A Local Railway Offers Holiday Cheer And Adirondack History On Its Scenic Rides
Hal Raven could drive the train, but he’d rather be the conductor punching tickets like Tom Hanks on the Polar Express.
“That’s my thing, talking with people, interacting, getting kids excited,” he said.
His company, the Saratoga, Corinth & Hudson Railway, gives people Christmas-themed memories to last a lifetime on the Candy Cane Express, a fun festive ride that runs through Dec. 22 highlighted by visits from Santa, music, lights and hot cocoa refreshments.
Raven, a Queensbury resident, gave up a 28-year railroading career to fulfill his dream of owning a scenic line. It operates year-round between South Greenfield and Hadley on 17 miles of track owned by the Town of Corinth.
“We do all the maintenance and repairs,” he said. “When we first took over, weeds were chest high and overgrown. We had to fix all the crossings.”
Two previous operators had run tourist trains from Saratoga Springs to North Creek, but couldn’t
Foothills Farm Is Scaling The Production Of Hydroponic Greens For New Markets
BY SUSAN ELISE CAMPBELL
The couple have backgrounds and careers in the field of nutrition and come from health conscious families, they said.
She studied nutritional biochemistry at
Queensbury Leads Clean Energy Charge With A 6-Megawatt Solar Project On Former Brownfield
An industrial brownfield site, vacant for 35 years, is being repurposed as a productive 6-megawatt community solar project.
The 44-acre former Ciba-Geigy property in South Queensbury borders the Hudson River, nestled between Perkins Recycling and the recently shuttered Glens Falls Cement Company plant.
“With its unobstructed southern exposure, a surface-mounted solar project is the best and only practical use for the site,” Queensbury Supervisor John Strough said. “It’s the least intrusive and will
UC Davis and was a commercial executive marketing dietary supplements, an industry in which Max also had an executive career spanning 25 years. He said his mother founded Wild Oats, the first health food store in Saratoga Springs.
“‘Let food be thy medicine’ might sound clichéd, but this is how our families live,” Max said.
The couple met in and resided in California and later while in Boston, their careers and life took a new trajectory. About six years ago Max was visiting a technology museum in San José and was exposed to hydroponic farming at a kiosk display.
“Hydroponic farming lets you grow nutrition-rich food year-round in any environment,” he said. “We were interested in the concept but didn’t know how or if to get into the business.”
One company building these kinds of units was located in Boston and Max began to research the technology, he said. Then two years ago the couple purchased property in Greenfield and returned to the area where he grew up to start a farm business and raise two children.
“Saratoga County has 100,000 acres of farmland and nobody was doing hydroponic farming, horizontally or vertically,” he said.
The container offers 3,000 linear feet of growing space, according to Nikki. There’s no soil to till and no pesticides needed in a contained environment.
Heat, cooling, and hydration are controlled with software. A large portion of the power comes from solar installations and weekly CO2 gas deliveries supplement what the plants take from the air, Max said.
add value to the property.”
The site housed several industrial plants beginning in 1901, starting with wallpaper manufacturing and later producing inorganic pigments. Hercules Inc. took over operations in 1960, selling the property to Ciba-Geigy 19 years later. CibaGeigy ceased operations in 1989 and demolished the buildings soon after. A more-than-decade-long cleanup effort removed toxic chemicals and heavy metals, concluding in 2002. While the topsoil at the site is now safe, contaminants remain in bedrock
“It is a wonderful environment for a human to be in,” said Nikki.
“The technology is so efficient that we are at 70 percent capacity using only five gallons of water a day,” Nikki said. “Our well water has high quality mineral content and we add solubilized nutrients depending on what we are growing.”
Max said the system reclaiming some moisture from the air, condensing it, and returning it to the tank helps keeps water usage low.
The Poritzkys said while local greenhouses supply baby greens, Foothills Farm grows crops to maturity. The owners have built an ardent customer base and local restaurants such as Hamlet & Ghost in Saratoga, Next Door Kitchen and Bar in Ballston Spa, and [farmacy] restobar in Glens Falls take weekly deliveries.
There are also regular deliveries to institutions such as Skidmore and customers may order additional produce for special occasions. The farm is willing to plant what is needed in time for the event, Nikki said. The average growing time is six to seven weeks from seed to harvest.
In wintertime, lettuce is only grown in the warmer climates of California or Mexico, plucked early to survive crating and travel, and to ripen at the store. Nikki said by the time it reaches the northeast, much of the nutrition and flavor have dissipated.
“Chefs receive a full grown, living plant within hours from our farm,” she said. “So hydroponics is not only about achieving quality nutrition, but preserving it.”
Flavor is an indicator of nutrition, and
BY PAUL POST
BY PAUL POST
A surface-mounted solar project is currently under construction on a brownfield site at the former Ciba-Geigy property in South Queensbury.
Courtesy of the Town of Queensbury
Looking back on their first full year of production, entrepreneurs Max and Nikki Poritzky have counted one ton of produce grown and distributed to restaurants and schools from their hydroponic farming facility, Foothills Farm, in Greenfield Center. The farm is a 40-by-eight-foot container
housing an efficient, vertical growing system that produces high quality lettuces and herbs using a fraction of the space of traditional farming.
Hal Raven stands with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and an elf as they prepare to head down the tracks on the Saratoga, Corinth & Hudson Railway’s Candy Cane Express.
Courtesy of Saratoga, Corinth & Hudson Railway
Max Poritzky inspects hydroponic greens, grown using innovative technology in a sustainable environment. The farm provides fresh, locally grown produce to local restaurants and institutions
Courtesy Foothills Farm
Personnel Briefs
Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, the Capital Region’s largest law firm, has announced that John B. Cannie has joined the firm as Of Counsel in the firm’s Environmental, Land Use & Development, and Real Estate Practice Groups.
Prior to joining Whiteman Osterman & Hanna, Mr. Cannie was an Associate at Snyder, Kiley, Toohey, Corbett & Cox LLP, where his practice focused on land use, zoning, and real estate development and transactional matters. He has represented clients in a variety of development projects, including residential, commercial, and public benefit initiatives, assisting with contract negotiations, securing government approvals, and finalizing transactions.
Mr. Cannie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics from Bates College and earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2014.
Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, the Capital Region’s largest law firm, has announced that John M. Czajka has joined the firm as partner and John F. Wirenius has joined as of counsel.
Czajka, who spent the last 15 years in New York State government service, most recently serving as General Counsel to the New York State Police, will join the Litigation and Government Relations practice groups. Wirenius is the immediate past Chair of the New York State Public Employment Relations Board and will join the Labor & Employment and Litigation practice groups.
Czajka, who has over 19 years of criminal and civil investigatory and litigation experience having served in various capacities in both the private and public sector, also brings to the firm extensive leg-
islative and policy making experience as a former Albany County Assistant District Attorney, Assistant Counsel to the Governor, General Counsel of the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services, and most recently as General Counsel of the New York State Police. While Counsel at the NYSP for the past five years, Czajka served as the chief legal officer responsible for providing legal and ethical advice to the NYSP Superintendent and the more than 4,000 sworn and non-sworn NYSP personnel. During his tenure with the Troopers, Czajka was also responsible for managing the drafting of proposed legislation, implementing policy and legislative initiatives, coordinating and managing all State Police involved litigation, managing labor and employment issues, and advising the agency and the Governor’s office on the legal, regulatory, administrative, and legislative matters facing the agency.
He is a graduate of Union College and in 2004 earned his law degree from Albany Law School and his MBA from Clarkson University. He is a resident of Guilderland.
Prior to joining Whiteman Osterman & Hanna’s Litigation and Labor and Employment practice groups, Wirenius served as the chair and presiding board member of the NYS Public Employment Relations Board, an independent neutral state agency that decides disputes involving the Public Employees’ Fair Employment Act, State Employment Relations Act, and Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act. He also served as deputy chair and general counsel of the PERB, as deputy general counsel of the New York City Office of Collective Bargaining, and as associate counsel of New York State United Teachers.
Wirenius is a graduate of Fordham College and earned his law degree from Columbia University School of Law. He is a resident of Albany and Brooklyn.
Whiteman Osterman & Hanna was founded on the intersection between government and the private sector, and the pair’s experience serving two governors, among other roles in government, will
Continued On Page 14
Romeo Family Expands Automotive Legacy With Whiteman Chevy Acquisition In Glens Falls
BY LEE COLEMAN
The Romeo family is purchasing Whiteman Chevy, a local automotive institution on Dix Avenue in Glens Falls for the past 68 years, from the Whiteman family.
The late Roland Whiteman opened the dealership in 1956. His son Robert took over the business and for the past 20 years it has been operated by Amy Whiteman Brown, Roland’s granddaughter.
“My father (Len Romeo) has done business with Whiteman for years. It’s been a wonderful relationship, pushing some 40 years,” said Mike Romeo.
Mike Romeo said he and his three siblings — Joe, Lucia, and Genese — are buying the dealership together. “Amy has been wonderful,” he said. The closing on the sale was held earlier this month.
This is the first time he and his siblings have purchased a dealership together.
Family members currently own Carriage Traders on Saratoga Road in South Glens Falls, Romeo Toyota of Glens Falls on Broad Street, and Romeo Auto Outlet on Quaker Road in Queensbury.
Joe Romeo operates five dealerships in Kingston, NY. These include Romeo Chevrolet, Buick and GMC on Route 9W, Romeo Kia of Kingston, Romeo Ford of Kingston, Romeo Volkswagen of Kingston, and Romeo Nissan of Kingston.
Mike Romeo said with the acquisition of Whiteman Chevy in Glens Falls, the family owns and operates nine automotive “rooftops.”
“My father and I have known the Romeos for a long, long time,” said Amy Whiteman Brown, president of Whiteman Chevy. She said the majority of the 45 Whiteman employees will be working for the Romeos. “Our employees deserve a lot of credit” for the success of Whiteman Chevy over the years, she said.
She said the Chevy dealership has been a great asset to the Glens Falls community and her family for years and this will continue when the Romeo family takes over the business.
