Glens Falls Business Journal - November 2023

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NOVEMBER 2023

Warren County Leverages Enchanting Winter Explore Lake George’s Triple Thrill, Offerings To Boost Spirits And Sales Tax Revenue Winter’s Dream, Realms, And Carnival

From left to right are Board of Supervisors Chairman Kevin Geraghty of Warrensburg, Tourism Director Heather Bagshaw and Budget Officer and Stony Creek Supervisor Frank Thomas.

BY PAUL POST Warren County officials are counting heavily on Lake George winter attractions to boost declining sales tax revenue caused by ongoing national economic woes.

Such income was running 10 percent ahead of last year’s numbers, but declined to 2.9 percent by the end of the third quarter. At the same time, inf lation has forced up spending across the board, from higher salaries and retirement costs to rising fuel and utility expense.

“It’s not sustainable,” county Budget Officer and Stony Creek Supervisor Frank Thomas said. “I think the economy is slowing. Interest rates are way up. People don’t

have as much money as they would like.”

About $5 million in funding requests for things such as paving projects and new vehicles were denied in the tentative $192 million, 2024 budget unveiled on November 3.

Thomas, board of Supervisors Chairman Kevin Geraghty of Warrenburgh and new county Tourism Director Heather Bagshaw discussed such issues during a “State of the County” event held at the Park Theater in downtown Glens Falls with several dozen business and local government officials on hand.

The highly-popular Ice Castles at Continued On Page 4

Lake George Winter’s Dream, Winter Realms, and Lake George Winter Carnival for 2023-2024 winter season in Lake George, NY, BY: JOE LEGAULT The 2023-2024 winter season in Lake George, NY, is shaping up to be a truly memorable one for both residents and visitors to the area. This winter will include not one, not two, but three amazing events: Lake George Winter’s Dream, Winter Realms, and Lake George Winter Carnival.

Wondering what to expect? Explore the differences between each event, and why you should add all three to your family’s winter itinerary.

Lake George Winter’s Dream Lake George Winter’s Dream is an all-new immersive experience where lights, original music, sounds, and interactivity come together to showcase the magic of winter. It will be held at the Fort William Henry Historical Fortress in Lake George, specifically the outdoor courtyard and on all four bastions.

This extraordinary attraction is being created by the award-winning multimedia studio Moment Factory, which has designed over 500 Continued On Page 9

Warren-Washington IDA Receives $4.7M ARCC’s Annual Expo: A Showcase Of Business Boost For Infrastructure Development Connections And Community Support The Warren-Washington IDA is thrilled to announce that it has been awarded a $4.7 million grant from New York State to construct a sewer system and improve the water infrastructure at its shovelready Canalside Energy Park in Fort Edward.

“This is a game-changing development for bringing new businesses, jobs and economic growth to Washington and Warren Counties,” said IDA Chairman Dave O’Brien. “We are grateful to Gov. Hochul and Empire State Development for recognizing the potential in this Park and helping the IDA take it to the next level of readiness for prospective tenants. We also owe a great deal of gratitude to the team at the Lake George-Lake Champlain Regional Planning Board for joining with us to prepare our application and champion the attributes of this tremendous property. This was truly a regional effort that will have region-wide benefits for years to come.”

The Canalside Energy Park is an 80-acre, industrial-zoned site featuring two industrial buildings of 41,000 and 25,000 square feet, with considerable acreage for expansion and new construction. The Park has an on-site rail yard located next to a Class 1 rail line and the New York State Champlain Canal, and also features an extensive concrete tarmac, robust industrial power, fiber optic service, and extensive stormwater controls. The IDA acquired the Park -- formerly the home of General Electric’s de-watering facility during the Hudson River dredging project -- in January 2022 and is actively marketing it for agribusiness, industrial machinery manufacturing, renewable energy manufacturing, and other uses.

The new funding, awarded through the state’s Fo-

cused Attraction of Shovel-Ready Tracts New York grant program, will be used to install a sewer line and connect the Park to Washington County Sewer District #2 in the Village of Fort Edward, replace the Park’s water main, and construct a 340,000-gallon water tank at the Park for enhanced fire protection and operational storage capacity. Preliminary engineering for the sewer line and water main work has already been completed, thanks to a combined $1.5 million in federal grants through from the Northern Border Regional Commission and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“An industrial sewer system is the final piece we need to attract quality businesses to the Canalside Energy Park,” said IDA Chief Executive Officer Chuck Barton. “Interest in the Park has been great in recent years, but time and again the lack of a sewer system has led prospective tenants to look elsewhere. No more. Once these improvements are complete, the Canalside Energy Park will provide an ideal setting for a wide variety of businesses to invest and grow and contribute to our region’s economic prosperity.”

The Warren-Washington IDA provides incentivebased assistance to encourage and help businesses start, expand, or move into the bi-county region – creating jobs for local people and driving economic activity in local communities. The IDA also owns the Airport Industrial Park on the border of the two counties, in addition to the Canalside Energy Park. The IDA’s business assistance programs are self-funded and not supported by taxpayer dollars.

For more information on how the IDA can help your current or future business, call (518) 792-1312 or visit warren-washingtonida.com.

The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) hosted their annual Business Expo on November 8th at The Queensbury Hotel in Glens Falls. This business showcase featured over 85 exhibitors, ranging from all types of industries and business sizes. From nonprofits and human service organizations to health and wellness and professional services, the event was buzzing with activity.

“It is always amazing to watch all of the business connections happening in real time,” said ARCC President & CEO Tricia Rogers. “Our business community is so amazing in that they support each other in every way possible.”

This year’s business showcase had something for everyone. Many businesses featured demos of their products, such as Mahoney Alarms, who had a great setup of their camera and security systems. Adirondack Winery, Lake George Wine Outlet, and Springbrook Hollow Distillery were all giving out samples of their beverages. And Park Street Hospitality delighted guests with some yummy Autumn themed treats. For the golf enthusiasts, PSG Golf set up a putting green, and The Luxury Box had a golf simulator. And for those who like their toys to drive, float, or ride the Expo had a vehicle from Romeo Toyota of Glens Falls, and a boat & snowmobile from Pilot Knob Marina & Powersports.

Many of the exhibitors also made their way around the rooms to chat and network with other businesses.

The ARCC 8th Annual Business expo attaracted over 85 exhibitors held at the Qeensbury Hotel.

“A few exhibitors mentioned that they had met businesses they had never heard of and were looking forward to continuing conversations after the event. At the end of the day, this showcase is about community. It’s about getting to know your neighbors and making new friends & connections,” said ARCC Marketing Director Amanda Blanton.

The ARCC Business Expo is held annually in the Fall. Stay tuned to the ARCC website for announcements on other business networking opportunities at www.adirondackchamber.org.

2 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 2023

Reviving Dreams: Construction Underway At South Street Market Center Project

Personnel Briefs •

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Catholic Charities of Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties recently hired Francine Tyler, a native of Hudson Falls, to the position of Nutrition Outreach and Education Program Coordinator for Washington County. Francine will assist residents apply for the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) as well as to promote the WIC (Women, Infants & Children), School Breakfast & Lunch, and Senior Meals Programs and compliment the work of Warren County NOEP Coordinator Ben Driscoll. Francine and Ben share an office at 35 Broad Street in Glens Falls

The Lake George Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau (LGRCVB) announced its newest hire, Emily Frost, for the position of Senior Sales and Services Manager.

Frost peviously served as Membership Manager for the Lake George Chamber f Commerce.A Queensbury native and a graduate of SUNY Potsdam, Frost will manage a team promoting sales and services for event planners looking to book meetings and events in Warren County.

State and city officials took part in an October 20 ceremonial groundbreaking for the $4.5 million new Market Center on South Street Glens Falls.

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BY PAUL POST Gregg Singer and Larissa Ovitt are bridging a gap in Glens Falls’ downtown revitalization, which took a giant leap forward with the long-anticipated groundbreaking for a $4.5 million Market Center on South Street.

State and city officials tossed shovels full of dirt to mark the momentous occasion, the latest in a series of projects contributing to Hometown USA’s rebirth.

While dust was still settling, Singer and Ovitt welcomed guests to their new cozy business, Golden Monkey Lounge, directly across the street. They’ve spent more than a half-million dollars refurbishing the building near the west end of South Street, which is also home to a new Taco Kings Jalisco eatery.

“The city wants to turn this into an event block,” Ovitt said. “We’re working on this building to make something that works in collaboration with everything that continues, not just across the street, but coming up South Street and downtown as a whole.

It’s certainly very encouraging now that they’re running full speed ahead with the Market Center.”

South Street’s revitalization will link small businesses around the corner, on Broad Street, with the city’s core on Glen Street, Singer said.

The 6,000-square-foot Market Center will become a year-round home for Glens Falls Farmer’s Market and is designed to host a wide variety of community events. Eventually, it could be the focal point of large outdoor festival-type gatherings when South Street is temporarily closed off.

South Street long ago earned the nickname “street of dreams” because it was a place where people with hope, hard work and a little money could earn a slice of the American pie. More recently, the term was used derisively because the street had fallen into a state of decline evidenced by closed, boarded-up storefronts in several buildings.

“We hope this Market Center will catalyze the entire block,” Mayor Bill Collins said. “We dream of a day when events are so large, requiring us to close down both ends of South Street. When that happens we will have a new name, the ‘street of dreams come true’.”

Funding for the project comes from a $10 million state Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant the city obtained in 2017. A separate $500,000 grant is expected to pay for a new pocket park on the site, adjacent to the former Hot Shots tavern building.

Work on the Market Center, by Latham-based Bunkoff General Contractors, is expected to start soon and be completed next fall.

“I am hoping for September 30 (2024), but so

much seems to be at the mercy of outside forces these days,” said Jeff Flagg, city director of economic development.

Singer and Ovitt are among the many entrepreneurs investing large sums in downtown Glens Falls in recent years. They purchased their building (58-66 South Street) last February for $325,000 followed by extensive renovations.

