Glens Falls Business Journal - March 2023

Inflation, Better Broadband Service Voiced As Concerns Of Legislators At ARCC Luncheon

State Basketball Tournament Hosted By Glens Falls Continues To Be Economic Boon

BY PAUL POST

It wasn’t terribly long ago that some people called for closure and redevelopment of the Glens Falls Civic Center, which had become a financial albatross to its owner, the City of Glens Falls.

There was no hockey team and few other events were held throughout the year.

Now with a new name, Cool Insuring Arena, and under new management, the facility brings an estimated 250,000 people downtown annually, generating welcome revenue for a variety of local business.

In no small way, it’s a major contributor to the city’s economic revitalization.

The community has embraced the Adirondack Thunder hockey team, which is averaging nearly 3,500 fans per game, the most in its history, and almost 10,000 people turned out for two of the most recent home games on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 23-24.

But the center’s most anticipated annual event is this month’s three-day (March 17-19) New York state public high school boys basketball tournament, featuring top teams and players from throughout the Empire State.

BY PAUL POST

Government and employer-driven workforce development programs are critical to overcoming a nationwide labor shortage problem that’s reaching crisis proportions locally as well.

That’s what elected officials told more than 200 people at the recent Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce Lunch With Legislators gathering on Feb. 25 at the Queensbury Hotel in Glens Falls .

“There’s not a single employer I’ve visited in my district who’s said this isn’t an issue for them,” said

state Sen. Dan Stec.

U.S. Rep. Elisa Stefanik said, “Every small business I go to, every manufacturer, every hospital, they tell me one of their top concerns is attracting labor.”

They discussed a variety of business-related issues with state Sen. Jake Ashby and Assembly members Carrie Woerner and Matt Simpson. Woerner and Simpson’s districts encompass northern Saratoga County.

During the pandemic, many people discovered

Continued On Page 13

Dr. Rugge Presented Juckett Award At ARCC Event At Sagamore, Attended By Almost 300

The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce, along with almost 300 regional business leaders and guests, celebrated the accomplishments of Hudson Headwaters Health Network founder Dr. John Rugge on March 10 at the Sagamore Resort in Bolton Landing.

At the dinner, Rugge was presented with the J. Walter Juckett Award.

ARCC has honored a community member with the award at its annual dinner event for the past 34 years.

Juckett was an active participant in many community organizations, including the Mohican Council of the Boy Scouts, the Lake Champlain Cancer Research Organization, the Adirondack Samaritan Counseling Center, First Presbyterian Church of Glens Falls, the Salvation Army, and ARCC.

After his passing in 1988, the Chamber’s board of directors created the prestigious J. Walter Juckett Community Service Award. Each year, the award is bestowed upon a deserving honoree, who demonstrates a fierce commitment and hands-on dedication to the betterment of our community.

“Dr. Rugge had a vision to bring accessible health care to all parts of our region, and with much hard work and determination, he made that a reality,” said ARCC President and CEO Tricia Rogers. “He is an inspiration to us all and we were thrilled to honor him with the J. Walter Juckett Award.”

Rugge was a family physician who came to the Adirondacks to finish writing a canoe book in 1974. He accepted a position with the Glens Falls Hospital to serve as supervising physician at a brand-new health center in Chestertown with the intention

of practicing for six months before returning to Albany Medical Center.

As it turned out, all the surrounding communities were losing their general practitioners to retirement, and Rugge found it impossible to depart with no one to take his place. Instead, he combined medical practice with community engagement and grant writing to establish the Hudson Headwaters Health Network, which has grown to include 21 health centers between Saratoga County to the

“It’s a great event for the arena, but certainly Warren County as well,” said Jeff Mead, the center’s general manager. “Between 10,000 and 15,000 people will come for the weekend. It’s especially important because March is a little bit slower time of year. For three days the tourney fills hotels, restaurants, bars and retail stores.”

Lake George Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau, citing a Destinations International event impact calculator, says the hoop tourney contributes $5.7 million to the local economy.

This includes immediate returns for lodging, food and beverage, and related travel spending, plus the long-term benefit of people making repeat visits to the area for events, recreation and vacation ideas they learn about during the tourney.

To help fans experience the area, the Chamber offers a mobile “show your badge” pass that helps familiarize them with places and things to do nearby.

“Some businesses also offer discounts to pass holders,” said Amanda Metzger, Chamber marketing director. “We also use news about

Continued On Page 15

Lake George Mayor, Key Tourism Official In Region, Leaving Public Office After 52 Years

BY PAUL POST

When Bob Blais took the office of village of Lake George mayor decades ago, there was only one special event in Lake George, a weekly Tuesday night band concert.

Now there’s an endless variety of year-round attractions such as Americade motorcycle rally, Adirondack Nationals car show, Ice Castles and a full lineup of events at Charles R. Wood Park’s Festival Commons like the Adirondack Wine & Food Festival and numerous concerts.

Together they draw tens of thousands of visitors to Lake George each year, which drives the local tourism economy. But without Blais’ leadership, it may not have been possible.

“People say, ‘How come you’ve been mayor for 52 years?’ It just takes me longer,” he said. “But I like to think when we get it done, we do it right.”

Blais’ career as America’s longest-tenured mayor is scheduled to end March 31 when his retirement takes effect. But his contributions to the area’s economic development will be felt for many years to come.

“His greatest attribute is his clear passion for the area,” state Sen. Dan Stec said. “It comes through in everything he says and does. Any time you talk to Bob Blais you can see this true love of Lake George. He’s been so long-tenured there, he’s synonymous with Lake George. He’s an icon.”

“I’m astounded at his longevity, continued energy and health,” Stec said. “I always tell him, ‘Bob, you need to find a way to bottle and sell it.’ He should because he’s got the Fountain of Youth secret somewhere.”

Blais, 86, plans to keep promoting Lake George

after he leaves office in a new $35,000 director of special events position funded by the village, town and Warren County.

A 2022 study conducted for a proposal to dissolve the village (it was voted down) found that the mayor spent more than half his time working on tourism and special events.

“We ran 82 special events out of this office last year,” Blais said.

Plans call for him to continue in this capacity,

ARCC President Tricia Rogers poses with Dr. John Rugge, Juckett award winner.

Amanda Blanton

Bob Blais has been Lake George mayor since April, 1971.

Paul Post

Jeff Mead, general manager of Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls.

Paul Post

Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner addresses the crowd at the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce Lunch With Legislators gathering on Feb. 25 at the Queensbury Hotel in Glens Falls . Paul Post

Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co. announced the promotion of Connor McCoy to commercial relationship manager serving the Queensbury and Lake George region.

McCoy will manage a portfolio of current commercial customer relationships and work to continuously foster new relationships for the bank.

He has been with Glens Falls National Bank for six years, starting as a loan services representative and later promoted to corporate banking associate.

McCoy is a current member of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce Leadership Adirondack Class. He earned a bachelor’s degree in management and finance from Holy Names University in Oakland, Calif. He is a Lake George native and currently lives in Glens Falls.

* * *

Associates of Glens Falls Insurance announced the hiring of Mitchell Brayman as a new sales and service associate.

Brayman holds a New York state insurance agents’ license in property and casualty insurance.