“We are comfortable with selling (the dealership) to the Romeos and that they will make some changes,” she said. “With every business acquisition it’s a new day. They have to react to the new customers,” she said.
The dealership will be called Romeo Chevrolet of Glens Falls.
“This is a positive thing. The Romeos have generations who want to be in the automotive business,” she said.
Mike Romeo said that his older brother, Joe, runs all the car dealerships in Kingston while Mike runs the dealerships in the Glens Falls area.
“Lucia (an attorney) is our corporate counsel and does all the closings and business deals,” Mike Romeo said. Lucia will also be the dealer principal at the Whiteman location.
Mike’s sister, Genese, coordinates business development for all the dealerships. Mike said his father, Len Romeo, is partially retired, letting his children lead the businesses into the future.
Romeo family expands with the acquisition of Whiteman Chevy in Glens Falls.
Washington County Faces Budget Strains Amid State Mandates and Rising Costs
BY PAUL POST
A section of unused Washington County jail must be kept open and staffed, diverting funds from much-needed programs and services.
More attorneys are required, at considerable expense, because of new bail reform policies.
Money is still being spent on Great Meadow Correctional Facility upgrades despite the prison’s Nov. 6 closing, which eliminated more than 400 jobs, possibly triggering a significant drop in sales tax revenue.
“A lot of regulations that come down from the state somehow cost us money,” county Administrator Melissa R. Fitch said. “The most frustrating part of this job is that we don’t have control of a lot of things we wish we did as far as spending goes.”
Fitch, Board of Supervisors Chairman Robert Henke, of Argyle, and Budget Officer Brian R. Campbell, of Hebron, discussed these and other issues with local business leaders during a recent “Washington County Outlook” presentation hosted by Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce at Sandy Hill Arts Center in Hudson Falls.
The county recently adopted a $141 million budget for 2025, up $9 million from this year’s spending plan. A 2.43 percent property tax increase and $3.85 million worth of fund balance was needed to balance the budget, which has grown by $41 million since 2015. Campbell said 90 percent of expenses are a direct result of various state mandates and rising health insurance and pension costs, giving county officials little room to decide how remaining funds can be allocated for services to benefit local residents.Campbell said he’s particularly concerned about rapidly increased Department of Social Services spending, for both financial and societal reasons.
“We’ve seen our expense for DSS go from $19 million in 2020 to $31 million in 2025,” he said. “To me that’s a ridiculous number for a rural county made up of independent people. I’m not happy with that at all. Every time you increase by $10 million, you put $2.5 million onto your own taxpayers. Why do we enable people instead of just assisting them?”
Henke said bail reform, which took effect Jan. 1, 2020, has been especially troublesome fiscally and with regard to public safety. The policy has led to a substantial reduction in jail incarceration, driven by a decline in pre-trial admissions for low-level and nonviolent charges such as stalking, assault without serious injury, burglary, many drug offenses and some categories of arson and robbery.
“Whole sections of the jail aren’t used because obviously with bail reform we aren’t putting people in jail any more,” Henke said. “They’re arrested and released because it’s not a violent crime. We’ve gone to the state and said, ‘Hey can we close this one whole pod? We don’t need it.’ They’ve said, ‘No you have to keep it open and keep a certain number of staff on.’ So we’ve got correction officers over there guarding an empty pod.”
“It’s just money down a rat hole that we could do good things with,” he said. “We can’t because of state mandates.”
Campbell said, “The way the state sees it, incarceration and slavery are the same thing. It’s going to take a lot of elections to change things. We need to swing the pendulum back.”
Fitch said the state Department of Corrections stonewalled county officials who sought reasons for the Great Meadow prison closure. The department told the county to do an economic impact study, but “the decision had already been made,” she said.
“It was just another hoop we had to go through for them,” Fitch said.
Fitch said county officials also sought cooperation from the state to help prison employees find new jobs locally, to keep money in Washington County. But the department tried to “strong arm”
said. “I don’t see anything happening.”
On another front, the county obtained $30 million in sales tax revenue this year, or 3 percent of the roughly $1 billion worth of countywide sales activity. Campbell said this is a somewhat surprising figure for a mostly rural county with limited retail centers. But an increasingly large amount of sales activity now comes from online shopping, a trend accelerated by the corona virus pandemic that kept people home.
Early this year, Laura Oswald filled a newly-created position as director of economic development, planning and tourism.While small in comparison to Saratoga and Warren counties, Washington County tourism is on the rise and generates an estimated $7.5 million in occupancy tax revenue.
Oswald said the county recently won two statewide tourism awards and that plans are ramping up for the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026, and related Revolutionary War observances. “We have a lot of history in this area,” she said. “A lot of that activity happened in Washington County and we want people to know about it.”
Henke said tourism data is somewhat difficult to track because Washington County has few overnight lodging establishments, and no well-known brand name motels or hotels in particular.But he said many people, including out-of-state visitors, are attracted to some of the county’s specialty food stores and include dining and retail shopping in such trips.
“There’s all kinds of ancillary stuff like that,” he said. “People are coming here.”
In addition, the local economy benefits from people who own seasonal second homes in Washington County because of its proximity to ski centers in nearby Vermont and Warren County, he said.Washington County Fair is the state’s third largest county fair and agritourism plays a major role, too, generating large numbers of visits to apple orchards, maple syrup producers and special events such as sheep and goat farm tours.
“When I started working for the county 12 years ago, I remember conversations between the chairman at the time and supervisors; really there were some who didn’t think Washington County had any tourism and would never have tourism and here we are,” Fitch said. “It’s growing. You can see the ads Laura has worked hard to create with Black Dog Designs. It makes you pretty proud of the area where you live.”
Business Value
As someone who has sold businesses for over 20 years (including my own), one question I often get asked is, “What can I do to increase the value of my business as I prepare for retirement and a sale?” The short answer is to increase cash flow as that is the primary determinant of value. However, many other factors and intangible characteristics will significantly increase value, as well.
Cleaning up financial records so that your operating statements, balance sheets, and other financials reflect true business operations. Poorly maintained financial records will make the sale of your business much more difficult.
Demonstrate recurring revenue by establishing contracts with customers that renew year over year. These are the gold standard with buyers.
Empower your employees so that the business is less dependent on you, and will continue to operate smoothly long after you’re gone.
You also want to continue to operate your business as if you’re not planning to leave. Keep your systems and equipment up to date, and avoid letting the business lag. Any decline in performance can hinder sales prospects.
ThielGroup is a business advisory service that provides brokerage, M&A, and valuation services throughout upstate New York and New England.
Interested in discussing how we can help you sell your business? Give me a call. I have been selling companies for over 20 years!
mergers & acquisitions, valuations, advisory
(518) 599-0219
kthiel@thielgroup.com www.thielgroup.com
Left to right are county Board of Supervisors Chairman Robert Henke, county Administrator Melissa R. Fitch, ARCC President and CEO Tricia Rogers and county Budget Officer Brian R. Campbell. Courtesy Paul Post
Kathlene Thiel, MBA, CVA M&A Master Intermediary
A Mobile Meditation Studio Travels The Roads Th roughout Upstate
New York
Grounded on Glen Street, formerly Yoga Kayla, has announced an expanded service area for its Mobile Meditation Studio, a converted bus that now brings meditation classes anywhere in Upstate New York!
“I get a lot of calls from workplaces that want to offer health and wellness programming for their staff,” said founder, yogi Kayla Sehlmeyer. “We have had fun girls’ nights as well, bachelorette parties, birthday parties, and we love to come to schools and teach both teachers and students how to fi nd clarity, stress relief, and relaxation through meditation.”
Groups can now book the Mobile Meditation Studio anywhere within a four-hour drive of Glens Falls, where Grounded on Glen Street is headquartered.
Locations more than a 45-minute drive away pay a small travel fee.
Sehlmeyer is a yoga, meditation and somatic practitioner. “After working through and overcoming many of my own challenges, I share my insight and wisdom to guide and empower others on their journey,” she said.
The bus can accommodate six people at a time. “Larger workplaces or schools will book a few hours and we provide a QR code so folks can select a time that works for them. We offer sessions from 15 minutes to 45 minutes, and can customize the experience for the participants.”
The sessions include weighted blankets, guided meditation, breathing exercises and tools for improving mental health. They are suitable for all skill levels, including beginners.
For more information, FAQ’s and booking, visit www.themobilemeditationstudio.com.
GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL
2000 Business Of The Year
Adirondack Regional Chamber Of Commerce
9 Broad St. Glens Falls, NY 12803 (518) 581-0600 • Fax: (518) 430-3020 • www.glensfallsbusinessjournal.com
Editorial: rodbacon@saratogabusinessjournal.com
Advertising: HarryW@glensfallsbusinessjournal.com
Publisher & Editor Harry Weinhagen
Associate Editor Rod Bacon
Sales and Customer Service
Harry Weinhagen Mary Longley
Production Manager Graphic Precision
Contributing Writers Susan Campbell Ann Donnelly Jill Nagy Christine Graf Paul Post
Queensbury Billiards & Cafe Expands with Food, Events, and Community Engagement
BY ANN DONNELLY
Queensbury Billiards & Cafe, a unique establishment that offers more than just a pool hall, opened its doors in 2023. In 2024, it expanded its offerings to include a diverse menu, activities, and events. This distinctive blend of pool, food, and events has been a major draw, appealing to a diverse clientele. The venue’s dedication to building community and fostering camaraderie through leagues, tournaments, and social events further distinguishes it from other similar businesses.
Owners Kevin and Neelo Jaikeran, originally from Guyana and raised in New York City, relocated to Queensbury when Kevin’s job in telecommunications brought them to the area. The idea of opening a pool hall came when Kevin, passionate about the sport since his youth, saw a gap in the market. According to Kevin, “There was nowhere to play pool around here. You would need to travel 45 minutes to find the closest room.” This passion for pool, combined with Neelo’s love for diverse culinary influences, led to the birth of Queensbury Billiards & Cafe, located at 324 Quaker Rd., Queensbury, N.Y.
“I left my job and started my own company as a contractor. The pool hall was a second business,” says Kevin. However, his passion became his profession within a few months as he poured his dedication and commitment into making Queensbury Billiards & Cafe a success.