Plans call for opening a third first-floor business, an eco-friendly market offering everything from “green” household cleaning products to spices, teas and cut flowers in the near future. The building’s second floor is also being remodeled to house boutique-type apartments where out-of-town tourists and visitors can make short-term stays.

“We’re happy that we’re helping advance the street,” Singer said. “We just wanted to be part of it; kind of get the rush going as it expands.”

Golden Monkey Lounge has a modern craft cocktail bar on one side, and a relaxing space with carpeting, couches and ottomans on the other, separated by a wall adorned with books and hanging plants. A new garage-type overhead door has been installed, creating an open-air atmosphere for summer nights. Out back, there’s a small stage for live entertainment.

But this building and the new Market Center are only small parts of a major South Street overhaul expected to unfold during the next few years.

Spring City Development, a subsidiary of Saratoga Springs-based Bonacio Construction, has plans for a large commercial-residential structure (69 apartments) where Glens Falls Farmer’s Market is currently located. The building will wrap around the former Sandy’s Clam Bar, which the firm plans to rejuvenate in addition to the former Hot Shots tavern.

Also, a business incubator will be located behind Hot Shots at 36 Elm Street.

Flagg said the city will soon turn its attention to the future of a large, vacant building directly across from Hot Shots at the corner of South and Elm streets. The structure has several boarded up storefronts and broken windows overhead.

“I believe there are approved plans from the owner, Chad Nims, to rehab this building into a mixed-use structure, but I have neither seen nor heard of any activity of late,” Flagg said.

The city’s $10 million state Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant is one of many awarded across New York, designed to provide multi-pronged financial support for communities to re-imagine their downtown areas, restore or replace downtrodden buildings, create walk-able Continued On Page ??

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 2023 • 3

Adirondack Thunder’s Record-Breaking Fan Turnout Spurs Boost For Local Businesses

Personnel Briefs •

Adirondack Thunder, a roughly $3 million operation that benefits the surrounding area amd businesses.

BY PAUL POST The Adirondack Thunder averaged a franchise record 3,657 fans per game last year, boosting business for area firms that supply Cool Insuring Arena with food and beverage products.

The team drew nearly a dozen sell-out crowds during its late-season drive to the ECHL’s Kelly Cup playoffs and based on early season-ticket sales, attendance is expected to reach another all-time high this year.

That’s good news to firms such as Fitzgerald Brothers Beverages, and Argyle Brewing and Cooper’s Cave Ale companies along with advertisers such as Upstate Ford Dealers that reach more people as the team’s fan base grows.

“Our main source of revenue for hockey is ticket sales,” said Jeff Mead, Cool Insuring Arena manager and Thunder general manager.

“The more fans that come to the arena the more food, beverage and merchandise we sell and the more apt corporate partners are to support us. I’d love to see 3,800 average attendance this year. We’ve got a pretty good schedule with a lot of weekend home dates so I think that’s attainable.”

Mead said he expects season ticket sales to reach 1,600, up from last year’s figure of 1,450.

Ticket revenue accounts for 60 percent of the team’s income followed by corporate sponsors (30 percent) and food, beverage and merchandise sales (10 percent).

The franchise is a roughly $3 million operation whose expenses have tripled since it joined the ECHL in 2015. But fueled by on-ice success and growing support from fans and corporate sponsors alike, the team netted a $100,000 profit last year.

“We have a lot more staff than we used to,” Mead said. “Salaries, Workers’ Compensation, hotels, flights, buses and player housing have all gone up. We’re faced with the same increased expenses as everyone else in our community.

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Minor league sports is a very challenging business. The good thing is that our revenue has gone up significantly since we took over, too.”

Digital marketing such as Facebook and Instagram, and broadcast ads with the Regional Radio Group are primary ways of reaching people. Last year, the Thunder also began advertising on Capital District television stations WRGB, WTEN and WNYT and Spectrum, which paid handsome dividends.

But face-to-face contact is vitally important, too. “All of our board members are local, which has a big impact,” Mead said. “I think it resonates with fans that we’re a locally owned and operated team. Most of the staff is from our area. So when we go out in the community pretty much everyone knows us. That helps when we’re trying to get business partners to support the Thunder or to get people to come see the team. We’ve got a pretty good rapport and relationship with our community.”

Numerous special promotions are scheduled including a first-ever NYRA Day held Sunday, Nov. 12 when Saratoga Race Course 64-ounce cooler jugs given to the first 3,000 fans followed by a post-game Thunder autograph session in newly-renovated Heritage Hall, which underwent a million-dollar makeover this summer.

Other upcoming events include Military Appreciation (1,000 T-shirts to first 1,000 fans) on Saturday, Nov. 25, Miracle On Ice Night (Saturday, Dec. 7) when Adirondack pays tribute to the 1980 Olympic U.S. Men’s Hockey Team and Firefighter Night (Saturday, Dec. 16) when Saratoga Springs and Worcester, Mass. firefighters will square off (1 p.m.) prior to that evening’s contest between the Thunder and Worcester Railers.

Second-year Thunder head coach Pete MacArthur, of Clifton Park, is a prime example of the way pro hockey has contributed to the greater Capital Region economy since the Adirondack Continued On Page 13

Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Alex Rusate as Senior Vice President and Director of Internal Audit.

Mr. Rusate is responsible for managing the Internal Audit Department, which provides oversight over organizational risks and controls. He performs the same duties for Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company and Upstate Agency, which are part of the Arrow Family of Companies. Mr. Rusate reports independently to the Board Audit Committee on risk and audit issues and to the Chief Operating Officer on internal and administrative issues.

Mr. Rusate brings more than 10 years of experience to the role, most recently as Senior Internal Auditor for New York Independent System Operator, a non-profit organization that manages New York’s electric grid and competitive wholesale electric marketplace. He was previously a Senior Associate with KPMG. Mr. Rusate received a master’s degree in accountancy and a bachelor’s degree in accountancy and global perspectives from Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA). Mr. Rusate also attained his Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA) and Certification in Control Self-Assessment (CCSA).

Mr. Rusate is a published author on numerous internal audit topics with Internal Auditors Magazine and is active in his community. He currently serves on the Town of Wilton, New York Ethics Advisory Board and on the Institute

•

of Internal Auditors Albany Chapter Board of Governors.

A native of Southbury, Connecticut, Mr. Rusate lives in Wilton, New York.

4 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 2023

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Warren County Report Continued From Page 1

Charles R. Wood Park in Lake George has been redesigned for a different type of experience called Winter Realm this year.

Plans call for a large glycol-cooled skating rink surrounded by colorful light installations, a Polar Pub ice bar and a variety of beautifully designed ice sculptures.

More than 60,000 people visited Ice Castles during its inaugural presence in 2022.

And on Dec. 8, Fort William Henry will unveil a large new Winter’s Dream multi-sensory attraction designed by Montreal-based Moment Factory, which is expected to draw even larger crowds throughout the winter months. The county allocated $3 million in occupancy tax money for the project, which is scheduled to have a five-year run in Lake George.

Moment Factory has done more than 525 shows around the world featuring a blend of advanced lighting, video, architecture, music and special effects that transform venues and events. Clients have included the likes of Sony, Microsoft, Toyota, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, the NFL and pop star Madonna.

Bagshaw took over as tourism director about six months ago. For the past 10 years she held a similar position in her native Greene County, home to Hunter Mountain and Windham ski resorts.

She outlined several steps her office is working on to bring more visitors to Warren County throughout the year.

A top New York state-based design companyhas been hired to produce and bring back an an annual travel guide for distribution to travel centers throughout upstate New York, New England, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Also, plans call for launching a newly designed website next spring with more detailed information that will prompt people to look for various recreation and dining experiences the area has to offer.

In addition, Bagshaw believes there’s significant untapped potential for marketing the entire Lake George region internationally. “They’re here already,” she said. “You hear different languages and accents from different countries. I think we can do a lot more.”

But she also stressed the need for improved business-to-business connections. For example, Lake George visitors should be made aware of upcoming Glens Falls holiday events and vice versa, and front desk personnel at area hotels should know what’s scheduled so they can direct people to events and places to eat.

“We have great opportunities this winter,” Bagshaw said. “We have fabulous attractions. The goal is to get everybody

to move around. The only way to do that is through partnerships and communication.”

Bagshaw said the Tourism Department is also conducting an economic development study, which could lead to funding opportunities for much-needed projects that can promote growth and job creation.

Gore Mountain, for example, is one of the state’s busiest ski centers, but there isn’t a major hotel in North Creek in large part because of water and sewer service limitations. Securing funding for such infrastructure would encourage a lodging company to invest in the community, which might attract other small businesses, stimulate the local economy and create jobs for area residents.

“It’s not just tourism, you’ve got to look at it from a growth perspective,” Bagshaw said.

On another front, officials discussed pros and cons of short-term rental properties, which generate occupancy tax, another important form of revenue for the county. Occupancy tax money is primarily used to support tourism-related events and activities.

But many hotel and motel owners don’t like short-term rentals because of the competition it presents.

Geraghty said Warrensburg has a local law regulating short-term rentals that is effective because it’s enforced. Sites must undergo a county inspection before welcoming guests.”To me it’s all about safety,” he said.

Bagshaw said she’d like to see a place on the website where all short-term rental properties are listed, and allows them to book stays as well.

Like sales tax, occupancy tax revenue fell off considerably during the third quarter as well, which Thomas also attributed to overall economic conditions.

However, he said county wide assessed valuation is up 5 percent this year, a ref lection of business and residential development, helping keep the tax rate down. Of the $192 million tentative budget, approximately $49.8 million will come from property taxes, an increase of $1.2 million (2.5 percent).

Among the major costs contributing to increased spending are salaries and retirement costs, which are going up $1.2 million and $1.6 million, respectively.

Like many area businesses, Geraghty said the county is experiencing staffing shortages, especially in the Public Works Department, which has 16 vacancies.