Recently graduated from SUNY Adirondack with an associate’s degree in liberal arts math and science.

Prior to joining full-time Associates of Glens Falls Insurance, Brayman started as an intern at Associates for over a year.

* * *

Advokate LLC, 333 Glen St., Suite 201, Glens Falls, announced the appointment of Cam J. Car-

Velocity Sales In Moreau Helps Businesses Achieve Their Sales Visions And Goals

BY PAUL POST

dinale as director of strategy and operations.

Cardinale has been employed at Advokate since 2021, beginning as marketing and operations associate and moving up to marketing and operations director, and is now the lead on the Advokate team, overseeing internal operations and strategy as well as taking a supervisory role over the marketing and design that Advokate performs for clients.

Advokate offerings include web design, logos, branding, influencer management, layout, illustration, graphic design, marketing, PR, copy writing and editing, social media, videography, photography, consultation, speaking engagements and more.

* * *

Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co. announced the promotion of Leslie D’Angelico to business development sales manager.

D’Angelico will be responsible for day-to-day management of the business development team with a focus on developing, growing and deepening new and existing relationships across the bank’s footprint and business lines. She will also continue to support the bank’s retail branch teams.

D’Angelico has more than 20 years of experience in banking, 12 of which have been spent with Saratoga National Bank and the Arrow Family of Companies. In that time, she has successfully held leadership and individual producer roles within Retail Banking.

She attended SUNY Adirondack and has completed several courses from the American Institute of Banking. She lives in Queensbury and is active in the community serving on two boards, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks and Queensbury Community Scholarship Association.

Alan VanTassel stays in business by working himself out of a job.

After 30-plus years in corporate America, he recently launched his own Moreau-based firm, Velocity Sales, which helps entrepreneurs achieve their sales vision and goals.

“Sales is an area of difficulty for most small business owners,” VanTassel said. “They’re passionate about what they do, but their experience is not often in sales. At some point they get to a place where sales are declining or they’re frustrated with revolving-door salespeople coming and going, and can’t attract good talent. Clients hire me on an interim business. We don’t just consult, we actually do the work for them.”

“The model is to help them build a sales structure they don’t have, to help them get their business to the next level,” he said. “I’ll help them hire salespeople, do weekly ride-alongs and attend sales meetings. I can be part of the business and run sales while developing a longterm strategy or plan. After 12 to 24 months I’d be gone.”

VanTassel is an alum of Queensbury High School and Adirondack Community College (now SUNY Adirondack). Early in his career, he traveled the country for Melville Corp., the parent company of numerous nationwide chain stores such as Thom McAn shoes, Marshalls and KB Toys. Then he was a regional sales manager for Stride Rite shoes before moving to Verizon, where he managed sales in its upstate New York market’s messaging division.

Most recently, VanTassel spent the last nine years working for StoredTech.

Right before this, however, in 2000 he launched his own Glens Falls-based technology firm, which laid the groundwork for his newest venture, Velocity Sales.

“That’s where I got my first exposure to the life of an entrepreneur,” he said. “That’s when you become chief cook and bottle washer. In the corporate world, I didn’t realize how much got done by someone else. It gave me a new appreciation for business owners and entrepreneurs, how hard they work.”

VanTassel decided that 2023 was a good time to make significant career and lifestyle change. Velocity Sales was launched in early January, aligned with a global firm called Sales Xceleration, which supports more than 200 sales leaders like VanTassel throughout the U.S. and several other countries.

Its stated mission is to provide “outsourced sales consultants to small businesses and midsized corporations that want to launch, expand

or improve their sales operations to drive revenue growth.”

Small and new businesses are quite often plagued by declining or stagnant sales because the owner is focused on too many other tasks. Or, the enterprise may be growing too fast with no sales process or procedures in place, and the owner doesn’t have a good strategy and doesn’t know how to create one.

VanTassel helps solve these and many other similar problems.

“I have this huge passion for wanting to help entrepreneurs,” he said. “It’s tough running your own business and it’s lonely at the top. Most entrepreneurs who go into business don’t realize how hard it is. I know I can bring value and help them get back the quality of life they might be struggling with because they’re just pulled in too many different directions. The more people I can do it for, the most satisfied I’m going to be.”

At any given time VanTassel works with three to four different clients, primarily in the Capital Region and North Country where he developed a broad business network over the years. Clients are in many types of business, from insurance to executive recruitment.

“I like working with customers in the community where I live and giving back that way, but I have no boundaries,” he said. “I’m currently consulting with one client in Wisconsin. The beauty of why I chose this is that I’m doing what I like, but at my own pace.”

FEBRUARY

Rd. Whitehall, NY 12887

Alan VanTassel is the chief sales officer at Velocity Sales. Courtesy Velocity Sales

Kingpin’s Alley Family Fun Center Owners Buy New Bowling Facility In Latham

Wing Fest Returns To Downtown Glens Falls; Activities Include Live Music In City Park

The Glens Falls Collaborative will host its annual Wing Fest event on Saturday, April 29, in downtown Glens Falls.

The event is a competition between restaurants for the best wings. Tasting is from noon to 3 p.m. and an awards ceremony at the bandstand in City Park at 3:30 p.m. will close out the event. There will be multiple categories that restaurants can win.

There will also be entertainment in City Park.

The second annual Michael DuBray Inferno Wing Eating Competition will also takes place at 2 p.m. on Glen Street. Competitors will pay a registration fee of $25 that will go into a Michael DuBray Scholarship Fund and will determine who can eat the most hot wings. The winner will receive a trophy and bragging rights.

The contest honors Michael DuBray, also known as DeeJay DuBray, who helped found the event and served as its chair and champion for many years. Register for the eating contest at www.glensfallscollaborative.com.

The Collaborative is still seeking participating restaurants for the event. Restaurants are invited to apply online at www.glensfallscollaborative.com.

This event will be cash only, a departure from the previous ticket system.

The Glens Falls Collaborative will hold its Wing Fest on Saturday, April 29.

BY SUSAN ELISE CAMPBELL

Th e husband and wife team of Doug and Alison Bohannon, owners of Kingpin’s Alley Family Fun Center in South Glens Falls, added a second location to their business portfolio with the purchase of Spare Time bowling alley and arcade at 375 Troy-Schenectady Road in Latham.

The Bohannons said they closed the transaction on Nov. 30 for $3.2 million.

“I have been in the bowling business since 1999, starting out as a pin changer and working my way up through management,” he said.

In 2013 the opportunity was presented to purchase the Spare Time lanes in South Glens Falls. The Bohannans re-named the business Kingpin’s Alley Family Fun Center and in February 2022 was approached by Spare Time Entertainment about purchasing the Latham location.

“This is a company I was employed by for 13 years and who sold us our South Glens Falls alleys 10 years ago, so we are very familiar with each other,” said Bohannon. “Negotiations went

pretty quickly.”

The Bohannons changed the name of the center but have no plans to renovate at this time. Neither will there be staff changes among the 30-plus employees.

“There is a great staff here, and the manager, Carol Judge, has been at these lanes for 17 years,” he said. “She is very well known in the area for her bowling knowledge and ability to run an alley.”

He said bowling is very popular right now.

“This is true across the country, not just upstate New York where our alleys are located,” he said.