With 21 tables, including professional-grade nine-footers, Queensbury Billiards & Cafe caters to casual players and serious enthusiasts. “We keep up to professional standards,” Kevin notes. “The facilities are not just for the people looking for fun, but also for serious players looking for a place to train and practice.”
Queensbury Billiards & Cafe is committed to inclusivity and community engagement. They offer special rates for seniors, veterans, students, and APA league members. Fridays and Saturdays are Ladies’ Days, where women can play all day for $5 per person, showcasing
their dedication to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment.
When it comes to food, the Jaikerans bring a melting pot of culinary influences to their menu. “Coming from New York City, you’re exposed to all different races and people around the world,” Neelo explains. “These are the foods they all eat over there, and it’s a mixture of Mediterranean, Caribbean, and a little bit of Indian cuisine.”
The Jaikerans’ menu is a testament to their unwavering commitment to quality and authenticity. It features a variety of dishes, from fried rice and chow mein to American staples like chicken tenders and fries. The Jaikerans take pride in the freshness of their ingredients and the traditional cooking methods they employ, ensuring that every dish is a flavorful delight. This dedication to quality ensures that every visit to Queensbury Billiards & Cafe is a satisfying and memorable experience.
The cafe offers takeout and delivery via DoorDash and outside catering services for group events and parties. The Jaikerans are happy to customize menus and accommodate special requests.
In addition to offering their facilities for parties and corporate events, they host their own special events and activities. Recent events included Trivia with Tim Sokol of A Venue, Karaoke with Matthew Roberts of Illuminated Audio, and Cookie Decorating with Flour Child Bakery. The Jaikerans are eager to collaborate with more local businesses to expand these offerings, creating a vibrant and diverse community space that everyone can enjoy.
For the Jaikerans, Queensbury Billiards & Cafe represents a unique opportunity to connect with their community and share their cultural heritage through food and a welcoming atmosphere. Their passion and dedication have fostered the business’s success, ensuring it remains a beloved community fi xture as they continue to innovate and expand.
For more information, visit qbbac.com.
Participants enjoy a peaceful and relaxing meditation session aboard the Mobile Meditation Studio, bringing stress relief and mindfulness directly to local communities.
Courtesy Grounded
Patrons enjoy a game of pool at Queensbury Billiards & Cafe, a growing community hub in Queensbury, NY, offering professional-grade tables, diverse cuisine, and events.
Courtesy Queensbury Billiards
Meliora Law: A New Model For A Changing Legal And Business Landscape
In a world where the boundaries between work and life are increasingly blurred, a new breed of law firm is emerging, one that prioritizes employee well-being and client relationships alongside legal expertise. Meliora Law, PLLC, a women-owned firm based in Delmar, New York, is a prime example of this trend, offering a fresh perspective on what it means to practice law in the 21st century.
Established by three experienced attorneys – Erika Wood, a seasoned Tax and Corporate attorney; Jennie Shufelt, a Health and Corporate attorney who is also an experienced litigator; and Katherine Dievendorf, an Estate Planning and Elder Law attorney – Meliora Law is built on collaboration, flexibility, and a commitment to ‘whole person’ development. This philosophy translates into a supportive work environment where attorneys are encouraged to pursue personal interests and maintain a healthy work-life balance, which leads to greater job satisfaction and enhanced client service.
“We’ve seen so many great practitioners leave private practice for reasons that are solvable,” says Wood. “We want to be one of those firms that are solving that problem, where people want to make their career here and stay in private practice, despite the challenges and stresses that can come with it.”
Meliora Law’s commitment to a holistic approach extends beyond internal culture to encompass a comprehensive range of legal services. The firm’s expertise spans Corporate, Tax, Health Care, Not-For-Profit, and Trusts & Estates, allowing it to serve a diverse clientele, from small businesses and entrepreneurs to large corporations and healthcare institutions.
“Our practices complement one another,” explains Wood. “We can provide seamless service to clients who need assistance with their business and personal legal matters.”
This integrated approach is particularly valuable in areas like succession planning, where business owners often need help aligning their personal and professional goals. Meliora Law’s team of attorneys can work together to ensure a smooth transition for the business and its owners.
One of Meliora Law’s key objectives is to make legal services more accessible and approachable. The firm strives to eliminate the fear and intimidation often associated with dealing with attorneys, making you feel at ease and comfortable when seeking legal help.
“Our goal is to provide clear, practical advice and to be approachable for people so that they don’t have a fear of reaching out and asking for help,” says Vittoria Buzzelli, counsel at Meliora Law.
Meliora Law recognizes the importance of adaptability in today’s rapidly changing legal and business environment. They are committed to staying ahead of the curve by embracing new technologies and evolving client needs, as well as monitoring systems and processes on an ongoing basis to ensure they can provide the most efficient and effective service.
“We have the flexibility to evolve and change because of our business model,” says Wood. “This is crucial in today’s world, where technology impacts all aspects of our businesses.”
While Meliora Law’s main office is in
the Capital District, team members are based in Saratoga and Glens Falls, giving easy access to clients located in these areas and further north, with Buzzelli, based in Glens Falls, affectionately called “North Country Tori.”
Wood says, “Part of our business model right now includes collaborating relationships with other small businesses, whether that’s law firms, CPAs, or consulting firms, where we are working with them to serve the client jointly as a trusted team of advisors with a holistic approach.”
Meliora Law’s vision for the future is clear: continued growth while maintaining its core values and commitment to client service. The firm plans to expand its team while preserving its unique culture and fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment.
With its innovative approach to law and unwavering dedication to client service, Meliora Law will significantly impact the legal landscape. As businesses and individuals navigate an increasingly complex world, Meliora Law offers a refreshing alternative.
“We want to be a place where people love to come in and work,” says Buzzelli. “A place where clients want to pick up the phone and give us a call because they like us and they trust us.”
For more information on Meliora Law, PLLC, visit https://meliorafirm.com/.
Chelsea M Bolles is a licensed mental health counselor who provides telehealth and walking/ running therapy services for individuals age 15 and up. Chelsea combines mindfulness practices with walking/running on local trail systems for clients who are interested in a different approach to an in office therapy session. Chelsea is located in the Glens Falls area.
Cancer Awareness In Drink Pink
Adirondack Winery Raises $22K For Breast
Adirondack Winery has announced another successful year of their Drink Pink breast cancer awareness fund raiser. As a result of the campaign, Adirondack Winery raised over $22,000 for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of the Adirondacks thanks to the support of its customers, staff, friends, family, and other local businesses.
From mid-September to the end of October, a portion of every purchase made at Adirondack Winery was donated to Making Strides. The winery raised funds this year in a variety of ways, including the sale of its Drink Pink Berry Breeze, a limited-edition version of its mixed berry rosé that has a pink cap and label. Much of the donation was also raised via the sale of wine, accessories, and raffle ticket sales. Thanks to local businesses donating their products and services, the winery was able to compile multiple highvalue raffle baskets for customers to enter for a chance to win. One hundred percent of raffle basket ticket proceeds were donated and the winery was able to raise over $5,600 from raffle tickets alone.
“We are blown away by the support of our customers, staff, friends, family, and community year after year,” said Adirondack Winery President and Co-Owner Sasha Pardy. “Giving back to the community is very important to us as a company and this disease has touched far too many people around us. Whether it’s a family member, friend, or customer – we want to be there to support.”
Adirondack Winery was the flagship sponsor of the local Making Strides event in Glens Falls on Sunday, Oct. 27. Together, dozens of teams raised over $64,000 for Making Strides
Against Breast Cancer of the Adirondacks.
Making Strides is an event held across the country, organized by the American Cancer Society.
“We are so proud and grateful of our local flagship sponsor surpassing their self-set goal of $20K,” the American Cancer Society’s Senior Development Manager Nick Liporace stated. “Just because Drink Pink and October are over doesn’t mean the support and need goes away. The Adirondack Winery’s support helps fund year-round resources that anyone needing breast cancer-related support can benefit from. We at the American Cancer Society are so appreciative of this support and wish the winery and its customers a Happy Holiday season and well wishes to partner again in 2025.”
Over the past 12 years, Adirondack Winery has raised over $138,000 for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of the Adirondacks during its Drink Pink fund raiser, and they don’t plan to stop any time soon!
They would also like to recognize the local businesses who contributed events participation or raffle contributions:Adirondack Brewery, American Oak Distillery, Barkeater Chocolates, Love is in New York, Just One More Chapter LLC, The Queensbury Hotel, Sans Souci LG, Mean Max Brew Works, Whitman Brewing Company, The Fort William Henry Hotel, The Grateful Den, Active Ingredient Brewing Co, Lake George Olive Oil Company, The Log Jam, The Boardwalk Restaurant,Lake George Steamboat Company, Bear’s Cup Bakehouse, Extreme Heights Cider, Northern Routes, Perry Mountain Quilts, and Mark Dunbar Art.
Participants in the Drink Pink fund-raiser for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of the Adirondacks are all smiles as they display the check representing money raised during the event.
Courtesy of Adirondack Winery
Vittoria Buzzelli is a corporate attorney at Melioria Law, PLLC.
Courtesy Melioria Law, PLLC
Erika Wood is tax and corporate attorney at Meliora Law, PLLC.
Courtesy Melioria Law, PLLC
GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL
Nonprofit
Glens Falls Youth Center Launches A $900K Campaign For Wellness Expansion
The Moreau Community Center Offers An Extensive Array Of Social Programs
BY ROD BACON
BY LEE COLEMAN
The Glens Falls Area Youth Center has embarked on a capital campaign to raise $900,000 for an addition onto the center at 60 Montcalm Street in Glens Falls.
The center serves students in 5th grade through 12th grade, many of them at risk, lacking resources and food security at home. Ninety percent of the youth center members are from families below the poverty line and qualify for free or reduced lunch at their schools.
Molly Congdon-Hunsdon, the daughter of the late youth center founder Matt Congdon, said the capital campaign will fund a 3,000-square-foot addition to the existing 6,000-square-foot center.