There’s also a need for more corrections personnel at the county jail, he said.

Washington County New Business Registrations OCTOBER Komarony Motorsports 682 County Route 74 Cambridge, NY 12816

Fibonacci Contracting 3420 Burgoyne Ave. Hudson Falls, NY 12839

Holley Hill Construction 3215 County Route 43 Fort Ann, NY 12827

Smoking Hot BBQ 13 County Route 12 North Granville, NY 12854

Cozy Christmas Corner 1240 State Route 29 Greenwich, NY 12834

Lil Fawns Childcare 101 S Williams St. Whitehall, NY 12832

The Countryside Grill 287-1 Main St. Hudson Falls, NY 12839

Knotts Service 59 Poultney St. Whitehall, NY 12887

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 2023 • 5

Crafting More Than Beer: Common Roots' Bierhall & Barrel House Adds Breakfast Fare

Common Roots Brewing Company brings breakfast to the new Bierhall and Warehouse building.

The $3.60M project on the south side of the Common Roots restaurant expands new opportunities.

BY PAUL POST Common Roots Brewing Company, best-known for its popular craft beer and ale, now helps people start their day right by serving up fresh coffee, roasted on site, and a selection of tasty breakfast sandwiches.

The Café, open 7 a.m. to noon Monday to Friday, is located in the firm’s spacious new multi-purpose building, which Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado christened during recent ribbon cutting ceremonies.

“We started roasting our own coffee because it’s an important ingredient for some of our beers like our Coffee Cup stout,” said Bert Weber, who co-owns Common Roots with his son, Christian.

“It became kind of a progression after that. While we’re making coffee we thought it might be a nice way to introduce the public to this space. So we have a lot of people coming in now for coffee and

an egg sandwich or breakfast burrito. It’s exposing the space to people who might see it as a nice place to have a celebration or party.”

The new building, called Bierhall & Barrel House, is on the south side of Common Roots’ restaurant and brewery, at 58 Saratoga Avenue in South Glens Falls.

The $3.6 million structure, aided by $450,000 in state economic development funding, can accommodate up to 200 people and has already hosted a wedding and a travel program about a local adventurer’s trek to the Himalayas in Nepal.

“This gives us a lot of opportunities,” Weber said. “The acoustics are pretty good so we might use it as a live music venue at some point, too. It’s multi-functional. There’s a full kitchen so there’s a special menu for events like weddings, banquets and celebrations. When there’s no event going on, we can use it to handle overflow from the restau-

rant and serve the same menu that’s over there.”

The building was originally planned to provide warehouse space for brewery cans and kegs, which come in by the tractor-trailer load.

“Then we thought, while we’re at it, if we’re going to build a warehouse maybe we can take care of our event needs, too,” Weber said.

A blaze in the large stone fireplace creates a warm, cozy atmosphere that’s especially welcome on cold North Country mornings. Handsome wall designs are patterned like mountain peaks, a reflection of Weber’s passion for hiking and outdoor recreation.

The Classic breakfast sandwich is comprised of a farm-fresh fried egg served with a choice of cheese (American, cheddar or gouda) on a brioche bun. The Breakfast Burrito is farm-fresh scrambled eggs and choice of cheese in a whole wheat tortilla.

Add-ons, for a nominal extra price, include but are not limited to chipotle or kimchi aioli, bacon, sausage or black bean patty and fried potatoes.

In addition to The Café and banquet hall, the new building also has a separate “wild brewery” area. At the main brewery, all ingredients that go into beer are tightly controlled.

“That’s our clean ale program,” Weber said.

At the “wild brewery,” young beer is brought over and fresh air flows in on nice cool spring and autumn evenings. “We allow nature to kind of infect and inoculate the beer with bacteria and yeast,” he said. “It’s very exciting because you’re never really sure what you’re going to get. It becomes a very interesting process for our brewers.

It’s a niche market for us. This new space allowed us to bring those beers back into our portfolio.”

Activity at the new Bierhall & Barrel House has created several new jobs and plans call adding more staff next year with the return of warm weather.

Common Roots will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2024. The brewery was completely gutted by a devastating fire in March 2019, but the Webers bounced back quickly by making plans for a bigger, state-of-the-art facility with a restaurant, which the old building didn’t have.

There’s also a highly popular outdoor beer garden where guests congregate on summer nights.

The breakfast venue is one of several ambitious new ventures the Webers are pursuing in

their rapidly-growing business.

They also recently completed the $3 million purchase of Albany Pump Station from its parent company, C.H. Evans Brewing. The brewpub, which opened in the late 1990s, is housed in an historic brick building at Quackenbush Square in downtown Albany.

“We started negotiating last March,” Weber said. “They were looking to sell to a family-run business and our distributor recommended us to them. It really came out of the blue to us, but we love that building and that area. It’s really cool. As a company we were looking to get more involved in the Albany market, too. It’s a really good opportunity for us. Everything just came together.”

The site is currently closed for renovations.

Plans call for reopening about two months from now with a new name: Common Roots Brewing Company, Albany Outpost.

“We wanted to re-brand it,” Weber said. “All of our beer is still scheduled to be brewed up here. It’s much more efficient for us. The brew system down there will stay intact and we’ll use it for small batches. We’re also re-doing the kitchen and changing the menu a little bit to reflect what we do up here.”

“It just needs some updates because it’s an old building,” he said. “We’re happy and honored to take it over.”

On yet another front, Christian Weber and his wife, Melanie, recently purchased the oldest building in Glens Falls, a quaint brick structure at the foot of Glen Street hill on the south side of the Sawyer building, directly across from Cool Insuring Arena.

Dating back to about 1800, it once housed an early blacksmith shop.

Workers have already given the structure a new roof and refurbished the brick exterior.

Christian and Melanie simply admired the building and wanted to see it restored before suffering irreversible deterioration.

Plans call for shifting coffee roasting operations, under the direction of employee John Reed, from Common Roots’ brewery to the basement of the old Glens Falls building so that coffee aroma doesn’t impact beer and ale flavor.

There are no immediate plans for the Glens Falls building’s upstairs area.

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6 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 2023

AllTown Fresh Market Grand Opening Building Dreams: Double H Ranch Breaks Draws Crowds And Acclaim In Fort Edward Ground On Circle H Lodge For Camp Staff

Alltown Fresh market located at 1401 Saratoga Road (Route 9) between South Glens Falls and Gansevoort has opened.

Double H Ranch launched a $5.5 million capital campaign project support four areas: the new Residential Lodge, Adaptive Playground, Outdoor Pavilion expansion, and Camp-A-Theater.

BY JILL NAGY There was such a large crowd at the October 27 opening of the AllTown Fresh market in Fort Edward,” that “it was very difficult to move,” exulted Holly Kitchen, manager of the new market. There was a state senator, two town supervisors, president of the Adirondack Chamber of Commerce, the local radio station, many company officers, several chefs, and, of course, the neighbors, “a fantastic turnout,” Kitchen said.

After the ribbon-cutting, party goers sampled the food, visited a coffee trailer, played games, and toured the new shop.

The store is located at 1401 Saratoga Road (Route 9) between South Glens Falls and Gansevoort.

AllTown features chef-run kitchens, preparing sandwiches, salads, and full meals, made with organic, locally sourced foods and ingredients. They offer vegan and gluten-free selections. The markets are open around the

The Double H Ranch in Lake Luzerne, New York, broke ground on Circle H Lodge, a new residential lodge for camp staff and volunteers, in late September. Double H Ranch launched its public phase of a $5.5 million capital campaign project in March 2023 to support four areas of focus: the new Residential Lodge, Adaptive Playground, Outdoor Pavilion expansion, and Camp-ATheater. Backed unanimously by its Board of Directors, the Double H Ranch has secured $5.3 million of its goal.

Dave Michaels, Chair of the Facilities Committee, stated: “It is exciting to be here today breaking ground at the new Circle H Lodge. Double H makes a profound difference in the lives of our campers year-round, and our staff team and volunteers work hard to make the program possible. This new lodge will provide our counselors and volunteers with a place to recharge and rest, helping them to be the best they can be for our campers. This new cabin will offer year-round

clock, with the kitchen open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Available beverages include beer as well as coffee and soft drinks. There is free wifi on the premises and outdoor patio seating. Another big draw, according to Kitchen, is “fantastic gas prices.” .

This is the third AllTown Fresh market in the area, the 16th overall for the parent company, Massachusetts-based Great Global Village. The first capital region outlet opened in Schenectady three years ago. The company’s first market opened in Plymouth MA five years ago.

The general contractor for this AllTown, and well as the other two local AllTown Fresh outlets, was Schaghticote-based F.H.Alexander Inc. Kitchen has been with the company for one and a half years. Before opening the Fort Edward market, she managed the Schenectady store. currently there are 25 employees at the new location.

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housing, build program capacity, and enhance energy efficiency, and will offer common rooms for meeting and gathering.”

Charlie Crew, Board Chair, stated: “Thank you to all our donors who have collectively contributed 5.3 million towards our campaign. Double H campers look forward all year to experiencing the life changing impact of camp, and they will benefit from these capital improvements for years to come.”

This is the Ranch’s second Capital Campaign endeavor led by Lisa and Robert Moser, who launched the campaign with a $1.5 million leadership gift. “Double H Ranch wouldn’t be possible without the support of our community.

We are grateful for the individuals, foundations, businesses, and organizations that have provided generous funding in the initial stage of our campaign. We are inspired by the progress we have made and look forward to meeting our campaign Continued On Page 13

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GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 2023 • 7

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL

SPECIAL SECTION

Holidays

Glens Falls and Saratoga Gear Up For Holiday Celebrations In November And December

Upcoming Winter Events

From Glens Falls to Saratoga, the holiday spirit is in full swing! Join the festivities as these charming communities light up November and December with joy, warmth, and a dash of seasonal magic.

Experience the enchanting Winter’s Dream, explore the magical Realms, and revel in the timehonored Winter Carnival.