The Bohannons want to make the new location in Latham “the destination of choice. We would like patrons to know what we have to offer, and customer service is the number one thing. People have money to spend right now. We want to give them their money’s worth and help them have fun so that they will want to come back.”

Kingpin’s Alley Family Fun Center is available for parties and corporate events. There is league bowling Monday through Thursday nights and open play on weekends.

Participating Downtown restaurants will serve from their storefronts, and restaurants from outside the city will serve from locations along Glen, Ridge and Maple streets

Voting will take place online at glensfallscollaborative.com. QR codes for voting will be displayed around town and votes must be cast by 3 p.m.

The Wing Fest is produced by the Glens Falls Collaborative with major support from the City of Glens Falls and the Glens Falls Business Improvement District.

The Collaborative was created in 2012 by a

Juckett Award

Continued

From Page 1

Canadian border with some 200 medical providers and more than 150,000 patients.

The award was presented to Dr. Rugge by Tom Murphy, president and CEO of Arrow Financial Corp., and Dr. Kristin Mack of Hudson Headwaters

group of dedicated merchants who wanted to crosspromote and increase business flowing to downtown Glens Falls, in cooperation with the City of Glens Falls and the Glens Falls Business Improvement District.

The Collaborative has expanded to put on major Downtown events including Pet Fest, Grandma’s Table, Take A Bite, Boo2You, the ADK Christkindlmarkt and Hometown Holidays.

It also creates a brochure of Glens Falls activities that has a large distribution, joint advertising, and now includes restaurants, arts and nonprofit organizations, health-related businesses, media arts firms, different service providers and other area businesses.

Health Network.

To see a list of past honorees, visit www. adirondackchamber.org/j.-walter-juckett-community-service-award.

Founded in 1914, the ARCC is a 100 percent membership funded organization representing businesses in Washington, Warren, Essex and Northern Saratoga counties.

Chuck Ciaccia 29 years

Jude Gosh 34 years

Dave Weiss 23 years

Spencer Agan 25 years

Dennis Choiniere 48 years

Doug and Alison Bohannon, owners of Kingpin’s Alley Family Fun Center in South Glens Falls, pose in their recently acquired second bowling center, Spare Time, in Latham, New York.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO VIEW ALL ARTICLES ONLINE AND SHARE THE STORY ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS.

Charles R. Wood Foundation Awards $2.3M

In Grants; Seeks Applications For 2023

The Charles R. Wood Foundation is accepting grant applications from IRS approved 501(c)3 organizations whose projects or programs assist children, healthcare or the arts in the Lake George Region and surrounding areas.

Eligible applicants are invited to visit www. charlesrwoodfoundation.com to submit online applications by April 1 for consideration at the spring meeting of trustees or by Sept. 1 for consideration at the fall meeting.

Over the past five years, the foundation has awarded nearly $9.7 million dollars to charitable organizations in the Capital Region, North Country, and western Vermont.

“We are so pleased to be able to invest in so many worthwhile projects. From the smallest soup kitchens to the larger capital projects, we are committed to investing in children, healthcare and the arts in our geographical focus area,” said Charlene Wood, chair and trustee.

The foundation’s Special Healthcare initiative aims to improve the overall health of the population in the region and will continue to accept collaborative applications from organizations serving Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties.

Charles R. Wood established the foundation in 1978. Grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations with an emphasis on programs for children, healthcare and the arts.

Grants to area nonprofit organizations, totaling over $2.3 million, awarded in 2022 include:

• $300,000 to Albany Medical Center for Glens Falls Hospital’s Crisis Stabilization Unit relocation and expansion.

• $300,000 to the Double H - Hole In The Woods Ranch, Inc., for the 30th anniversary Capital Campaign

• $175,000 to Dollywood Foundation for the Imagination Library Program in the counties of Essex, Clinton, Franklin and Hamilton.

• $150,000 to Emblemhealth Foundation, Inc. for EmblemHealth Health@Work serving Fulton, Saratoga, Warren, Washington, Clinton, Essex, Franklin, and Hamilton counties.

• $125,000 to Albany Medical Center for the Palliative Care program fund.

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL

Editorial: RJDeLuke@glensfallsbusinessjournal.com

• $100,000 to United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc. for the YMCA of Plattsburgh, Inc.

• $100,000 to Canton-Potsdam Hospital for Emergency Department expansion.

• $100,000 to Childrens Museum at Saratoga for the Theatre Exhibition.

• $89,000 to the YMCA of Saratoga County for creating an Intergenerational Community Hub dedicated to health and wellness.

• $50,000 to Habitat for Humanity International, Inc., for the Lawrence Street Project, Glens Falls.

• $50,000 to Joint Council for Economic Opportunity of Clinton & Franklin for a cargo truck for JCEO food assistance programs.

• $50,000 to The Hyde Collection Trust for security upgrades.

• $50,000 to St. Johns Episcopal Church in Johnstown for building renovations.

• $40,000 to Tannery Pond Center for Arts Education & Community Gatherings in North Creek for lighting and digital projector.

• $40,000 to Saratoga Springs Performing Arts Center, Inc. for SPAC School of the Arts - Advancing IDEA in Arts Education.

• $30,000 to North Country Health and Wellness, Inc., in Peru for Youth Sports and nutrition program.

• $25,000 to the Open Door in Glens Falls for Life Path Program: Health, Wellness and Nutrition.

• $25,000 to AdkAction Org, Inc. for Farm Fresh Nutrition for our Adirondack Neighbors.

• $20,000 to Special Olympics New York, Inc. for Lake George Region Young Athletes program expansion.

• $20,000 to Center For Disability Services, Inc. for Prospect School flooring renovation.

• $16,500 to Ticonderoga Central School District for Ticonderoga Area backpack program

• $15,000 to North Country Childrens Museum for Kids Stage Theater.

• $13,000 to Adirondack Theatre Festival, Inc. for ATF Capital Improvements - 50 Elm St. Office Building, Glens Falls.

• $13,000 to Moreau Emergency Squad, Inc. for AED field deployment.

• $12,000 to United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc. for The ALICE Project.

• $12,000 to Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra, Inc. for Glens Falls Symphony Children’s Concerts 2023.

• $10,125 to Park Theater Foundation, Inc., Glens Falls, for music and tech education.

• $10,000 to Rebuilding Together-Saratoga County for Repairs for Low-Income Families with Children in Warren & Washington counties.

• $10,000 to West Glens Falls Fire Company No 1, Inc. for AED replacement.

• $10,000 to Wesley Health Care Center, Inc., Saratoga Springs, for Life Enrichment through Purposeful Play.

• $10,000 to NYSARC, Inc. - Saratoga County Chapter for Therapeutic Equipment of Beko Carlo floor lifts and manual wheelchairs.

• $10,000 to Family YMCA of the Glens Falls Area for No More Learning Gap Camp.

• $10,000 to Wildwood Programs, Inc. for Camp Wildwood: Accessibility for Students with Complex Needs in Latham.

• $10,000 to Glens Falls Area Youth Center, Inc. for Health and Wellness Program.

• $10,000 to PTA New York Congress for Glens Falls City School District backpack program.

• $10,000 to Rise Housing and Support Services, Inc. for Housing is Healthcare - Community Residence Rehabilitation in Saratoga Springs.