“We want to start construction in June of 2025,” said Congdon-Hunsdon, who is the center’s executive director. The center’s current building opened in 2000 and more space is required for the health and wellness of the members as more children use the facility. Congdon-Hunsdon said that on any given day during the school year between 70 and 90 children come to the center in the afternoon and evening. During summer months, when school is out, between 40 and 50 students come to the center each day.
“They need access to things like academic support,
technology, or even a quiet space to do homework,” according to the center’s website (gfareayouthcenter@ gmail.com).
“We help the kids as a whole: their physical, mental, and emotional health,” Congdon-Hunsdon said.
“We want to create a Wellness Center to allow us to greatly improve our health and wellness programs,” she said.
“The youth we serve are the future leaders who will significantly impact the quality of life in our community. To support their development into productive adults we must motivate them today,” she said.
Children and teens spend more time sitting, often dedicating hours each day to screens - smart phones, computers, tablets, TVs and gaming systems - leaving them limited opportunities for physical activity.
Congdon-Hunsdon said the new Wellness Center will enable the youth center to restore its study room, a place for students to do homework and receive tutoring. Since COVID-19 this room has been filled with hygiene products and essential items like socks, clothing and school supplies.
The addition will allow the center to repurpose its current weight lifting area (all the machines will be moved into the new Wellness Center) to create a dedi-
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Since 1977, the Moreau Community Center has been assisting those in the tri-county area who need a bit of help in their lives.
Established in the former Methodist church on Main Street in South Glens Falls, the center offers an extensive menu of activities and support services.
“In the beginning the center did not do all the things that we do now,” said Executive Director Donna Nichols, who took over that position in 2010. “They primarily ran a pre-school, Meals On Wheels, and a senior program.”
Nichols has extensive experience with non-profit organizations, having spent 26 years with Community, Work & Independence, Inc. (CWI) in Glens Falls.
Today the center offers 19 programs and services aimed at enhancing the lives of everyone from youngsters to senior citizens.
One of the more important offerings at this time of year is the Holiday Caring Program. Thanksgiving and Christmas meals and children’s gifts are provided to hundreds of income-eligible South Glens Falls residents. As is the case with many of the center’s programs, financial and “adopt-a-family” donors are welcome to contribute, as are volunteers to administer it.
“We had about 70 families that we provided a meal for at Thanksgiving and we will be doing the same thing for Christmas,” said Nichols. “People who adopt a family will buy gifts for the kids so not only does the family get a meal the kids get presents. We give all this out on December twentieth.”
Nichols noted that the center has “a small army” of volunteers, without whom it could not operate successfully.
“We do a volunteer appreciation event every year, usually in June, and last year we had 110 volunteers attend,” she said.
Volunteers perform a plethora of tasks to help keep the center functioning. They might fold newsletters, act as greeters at the front desk, work in the thrift store, oversee the bingo fund-raiser that takes place every week, or help pack backpacks for the weekend backpack program.
“You name it, they come in and help us get it done,” Nichols said. “There’s not a non-profit worth its salt that can do without dedicated volunteers, and we have some of the best.”
While volunteers perform valuable functions, the staffers run, among other things, Kids’ Korner and the eight-week summer camp.
Kids’ Korner operates at all South Glens Falls
Mary Longley 131 River Street Hudson Falls, NY 12839
elementary schools, providing a safe and affordable before- and after-school program. The trained instructors encourage the children in their care to have fun, make friends, grow skills, and learn something new.
Camp Moreau is an eight-week summer daycamp for youngsters ages 5-12. Campers are taken on field trips, encouraged to exercise and play, and learn about self-defense, nutrition and team building. There is a charge to attend but scholarships are available because the staff believes every child should have the opportunity to go to camp so they work to make sure that cost doesn’t prevent a child from attending.
Also at the lower end of the age spectrum is the Bulldog Zone Teen Center, a space where middle and high school students from South Glens Falls CSD can gather in a safe environment. They can play, study, or just hang out with each other. On Tuesdays from after school until 7 p.m. there are planned activities. Getting proper nutrition can be a problem for some people and the center has several services to address that issue.
Every Monday and Wednesday through a partnership with the South Glens Falls Hannaford Supermarket the center provides produce, deli, bakery and meat items to all tri-county residents who need a little “hand up.”
“Hannaford partners with us through the regional food bank,” Nichols explained. “We pick up food that
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A rendering of the planned Wellness Center at the Glens Falls Youth Center, expanding support and opportunities for local youth.
Moreau Community Center on Main Street in South Glens Falls offers 19 programs and services. Courtesy Moreau Community Center
Business Report
BY SABRINA HOUSER
When I first started in the role of CEO and CFO at the nonprofit I was privileged to run, I quickly realized how important the financials were to the organization. I realized that although we were talking about profit and loss, revenue/ expenses, black/red net balances, what we were really talking about was our mission.
The kids we served. How many more or fewer we could help. How each dollar directly correlated to our programs. The more money we were able to raise, the more we could do. The less we raise, the more we needed to cut back.
Because of this direct correlation between dollars and program scope and impact, the CFO of a nonprofit plays a key role in advancing the mission of the organization. It is never just about the numbers – it is about the mission. It is also always about the numbers, because without solid financial information it is impossible to make strategic, informed decisions regarding service delivery, program sustainability and the future direction of the organization.
For these reasons, the role of CFO is critical.
This realization changed my mindset. I understood that I needed to make the connection between finances and mission real for my donors, my funders, my board, my team. I needed them to feel that the mission was alive in the black and white numbers.
As CFO, I could connect the dots for my board, my staff, funders and community partners. Explaining our financial position and how it directly impacted our programming and our capacity to grow, or our need to adjust the scope or reach of our programs. I learned to love end-of-year projections, cash flow projections, the symmetry of a balance sheet. All these tools allowed me to communicate to the board and finance committee the connection between our financial picture and our impact. And they, in turn, could confidently make decisions based on solid financial information.
Although I was running a nonprofit that directly impacted the kids in my community, and therefore, my community, what I was really doing was running a business.
And that’s when I saw the power, the impact, of being a strong CFO and how I could make a difference if I made the numbers make sense.
As I continued on in my tenure, I of course wore many hats. I had to raise funds, write grants, mange staff, help with program development, work with and for the Board, raise awareness, excel at events, and so on. But one of the most
critical roles that I held, was the agency’s CFO.
There comes a peace and calm with knowing where your organization stands, financially. You know how to plan for rough spots, you can help to predict the future, you can plan vs always reacting. The greatest gift is giving your Board and staff the peace of mind they need to ride out storms, and watching your mission come to life.
The nuts and bolts of what that looks like for a CFO include things like:
• managing cash flow;
• creating and managing reserves;
• interpreting and reporting financial information to the board, stakeholders and partners;
• developing a realistic and sustainable budget;
• ensuring that the organization meets legal and ethical obligations;.
• developing financial policies and procedures;
• risk management;
• helping to build fund development plans;
• managing grant allocation and reporting;
When I started Capital CFO+, I wanted other business owners and nonprofit leaders to know that the value of their financials goes deeper than a net number. It is your mission, it is your direction, and it is your agency’s life.
The role of the CFO goes farther than the math. It is a critical role to the life blood of the agency. A strong CFO can be the key to a nonprofit’s success, ensuring that it remains financially healthy and able to fulfill its mission for years to come.
Continued From Page 6
cated STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) area that will accommodate VR headsets, iPads, and Chromebooks, enabling children to log into their school accounts and complete assignments as required.
Donations to the new capital campaign can be made through the center’s website (gfareayouthcenter@gmail.com) or by sending a check to the center’s mailing address: Glens Falls Area Youth Center, P.O. Box 469, Glens Falls NY 12801.
The center serves young people from Warren, Washington, and Saratoga counties. They come from school districts in Glens Falls, Queensbury, South Glens Falls, and Hudson Falls. Some students even come in from outside these districts.
“They need a place where they feel like they are safe and belong. Here they are welcomed, wanted and most importantly loved,” Congdon-Hunsdon said.
Congdon-Hunsdon has been working at the youth center since she was 17. She attended Union College and New York University and pursued a career in journalism. After her father passed away, she decided to return to the center full time.
“It’s such a privilege to watch these kids grown up into seniors in high school,” she said. CongdonHunsdon has certifications in a variety of physical and educational areas focusing on young people.
She is helped by her fellow staff members. Carly Lamay (Merrill) is assistant director, Anthony Rivera is program supervisor and food program leader (the center has a full kitchen that serves daily meals and provides snacks) and Nate Mattison, program coordinator and recreation leader (the center has its own gym).
Congdon-Hunsdon said the non-profit center relies on this professional staff and does not use volunteers. The staff members all have certifications in a variety of youth-centered skills. They are able to build lasting relationships with the youth center members.
“The center provides a safe, secure environment for all,” she said. “At the center the students exercise, do homework, eat play and compete. We need to invest in them so they thrive, and so will the community”.
Continued From Page 6
they’ve taken off their shelves but is still fresh. We bring it back to the center, sort it and do a menu so folks can avail themselves of the food. It’s a nice balance to our food pantry, which is more shelf-stable.”
The Gather & Dine program is very popular with senior citizens who would prefer not to eat alone. Hosted by the center, it is held at the Saratoga County Office for the Aging site. Mazzone Catering in Clifton Park provides the food.
“People can come in and dine in-house every day, Monday through Friday, and have a nice hot healthy lunch and it only costs them two dollars,” Nichols said.
There is also the option, through Meals on Wheels, to have a well balanced meal delivered to the homes of senior citizens.
Providing healthy meals isn’t the only service provided to older area residents. The Social and Recreational Program offers bingo, mahjong, crafting, rug making, billiards, and visits from the Crandall Mobile Library. Or people can simply visit, read the paper, use a computer, or enjoy coffee with a friend. The slate of activities varies throughout the year.
Adults may also take advantage of the Senior and Community Trips program. Visits to museums, shows, historic sites and waterfronts have proven very popular.
Committed to promoting wellness and healthy living, the center offers an Educational and Wellness Program that addresses the needs and interests of attendees as they might vary throughout the year.