BY JILL NAGY November and December will be a busy months for holiday celebrations in Saratoga and Glens Falls. In Saratoga Springs, the Victorian Street Walk will be back in its previous format from 6 to 9 p.m. November 30. Glens Falls has renamed its outdoor holiday market, scheduled for December 1-3, the Adirondack Holiday Festival. Glens Falls also plans a holiday decorating contest open to homeowners, apartment dwellers, and business owners. The Festival of Trees returns to the Saratoga City Center November 20 to December 4. And there are rumors of a holiday parade in South Glens Falls.

This is the 37th year for the Saratoga Springs Victorian Street Walk, an event that has evolved from a street festival largely sponsored by local business owners as “a great way for businesses to welcome people and thank them for their support,” according to Deann Devitt, board president of the Saratoga Springs Business Association, the main organization running the event. Over the years, it has grown to a night of entertainment in downtown businesses and on the streets. During the height of the Covid pandemic, the event was changed from a weekday evening to a full weekend, in order to minimize crowds. This year, it returns to its previous format. Before the pandemic, close to 10,000 people would crowd Broadway for the walk. In between, “It’s been a couple of weird years,” Devitt said. This year, with people still shy of crowds, she expects some 5,000 walkers.

The evening will begin with the lighting of a holiday tree. City employees from the Department of Public Works will bring the tree and set it up. Munter Enterprises, another of the tree sponsors, will lend a lift to get the tree onto its stand. Rena Fine Flowers, a Saratoga Springs florist, was hired to decorate the tree.

Once the tree is lit, “this kicks off the season for Santa.” Devitt reports. He will be in his Santa Cottage to welcome children with their

unique projects worldwide. Lake George Winter’s Dream will feature a series of multimedia installations that draw on the rich emotions, sensations, and wonder of the season.

It’s a family-friendly event intended for ages 7+, and exploration of the attraction will take 40-60 minutes. Lake George Winter’s Dream will be held December 8, 2023 - March 31, 2024 (Sunset-10PM), and it will be open every day except Tuesdays (special open/closed dates for the holidays). Tickets are available now at lakegeorge.wintersdream.com Winter Realms Located at the Charles R. Wood Park Festival Commons in Lake George, Winter Realms is a new “wintertainment destination” that will enchant visitors with outdoor ice skating, larger-than-life motifs, dazzling lights, a sculpture park, igloos, Santa’s Village, a Polar Ice Bar, and other winter attractions.

Winter Realms is being brought to Lake George by the creators of Ice Castles, and their goal is to create a winter wonderland where fairytale adventures can be discovered around

wish lists and letters. Weather permitting, Mrs. Santa will accompany him but, Devitt explained, Mrs. Santa is getting on in years (“aren’t we all?”) and cannot always sit in the cold for long periods of time. An elf or two will fill in, if necessary.

Broadway will be closed to traffic from Ellsworth Jones Plaza to the Washington Street intersection., and much of the entertainment will be at 25 sites out on that street and sidewalks. Many of the entertainers—school choruses, dance school troupes, local bands, the Racing City Chorus, and the like—are volunteers; a few performers are paid. Pamela McCall, an author and publisher, will help mark the 200th anniversary of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” by explaining the history of the poem and reading parts it during the evening. Many businesses will also have entertainers inside and several of them will offer light snacks: cocoa, cookies, doughnuts, candy, popcorn, pasta samples, etc. “We want people to use the restaurants to warm up and have a meal,” so Devitt hopes the freebies will be limited.

The Downtown Business Association, the City of Saratoga Springs, and individual businesses, notably Four Pillar Funding and Adirondack Trust Co. and a city Special Assessment District are sharing the cost of the party and “we still have sponsors coming in.”

No sooner does the Street Walk end, than it is time for the Glens Falls Downtown Collaborative to begin the Adirondack Holiday Festival, a three-day event December 1 -3. A Santa Parade on Friday marks the opening of the festival. Three large tents in the city park at the intersection of Maple, Bridge and Bay Streets will house vendors offering gift items, food and wine, clothing, and craft items. The vendors will be open for business from 3 to 8 p.m. on Friday, 10 to 6 on Saturday, and from 10 to 4 on Sunday. Circle B Ranch in Chestertown will offer horse and wagon rides.

Continued From Page 1

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GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL

every turn. Bring the whole family as you enter this otherworldly landscape and bask in the radiance of the Northern Lights.

Winter Realms will be open November 24, 2023 - March 3, 2024, 4PM-10PM, Thursday Sunday + Holiday Dates. Tickets are available now at winterrealms.com Lake George Winter Carnival For those who have never been, the Lake George Winter Carnival is an annual winter celebration that’s held every weekend in February. Now entering its 62nd year in 2024, the Lake George Winter Carnival will feature a variety of activities and events on a frozen Lake George (weather/ice permitting) and throughout the Village.

Highlights of the Lake George Winter Carnival typically include games and contests, cook-offs, car races, outhouse races, children’s activities, fireworks shows, and much more.

Admission is free, so you’ll definitely want to stop by during your visit to Lake George this season.

Are you ready for another amazing winter?

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8 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 2023

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL

SPECIAL SECTION

Health & Wellness

Glens Falls Welcomes Peak Nutrition, New Hudson Headwaters Unveils A Modern Hub Juice and Smoothie Bar Sparks Healthy Living for Integrated Care and Medical Education

Peak Nutrition celebrated the opening of their nutrition club with a ribbon cutting event held by the Adirondack Chamber of Commerce at their 130 Broad St. location in Glens Falls.

BY ANN DONNELLY This month, husband and wife Ashley and Derek Heald celebrated the opening of their nutrition club, juice, and smoothie bar, Peak Nutrition, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held by the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce on November 3, 2023.

Peak Nutrition offers vitamin-packed, energizing teas, healthy protein shakes, and iced coffees in the Broad Street Shopping Center in Glens Falls. Many of these drinks are popular with fitness enthusiasts for pre-, during- & post-workout needs, but also appeal to a wide range of other customers looking for a healthy, fresh drink. “We do kids’ drinks as well,” says Ashley Heald. “They are not caffeinated and contain some protein. I’ve got two picky eaters, so wherever I can sneak in some protein is always good.”

“We host monthly body transformation challenges and help people achieve their health and wellness goals, whatever they may be,” says Ashley Heald. They have held a local vendors showcase and plan to hold pop-up workouts.

“I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for six years and was looking for work I could do and still have enough time for the boys. I was an athlete, running track and

field in school, but I always hated the chalky taste of protein shakes. Derek had me taste one of these shakes, and I said, ‘Okay, what have I got to do.’”

Ashley Heald says, “You have to be distributors for a year, and then you can open up your space to serve the community. That way, you get to know the products, what works and doesn’t work.”

While the Healds are from the Saratoga area, they feel Glens Falls is ideal for their business. “We liked the small-town feel of Glens Falls. There are not a lot of chain shops and eateries.” They are a short walk from the hospital and many of the medical offices in that area.

The drinks come in various flavors, with or without caffeine. The protein shakes are a meal replacement at around 200 calories, ideal for athletes and others looking to increase their protein intake.

Customers looking to make their own shakes can purchase Herbalife powders on their website, with fast delivery to their homes.

Check the Peak Nutrition Instagram account, 518peaknutrition, for their current hours, featured flavors, and upcoming events.

Peak Nutrition, 130 Broad Street, Suite 7-8, Glens Falls, New York.

Hudson Headwaters Health Network’s is now open at 38 Larose Street, Glens Falls. The center is equipped with on-site lab services operated by Glens Falls Hospital.

Glens Falls Family Health, Hudson Headwaters Health Network’s 22nd brick-and-mortar health center, is now open. Located at 38 Larose Street, Glens Falls Family Health has 18 exam rooms and a floor plan designed to support an integrated team care model with nurses, patient service assistants, behavioral health specialists, care managers, resident physicians, advanced practice providers and physicians working together. The center is also equipped with on-site lab services operated by Glens Falls Hospital.

“The establishment of Glens Falls Family Health has been a longtime community effort, with many details thoughtfully developed to improve health outcomes and patient experiences for years to come,” said Hudson Headwaters CEO Tucker Slingerland, M.D. “As a nonprofit, Federally Qualified Health Center, Glens Falls Family Health expands access for all in our community, regardless of income or insurance. Thank you to our hard-working staff for making this milestone possible and for the support of our regional partners who share our vision of sustainable health care for everyone.”

The building was also designed with medical residents in mind and serves as a continuity site for residents physicians of the new Saratoga Hospital Family Medicine Residency, a collaboration with Saratoga Hospital and Albany Medical Center. The inaugural class started in July 2023 and have traveled to Glens Falls from around the

world.

“We are pleased to welcome residents to Glens Falls and offer a state-of-the-art facility as a backdrop for 21st-century family medicine education,” said Colleen Quinn, M.D., Hudson Headwaters’ chief of medical education and wellness. “Statistics show that the majority of resident physicians remain in the communities where they practice. Glens Falls Family Health offers a modern clinical training environment, along with close proximity to Women’s Health, Pediatric and Adolescent Health, Glens Falls Hospital and a variety of community services that emphasize a broader public health and community-oriented approach. It’s exciting to offer a facility with many unique opportunities for talented health care professionals.”

The new 30,000-square-foot building housing Glens Falls Family Health, a primary care health center, will also be home to PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly) at Hudson Headwaters. Expected to open in 2024, PACE is a community-based alternative to nursing home care for qualifying individuals ages 55 and older with multiple chronic health conditions. PACE at Hudson Headwaters will become the 10th PACE program in New York State and the first in the state sponsored by a Federally Qualified Health Center. Learn more at www.pacehh.org.

More information about Glens Falls Family Health is available at https://www.hhhn.org

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GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 2023 • 9

Adirondack Wilderness Medicine: Equipping Glens Falls YMCA: More Than Fitness, Fostering Outdoor Enthusiasts With Life-Saving Skills Wellness And Community Connection

AdkWildMed will prepare you to face dangerous challenges with confidence. Our courses are designed for all experience levels.