• $8,000 to Pride of Ticonderoga, Inc. for Youth Ice Rink Recreation Anchor Project.

• $7,500 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks, Inc. for COVID-19 Mitigation: Combating the Mental Health Crisis.

• $6,000 to Empire State College Foundation, Inc. for scholarships for 3 local students enrolled in School of Nursing and Allied Health.

• $5,483.50 to Home Made Theater, Inc., in Saratoga Springs for multi-venue operations readiness.

• $5,000 to Saratoga Center for the Family for Mental Health Wellness Support for Children & Families.

• $5,000 to Girls on the Run Capital Region for Capital Region - Northern Territory Expansion.

• $5,000 to Mercy Care for the Adirondacks, Inc., for Age-friendly Communities in the Tri-Lakes Region of the Adirondacks.

• $5,000 to Mechanicville Area Community Services Center, Inc. for MACSC Afterschool Reboot.

• $5,000 to Lake George Region Women for WIN, Inc., for Hygiene Kits for Kids.

• $5,000 to Historic Salem Courthouse Preservation Association, Inc. for Lunch, Learn & Play - Post COVID-19 Expanded Outreach Free Summer Youth Program.

• $5,000 to Upper Valley Haven, Inc. for The Haven’s Children’s Services Program in White River Junction

• $5,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region, Inc. for Expanding Mentoring Programs to Address the Youth Mental Health Crisis.

• $5,000 to Civic Center of Moreau, Inc. for Teen Center, Bulldog Zone.

• $5,000 to Camp Abilities Saratoga, Inc. for 2 local campers to attend Sports Camp.

• $5,000 to Lake George Opera Festival Association, Inc. for Opera Saratoga Summer Festival.

• $5,000 to Lake George Music Festival for Time for Three in Lake George.

• $5,000 to Caroga Arts Collective, Inc. for Sherman’s Centennial Campaign matching grant

• $5,000 to Adirondack Folk School, Inc. for Blacksmith shop expansion and winterization

In addition, $69,130 was granted in smaller denominations to benefit various other regional notfor-profit organizations.

Information about the online grant application process can be obtained online at www.charlesrwoodfoundation.com.

Express Pack N Ship In Hudson Falls Now Includes UPS and FedEx Shipping Services

GlobalFoundries Providing General Motors With Chips For Advanced Vehicle Technology

General Motors Co. and GlobalFoundries have entered into a strategic, long-term agreement for the Malta-based company to supply computer chips for the automobile maker.

Through this agreement, GlobalFoundries will manufacture for GM’s key chip suppliers at GlobalFoundries’ advanced semiconductor facility in upstate New York, bringing a critical process to the U.S., officials said.

The agreement supports GM’s strategy to reduce the number of unique chips needed to power increasingly complex and techladen vehicles, the company said. With this strategy, chips can be produced in higher volumes and are expected to offer better quality and predictability, maximizing high value content creation for the end customer.

Semiconductors are the foundation of the technologies that are powering the electrification, autonomous driving and connectivity of the auto industry, and they have been center stage in the global chip shortage that has impacted automakers the last couple of years.

“GlobalFoundries will expand its production capabilities exclusively for GM’s supply chain, enabling us to strengthen our partnership with the automotive industry and New York state, while further accelerating automotive innovation with U.S.-based manufacturing for a more resilient supply chain.”

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer called the pact a “first-of-its-kind agreement” that “is going to drive the Capital Region economy forward and ensure Upstate New York remains in the driver’s seat as one of the nation’s leading hubs for semiconductor manufacturing that is so critical to the supply chain of the auto industry.

“I have long said that Upstate New York’s semiconductor corridor will be a major engine powering America’s technological future, and now ‘Made in New York’ chips will help jump-start the next generation of vehicles for GM across the country.”

BY CHRISTINE GRAF

At the beginning of 2023, Express Pack N Ship in Hudson Falls became a franchisee of Package Hub Business Center. There are more than 1,000 independently owned and operated Package Hub franchises throughout the country.

Located at 3316 Route 4, Express Pack N Ship is a full-service packaging and shipping company that operates out of the same space as Document Solutions of the North Country. Both businesses are owned by Rick Gallup who established Document Solutions more than 20 years ago. In addition to selling and servicing office equipment including copiers and printers, the company offers cloud solutions, computer network support, and managed print services.

According to Gallup, before becoming a franchisee of Package Hub, Express Pack N Ship offered Federal Express shipping only. They are now able to offer UPS shipping as well as a variety of virtual office services designed to meet the needs of the growing number of individuals who work from home.

“Since COVID, there are a lot more people from home, so we wanted to offer some services

that those folks could use,” he said. “We can provide you with a business address (not a PO box) and a business phone number. We can receive and send packages and mail for you, and we can also print brochures, flyers, and business cards if you need them.”

“Our digital mailbox service allows someone who works from home—either for a company or with their own business—to have a business address. We receive your mail for you here, and then we take a photo of it. You can then decide if you want to come pick it up or have us forward it to you. We can also scan it and send it to you electronically or dispose of it by shredding it.”

Digital mailbox services are increasingly popular, and different levels of service are available. Prices start at $10 per month.

Express Pack N Ship also offers graphic design services as well as black and white or color printing.

The store is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is closed on Sunday For more information, visit www. expresspacknship.com.

“We see our semiconductor requirements more than doubling over the next several years as vehicles become technology platforms,” said Doug Parks, GM executive vice president of global product development, purchasing and supply chain. “The supply agreement with GlobalFoundries will help establish a strong, resilient supply of critical technology in the U.S. that will help GM meet this demand, while delivering new technology and features to our customers.”

Dr. Thomas Caulfield, president and CEO of GlobalFoundries said his company is “committed to working with our customers in new and innovative ways to best address the challenges of today’s global supply chains.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said, “We’re making New York State not only the semiconductor capital of the country — but of the globe. This agreement will help to further establish New York state as a major hub for semiconductor manufacturing. With our nation-leading Green CHIPS legislation and the new Governor’s Office of Semiconductor Expansion, Management, and Integration, we are helping businesses like GM and GlobalFoundries expand the chips manufacturing ecosystem in our state, creating jobs and opportunities for generations to come.”

General Motors, its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Baojun and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety and security services, can be found at www.gm.com.

Rick Gallup, who established Document Solutions more than 20 years ago, now owns Express Pack N Ship in Hudson Falls, a packaging and shipping company.

Brookfield is proud to

an active role in the greater Warren, Washington and Saratoga region.

Economic Development Corporations

EDC, Our Communities And The Way Forward

BY JIM SIPLON

Earlier this year EDC Warren County shared a stark view of the future economy as we age, try to compete with a smaller and smaller workforce, and still build a community and economy that works.

To help catalyze the needed investments, public policy work, and collective actions needed to attract new, younger residents that can support our diversified economy for the long haul, EDC is adding “convener” to our list of roles we play supporting our businesses and communities.

Last year we brought Dr. Rachel Sederberg to Warren County from leading labor market research firm EMSI Burning Glass to share deep insights on the “demographic drought” we are all experiencing. Using that groundbreaking research and aggregating it with local economic data that is current and novel, EDC is now engaged in meeting with as many audiences as we can to share the underlying foundation for our position.