As a complement to the wellness program there is a Walking Club that meets each Thursday morning. The walk starts at Cooper’s Cave Park in South Glens Falls and follows the Betar Byway.
For disabled and 55-plus residents of South Glens Falls and Moreau who need a ride to their appointments there is the Dial-A-Bus option. Transportation to the center is required but the bus will take people to medical appointments, social and recreational events, and daily errands. This year, through a grant, the center was able to purchase a new bus.
For more information about the programs and services available at the Moreau Community Center go to moreaucommunitycenter.org. Youth Center
Sabrina Houser is the owner of Capital CFO+ in Saratoga Springs.
GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL
Cyber/Tech
Business Report
Protecting Your Business Data Through Personal Device Safety
BY ALEKS PAVLINIK, CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER
Why protect your personal digital life? Securing your personal life identity, passwords, and digital assets is crucial not only for your own safety but also for the security of your workplace. Think about it… we all access our work emails through our personal smartphones everyday. We reply to emails, we open attachments, we check our calendars for meetings. Some companies even allow their staff to use their own computers for work. But if compromised, these personal devices are a gateway for cybercriminals to infiltrate your workplace systems.
Maintaining strong, unique passwords, requiring multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all accounts, and using strong security solutions for your personal devices helps you contribute to a more secure and resilient organizational infrastructure. Remember, your personal security practices are the first line of defense in protecting both your personal and professional life.
Everyone reading this has probably experienced a risk or an attempt of identity theft, financial loss, and unauthorized access to your accounts. Someone tried to login to your social media accounts, or your bank called you with a questionable fraud attempt. This is tenfold for a business. There’s a whole business market out there of hackers who make millions by exploiting businesses, holding their data at ransom and stopping them from working and serving their customers.
Small businesses may think, “a hacker wouldn’t waste time going after my business. We aren’t big enough.” And that’s exactly the point. They know small businesses owners are not investing the resources in cybersecurity measures, so it’s easy for them.
1. Educate Employees on the Risks
Many employees may not realize the risks associated with using personal devices for work.
Phishing attacks, malware, and unsecured Wi-Fi networks are common threats. Regular cybersecurity training is essential.
2. Implement a Clear Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Policy
If your employees use personal devices for work, a well-defined BYOD policy is non-negotiable.
3. Use Mobile Device Management (MDM) and Mobile Application Management (MAM) Tools MDM and MAM solutions allow businesses to monitor and manage personal devices and applications that access company data.
4. Encourage Open Communication
A strong security culture requires buy-in from employees. Make cybersecurity a part of your
While personal devices allow employees to work with flexibility and efficiency, they also pose significant cybersecurity risks. Without a strong security culture, one compromised device can lead to devastating data breaches. The good news? A robust security culture can significantly reduce your business’s risk. Here’s how to make it happen.
BY PAUL POST
A local entrepreneur has developed a new mobile app that gives him remote, real-time views of his firm’s projects, to make sure they’re done properly.
But Ryan Marcantonio believes NOLYM (No limit) can benefit all types of small and large businesses, while radically changing the way people obtain live media coverage.
The concept is similar to Uber, but instead of hiring a driver for a ride, NOLYM users contact anybody, anywhere who’s signed up for the program to provide a live view of a given scene or event.
“This is going to literally change the world of live streaming,” Marcantonio said. “There’s so many use cases. If I want to see Times Square right now, I could send out a job request saying I want to see a certain store there. I put information in a request, say how long I want the video to be and set my price.”
“If you’re a media outlet, there’s a protest going on and you want somebody on location right then, you literally have that with NOLYM,” he said. “It eliminates media bias. Instead of someone talking, putting their spin on what’s happening, the viewer at home can tell the streamer what they want to see, so they can truly see what’s happening without commen-
tary. It changes the dynamic. It switches the power to the viewer instead of the streamer.”
For Marcantonio, NOLYM was borne out of necessity.
When Walgreens bought out Rite Aid several years ago, his firm, New York Retail Conversions, got the contract to change over more than 100 stores in New York and Vermont. He worked with numerous temporary subcontractors across the state, but couldn’t be everywhere, which led to occasional frustrating situations.
“I might ask, did the dumpster show up? They’d say, yeah it’s here. Two days later I’d get call from a Walgreen’s manager, where’s the dumpster? I thought, how can I see this place right now so I know exactly what’s going on? I kept telling myself, let’s figure out how we can do this,” Marcantonio said.
Two years later, after countless zoom calls and emails with a development team, NOLYM became available for download for Android users at the Google Play Store, on Aug. 20. The iOS version was scheduled to go live Dec. 9.
Viewers can send requests to see live, unfiltered footage from anywhere in the world. Streamers get paid to go live and
QUALITY AND PROCESS I MPROVEMENT
“At EXSETIS, we will collaborate with you to identify opportunities and solutions that benefit you. We work with your team, your data, your process - unlocking your potential and your profits. ”
Paul Graver, Owner - EXSETIS Consulting
Ryan Marcantonio has developed a new mobile app called NOLYM that many types of businesses can benefit from by getting real-time, live-streamed views of any location they want to see.
Continued On Page 9
Aleks Pavlinik is chief information security office at StoredTech. Courtesy StoredTech
BY SUSAN ELISE CAMPBELL
As technology improves how a business is run, installing cable to connect the new technologies improves with it. One local company at the forefront of that is Adirondack Cabling and Security, providing clients with innovative cabling solutions for the best of 40 years.
“In 1982 when my dad and uncle started the company, the big thing was the PDX telephone system so a business with one phone number could have an extension on every desk,” said Dave Womer.
Dave is the son of Jack Womer who, along with his brother Bob, operated Adirondack Cabling until 2017 when Dave and his cousin Bob Jr. purchased the business from their retiring fathers. Dave is president and Bob Jr. is vice president of operations.
“My father and uncle saw there were many companies manufacturing the latest phone systems, but no one to install them,” Womer said. They formulated a business plan to meet that demand.
By the 1990s there were computers in every office that needed to be networked and Adirondack Cabling transitioned into another new market, he said.
“When fiber optics were the new technology, they took that on, too,” said Womer. “The company became highly specialized in installing a very different kind of cable for high-speed networks, and there is probably not a large building in Albany that we have not been in.”
Today the company’s security division is busier than ever. Started in 2010, its technicians run cable and install mounts for internal and external cameras, card readers, and other equipment, he said.
“The need for security in the workplace and in schools has increased,” Womer said. “So we have tailored our solutions for different environments.”
The company deploys video surveillance around an entire university campus. For a small retail store, they mount equipment to monitor its counters.
Businesses and schools have them install keyless access systems for employees and students to enter buildings and dormitories with a card, fob, or cell phone, disabling access with a simple program. Other enterprises have burglar systems installed.
Womer said much of their work is through national security companies such as ADT, as well as IT companies or departments with peripheral equipment such as projectors to install. Other business comes from new construction projects.
“There is craftsmanship involved in hiding cables and mounting a device on a wall somewhere,” he said. “People don’t want cables hanging loosely or cameras falling off ceiling tiles.”
There is also the software side of their responsibilities. Some staff are technology focused to “take the installed devices and cables and make them work together so customers get what they are looking for,” Womer said.
At times customers may know what they want, but perhaps not fully know what they need.
“They may want a card reader system and
have one exterior door to control,” Womer said. “What they don’t know is the variety of functionality these readers have to make security more effective.”
Adirondack Cabling can now educate clients on enhanced features “that can make their lives easier,” he said. For example, a company with a key fob to open a main door during normal business hours can be programmed to do much more.
“Maybe a HVAC tech is scheduled to come in after hours, in which case you text him a temporary badge to his cell phone that gives access only during designated hours,” he said.
The software allows the business to see when that person entered and left the building, he said. And if the tech went into an area they were not supposed to, the owner will know that, too.
One of the newest features that Womer said the company is educating customers about is the ability to open doors with a cell phone even if it is not in hand. As long as the phone is on his person, an employee can simply wave his hand in front of the reader to unlock access, he said.
What Adirondack Cabling offers is not cyber security, but it is related.
“Security does not have to be only a risk averse application, but can become an integral part of the business,” he said. “We partner with IT companies doing the network security aspect because physical security goes hand in hand with data security.”
“You have to have sensitive areas such as your IT closet and file closets protected as well as monitor who is going and out of the building,” he said.
Technology evolves quickly, and Womer said the company has been ahead of the curve since its beginnings.
When fiber optics were introduced and Jack and Bob Womer were going to be working with fragile glass filaments instead of pliable copper, they attended first-hand training from Corning Glass.
“I remember my father flying out to Chicago for a class on glass,” he said. “He said to me, you won’t believe what you’re going to be able to do in the future.”
Business Data
Continued From Page 8
team’s regular conversations. Encourage employees to report suspicious activity or potential breaches immediately, without fear of blame.
To build trust, explain why certain security measures are necessary. For example, employees may be more likely to use MFA if they understand how it prevents unauthorized access to sensitive data.
5. Lead by Example
As leaders, we set the tone for security culture. Demonstrate good cybersecurity habits, like regularly updating your passwords and using encrypted communication tools. When employees see leadership prioritizing security, they’re more likely to follow suit.
6. Regularly Test and Adapt Your Security Measures
Conduct regular security awareness training and phishing simulation tests to help employees practice spotting threats in a safe environment.
7. Invest in Your Employee’s Cybersecurity Traditional benefits offered to employees can be supplemented to include different types of tools and services that protect employees in their personal lives. Financial Fraud Protection, Identity Theft Protection, Privacy and Device Protection, and Identity Theft Insurance are all available to provide a new type of employee security benefit. Providing protection around the safe usage and storage of passwords contributes to the security posture of employees and contributes to the correct usage of passwords in the workplace.
Additionally, gather feedback from your team about your policies and security tools. Are they too complicated? Do they hinder productivity? Adjust as needed to strike the right balance between security and usability.
For small businesses, fostering a strong security culture isn’t just about protecting data; it’s about safeguarding your reputation, maintaining customer trust, and ensuring business continuity. By prioritizing personal device safety and empowering your employees to be vigilant, you can significantly reduce your cybersecurity risks.