BY SUSAN ELISE CAMPBELL A person never knows when first aid training may be needed, but Clark Hayward, founder of Adirondack Wilderness Medicine, believes if they are an hour or more away from a hospital, his wilderness first aid course may not only come in handy, but save a life.

“It’s amazing that new students taking the course are surprised how much can go wrong out on a hike or ski trip,” said Hayward. “We are here locally to train anyone who does things outdoors, either sports or hunting or in their line of work.”

The basic two-day, 16-hour training encompasses everything a standard first-aid course includes along with the practical skills to prevent such conditions as hypothermia or heat stroke, he said.

“The difference between wilderness first aid and standard first aid is the latter assumes an ambulance will arrive in about 15 minutes,” said Hayward.

With wilderness first aid, that help “may not arrive for hours or even days,” during which time someone has to manage the situation medically as well as provide food and water, he said.

The course curriculum Hayward follows is designed by SOLO, the international leader in wilderness education founded in 1976 and the originator of wilderness medicine in the U.S. Hayward is a licensee of the SOLO program, he said.

While wilderness first aid may be the course choice of scout leaders, camp counsellors and avid sportspeople, Adk Wild Med offers higher level training and certification as well.

SOLO’s Wilderness First Responders course is the challenging and comprehensive training for those who work in the backcountry as trip leaders, mountain guides, river guides, and ski patrollers. This is a 72-hour course over 8 or 9 days.

First responders can be recertified after

completing SOLO’s 2-day course that updates their practical skills. This course is the most popular for employment purposes, Hayward said.

Finally, Adk Wild Med offers SOLO’s WEMT Module, a 5-day program that upgrades street First Responders to the Wilderness First Responders level, and current emergency medical technicians and paramedics to the Wilderness EMT level.

Hayward’s clients can be weekend hikers and paddlers, mountain guides in the Himalayas, search and rescue teams, or any type of outdoorsman in between. He said clients are equally split between men and women and that sometimes couples take his courses.

All are thankful to have completed their training when they can apply it.

One client who returned this summer to refresh his wilderness first aid skills was traveling in South America when someone in their group passed out at lunch.

“My client recognized the person had gotten a piece of food stuck in his airway and dislodged it,” said Hayward. “He was pleased with himself because had he not taken the course, he probably would have been running around like the rest of the group not knowing what to do.”

In another part of the world, a client who is a rock and ice climber used Hayward’s training in Wilderness First Response to attend to a severely injured woman on a nearby rock face who had been hit in the head by a falling rock. “He could hear someone was in distress,” Hayward said. “It took about 12 hours by the time the woman was lowered down, someone found a cell signal and EMTs arrived.”

“The victim was unconscious throughout the entire incident but survived, and survived neurologically intact,” said Hayward.

Hayward has himself been a paramedic for 30 years and was an EMT prior. He is a long-time white water rafter, an active ski

BY CHRISTINE GRAF As one of more than 2,700 YMCA’s throughout the United States, the Family YMCA of the Glens Falls Area is committed to providing health and wellness opportunities to the local community.

“The YMCA is so expansive in the offerings for health and wellness,” said Executive Director Lauren Cygan. “It’s really the foundation on what the organization is built to serve. When you think of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, it all comes together at the Y. That’s why we have everything from aquatics and gymnastics to Silver Sneakers.”

Glens Falls members have access to one of the approximately 75 group exercise classes that are offered each week. These classes take place in the aquatics center, the cycle studio, or in one of the facility’s two fitness studios.

The majority of fitness classes are offered on a first come first served basis, but several of the most popular aquatic fitness classes require registration. Online registration is not available, and members can register for classes upon arrival at the YMCA. This is done to prevent no-shows.

“The aquatic fitness classes fill up incredibly quickly,” said Cygan. “Our older adult population is absolutely booming, and many of our seated classes—chair yoga and chair Zumba—also fill up very quickly.”

The Family YMCA of the Glens Falls Area is certified to teach the extremely popular Les Mills classes--Body Pump, Body Combat, and Body Step. They also offer mind/body classes including yin yoga, vinyasa, and power yoga.

Personal and small group training with certified personal trainers are also available, and all new members are entitled to receive a free 30 minute Healthy Start session in the wellness center.

“During your session, you can ask questions and get your personalized quick start guide to using the wellness center,” said Cygan. “Not everyone is going into the wellness center for the same thing, and with a wellness center that has so many different pieces of equipment, you want people to find the workout that serves them. That’s why we offer free Healthy Starts as part of any new membership.”

According to Cygan, the YMCA has more to

offer than just fitness opportunities.

“A big part of wellness is feeling connected and part of a group where you have interpersonal connectivity and the ability to care of yourself with a group of like-minded people.

What I love at the Y is that people are coming together with a shared goal of improving their health and wellness. Wellness is not only physical. It’s about being well in mind, body, and spirit, and part of that is how we join together as a group.”

As part of its mission to serve the community, the YMCA offers many services and programming opportunities for children. Its Kids Korner provides childcare while parents are exercising, and the facility also offers a variety of classes for children. Preschool, before and after school enrichment programs, and a summer camp are also available.

When it comes to membership levels at the facility, Cygan said numbers are strong but have yet to rebound to pre-pandemic levels.

“Membership is doing very well, and the reasons for that are multi-faceted. There have been ongoing and very deliberate improvements to the Y. We’ve recently put in all new strength and cardio equipment in our wellness Continued On Page 15

patroller at Willard Mountain, and a Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine. He is also chief operating officer of E5 Support Services, an Emergency Medical Services employment agency with nearly 100 employees that staff ambulances services and fire departments throughout eastern New York.

Adirondack Wilderness Medicine was formed by Hayward in 2004. He teaches out of the Ndakinna Education Center at 23 Middlegrove Road in Greenfield Center and also travels internationally giving courses for various organizations in anything from

first aid to cardiac and pediatric life support.

“The hardest challenge getting the business going was simply getting word out,” Hayward said. “Wilderness first aid is not something you typically see or hear advertised.”

But his name is well recognized today, and people come from around the world to be trained or recertified right here in the Adirondacks.

Visit www.adkwildmed.com as well as Facebook for more information and course schedules.

Glens Falls YMCA: Where Fitness Meets Community Wellness

10 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 2023

SPECIAL SECTION

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL

Year End Tax & Financial Planning •

Business Report Smart Tax Moves: Year-End Harvesting

BY MATTHEW BURNELL “It’s that time of the year, and I don’t mean just the holiday season, even more exciting it’s time for year end financial and tax planning! The following are some topics that you may want to discuss with your tax accountant or financial advisor.

One year end strategy is “tax loss harvesting”. You or your financial professional may be selling equities in non-retirement accounts throughout the year. If selling at a price higher than the purchase price, you have a capital gain on the sale which is taxed according to your income bracket and the amount of time the security was held. With the goal of reducing tax on capital gains, you can look to offset some of the gains by selling other securities in your portfolio that have a loss.

Th is should be done strategically considering the investment philosophy of your portfolio. Note, repurchasing the same or substantially identical security that you sold for a loss within thirty days, or the loss may be considered a “wash sale” and disallowed.

Now may also be a time to review your withholding on your salary heading into the new year. If you keep owing a large tax bill in April and would prefer to pay this over the course of the year instead, and if applicable reduce interest and penalties your withholding percentage may not be aligned with your income tax rate. For example, if your effective Federal Tax Rate is 25% and the withholding on your paystub is 15%, there is a 10% gap here and you will likely owe taxes in April if you have not been making estimated payments. You can adjust your withholding on form W4 provided by your employer.

Maxing out your retirement contributions is a way to reduce taxable income as well as save for retirement. If you are using a pre-tax plan such as a 401K or 403(B). The maximum contributions for 2023 to a 401K is $22,500 plus an extra $7,500 if over the age of fift y.

For example, a client is over age 50 and earns $120,000. If they contribute $30,000 to a 401K that reduces taxable income (aside from FICA taxes) to $90,000 for the tax year. So, you have deferred taxes on this $30,000 as well as set aside money for retirement that can grow over time.

At a certain age, depending on date of birth an individual is required to start taking distributions called required minimum

• •

Matthew Burnell, financial paraplanner, HK Wealth Management Group. distributions (RMD’s) on their traditional retirement accounts. An RMD is calculated for each account by dividing the prior December 31 balance of that IRA or retirement plan account by a life expectancy factor that the IRS publishes. Th is is important because if the RMD is not taken, late or insufficient, then a 25% (or 10% if made up in two years) excise tax may be assessed on insufficient amount. If you do not need the money and do not want to pay tax on an RMD, there are options such as making a Qualified Charitable Distribution directly from your qualified account to a public charity not to exceed $100,000 in a year and removing this distribution from your taxable income.

Another strategy is to look at converting qualified assets such as a 401(K) or traditional IRA into a Roth IRA. Note, that this is a taxable event, so it is prudent to work with your tax advisor to determine the tax implications and devise a strategy for doing this strategically over time to consider the tax consequences. Roth IRA’s may be beneficial in the long haul in that unlike traditional IRA’s, Roth IRA’s are not subject to RMD’s and are not taxed at distribution if over age 59.5.

Implementation of the SECURE Act materially increased the standard deduction and limited certain itemized deductions such as state and local taxes. Taxpayers either take the standard deduction or itemize whichever is more beneficial from a tax standpoint. With a bigger standard deduction to."

Business Report Year-End Tax Strategies for Business Owners”

BY MEGAN NELSON, CPA Business owners, whether a sole-proprietorship, partnership, S-Corporation or closely held C Corporation, should take the time before year end to assess their current financial situation. First and foremost, make sure the books and records are up to date, reconciled and properly categorized so you have an accurate view of your financial picture. No benefit is derived from tax planning based upon poor records. Next, take some time to reflect on the past year, anticipate the remainder of the year and project ahead to next year.