Convening as many groups as we can, EDC is sharing the data over the last 50 years that led to where we are so we can have informed discussions and public discourse on what we must do to navigate and adapt to our new normal.

One lesson I learned over and over in my previous chapters as a military, business and sustainability leader was the value of not rushing to action, especially on problems that took generations to develop.

Change is an emotional and psychological process as much as it is a business and policy one, often generating intense reactions akin to grieving. We need to allow business, community, and elected leaders all an opportunity to engage with the data, mourn the loss of what has changed and get to a productive place for the policy and investment decisions that lay in front of us. These include the need to make ourselves attractive to new younger workers and residents, creating housing capacity to receive them, transportation and childcare to sup-

port them and the many other aspects we need to work on together to step into this next chapter of our sustainable economy.

Fulfilling our role as leaders and partners in creating a long term, sustainable community and economy means more than recruiting new businesses and helping current ones succeed-it means sharing our data and analysis with CEOs, business groups like chambers of commerce, economic development partners, school leaders and boards, community service groups and any audiences that will have us.

The EDC will be looking to bring this critical information to as many forums and places as we can, to inform and elevate the dialogue that will be needed for years.

Investing in this long-term process is needed for us all to succeed. Consider how you can join us in this work. We need old members to renew their memberships, new ones to join us, new residents to share their experiences and needs, community groups to share their platforms and our municipal and government partners to continue to fund this critical work so we can thrive together in an ever changing economic world.

SEDC

Stakeholders ‘Have A Seat At The Table’ That Helps Bring Its Projects To Fruition

BY R.J. DELUKE

The Saratoga Economic Development Corp. (SEDC) has been a driving force in the economic development in the area for more than four decades.

Functioning as an independent, nonprofit group, its purpose is to create jobs and diversify the tax base. It is always examining what business or industry might be a good fit for the community and how to entice them to the area.

To that end it has helped attract companies like QUAD/Graphics, SYSCO Food Service, Ball Metal Corp., the Ace Hardware and Target distribution centers, Arnoff Global Logistics, Greenfield Manufacturing, AgroChem and many more to the area.

It was also a key player in the development of the $200 million Luther Forest Technology Campus.

Business retention is also important. SEDC works with state and regional officials on economic development programs available to encourage continued growth of existing industries.

Funding from the organization comes from businesses who pay memberships and thereby help the SEDC continue to work for a stronger economy that benefits all businesses. It also receives some funding from Saratoga County (though SEDC remains politically neutral).

Those that pay the SEDC fees are called “stakeholders.” And to retain and grow those entities, having tangible benefits is important. Retaining stakeholders (and growing them) is on a par with keeping Saratoga County’s existing businesses within the thriving business community.

“Stakeholders are imperative to our organization in many ways,” said Tori Riley SEDC vice president. “Our stakeholders are well-respected professional service providers that work throughout the region, across the United States and even around the world in a myriad of industries. The information, networks and connections are reciprocal and we elevate each other’s accomplishments by providing an inclusive platform that situates everyone at the table of opportunity.”

She said SEDC was founded by private sector leaders and “our mission has not

deviated for over 44 years. As businesses do, we have adapted to how we accomplish our goal; which is to provide the best possible quality of life for the residents of Saratoga County.”

For the stakeholders, SEDC staff works diligently “to afford them opportunities to stay in the know and make a bid for business. In return, we are informed and connected to best serve SEDC’s overall mission to promote retain and grow our county responsibly and sustainably.”

There are also challenges to membership retention. Riley said stakeholders recognize that their membership is an investment in the overall economic vitality of the county. One stakeholder benefit that may not seem as tangible as others is that when SEDC works with people in other areas, they shine a light on the existing businesses.

“We take great pride in showcasing Saratoga County on national and international stages and that includes knowing and sharing our stakeholders abilities and scopes of service and/or products,” said Riley. “Because that is a large part of what makes our region absolutely incredible. I

Continued On Page 7

Jim Siplon, president and CEO of EDC Warren County. Courtesy EDC Warren County

Tori Riley, vice president, Saratoga Economic Development Corp. Courtesy SEDC

Maple Syrup Season In The Region Attracts Visitors From Capital District And Beyond

Mayor

giving new Mayor Raymond Perry, who’s running unopposed, a chance to get acclimated to the job without losing any of the tourism momentum that’s been built up over the past several decades.

This impact pays huge dividends for the entire region, but especially for Village of Lake George residents.

“When I leave office the village will have somewhere around $9.3 million in its coffers,” Blais said. “Between $3 million and $4 million of this is in the general operating checking account and there’s more than $3 million in surplus funds, which comes principally from parking meter revenue ($1.4 million annually). We put that in a separate account. We don’t even use it.”

“Last year we only raised $1.5 million from taxpayers for our $7 million budget. That’s unheard of,” he said. “All the services and special events we developed bring us a tremendous amount of money. If somebody wants a street light in front of their house or a sidewalk, we’ve got the ability to do that because of the tourism and special event fees.

The village gets about $1 million annually from sales tax, occupancy tax and special events fees.

police patrols.

Another award was for starting the Greater Glens Falls Trolley System that carries people between Lake George and Glens Falls during the summer months. In addition to tourists, it’s a primary mode of transportation for many seasonal employees who staff local restaurants and hotels, which are essential to healthy tourism industry.

A third award was for working with Student Connection, a program that brings many foreign exchange students to Lake George, filling muchneeded hospitality- and tourism-related jobs each summer.

Lastly, the village was recognized for creation of the Lake George Recreation Center, which was paid for strictly by grants, no local funding, and built with volunteer labor.

Things haven’t always come easy, though. For example, it took Blais a long time to convince property owners about the benefits of creating a Lakefront Walkway. “People said, ‘You want to put that in back of my business? I’ve got docks there with boats on it. People will steal boats, damage docks and damage my property’,” he said.

But it’s turned out to be a highly popular feature with visitors and brings foot traffic to numerous lakefront businesses.

BY PAUL POST

How important is maple production to Warren County’s tourism economy?

Just look at where people come from.

Last spring, thousands of visitors flocked to Thurman for its annual Maple Days, spread out over three weekends, to enjoy one of nature’s sweetest taste treats.

Most, of course, made day trips from the Capital Region, but many others traveled hundreds of miles to celebrate this annual rite of spring. Points of origin, based on electronic transaction data, ranged from Boston to Buffalo and cities throughout Pennsylvania, while some visitors were on hand from Norfolk, Va., and St. Paul, Minn.

“We get literally thousands of people over the course of those three weekends,” said Randy Galusha, co-owner Toad Hill Maple Farm with his wife, Jill. “It accounts for about 20-25 percent of our annual sales. The promotion from Warren County Tourism, Lake George Chamber of Commerce and others out there really pays off and gives us repeat customers. People that learn about us keeping coming back.”

This year’s dates are Saturdays and Sundays March 11-12, 18-19 and 24-25. Guests are invited to visit five different maple operations to see how syrup is made, take tours, talk to producers, enjoy samples and buy a variety of pure Adirondack maple goods.

Pancake-and-sausage breakfasts are served from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day at Valley Road Maple Farm.

These events help bridge the gap in Warren County tourism between winter, with attractions such as Ice Castles and Lake George Winter Carnival, and the arrival of spring and the busy summer season.