Continued From Page 8
provide viewers what they ask for.
Fees are established between viewers and streamers. For example, a viewer might be willing to pay $50 for a twominute live stream of a corporate ribbon cutting ceremony. NOLYM gets a commission on every transaction.
Plans call for marketing NOLYM with a large-scale social media campaign, using TicTok and Facebook ads.
As a financial incentive to attract more streamers, people who sign up now will get a higher percentage of the fee viewers pay.
“The technology behind NOLYM is patent pending in the U.S. and internationally,” Marcantonio said. “The name is trademarked. I had to work with a patent attorney, getting applications all together. It’s a long process.”
A Glens Falls native, the 43-year-old Marcantonio got much of his business acumen from his late father, Gary, a highly respected financial services professional.
NOLYM is based on the second floor of the former Post-Star circulation building, the current home of Grey Ghost Bicycles, at 78 Lawrence St. in Glens Falls.
“This business will entail hiring people to do content moderation, a team that sees what videos are being uploaded and make sure there are no abuses,” he said. “We can block or suspend anyone who doesn’t adhere to our community guidelines.”
NOLYM’s potential for business purposes are almost endless.
A beautician could generate a whole new source of revenue by providing fiveminute instructional tutorials, showing the correct way to apply eyelashes. A realtor could give live walk-throughs to potential new-home buyers.
“People keep coming up with things I haven’t thought of yet,” Marcantonio said. For information go to: nolym.app.
BobWomer (standing) and Dave Womer reivew plans for a cabling project.
REGIONAL STOCKWATCH
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Solar Project
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fissures, making excavation for large commercial developments financially unfeasible.
“It would be very expensive to put anything else there,” Strough said. “We’re doing the green thing. It’s going to contribute to getting away from fossil fuel use.”
The project, expected to go online by mid-2025, was developed by New York City-based AC Power LLC, a company specializing in community solar projects on brownfields.
Community solar projects differ from largescale solar arrays, which feed power directly to the grid.
“We sell subscriptions to residents, ideally in the local area,” said Annika Colston, AC Power founder and chief executive officer. “They can subscribe to that project and get a discount for their electricity.”
“We take sites that might not be attractive to long-term solar owner-operators because they take too much time, effort and risk to develop,” she said. “We do all that work up front so the project is attractive to a long-term owner.”
On June 25, AC Power celebrated the opening of a similar 6.9-megawatt project at the old Fort Edward landfill, which closed in 1991.
“This project supports New York State’s ambitious clean energy goals and showcases how innovative approaches can turn environmental challenges into sustainable opportunities,” Colston said.
New York State has targeted installing 3,000 megawatts of clean energy by 2030 and achieving zero-emissions electricity by 2040.
In Queensbury and Fort Edward, AC Power sold approved projects to Kendall Sustainable Infrastructure of Cambridge, Mass., which operates them. The Queensbury site is owned by BASF, a global German corporation that acquired Ciba-Geigy. BASF is leasing the property under a long-term agreement for solar use.
“The normal life expectancy is 20 years, but newer panels are so much more efficient there might not be a need to decommission then,” Strough said. “It might go beyond that, especially if we work out a way to store power that’s generated during the day to be used at night. We haven’t gotten there yet, but we can look at those possibilities down the road. They certainly have the property to do that.”
Colston said her firm specializes in project approval while leaving operations to other companies “because it’s quite a different skill set. It would require a much larger team.”
“As I grew the business, I decided to continue focusing on contract development, rather than diversify into construction management,” she said. “We’re most beneficial in the market by bringing more and more projects to these long-term owneroperators. We have more impact that way.”
Securing state and local approvals for the
Washington County New Business Registrations
November
J Horn Tree Service 4045 County Route 74 Greenwich, NY 12834
Saratoga Racers ABA 55 Skyview Meadows Lane Hartford, NY 12838
Whitetail Industries 445 Gansevoort Rd. Fort Edward, NY 12828
JB Industries 19 Sutliff Lane Salem, NY 12865
Lapoints Auto Repairs 216 County Route 19 Fort Ann, NY 12827
GB Construction 34 1/2 Oak St. Hudson Falls, NY 12839
Roofing 1039 Anthony Rd. Greenwich, NY 12834
Putnam Creek 214 Schwerdtfeger Rd. Putnam Station, NY 12861
Stevens Home Services 1658 County Route 49 Argyle, NY 12809
The Candle Cottage 4304 County Route 30 Granville, NY 12832
Barbur’s Custom Meat 919 County Route 52 Greenwich, NY 12834 Gibbs Mobile Welding
Falls, NY 12839
Nikki said “Chefs will tell you our greens are among the best they have ever tasted. It’s because the nutrients used are crop specific.”
Hydroponic farms may not face droughts, rainy seasons, blight or bugs, but there are plenty of challenges with the “futuristic, technologically advanced form of farming” that the business entails, Nikki said.
“The learning curve has been steeper than we thought it would be,” she said. “The machinery is complex but Max is mechanically inclined, and with our skill set and combining forces, we are making it work.”
“While the business is humming and up and running, you definitely have to monitor, love, and nourish it,” she said.
“It’s not a set-it-and-forget-it proposition,” Max said. “There are plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and light systems, and software to program, operate, and monitor everything in the farm.”
There is also the component of selecting which crops to grow hydroponically. Max said not all greens grow well in this kind of environment.
“You also want to choose plants that
Queensbury project took more than two years, including financial incentives from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
Before founding AC Power, Colston developed small gas-to-energy landfill projects that utilized methane to generate electricity.
“I realized solar was the technology everybody was interested in and thought these landfill sites would make great candidates,” she said. “When I looked into it a couple of companies had done this in New York and Massachusetts, working with landfill owners to get them comfortable putting solar on these sites. We’re basically turning a community liability into a revenue-generating operation.”
AC Power has over a dozen solar projects either operational, under construction, or in development across multiple states. The firm is also exploring plans for a project at Queensbury’s landfill on Ridge Road.
“We’ve given them the go-ahead with the next step, which is determining if a National Grid substation has enough capacity, and would they have to invest money to upgrade it if needed,” Strough said.
The City of Glens Falls has also initiated steps for a community solar project at its landfill near Northway Exit 18. A request for proposals from developers was issued earlier this year.
“We’ll lease the land,” said Jeff Flagg, the city’s economic development director. “The city would hope to be an anchor tenant to get a discount on the power that’s generated there.”The project is expected to be completed in 2026, he said.
In 2017, NYSERDA and Onyx Renewable Partners completed a 2.6-megawatt solar project at Saratoga Springs’ former landfill. Featuring nearly 8,000 panels on 14.6 acres, the installation generates approximately 3,000 megawatt-hours annually and offsets around 1,605 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
A recent Solar Energy Industries Association report highlighted a record-breaking 9.3 gigawatts of new solar module manufacturing capacity added in the U.S. during the third quarter, with domestically produced silicon cells re-entering the market for the first time since 2019.
While utilities and businesses are driving solar growth, community and commercial solar markets also saw gains, growing 12 percent and 44 percent year-over-year, respectively.
However, some proposed projects face community opposition over concerns about visual impact, property values, and rural character.
Tony DeFazio, founder of Glens Falls-based Sustainable PR, addressed these challenges at the New York Solar Energy Industry Association’s annual Solar Summit.
“New York’s transition to a clean energy will be won at the local level,” said DeFazio. “By proactively engaging communities and communicating the benefits of solar energy while addressing public concerns, only then will we accelerate the transition to a clean energy future.”
grow well together, such as a certain radishes planted next to lettuces that like the same conditions,” he said. “The lettuce won’t be crowded by the radishes that were harvested earlier.”
Crop selection is part of what the Poritzkys call “getting the recipe right.” It is the challenge of formulating intensity of light, the mix of blue and red light, and nutrient level for the choice of crop, they said.
As the Poritzkys enter the third year of operation, they feel comfortable with the commercial development strategy they based on strong backgrounds in nutrition, finance and marketing. One thing they have not yet done is enter retail stores or farmers markets.
New restaurants are coming into the pipeline and the Poritzkys are committed to collaborating with other institutions such HVCC’s culinary program. They are actively building their brand and looking toward the next level of scale.
“Our platform is more than selling. Part is about sustaining the food culture,” they said. “We are here to stay and putting down roots. Literally.”
Learn more at www.foothills-farm.com.
Retirement Planning
Report
PROVIDED
BY
MEGHAN MURRAY
You may spend many decades contributing to your IRA and 401(k), but eventually you will likely need to take the money out — in fact, you must take the money out or face penalties. What should you know about these mandatory withdrawals?
Here are some of the basics:
• What are they called? Mandatory withdrawals are technically called required minimum distributions, or RMDs.
• When must I take RMDs? If you were born before 1951, you’ve probably already begun taking RMDs. If you were born between 1951 and 1959, your RMD age is 73. And if you were born in 1960 or later, your RMD age is 75. You can postpone accepting your fi rst RMD until April 1 of the year after you reach your RMD age, but this will result in two RMDs for the year. After you take your fi rst RMD, you must take subsequent ones by December 31 of each year.
• What penalties will be assessed if I don’t take all my RMDs? For every dollar not withdrawn, the IRS will charge a 25% penalty, but this can drop to 10% if you subsequently withdraw the correct amount within two years.
• Which accounts have RMDs? RMDs apply to traditional IRAs, as well as other types of IRAs, including SIMPLE and SEP IRAs. RMDs don’t apply to Roth IRAs. RMDs also apply to traditional 401(k)s, but not Roth 401(k)s.
• Can I withdraw more than the RMD for any given year? Yes, you are free to take out as much as you want. However, if you take out more than the RMD for one year, you can’t apply the excess to the RMD for the next year.
• How are RMDs calculated? Typically, your RMDs are determined by dividing your account balance from the prior December 31 by a life expectancy factor published by the IRS. Your fi nancial professional should be able to perform this calculation for you.