Most business owners are looking to minimize taxes, however avoiding taxes at all cost may not always result in keeping the most cash. For example, buying something before year end for the sake of getting a deduction does typically result in lower taxes, but it can also result in a negative impact on cash flows, meaning more dollars are spent than taxes saved and often doesn’t result in the best overall financial situation for the business.

On the other hand, spending money on necessary expenses or equipment that will help the business grow and be more effective/efficient might justify that impact on cash flows. Or, if profits are up, it may make more sense to pay tax now and keep those after tax dollars to grow your business.

Keep in mind, tax planning shouldn’t be looked at based on a single year. Consider your tax situation this year, but how might it compare to next year and the year after? The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) became law in 2017 and lowered income taxes for almost everyone. Personal income tax rates in effect today are scheduled to sunset at the end of 2025 and increase to what they were in 2017.

Under current law, the beginning of 2026 could find many taxpayers paying 3% to as much as 9% more in federal tax compared to the same income this year. Maybe saving cash and postponing that equipment purchase is a better financial decision.

If after looking at your current year income with consideration for few years, you decide it is beneficial to reduce current year income, here are some options to maximize deductions: Set up a retirement account for tax deferral. If you are a sole proprietorship with no employees, this could be advantageous in two ways: a tax deduction plus saving for your retirement. A popular option for self-employed individuals with no employees is the Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRA that allows a contribution of just under 20% of net self-employment income (up to $66,000 for 2023). 401(k) plans or Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE) IRA are other popular options.

As mentioned above, buy that piece of equipment you have been wanting. If cash flow allows and the purchase makes sense, this may be a good time to buy equipment and write off a large portion this year. For 2023, the Section 179 deduction limit is $1,160,000 (reduced dollar for dollar when fixed asset purchases exceed $2,890,000). Note certain limitations apply to vehicles. Bonus depreciation

Megan Nelson, CPA at Whittemore, Downe & Ricciardelli, LLP.. is another accelerated asset write off method with an 80% deduction for 2023 on qualifying fixed asset purchases. Beware, not all states conform to bonus depreciation which can cause an addback to income on your state return. In order for any fixed asset purchase to be considered for depreciation, it must be placed in service (received and used) prior to year-end. Ordering a piece of equipment on December 31st and paying a down payment does not qualify.

Consider giving bonuses to employees. Payroll and related payroll taxes are a deductible business expense. Depending on the type of entity, you may want to give yourself a year-end bonus although you have to look at the tax situation. For example, the corporate tax rate is 21% as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, therefore, paying a bonus to a shareholder of a closely held C Corporation might not be an overall tax savings if the taxpayer is in a higher tax bracket.

Prepay expenses if you are a cash basis taxpayer.

If your business has expenses that you would normally pay in January and February, you may consider sending a check in December for these payments. If you deal with a vendor who is slow to invoice, consider giving them a call and asking them to send you that invoice sooner rather than later.

Lastly, see if you qualify for the qualified business income (QBI) deduction. In this case, having a higher profit results in a higher QBI deduction.

The QBI deduction is up to 20% of qualified business income and is available to sole-proprietors, partners of a partnership and shareholders of an S-Corporation.

Tax planning can help a business owner keep more of the profits that you are working so hard to get. Analyze your financial position and consider several factors when deciding on year end moves.

One of the smartest year end moves can be consulting with your tax advisor about how to keep more of those after-tax dollars!

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The Saratoga Marketplace is the home to locally owned and operated shops and restaurants. Local artists, merchants and chefs supporting the local economy.

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 2023 • 11

•

Wendy Waldron , the owner of WaldronWorks, is a Professional EOS Implementer®.

6. What are your 1 Year Goals?

Identify just 3 - 7 priorities for the year and rally your team to accomplish them! Of course, this also means you are deciding on things that you will not pursue - or be distracted by!

7. What are your ROCKS? Rocks are 90 Day goals. What needs to be true 90 days from now in order for you to accomplish the annual goals? What role can each person play in driving accountability and success?

8. What are your Issues?

What needs to be decided, addressed, or cleared out of the way? What threatens your success? Name them and solve the root cause for good! Make a list and clarify which items can be parked for 90 days and which ones need attention right away.

Now, having answered those 8 questions. Is it easier to set a budget? Is the path forward more clear? What will happen when your entire team is rowing in the same direction? . I hope you’ll have even more to be thankful for at this time next year.

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Watt said the company’s growth and success is closely tied to upstate New York state’s semiconductor industry, from GlobalFoundries in Malta to Micron’s recently announced plans to invest $100 billion in new chip manufacturing facilities near Syracuse.

“Our footprint sits right on top of that corridor,” he said. “I have been driving up and down the New York State Thruway for almost 40 years and I have not seen the potential for economic transformation that is possible, as a function of the connection of that corridor and the anchor of Micron in Central New York. That’s only good for all of our economies on the eastern side of the state, including right here.”

“There is a huge ecosystem that supports those large chip manufacturers,” Watt said.

“It’s about housing, warehouses for first- and second-tier suppliers, it’s about logistics, it’s about every company that runs utility lines and does construction and on and on. We’re supporting all of those communities and all of that economic development.”

Many of the highly talented executives and skilled workers needed to staff huge semiconductor plants come from other countries.

“One of the things, in my opinion, over the long history of the United States that makes this country great is we have had open immigration,” Entenmann said. “Legal immigration is really important to the growth of our economy because across Western civilization, birth rates are plummeting.”

Entenmann said current low unemployment rates are somewhat misleading because many people retired during the COVID-19 pandemic and no longer count when calculating such figures.

More young people are reentering the workforce after living off government subsidies and savings during COVID, and inflation is slowing, but a dichotomy of signals makes forecasting an economic outlook quite difficult, he said.

Many economists base their analysis on political developments. But Entenmann said the outcome of next year’s presidential election probably won’t have a major impact no matter who wins.

“History tells us that we spend an enormous amount of money and energy on elections,” he said. “But unless you get real extreme policies, it’s hard to move that proverbial battleship, which the economy is. It’s just this big behemoth that runs its own course. Certainly on a regulatory standpoint things can change for better or worse, but on the margin elections don’t have a material impact.”

Entenmann’s business proficiency is a byproduct, in part, from his years playing for Cornell University’s championship lacrosse team, which reached the NCAA Final Four in 1982. That experience taught him many valuable lessons.

“Collaboration is most important,” he said.

“If you’re the star scorer, you still need defense and a goalie. And you’re going to lose whether it’s in sports or business. I think there’s more value in learning from mistakes and losses than there is from winning. You’ve got to get up and dust yourself off. If you aren’t making mistakes in business, you probably aren’t pushing the envelope.”

Budgets. Strategic Planning. Annual Planning.

‘Tis the season ... but who has time? For many business owners it can be hard to work ON your business, rather than feeling the pull to solve IN the business issues. In this article we’ll share a simplified approach to strategic planning.

Can you gather your leadership team and answer these 8 Questions?

1. What are your Core Values?

I don’t mean your aspirations or the words on a plaque. Rather, what are the behaviors that define your best team members? Who do you LOVE working with - including vendors and clients?

What do they have in common? Your core values define the right people for your company. They act as a magnet - both attracting and repelling!

2. What is your Core Focus?

This is your reason for being; it’s what you’re best at doing! Others call it a mission. It comes from your core and it should give you a filter to help you focus your energy. In Good to Great, Jim Collins says. “You are more likely to die of indigestion of too many opportunities than you are of starvation of not enough.”

3. What is your Core Target?

Pick a timeframe - 10 years? 15 years? Then identify what you REALLY want to accomplish. Be brave. You are inviting people to be part of......what?

4. What’s your Marketing Strategy?

Who is your ideal customer and what do they need to hear from you in order to part with their hard-earned money? You don’t need to become a household name. You do need to focus your Marketing and Sales efforts.

5. What is your 3 Year Picture?

A big goal is empowering. Daily details can drive you to frustration. Making sure that your team agrees on the general direction, a 3 Year Picture, can bridge the gap. Massive growth with multiple locations? Streamlined operations and cross-trained superstars? Where are you headed in the near term?

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Kenneth J. Entenmann, CFA, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Economist, NBT Bank.

8 Key Questions To Steer Toward Success

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BY PAUL POST The U.S. should have no trouble weathering a mild recession if one occurs, but inflation, a national labor shortage, and skyrocketing debt coupled with high interest rates are major causes for concern.

That’s what a leading financial analyst told more than 200 people gathered for a recent Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce event at the Queensbury Hotel.

Ken Entenmann is senior vice president, chief investment officer and chief economist for Norwich, N.Y.-based NBT Wealth Management. He holds a bachelor’s degree in applied economics and business management from Cornell University, an M.B.A. from the University of Rochester’s William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration, and oversees more than $9 billion in assets under management and administration in trust, custody, retirement, institutional and individual accounts.

His presentation, supported by detailed graphics, was entitled, “Should I Stay or Should I Go?: Waiting for the Imminent Recession That Has Yet to Happen.”

“Whether we have a recession or not, I don’t think is the relevant question,” Entenmann said. “Things are slowing, but because consumer and corporate balance sheets are relatively strong, I think we’ll weather a recession. I’m concerned because I think it’s fair to say Washington right now is dysfunctional, and the likelihood that they’re going to tackle some of the bigger problems like Medicaid and Social Security is small. Therefore, I think those problems are going to linger.”

Since 2007, national debt has more than tripled from $9 trillion to $33 trillion.

“Then the chickens came home to roost,” Entenman said.

While debt was growing exponentially interest rates remained low, but have since gone up 550 basis points, meaning this year’s interest payments on debt will total about $800 billion and likely reach nearly $1 trillion in the next few years, or 8 percent of the federal budget.

“Why is that important? Because it sucks the life out of an economy when all that money is going to pay off debt,” he said.