“March is definitely maple month in our

area,” said Amanda Metzger, Lake George Chamber marketing director. “The organizers of Thurman Maple Days do a wonderful job offering a variety of experiences. They incorporate other businesses in the area such as Nettle Meadow Farm & Artisan Cheese, Martin’s Lumber & Artisans Market and Kemp Sanctuary.”

“It’s really important for people to understand where their food comes from,” she said. “Equally important, I look at Thurman Maple Days as a cultural event. It highlights our culture of hard work and craftsmanship, how we value and support each other as a community and our dedication to buying local and supporting area businesses.”

New York is the country’s second-leading maple state, behind only Vermont. Last year, its producers made 845,000 gallons of syrup, a 21 percent increase over 2021. Statewide, maple production is a $124 million industry, contributing greatly to the New York’s agricultural and upstate economy.

This winter’s roller-coaster weather patterns, unusual warm spells followed by cold and snow, have been a bit challenging, but Galusha said he’s got plenty of fresh product on hand to keep Thurman Maple Days visitors supplied.

“We’ve made about a quarter of our crop already,” he said in early March. “Hopefully we’ll get some real significant sap runs.”

Ideal conditions for making syrup are daytime temperatures in the low- to mid40s, with cool-downs into the mid-20s at night. This creates pressure fluctuations inside trees, which makes sap run.

“If it gets really cold at night, often it doesn’t thaw out fast enough the next day,” Galusha said. “On the other hand, if it doesn’t freeze hard enough it won’t build enough

Continued On Page 14

During his 14 terms in office, Lake George was honored with an unprecedented four Empire State Local Government Achievement Awards. One was for saving taxpayers large sums with an aggressive policy of shared services with the town. In early February, the village and town boards and their department leaders met jointly to discuss every single shared service, looking for ways to make them better.

“That’s the type of cooperation you need between two communities,” Blais said. “We share more services than anywhere else in state.”

Lake George was the second village in the state to eliminate its police force, and relies solely now on Warren County Sheriff ’s Department and state

“There’s been resistance any time we ever tried to do anything here that involved change,” Blais said.

However, he never quit and has never been one to rest on his laurels. Just a few weeks ago he oversaw the first meeting of a new Winter Task Force designed to create new activities for people to enjoy when visiting Lake George from December to March. The goal is to specifically give guests things to do when Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate, and there’s little snow or ice for outdoor festivities.

“We want to make sure there are stores and restaurants open,” Blais said. “We’re looking at a whole wide array of things like an indoor skating rink, and drive- or walk-through light show. We should always been looking at something new.”

Stakeholders

Continued From Page 6

think the greatest challenge in retaining stakeholders comes when we aren’t elevating and diversifying the economy for the benefit of all.”

“Our accomplishments, in partnership with county and IDA leadership, as well as business and educational leaders, would not be possible without stakeholders that are respected experts in their fields,” she said. “It takes a well-rounded community with altruism to understand and employ best business practices.

“SEDC stakeholders are above and beyond in altruism in community, expertise in development/professional services as well as generous in creating returns for all industries investment without sacrificing any quality of life.”

Riley said stakeholders are retained by keeping them engaged and connected, providing the necessary knowledge and networks to assist their growth opportunities.

“Our stakeholders know their investment

isn’t used for any other purpose but to promote complementary industries to accent our existing, vibrant and diverse base,” she said.

Retained businesses continually invest in the community, “which leads to growing well-paying jobs for current and future residents. It is a responsibility we do not take lightly and our stakeholders recognize that while we are accomplishing these achievements, we are utilizing their expertise to do so,” Riley said.

“Our stakeholders have a seat at the table that make these projects come to fruition. We couldn’t do it without them and we are not shy to share that. We are proud to say our stakeholders know us before they need us. And they know when they need us, we show up with the expertise they rely upon, connections they are in need of and programs/resources that are applicable to the project at hand. And we see it through with them.”

One of the workers at Valley Road Maple leads a tour, talking about how maple syrup is made, during Thurman Maple Days, which also features pancake breakfasts.

Paul Post

Women In Business

Carly Trerise, Owner Of Dinner And Flowers, Has Pre-Cooked Meals Delivered As Gifts

BY CHRISTINE GRAF

After giving birth to her fi rst child in 2015, Hudson Falls native Carly Trerise was especially grateful to the friends and family members who delivered home cooked meals to her house. It was out of that gratitude that the idea for a business was born.

With the help of her father, Jim Quinlan, she came up with the idea for Dinner and Flowers (previously known as Send A Meal Today), a business that delivers pre-cooked refrigerated meals that can be reheated in the microwave or oven.

The meals make perfect gifts for new parents, people who have just had surgery, or those who have suffered the loss of a loved one. In addition to entrees, a variety of homemade desserts are also available.

After a lot of time spent brainstorming with her father, Trerise enlisted Tamberlyn Dickinson to provide meals and baked goods for the business. Dickinson and her husband, Jon, are the owners of Dickerson’s Delight, an eatery in Glens Falls. They also sell their baked goods at the Glens Falls Farmer’s Market.

“After that, I started putting the word out that my dad and I had an idea that we were working on and that we were in the beginning stages and wanted to do test orders,” said Trerise. “I would use social media, including Facebook, to get orders.”

They accepted test orders for an entire year before officially launching the business in 2017.

Trerise hired Kate Austin, owner of Advokate, a Glens Falls PR and marketing company, to help her as she worked to get the business off the ground.

“Kate helped us iron out all of the little details. She also helped us to really get our business name out there into the community,” she said.

The launch of Send A Meal Today was a success, and business grew steadily. The company also expanded their social media following significantly.

“The feedback was amazing, and it provided us with motivation to keep going,” she said. “We started out focusing on new parents but branched out to post-surgery, sympathy, congratulations, thank you, or just because. We’ve branched out even more to focus on people who might just want to have some meals for

the week so that they don’t have to cook.”

Send A Meal Today recently changed its name to Dinner and Flowers, and customers now have the option of ordering a floral arrangement to accompany the meal that is being delivered. Flowers are provided by Binley’s of Glens Falls.

Delivery is available on Saturday and Sunday for orders placed by Wednesday at 4 p.m. Delivery is free within a radius of up to 12 miles from Hudson Falls, and there is a $10 delivery charge for deliveries between 13 and 35 miles of Hudson Falls. Weekday deliveries are also available upon request as are gluten free meals and meals for 10 or more people. Send A Meal Today also offers gift certificates.

During her six years in business, Trerise said that she has kept customer satisfaction at the forefront of everything she does.

“I still learn every day what we could do better, and If there’s something you think we could improve on, I want to know. I just want to keep growing and learning and be a stable part of the community where I grew up and where my children will grow up. For me, this is more than just a business or a delivery service. Everything is being made with love.”

The website is dinnerandflowers.com.

Amy Roman’s Company Helps Businesses By Providing Specialized Staff And Training

BY JILL NAGY

When a company needs a controller, a staff accountant, a chief financial officer (CFO), or similar staff member, but not on a full-time basis, CEFO Advisors can step in.

The Saratoga company provides a variety of professional staff members on a part-time basis.

