and a revamping and redecoration of the interior, as well as an addition of three new departments.

Management shifted again in 1953, when Mr. Shapiro’s son, Arnold I., took over as president and treasurer of GlobeWatertown Inc. after his father’s death in 1952 and the retirement of his mother and uncle the following year, the 1969 article notes. Mr. Shapiro, the grandson of the company’s founder, had been associated with the company as buyer and merchandiser until this point.

After Mr. Shapiro started managing the company, renovations continued. Until midway through the 20th century, the

business history Globe basement had always housed a “bargain basement” — the north country’s first, as the 1969 article states. In 1963, this feature was eliminated and replaced with a professionally designed modern floor devoted to home furnishings: the “Better Living Floor.” This title was taken from suggestions submitted by customers.

The Globe Store saw renovations again in 1968, when the entire ladies’ section of the ground floor was redecorated, carpeted and had new fixtures installed.

Some other departments were expanded and relocated, and new lines of merchandise were introduced, according to the 1969 article.

In the last 10 years of its existence, from 1963 to 1973, an estimated $300,000 was put into physical improvements and fixtures for the store, according to a 1973 Times story.

On Oct. 25, 1973, Mr. Shapiro announced plans to close The Globe Store, according to a Times story published that day. He said the store was closing after several years of marginal or unprofitable operation.

After the store closed its doors in December 1973, it sat vacant until the Jefferson offices of Community Savings Bank started a foreclosure action on it a year later, a December 1974 Times article reported.

An article from June 1975 picks up the story from there, stating that The Globe Store was sold to Community Savings Bank of Rochester at a public auction for $20,000. Edward H. Massey Jr. purchased the property in July 1976 for around $80,000, a Times article from that month stated.

This chapter of The Globe’s history closes on this note: Mr. Massey carried on Mr. Ellis’s vision for retail, in a manner of speaking. A November 1976 Times article describes the Globe Mini-Mall that Mr. Massey opened in the space of The Globe Store as having many years of success.

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n LORNA OPPEDISANO is staff writer and editorial assistant for NNY Magazines.

Contact her at loppedisano@wdt.net or (315) 661-2381. Business history is a monthly feature from the archives of the Watertown Daily Times. Visit www.watertowndailytimes.com to access digital archives since 1988, or stop by the Times, 260 Washington St., Watertown to research materials in our library that date back to the 1800s.

Jefferson County Economic Development

November 2014 | NNY Business

| 45

I

N E X T MON T H

n December, we present our fourth annual 20 Under 40 issue, complete with profiles of 20 of Northern New York’s emerging leaders under the age of 40 from Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.

Also coming next month: n END OF AN ERA: Watertown’s Shuler’s Restaurant has been a fixture for decades.

In October, the eatery changed hands. The former owners share their memories. n SMALL BIZ STARTUP: Cold Blooded Crossfit is one of Watertown’s newest fullservice fitness destinations to help you stay fit and trim through the holiday season. n 20 QUESTIONS ARCHIVE: Visit us online at www.nnybizmag.com to read 44 in-depth interviews with NNY business leaders.

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n PLUS: NNY Snapshot, Economically Speaking, Commerce Corner, Business Law, Business Tech Bytes, Small Business Success, Real Estate, Agri-Business, Business History and Business Scene. n VISIT US ONLINE at www.nnybizmag.com.

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

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November 2014 | NNY Business

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