Social Security, Medicare and other mandatory programs comprise more than 60 percent of the federal budget, but neither Republicans nor Democrats want to cut such spending, leaving a small amount of non-defense discretionary spending subject to reductions. In short, revenue can’t keep up with spending, which has created a trillion-dollar budget deficit.

“I don’t have a great deal of confidence that they’re going to get together and fi x this any time soon,” Entenmann said. “We have to get our arms around that, or it’s going to become a bigger and bigger problem.”

Entenmann was joined by John H. Watt, president, and chief executive officer of NBT Bancorp, which recently completed the $204 million purchase of Lakeville, Ct.-based Salisbury Bancorp, whose 13 branches are in the Hudson Valley, northwestern Connecticut, and southwestern Massachusetts.

The acquisition gives NBT more than $12 billion in assets and 153 banking offices in seven Northeast states, including one on Quaker Road in Queensbury. Ten years ago, NBT acquired Syracuse-based Alliance Bank.

“Our strategy is to grow continually,” Watt said. “We establish market share in core markets and move from there. Most of the time, NBT does that by planting a flag and driving organic growth. From time to time we meet a partner that is very similar to us culturally and has a very similar set of businesses that will contiguously advance our strategy, which in this case is down the Hudson Valley, while solidifying our brand in Connecticut.”

Expansion plans also include new branch offices in Burlington, Binghamton, and DeRuyter in rural Central New York. “We identify markets where there are opportunities; sometimes it’s where the big guys exit those markets, and we grow,” Watt said.

NBT has recorded 11 consecutive years of annual dividend increases.

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NBT Analyst Highlights Economic Concerns

Business Report

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Business Report

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Adirondack Thunder Continued From Page 3

Red Wings first began play in 1979.

As a young boy, MacArthur accompanied his father, Bill, to numerous Wings games, which inspired him and countless other kids to pursue high school, college and pro careers of their own. A former Thunder captain and ECHL All-Star, MacArthur had a 15-year minor league career before taking over as head coach last year.

“At our level the players are more accessible than say at the NHL or even the AHL level,” he said. “People can connect more frequently and get a better understanding of what these guys are all about. Usually, they’re just like everyday humans, but they work in a public space. I think it’s important for the next generation to realize you can achieve the dream of being a professional athlete. It takes discipline and lots of hard work, but it can be done.”

MacArthur and Assistant Coach Mike Bergin, of Saratoga Springs, are among the roughly 30 players, coaches, equipment and training personnel that comprise Thunder hockey operations. The front office employs about 10 more people and on game nights the team provides part-time jobs to 15 off-ice officials plus arena security and concessions staff, all of which helps the local economy, too.

Visiting teams stay overnight at the Queensbury Hotel in Glens Falls, giving the establishment significant extra revenue.

Young children and teens are a big part of the Thunder fan base. As more kids play and

join youth leagues, the more local stores such as Pure Hockey in Clifton Park and Sports Zone of Queensbury benefit from equipment sales.

But some of the biggest beneficiaries from the Thunder’s presence are Glens Falls taverns and restaurants, especially on weekend game nights.

“Coach Bergin and I quite often mention how nice it is to see so many people in and out of shops and restaurants downtown.” MacArthur said.

“Places like the Bullpen, Fenimore’s, Downtown Social and Downtown City Tavern, all the local restaurants are positively impacted for hockey games and events,” Mead said. “An economic study in 2018 said our impact was $13 million per year. That’s probably doubled since then, just based on the amount of events we have now and the people who come to them.”

A new junior hockey team for aspiring college players, the Adirondack Junior Thunder, began play in Glens Falls last year, adding another 15 to 17 games to the list of arena events.

And the team rents ice time, which provides added revenue.

Cool Insuring Arena hosted the two-day Adirondack Stampede Rodeo earlier this month and the New York State Girls High School Volleyball Championships are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 18-19.

“All of these things bring people to Glens Falls and Warren County for overnight stays,” Mead said.

Double H Ranch Continued From Page 6

goal in 2023 with the help from our community,” state the Moser’s.

Neil Golub, co-chair of the campaign, provided a $1 million challenge, matching gifts made

by Board Members and early stakeholders. “For those of us who have had the privilege of leading the Double H groundbreaking for new facilities, it has always been a source of enormous pride,” says Mr. Golub. “Every new facility ensures our longevity. Knowing that our kids will be attending a special place for mind, soul, and body gives us a very warm feeling. I hope with all my heart that our friends will join us in this very special journey.”

For over 30 years, the Double H Ranch has provided outdoor Adirondack adventures for children living with a serious illness. During that time, over 80,000 children have visited this safe place, where health challenges do not define them. The Capital Campaign will secure funding to ensure a continued experience of excellence for children and their families who participate in the year-round programs offered at camp, provided at no charge.

The projects were identified in a Master Site Plan to address the critical need to replace or renovate existing structures that do not meet the needs of our programs. The new Circle H Residential Lodge will offer year-round housing and help build program capacity. The current outdoor pavilion has been doubled in size to accommodate outdoor cabin gatherings, meals, and activities.

New to the camp will be the Camp-A-Theater and Adaptive Playground. The Camp-A-Theater will be located at the heart of camp and will provide a large, outdoor gathering space for campers and counselors to congregate for morning assembly and talent shows. The “RayMax Camp-A-Theater” will be named in honor of Max Yurenda, founding CEO, and Dr. Ray Walsh, founding volunteer physician.

The Adaptive Playground will be customized to the needs of our campers from KOMPAN’s Playground Equipment Company. The playground has been generously supported through a gift from Business for Good and Lisa and Ed Mitzen. Elements will include graduated challenges keeping the play fun, adventurous, and exciting. The new playground will give campers a unique space to freely engage with peers, participate in meaningful play, and build confidence in their own skills.

Double H Ranch has a phased construction timeline, with the Outdoor Pavilion Expansion completed in Spring 2023, Circle H Residential Lodge and Adaptive Playground beginning in the Fall 2023, and Camp-A-Theater in Fall 2024.

At the Groundbreaking Ceremony Alison Wilcox, CEO, stated: “Thank you to everyone who has made this possible for the future of our Double H community. We are nearly at the finish line with $200 thousand left to fund these critical projects, and we invite new community members to join us to support the future of Double H campers.”

PROUDLY REPRESENTING THE WASHINGTON COUNTY BUSINESS COMMUNITY

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Business Report

MICHAEL CRUZ Your business plans are built on logical thought.

We decide where we want to take our business.

Goals, plans and strategy help you focus on the growth in your business. Inevitably, some of the plans will need adjusting because there will be obstacles along the way. Many of those obstacles will come from your own people NOT following through on achieving your plans. Sometimes it is because they did not believe in the goals. Perhaps your culture got in the way.

Wiki defines culture as “the values and beliefs; language and communication; and practices shared by a group of people.” You have a company culture whether (or not) you acknowledge it. Most often the culture in your company is a set of unwritten rules.

We live within many cultures in our world. Since culture is about behaviors that are acceptable, we try to adapt based on the group setting. There is a culture in your immediate family, at work, at church or in other social groups. Adaptation to the expected culture is what normal people do.

New employees spend their early time in your employ observing “acceptable” behaviors. They absorb how people interact and watch what values are held high. And which behaviors are frowned upon. They are helped along with comments from others such as, “We don’t do that here.” And they adjust their behavior to fit inn better.

It is therefore key to understanding the culture that has evolved inn your organization. There are many ways to determine company culture. The most focused one is to ask you employees. There is a local company that helps you measure your culture through a survey. It is called CultureTalk. It gets your team to think about what is important and what gets measured by the company. It is not very expensive but can be invaluable. (www.CultureTalk. com) It will help you figure out what your culture is. There are also individual culture profiles that can show us what our natural behaviors might be. That also helps us see potential stressors in our attempt to adapt to the company expectations.

Once you understand the culture, you must

Michael Cruz is president of Lighthouse Advisors LLC in Queensbury decide if you want to adjust what is not good AND reinforce what is good for your plans. Perhaps your stated culture is focused on high customer service.

Then you reprimand someone for accepting back a product outside your return ‘rules’. Your people learn to seek permission first and perhaps make the customer dissatisfied. A culture where you profess ‘we all work hard’ can often lead to ‘burn out’ if not properly managed. How we dress, communicate, and take breaks is all based on your culture. If you are not happy with any of that, now is the time to think about your culture.

Culture is important. It helps us guide our own behavior. We want to fit in. We want to communicate within our group in ways that help us get to the right decision. It is much easier if we understand what the shared values are.

Promoting the culture is more than buying a few motivational posters. It entails leadership coaching, interviewing for fit and many other aspects. In the end, culture is a key driver in meeting your goals.

Having a clear understanding will help you achieve all your goals in the coming year.

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14 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 2023

Spargel On Nine: A Culinary Journey from Bavaria to Queensbury’s Route 9

730 Upper Glen Street Queensbury NY

Wednesday thru Saturday 4:30 - 9pm Reservations recommended Kiss: French

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BY ANN DONNELLY Chef Christian Raeth, originally from Erlangen in the Bavarian region of Germany, is looking forward to the opening of his new restaurant, Spargel on Nine, later this month. As the name suggests, the restaurant is located at 925 Route 9 in Queensbury, in the former location of Outback Steakhouse and, more recently, 40 Oak. “While this is my first time owning a restaurant,” says Raeth, “The vision of what we are trying to accomplish has been clear to me for decades. It has always been my dream.

Raeth started his culinary training with an aprenticeship in his native Germany in 1984 and has worked in some of the top restaurants in Germany, Italy, France, and Switzerland. In 1991, Raeth came to the USA, where his sister had relocated, and found a position at the Albany Country Club, where he worked for four years until he returned to Germany.

After his father died in 2000, Raeth returned to New York State to stay. He worked in fine dining in country clubs and restaurants like Van Patten Golf Club in Clifton Park, Fort William Henry in Lake George, and Pumpernickle’s in Bolton Landing. For the last 13 years, Raeth spent most of his time out of the kitchen, working in sales for Sysco, the world’s largest wholesale food distributor.