Amy Roman has owned the company for 10 years. For the first five years, however, Roman was the only employee. Eventually, she realized that clients “needed more than just me,” and for the past five years, she has been hiring staff members and placing them with clients.

In the early days, one of her clients described her as ”the bridge between CFO and CEO.” That is the origin of the company name, CEFO.

Roman has 18 employees including managers, accountants, bookkeepers, controllers, CFOs, and staff training specialists, that she matches with companies needing their skills and expertise. Many are part-timers, working parents, or semi-retired people ready for a second career. They work flexible hours, including working at home, but must be available when the client company needs them on site, Roman said.

Typically, the CEFO specialist will remain with a company for year or more, coming and going as needed.

Company offices are at 125 High Rock Ave., Suite 103, in Saratoga Springs.

Roman creates a team for each client company and she hires people for specific companies.

“We see ourselves as part of the fabric” of the company,” she said.

Roman begins by evaluating the potential client company, trying to find out “where the pain points are” and how to cure them. She also examines the company’s culture and atmosphere using a program called Culture Talk, and matches them with sympathetic employees.

The Culture Talk program categorizes companies and people according to 12 archetypes, including hero, caregiver, innocent, magician, sage, and creator.

The CEFO website, cefoadvisors.com, includes photographs of each of CEFO Advisor’s employees, with a brief biography and icons for three Culture Talk archetypes that, in theory, characterize them. Even the “magician” or “sage” must also have the professional skills the client company needs. Roman feels that it is also important to be able to communicate well and fit into the company’s culture and the Culture Talk evaluation helps to predict that.

Roman is a Culture Talk certified partner. CEFO also acts in an advisory capacity, as needed. They can provide staff training, coach-

ing and consulting, and conduct workshops. They do not do tax work, in spite of the fact that there are several CPAs on staff, including Roman.

Before moving to Saratoga, Roman spent 20 years working in New York City, mainly in CFO positions with financial and private equity companies. At one point, she realized that only a fraction of her time was devoted to CFO duties. The rest of the time, she did other chores, including answering the telephone and seeing that used coffee cups went into the dishwasher.

“You do what you have to do because you are there,” she said.

That experience was the germ of the idea for CEFO Advisors—that a company could have a CFO just for the time it took to perform those duties. Let other employees answer the phone and clean up the break room.

Typically, a CEFO employee works for several client companies at the same time—with everyone protected by confidentiality agreements. They typically remain with a client company for about a year. A “successful exit” occurs when the company grows to the point that they need somebody full-time in the position, Roman said.

Roman grew up in Slingerlands and is a graduate of Bethlehem High School. She majored in accounting and computer science at SUNY Geneseo. Despite her computer science studies, she takes her own advice and outsources CEFO’s IT work to Groff Networks.

CEFO Advisors can be reached by telephone at 518-693-7446.

Hudson Falls native Carly Trerise is the owner of Dinner and Flowers. Courtesy Dinner and Flowers

Amy Roman has owned CEFO Advisors for 10 years. Courtesy CEFO Advisors

"Locally Run Since 1981"

Patrina Leland Stresses Customer Service At Her Queensbury ‘RNR Tire Express’ Business

Lake George Chamber’s ‘Women In Business’ Group Provides Networking Opportunities

BY ANN DONNELLY Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce’s

Women in Business group is a valuable resource for women doing business in the Lake George region.

When I returned to upstate New York five years ago, participation in the group helped me quickly build connections and gain important information about the area and the best ways to do business here. So, in 2021, I took the group’s co-chair role to participate more actively and support the women working so hard on their careers while advancing the Lake George region.

Formed in 2012, the first co-chairs were Lynn Clausen, who worked at Dunhams Bay Resort, and Kathy Miller, owner of Love is on Lake George, still an active member. They spent the first meetings developing the mission, which we continue to adhere to today, “To inspire personal growth using our combined experiences and expertise to provide the tools to aid and encourage women in our region through networking, educating, and mentoring.”

BY PAUL POST

Patrina Leland wasted no time making believers out of skeptical co-workers and customers in the male-dominated world of tire sales.

In 2021, she was named RNR Tire Express Rookie Manager of the Year for her success with a brand new store at 708 Upper Glen St. in Queensbury.

Now plans are in the works for a second shop on State Street in Schenectady, with a long-range goal of opening one or two more between Albany and Troy.

“Sometimes people are a little surprised that a woman in this business knows about the tire, the wheel, the bolt pattern, what you can and can’t put on it,” Leland said. “I can run all the machines out back, set up the alignment rack, do the tire balances.”

Her can-do spirit comes from 30 years of work at her husband Jeff ’s long-time, familyowned business, Leland Paper Co., which became part of W.B. Mason in 2019.

“I really believe all my years there set me up for this position because I’ve done all of it—accounting, receivables, payables, sales. I ran the warehouse, loaded trucks and drove trucks,” said Leland, who holds an accounting degree from Russell Sage College.

Jeff Leland still works for WB Mason in sales.

Patrina stayed on for a while, too, as a customer service representative. But after handling such a wide variety of duties previously, she tired of sitting behind a desk answering calls and decided it was time to try something new.

With Jeff ’s help, she began researching up-and-coming franchise opportunities and found that Tampa, Fla.-based RNR Tire might be a good fit.

“A couple things about RNR caught our attention,” Jeff said.

In addition to outright purchases, RNR gives customers an easy payment option of renting or leasing tires to own with no credit checks, which few or perhaps no other company offers.

“A lot of people don’t have $600, $800 or $1,200 dollars laying around when they get their car inspected and fi nd out they need tires,” he said.

But what really resonated with the Lelands is RNR’s “serve not service” motto, which means they stand behind what they sell and keep serving customers long after taking payment for their purchase.

“It’s one thing to sell a tire,” Patrina said. “The most important thing is safety of that installation. Not only did we sell it, now we’ve got people’s lives in our hands. That became a

whole new ballgame in my mind, that we need to treat every single customer like they’re family.”

RNR sells tires made by most major manufacturers such as Michelin, Yokohama, Cooper and Nexen. Every purchase comes with a customer care package for the life of the tires that includes free flat repair, free alignment checks and free tire rotation and balance.

Instead of air, tires are inflated with nitrogen that’s more stable and prevents tire pressure fluctuations when outside temperatures rise and fall. Tire inflations with nitrogen are free, too.

Her husband has no official role at RNR Tire, which is strictly Patrina’s business. But with decades of business experience under his belt, he plays an important role as her advisor and confidante.

“She bounces things off of me,” he said. “I’m a little removed from the day to day operations. Sometimes it’s good to have somebody removed from the immediate situation who has a little more objective perspective.”

Patrina could have found well-paying employment elsewhere, without half as much stress or responsibility, she said. So why step into the highly-competitive tire sales industry as a franchise owner? There are at least a halfdozen other well-known tire retail stores in the Glens Falls market, not counting the area’s many car dealerships and big-box stores.

“I guess I like being my own boss,” Patrina said. “I just think customer service should be about the customer and it’s little easier to drive that bus when you’re the one in the driver’s seat.”

Plus, she simply likes a good challenge.

The store, one of 165 throughout the U.S., opened in January 2021. First, however, she had to go through an intensive training course at RNR’s busiest retail outlet in Florida.