• If I have multiple accounts, do I have to take an RMD from each one? If you are taking RMDs from a traditional IRA, you must calculate each RMD individually, but you can take the total amount from one or more IRAs. If you’re taking RMDs from a 401(k) or similar
plan, you must take the RMD from each of your accounts.
• How are RMDs taxed? You are typically taxed at your income tax rate on the amount of the withdrawn RMD. You may be able to avoid taxes in a particular year if you transfer your RMDs to a qualified charity in what’s known as a qualified charitable distribution.
• If I inherit an IRA or 401(k), am I subject to RMDs? Yes. When you take RMDs from an inherited account, you generally must withdraw all the funds within 10 years, as opposed to over your lifetime, which is the RMD window that applies to your own accounts. The rules are somewhat different if you inherit an IRA or 401(k) from your spouse. In any case, though, you’ll want to consult with your tax advisor about how to take RMDs from an inherited account.
If you’re already subject to RMDs, be sure you’ve taken them before the year ends. And if you haven’t yet started taking RMDs, learn as much as you can about them — because the more you know, the more likely you’ll make the right moves at the right time.
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
Business Report
BY DAVID KOPYC
Retirement, once a distant dream, can quickly become a tangible reality. As you navigate the complexities of modern life, it’s crucial to prioritize financial planning to ensure a comfortable and secure retirement.
Understanding Your Retirement Needs
The first step in effective retirement planning is to assess your financial needs. Consider the following factors:
• Desired Lifestyle: What kind of lifestyle do you envision in retirement? Will you travel extensively, pursue hobbies, or volunteer?
• Healthcare Costs: Factor in potential healthcare expenses, including insurance premiums, prescription drugs, and longterm care.
• Inflation: Account for the impact of inflation on your future spending power.
• Dependency Ratios: If you plan to support dependents, include their needs in your calculations.
To determine the amount you need to save, you can use various retirement calculators or consult with a financial advisor. Here are some key factors to consider:
• Time Horizon: The longer your investment horizon, the more time your savings have to grow.
• Expected Rate of Return: Estimate the average annual return on your investments.
• Social Security Benefits: Factor in the potential income you will receive from Social Security.
• Pension Income: If you have a pension, include it in your calculations.
Building a Robust Retirement Portfolio
A well-diversified investment portfolio is essential for long-term financial security. Consider the following investment strategies:
• Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans: Take advantage of employer-sponsored retirement plans like 401(k)s or 457 plans.
• Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs): Traditional and Roth IRAs offer
tax advantages for retirement savings.
• Stocks and Bonds: Invest in a mix of stocks and bonds to balance risk and return.
• Real Estate: Explore real estate investments, such as rental properties or real estate investment trusts (REITs). Strategies for Maximizing Retirement Savings
To accelerate your retirement savings, consider these strategies:
• Automatic Contributions: Set up automatic contributions to your retirement accounts to ensure consistent savings.
• Employer Matching Contributions: Take full advantage of employer matching contributions to boost your savings.
• Consolidate Retirement Accounts: Simplify your financial life by consolidating multiple retirement accounts into a single account.
Protecting Your Retirement Assets To safeguard your retirement savings, implement the following strategies:
David Kopyc, president of Retirement Planning Group LLC in Saratoga Springs.
Meghan Murray is a financial advisor with Edward Jones Financial in Glens Falls.
Edward Jones
The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) purchased 86 acres of forested land in Glenburnie, Town of Putnam, on November 22, 2024. This conservation project permanently protects an additional 1,400 feet of Sucker Brook, one of the lake’s largest tributaries, providing critical water quality protection for Lake George while also extending a network of adjacent protected lands that support a diverse wildlife population.
This acquisition completes the LGLC’s Anthony’s Nose-to-Sucker Brook Connection project that includes three transactions in Glenburnie this year resulting in a total of 93 acres of newly protected land.
The 86-acre purchase was com pleted in partnership with the Glen burnie community that came together to act as a conservation buyer, securing the property and providing time for permanent protection by the LGLC.
President of the Glenburnie Cottagers Association Tom Badenoch said, “After years of combined efforts, the Glenburnie community was thrilled to be able to partner with the Lake George Land Conservancy to preserve this critical link in the Sucker Brook Preserve. The protection of this land will help enhance the water quality of Lake George, preserve the scenic and open space values of the region and provide a critical wildlife corridor connecting protected lands from Gull Bay to Anthony’s Nose.”
LGLC Executive Director Mike Horn said, “This is an incredible project that will forever benefit Lake George. We could not have accomplished this without the vision and generosity of the Glenburnie community. We are also grateful to others who provided financial support to make this project possible.”
For more than 25 years the LGLC has prioritized protecting land in this north -
east region of Lake George that includes the iconic Anthony’s Nose and the lands surrounding Sucker Brook. Upon the completion of this 93-acre project, the LGLC will have permanently protected a total of 1,700 contiguous acres through 16 transactions, starting with Flat Rock in 1998.
The New York State (NYS) Department of Environmental Conservation Environmental Resource Mapper identifies this area of the watershed as having significant natural communities and rare plant and animal species, including peregrine falcons. Its landscapes include grasslands that offer bird habitat, and sphagnum bogs that offer unique habitat for wetland species.
The NYS Wildlife Action Plan and the Staying Connected Initiative have also documented this area as an important wildlife corridor between the Adirondacks and the Green Mountains in Vermont. These corridors are especially important for wide-ranging species like bear, bobcat, fisher, and moose.
The 242-acre Flat Rock property mirrors Anthony’s Nose to the north, and was sold to New York State in 1999 to become part of the Lake George Wild Forest. The LGLC continues to own and manage the Anthony’s Nose Preserve, which has a 1-mile hiking trail to Record Hill and fantastic views of Lake George.
The Gull Bay and Last Great Shoreline Preserves were merged in 2021 to create the 1,078-acre Sucker Brook Preserve. This area incorporates 260 acres of wetlands, including beaver ponds and an active great blue heron rookery, more than 1.3 miles of streams, and 4,225 feet of lake shoreline.
The Sucker Brook Preserve also provides more than 6.5 miles of recreational trails with interpretive signage along the way to educate visitors about the wildlife and ecology of the lands they’re exploring.
Retirement Future
Continued From Page 11
• Diversification: Spread your investments across different asset classes to reduce risk.
• Rebalancing: Periodically rebalance your portfolio to maintain your desired asset allocation.
• Risk Management: Consider purchasing insurance products like long-term care insurance to protect against unexpected expenses.
• Tax Planning: Work with a tax professional to minimize your tax liability in retirement.
Planning for Fulfilling Retirement
Beyond financial planning, consider these aspects of retirement:
• Healthcare: Research healthcare options and explore Medicare benefits.
• Housing: Decide whether to downsize,
relocate, or age in place.
• Social Activities: Plan for social engagement and volunteer opportunities.
• Estate Planning: Create a comprehensive estate plan to ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes.
Seeking Professional Advice
A qualified financial advisor can provide personalized guidance and tailored strategies to help you achieve your retirement goals. Consider consulting with an advisor to develop a comprehensive retirement plan.
By taking proactive steps and making informed decisions, you can secure a comfortable and fulfilling retirement. Start planning today and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with financial security.
The LGLC has purchased 93 acres of land in Glenburnie that protects water quality and connects Anthony’s Nose (center) to the Sucker Brook Preserve (foreground).
Courtesy Carl Heilman, II/Wild Visions, Inc.:
Pioneer Presents A $20,500 Donation To Special Olympics New York At Lake George Polar Plunge
Led by a hearty group of employees, Pioneer made a major splash when the Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics New York (SONY) was held at Shepard Beach Park in Lake George on Saturday, November 23.
Representatives of Pioneer presented a ceremonial check for $20,500 to Special Olympics New York to support its important work in providing inclusive opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to experience the thrill of competing in authentic sports. Following the check presentation, 20 Pioneer employees joined participants in making the plunge into Lake George.
“We take seriously our responsibility to invest in improving lives throughout the Capital Region,” said Tom Amell, president and CEO of Pioneer. “The impactful work of Special Olympics New York, providing athletes with opportunities to grow, thrive, and reach their potential, was a natural fit for the Pioneer Charitable Foundation to support. I’m especially proud to witness the selflessness and generosity shown by Pioneer employees in caring for their neighbors, and humbled to be
Adirondack
“It all happened,” Womer said. “Playing computer games with people globally and video conference calls where you see attendees in person, things no one was talking about back in the day.”
“I have a strong feeling that conversation led me to a path in computer engineering and
part of a team that is positively impacting the communities we serve.”
Pioneer’s donation includes a $15,000 sponsorship commitment to support SONY’s Unified Sports Program, which combines individuals with and without intellectual disabilities on teams for training and competition. The funds help to ensure athletes won’t need to pay for their own equipment, such as jerseys, and subsidizes the cost of rental space to hold games.
It also includes a $1,500 sponsorship for the Polar Plunge event, and participating Pioneer employees contributed more than $2,500 in individual fundraising to support the cause.
Th is donation is aligned with the Pioneer Charitable Foundation’s mission of “Helping Kids be Kids.” Since its formation in 2018, the foundation has provided $1.6 million to more than 400 local non-profits that serve vulnerable children, from housing, nutrition and health care assistance to educational, social and recreational programs. In addition, Pioneer employees have contributed over 16,000 hours in local volunteer service.
soft ware development,” he said. “And that eventually led me to where I am today.”
The Womer brothers foresaw the future of network cabling, fiber optics and security. Now Dave and Bob Jr. are carrying on their legacy for the next technological generation.
Adirondack Cabling and Security is a family business with a culture of “treating one another like family,” Womer said. “We try to do what is right by our employees and make sure customers are treated like friends and family, too.”
Learn more at www.adirondacksecurity.com.
The Tri-County United Way Is Seeking New Partner Agencies For Investment Fund
Tri-County United Way has announced the opening of new applications for new partner agencies to join its 2025 Community Investment Fund.
The programs seeking funding must address the needs of individuals in one or more of TriCounty United Way’s key focus areas: youth (up to age 24), seniors, and those affected by mental health challenges across Warren, Washington, and Northern Saratoga Counties.