Raeth aims to offer a more authentic German dining experience. “I want to give the customer the experience of walking into a restaurant in Germany, but not in a tourist area. There are no dirndls, no lederhosen. No ‘oompah’ music.

If it’s your birthday, nobody will do the chicken dance.”

Raeth plans to focus on vibrant, fresh dishes.

“There will hardly be anything in the freezer besides some french fries and ice cream.” The menu will be a healthy mixture of the classics, some comfort food, and some high-end, more elegant dishes. “We include sauerbraten, roast pork, roulade, goulash, and red cabbage made from scratch. But there is a whole different type of German cooking that nobody here really touches. There is filet minion and strip steak, just done in a little bit of a different way. We hired plenty of talent for the kitchen, and I’ve been around long enough, so there is nothing that we cannot execute and cook. It just has to fit and be wanted by the customer. I hope that the community will embrace it.”

There is one German dining tradition that

Chef Christian Raeth opens Spargel On Nine at 925 Route 9 in Queensbury.

Raeth hopes to incorporate a couple of months after they have developed a few regular customers. “Stammtisch is a community table for regulars. If you regularly come into the restaurant, you won’t need to yell across the bar to your friends. A table will be reserved as ‘Stammtisch’ for regulars to sit together. Some may just have a drink, while others may be eating.”

Of course, beer will be an essential part of the dining experience. “Breweries in Germany are very important in the food industry. They either own the restaurant or the building housing it, so the proprietor can only bring in beer from that brewery,” says Raeth. Spargel on Nine will serve seven varieties of beer from Weihenstephan, the Bavarian State Brewery, the oldest brewery in the world, established in 1040.” Raeth worked with a representative from the brewery and the distributor to convince Weihenstephan to import four more flavors.

Spargel on Nine will open with 34 members of staff. “We’ve hired phenomenal people, especially the wait staff. I consider them to be my sales force. Every day at 3:30 pm, we will have a ‘family dinner’ with everyone from the owner to the bus boy and in between. This restaurant is my dream and a long time coming, but I cannot do it alone.

I need a big team. This is a rewarding business, but it must be in a healthy environment. That is Continued On Page 15

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Glens Falls YMCA Continued From Page 9

• center. That has been very well received and has brought a lot of people back. We’ve also done a lot of physical plant improvement-improvements have been made to the pool and pool deck, a big lighting project—things to really help make sure the facility is the best it can be.”

“We are also working towards long term plans for the facility at large. We are looking at ways to update and streamline to better serve our members. There are no immediate plans in the works for what that is going to look like.”

Cleaning protocols that were adopted during the pandemic have continued on a permanent basis. Hand sanitizer stations are positioned throughout the facility and antibacterial wipes are used to wipe down equipment.

“We are routinely wiping down all major touch points,” she said.

Although Cygan has served as executive director for just six months, she has extensive experience in the field of health, wellness, and fitness. A personal trainer and group fitness

instructor, Cygan at one time owned her own fitness studio. Before coming to the YMCA, she was the Director of Programming at Team 85, a multi-million dollar health club. In her position as executive director, she is focused on growth and development.

“Like many organizations, the Y has faced some of the struggles brought on by the pandemic,” she said. “I’m very fortunate to be in a role where I can look towards the development of the programs we already have. We have a beautiful foundation, and I work very closely with each of the department heads who are experts in the field. So, my job is to listen and facilitate and make sure we are looking with vision towards where we will be in 5 years, 10 years, 25 years. The idea is to ensure that we are serving our mission and serving the community to the best of our ability for as long as we possibly can.”

For more information, visit www.glensfallsymca.org. Financial assistance is available for those who can’t afford the full cost of a membership.

Available Commercial & Residential Properties We’d like to promote your commercial or residential property. Call us, 581-0600.

•

Spargel On Nice

Continued From Page 14 up to me to create, and that’s what I’m after.”

Raeth describes an interview with one young woman for a position as a busser, “When she saw the plates were nicer than where she worked before, she said, ‘I’m afraid I will drop the plate,’ and I said, ‘Yes, you are going to drop plates. I’m going to overcook a steak. A waitress is going to forget to put in an order. We are human. We make mistakes.’ This is the environment that I am after.”

When asked about the name, Raeth says, “It was difficult to come up with a name that showed that it isn’t the well-known cliche of a German restaurant, i.e. Queensbury Brewhaus.”

Spargel means asparagus in German. Asparagus is a popular dish in Germany, mainly white asparagus, in the first three weeks of June when the fresh crop is available.

The restaurant has received a fresh coat of paint to cover the existing interior, reflecting Outback’s Aussie theme. “A neighbor came in

and painted. Another did some handy work.

It’s phenomenal who came on board to make this happen.” When you walk in the front door, you see a map of Germany and the surrounding countries that have influenced its cuisine. There are also pictures throughout the restaurant with images of Erlangen, Raeth’s birthplace, and asparagus.

Raeth hopes people come from a bit further for a different experience. “The phone keeps ringing. People are coming in and asking, wanting to make reservations. The buzz around this concept is phenomenal. If half the people show up, we will be in trouble.”

To start, Spargel on Nine will be open Wednesday through Sunday for dinner only.

“Once we can deliver dinner consistently on a high level, we will look to expand dinner to six days a week and then roll into lunch, and once we master that, we will look at offsite catering.”

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16 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 2023

Granville Community Foundation Awards $41,500 in Grants, Impacting Local Development & Recreation

South Street

Continued From Page 2

The $4.5 million South Street Market Center Project reviving dreams in Glens Falls. Construction underway, unlocking a vibrant future for community and commerce spaces, foster economic growth and leverage increased private investment, Collins said.

“In short, to revitalize the tired parts of our cities,” he said.

Lesley Zlatev, New York State Department of State revitalization specialist, said the new Market Center will create “new exciting opportunities for local retailers, entrepreneurs and farmers.”

“With the Market Center’s completion, the economic and business development of South Street will experience more gains with the creation of more business and job growth,” she said. “The Market Center is bringing new life to this corridor of Glens Falls.

It will be a transformative project for downtown, which has become a magnet for redevelopment.”

Some of the $10 million grant funded SUNY Adirondack’s culinary center move to 14 Hudson

Street, creating jobs and expanding the local area’s culinary talent. Money has also paid for a public arts trail with six murals completed to date and more in the planning stages.

And a portion of the grant established a fund to help small business owners pay for improvements in the wake of the extremely challenging COVID-19 pandemic.

Collins cited former mayors Jack Diamond and Dan Hall and the city’s late economic development director, Ed Bartholomew, for obtaining and overseeing sound use of the $10 million state grant.

“Today developers, business owners and entrepreneurs are moving into the downtown area restoring buildings, setting up businesses, directly and indirectly supported by the shot in the arm the DRI (Downtown Revitalization Initiative) has provided,” he said.

Granville Community Foundation (GCF) announced its latest recommendation to award $41,500 of grants for the second half of 2023 has been approved by the Glens Falls Foundation.

“We received grant proposals for $92,090 worth of projects with specific funding requests of $56,500 from the GCF. We’re able to support all $41,500 of these requests and, coupled with our grants made last year for $84,660 and our April, 2023 grants of 47,109, we have now made a total of 16 grants totaling $173,269 since starting in 2022”, said Michael Freed, Chair of the GCF Advisory Board.

Freed went on to say “These four latest grants are consistent with four of the five goals of the GCF in that they address community development, art & culture, health and social needs of the greater community. We continue to be inspired by these nonprofit organizations and the many volunteers who work so hard on their behalf and we’re honored to try and assist however we can.”

“The Distribution Committee of the Glens Falls Foundation has received, reviewed and fully supports the recommendation of the GCF Advisory Board to approve these grants and we look forward to the positive impact these, and future grants, will have on the Granville community”, said Laura Vamvalis, Business Administrator of the Glens Falls Foundation.

The grants awarded are as follows: The Granville Area Food Pantry & Community Service, Inc. $3,000 to upgrade the Food Pantry building’s electric service.

The Village of Granville, NY $22,500 to help fund the placement of two pickleball courts in Mettowee Park, located on Church Street.

The Village recently completed a master plan, through a Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) grant, which quantified five specific initiatives for developing recreational opportunities. One of those five initiatives is to expand access and use of the Mettowee River, which passes through Mettowee Park.

The park has considerable land for a dog park,

a community garden, a picnic area, fishing and swimming access as well as parking. In addition, the Village would like to construct two pickleball courts there as this was an item that was most requested through public input into the master plan. The total project cost is expected to be $62,456 with funding coming from a variety of sources, $22,500 of which will be provided by the GCF. Granville Lions Club Foundation, Inc. $8,500 to help fund the restoration of a building mural painted on their warehouse wall facing Main Street, just off Lions Lane, which is ex-pected to cost $12,840. The mural was painted by local artists in the summer of 1996, depicting life and the contributions of the working class to foster an American identity.

The mural is the kind of art that urban designers refer to as “community fingerprints” in that it makes people feel represented and gives them a sense of ownership in their community.

One of the other five initiatives identified in the RERC-funded master plan mentioned above was “Cultural and Historical Identity and Branding”. This restoration project is considered to be very consistent with this initiative in that it is a representation of Granville’s unique history, art and cultural traditions and is part of a promotional strategy for both internal and external audiences. It is very visible from both the Rail Trail and Main Street.

Granville Youth Football $7,500 to purchase helmets and pads. The Granville Youth Football program has approximately 200 kids and focuses on teaching kids the fundamentals of the game as well as sportsmanship, teamwork, respect and work ethic. Children who sign up to play only need to provide cleats and socks as the GYF provides all the protective gear they need. Some of the current gear is reaching the end of its useful life and this grant will help begin to replenish this gear.

Learn more at https://www.granvillecommunityfoundation.org/

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