Applicants must also serve Tri-County United Way’s ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed) population—individuals who earn above the federal poverty level but below a sustainable wage. The Priority Area Screening Application is available on Tri-County United Way’s website at www.tricountyunitedway.org/ priority-area-screening-application.
All Priority Area Screening Applications must be submitted via the Tri-County United Way website by January 10, 2025. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations located within Northern
Saratoga, Washington, and/or Warren counties and comply with all relevant federal, state, and local legal and operational requirements (including government-approved accounting practices, annual audits, 990 tax forms, and non-discrimination policies). Once an agency is screened and approved, they will be invited to submit a full Request for Proposal (RFP) for funding of up to $10,000. A maximum of three new agencies will be selected for funding in 2025. Funding requests cannot be applied to capital improvements or administrative staff salaries. Tri-County United Way is a committed advocate for the health, education, and financial well-being of individuals in Warren, Washington, and northern Saratoga counties. They extend their deepest gratitude to their current partner agencies for their ongoing support, service, and dedication.
For more details, contact Tri-County United Way at 518-793-3136 or tcuwadmin@TriCountyUnitedWay.org.
Eight Free Online Career Skills Workshops Have Been Scheduled Th rough December
Cold winter days are the perfect time to stay inside and improve your career skills, and the staff at Warren County Career Center and their Capital Region Career Centers partners have scheduled eight free online career skills workshops in December that offer the opportunity to do so.
The staff at Warren County Department of Workforce Development/Career Center have worked with their counterparts around the Capital Region to put together easy-to-access workshops that assist job seekers in improving skills they can use to better their careers.
Workshops focus on use of social media effectively for career goals; resume development; overcoming barriers to employment; networking and completing job applications, and several other topics. Registration is required, but there is no fee.
Using Social Media, Tuesday, December 31, 1:30 p.m.
These classes are part of the monthly offerings from Capital Region Career Centers, a group of local county and city-based Career Centers and partners that includes Warren County Career Center. Those who miss any of December’s offerings can check back in January for a new calendar of workshops.
The Career Centers consortium coordinates services to address the workforce needs of the Greater Capital Region by providing a variety of career and workforce resources, training opportunities, and more.
Members include Warren County Career Center; Capital Region Workforce New York; Columbia-Greene Workforce NY; City of Albany Career Center; L.E.A.P of Washington County; Rensselaer County Career Center; Saratoga County Career Center; Schenectady County Connects; and Workforce Solutions System of Fulton, Montgomery and Schoharie Counties.
Pioneer employees raised $20,500 and joined the Lake George Polar Plunge to support inclusive sports for athletes with intellectual disabilities.
Courtesy Pioneer
Continued From Page 1
make a go of it. This is Raven’s third year in business and by all accounts it’s full steam ahead.
“I’ve pretty much worked in every aspect of railroading,” he said. “That’s why we’re successful here. My first summer job in high school when I was 17, 18 years old was spiking tracks over in Greenwich for the Battenkill Railroad.”
Later, he worked for Canadian Pacific Railway, became a locomotive engineer and eventually moved up to division superintendent for Pan Am Railways, a subsidiary of CSX, in charge of all operations between Rotterdam and Boston.
Raven said his railway has flourished, unlike previous ones, because of its close ties to the community.
“Its a different business model,” he said. “What we do differently is work with all the local businesses, use local products and do local fund-raisers.”
On Nov. 16, the railway made a special run for Operation Toy Train, giving people a chance to donate gifts for underprivileged children at multiple stops where crowds enjoyed live music and free taste treats.
“Its a lot different when it’s run by somebody who was born and raised here instead of sitting in a corporate office in Chicago,” Raven said. “There aren’t too many places where the president, owner and CEO is on almost every single train, fixing engines, fixing the track, being out there every day. Its a very hands-on approach. You have to know how to do it all to have a small railroad like this.”
The fun continues later this winter with a Valentines Day ride called the Wine and Chocolate Train, followed by St. Patricks and Easter Bunny trips, the Maple in April Hadley Express and a Mothers Day Tea & Brunch Train.
The full season begins on Memorial Day Weekend and continues through summers with all
kinds of special excursions such as dinner trains, Sunday Funday Sundae and Sunset Limited Beer & Wine trains, and both a Pizza and Moonlight Moonshine Express.
After Labor Day its time for the Pumpkin Picker and Autumn Explorer, leading right back into the holidays.
The railway also allows cyclists to park cars at the Corinth station, bike south and load bikes on the train for a trip back to their vehicle.
Part-time employees such as Andrew Leece, of Glenville, help out because of their love for railroading. “My great-grandfather and my fathers uncle worked for the Erie Lackawana out of Susquehanna, Pennsylvania,” he said. “There’s a lot of history with this line. It started out bringing wealthy people from New York City to their Great Camps in the Adirondacks. Teddy Roosevelt took this line to become president after President McKinley was shot.”
“So we’re not only preserving railroad history, but the history of the Adirondacks and our country as well,” Leece said.
Raven started out with one locomotive and two cars, but to keep up with demand has expanded to six locomotives and 13 cars, as many rides are booked solid.
He purchased equipment with savings and some revenue from a separate business, Adirondack Cruise & Charter Company, which offers pontoon boat rides on Saratoga Lake.
“A lot of it was knowing people in the industry,” he said. “I was able to orchestrate a lot of deals and trades.”
Some locomotives are on other properties, leased out to freight operations, which also generates income.
The future?
Previous companies on this rail line went all the way to North Creek. But track north of Corinth is owned by Warren County.
A firm called Revolution Rail offers rail bike adventures out of North Creek, but the Warren
Kiss: French Drink: Russian Eat: American Wednesday thru Saturday 4:30 - 9pm Reservations recommended
County portion of track hasn’t had train traffic since Saratoga & North Creek Railway ceased operations several years ago.
Raven said he’d like to partner with Revolution Rail some day, but for now his main focus is doing the best job possible on his section of track.
“Were both in the tourism business,” he said. “It makes a lot of sense to do things that keep this great asset in place. But we have a nice little home base right here in Corinth. That works good for us right now.”
Warren County officials have discussed the possibility of tearing up their track, costing an estimated $30 million, and replacing it with a
multi-purpose recreation trail.
Raven is strongly opposed to the idea.
“Busloads of people come here,” he said. “We get groups of special needs kids and seniors. A bike trail is only going to serve a group of elite people. Who’s going to cycle deep into the Adirondacks where you don’t even have cell phone coverage? Certainly not a family with kids, certainly not seniors; not special needs groups.
“Train rides make the beauty of the Adirondacks available to a broader audience,” he said. “Its important to keep this asset intact. Once you lose the infrastructure its gone.”
For information go to: www.corinthtrain.com
Personnel Briefs
Continued From Page 2
further strengthen this rich tradition.
The Arrow Family of Companies is pleased to announce that its subsidiary bank, Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company, has welcomed Elizabeth Catizone as Branch Manager of its Troy Office and Lindsey Keeler as Branch Manager of its West Avenue Office.
As branch managers, Catizone and Keeler are responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the branch and meeting the financial needs of the community.
Catizone has more than four years of banking experience, most recently as a branch manager of Trustco Bank. Active in her community, Catizone volunteers for Albany Rotary Club, Regional Food Bank and Trinity Baptist Church.
Keeler has 20 years of banking experience, as a teller and a regional operations manager supporting an average of 30 branches for nearly 15 years. Most recently, Keeler served as financial center manager at Berkshire Bank.
The Arrow Family of Companies is pleased to announce the promotion of Lisa Wichelns to Vice President, Branch Manager of the Saratoga Main Office for its subsidiary Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company.
Wichelns is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the branch and meeting the financial needs of the community. She brings 18 years of financial services experience to Saratoga National Bank, most recently as West Avenue Branch Manager and previously in mortgage lending and bank management.
Wichelns is a member of the Saratoga Economic Development Corporation and volunteers for the American Red Cross Adirondack Saratoga Chapter. She is a graduate of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce Executive Institute and is a former board member of the Stillwater Community Center.
She is originally from Albany and currently lives in Stillwater.
Saratoga Builders Donate $60,000
The Saratoga Builders Association has presented proceeds totaling $60,000 from the 2024 Saratoga Showcase of Homes to Rebuilding Together Saratoga County and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties. The association has announced that the total contribution to local charities from this area’s premiere new home tour event is now over $1.6 million.
The 2024 edition of the Saratoga Showcase of Homes had eight homes from seven builders on tour this year – Abele Homes, Bella Home Builders, Belmonte Builders (2), Kodiak Construction, Stephen James, Trojanski Builders and Witt Construction. Congratulations to Kodiak Construction for winning the People’s Choice Award for Executive Home and Bella Home Builders for winning the People’s Choice Award for Luxury Home.
This year’s event attracted over 3,000 visitors to these beautiful new homes, which were on display over two weekends. In what has become an autumn tradition in the area, the Saratoga Builders Association is dedicated to this long running show being an integral part of the fabric in our fall season.
This annual community event is made possible
only with the generous support of over 70 corporate and media sponsors. The 2024 Saratoga Showcase of Homes, celebrating 28 years of exceptional homes, was held on October 5-6 and 12-13. All the homes were located in Saratoga County and the proceeds benefited two local charities - Rebuilding Together Saratoga County and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties. For more details on the homes, builders, award winners, and virtual tours of the homes, please visit the interactive website at www.saratogashowcaseofhomes.com.
The Saratoga Builders Association, Inc. (SBA) is a specialized professional trade association representing an industry basic to the well-being and economy of the people of Saratoga County. Its membership includes residential and commercial builders, developers, remodelers, building material suppliers, sub-contractors, financial institutions, architects, engineers, realtors, attorneys and other industry professionals. SBA is committed to the continued growth, prosperity and quality of life in Saratoga County.
For more information, visit www.saratogabuilders.org or contact Barry Potoker, executive director at bpotoker@saratogabuilders.org.
Barry Potoker (left) stands with George Earle, Michelle Larkin, and Mark Johnson displaying the checks representing money raised through the Showcase of Homes for two area charities.