“They were amazed at how quick she picked things up—the back end, computer stuff, in addition to learning how to change tires over, do repairs, handle the alignment rack. She just has this innate ability to capture things, learn them quickly and then go out and execute them,” Jeff said.

The Queensbury store has six employees. Plans call for opening the new Schenectady store in September.

“I got a new career and a tire franchise for my 50th birthday,” said Patrina, now 52. “There’s a lot of competition out there, but we try to do our best every day and hopefully customers see that we’re a little bit different than everyone else.”

All women who are Chamber members, or work for member organizations, including non-profit and commercial enterprises, are welcome to participate. In addition, those considering joining the Chamber may attend one meeting. Recent attendees have come from real estate, healthcare, business services, hospitality, leisure, retail, education, local agencies, healthcare, and membership organizations.

LGRCC Women in Business meets on the first Wednesday of each month from September through June. After 30 minutes of open networking, the meeting starts with “around the room,” where each attendee introduces herself, describes her business, and announces any news, promotions, or events. Attendees may also note any needs where others in the group could assist. Many members have developed valuable alliances from this.

Meetings include a training session or a presentation from a speaker chosen to educate, motivate and inspire the members. Topics covered so far in the 2022-23 season include the importance of customer relationships, lessons learned during the pandemic, resources to care for elderly relatives, prioritizing self-care, and a goal-setting session. In addition, interested members are encouraged to present on a relevant topic to share their expertise and provide more information about

their work.

The group often helps nonprofit organizations in the area by taking on projects and organizing volunteers.

Organizations helped in the past include Wiawaka Center for Women, Double H Ranch, North Country Ministries, Open Door Mission, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) at Lake George High School, Women in Need (W.I.N.), and local food banks.

The year’s highlight is the annual retreat at Wiawaka, which takes place the night before the first meeting in September.

Participation in the Women in Business group also helps to get the most out of membership in the Chamber. Attendees get additional information on upcoming Chamber events and initiatives and are more likely to participate.

The next meeting of the group takes place at the Chamber’s offices at 2176 Route 9, Lake George, on April 5, with open networking starting at 8 a.m. and the meeting running from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Pattie Simone, executive director of Feeder Canal Alliance, will present “Celebrate YOU, A Woman of Influence.”

To learn more about the Women in Business group and upcoming meetings, visit lakegeorgechamber. com/wib.

Route 149 | Fort Ann

uses for this busy traffic location-professional office, salon, spa, auto and recreational vehicle sales, retail or food establishment. High visibility, plenty of parking and large sign. First floor space for $1200/month with basement storage or rent the whole building (2000ft) for $2000/month. Lease length negotiable. Second floor could be apartment creating a live/work opportunity. Three year lease preferred.

At RNR Tire Express at 708 Upper Glen St. in Queensbury, owner Patrina Leland manages the operation and is considering expanding to a second location in Schenectady, New York. Paul Post

Ann Donnelly, chair, Lake George Regional Chamber’s Women in Business group. Courtesy Placentric Marketing

Do Millennials Need An Estate Plan?

BY JASON SNYDER, ESQ.

As the largest living generation in the U.S.—making up 22 percent of the population—and collectively having lived through several “once-in-a-lifetime” crises, the millennial generation has been forged into some of the most adaptable planners to date.

From setting personal and professional goals, managing and interacting with their fi nances and investments, to purchasing their fi rst homes and starting families, many in this group are committed to planning further into the future than ever before.

Despite this, 41 percent of individuals ages 18-34 have never discussed estate planning with anyone. While grim, this number did see some downward motion in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as 32 percent of adults under the age of 35 said they only engaged in estate planning due to the pandemic.

So, with these numbers, are millennials right in thinking that they do not need estate plans? What are some of the most common concerns that millennials have when looking to plan their futures? While it’s impossible to capture all aspects of an estate plan in a single article, below is a brief snapshot of why estate plans might be the logical next step for any millennial looking to secure their future.

Broadening our scope, just 33 percent of Americans have a will or living trust, despite the fact that more than 50 percent believe estate planning to be at least somewhat significant. One in three respondents, when asked why they don’t have a will, said they don’t have enough assets to leave behind.

The notion that “I don’t have enough assets to make it worth it” is one of the most common reasons that millennials don’t want to pursue making some sort of estate plan. Th is notion doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon, as the fears of ever-growing infl ation still weigh heavily on the American populous—no more so than for millennials. According to a New York Times survey, nine9 out of 10 U.S. adults are concerned about infl ation.

While an understandable sentiment—with ongoing economic uncertainties as we emerge from the pandemic—this mentality may have costly, long-term consequences if left unaddressed. It’s a natural reaction, as when things become more expensive, you value what you own less and look to cut costs where possible.

However, estate plans aren’t just for those

with expensive houses and larger IRA accounts. Even if you don’t have much in terms of value, you still own possessions and have some money. Creating a will can let you decide where things go once you’re gone and save your loved ones the burden of trying to figure it out themselves.

As hinted at earlier, there is more to an estate plan than high-value assets. A will can not only plan out how your money is taken care of if you pass but also your belongings, such as a car or heirlooms. In addition to the more regular belongings you own, many wills today include provisions about digital assets. From more personal items like photos, videos, and email and social media accounts to balances and accounts such as PayPal, Venmo, Netfl ix, and Spotify, all of these digital assets can be specifically bequeathed, which is often overlooked when thinking about traditional estate plans.

Outside of your property and assets, establishing guardianship for your children is another part of estate planning that could be of great benefit for those starting a family.

In the event that something were to happen to both you and the other parent, you would want to have a say in who would raise your children. Guardianship of the child and their inheritance are frequently contested by opposing family members, driving them further apart at a time when they should be coming together.

Continued On Page 11

Business Report

Asset Location: Should I Be Using It?

BY BILL CANTY

Asset location pertains to the types of investment assets that are best held in various types of accounts. Asset location is a tax minimization strategy that matches various types of investments with the type of account best suited for that type of investment holding.

Asset location is about strategically holding investments in accounts where you are likely to achieve the highest after-tax returns. Th is includes taxable investment accounts, taxdeferred accounts such as a traditional IRA or 401(k), or tax-free accounts which are usually Roth accounts.

Due to the nature of dividends, interest, or capital gains connected with certain types of investments, it might be most tax-efficient to hold them in one type of account versus another. Th is is the essence of asset location.

While it is not always possible to align your entire portfolio in a perfect fashion in terms of asset location for each holding, it does make sense to pay attention to this when deciding which investment holdings fit best into your various accounts.

The following types of holdings can be wellsuited for a taxable account:

• Municipal bonds or mutual funds holding muni bonds. The interest on these bonds is exempt from federal income taxes, and in some cases from state taxes if they are issued by an entity in the state in which you reside.

• Individual stocks that you plan to hold for a year or more. After this time period, any capital gains from the sale of the shares will be taxed at preferential long-term capital gains rates.

• Equity index ETFs. Due to the passive management of these types of equity funds, they tend to throw off fewer capital gain distributions than actively managed equity funds or ETFs.

• Tax-managed ETFs, mutual funds, and separately managed accounts. These are mutual funds, ETFs, and SMAs that are managed to specifically limit capital gains and other taxable distributions.

Certain types of investments may be best suited for tax-deferred retirement accounts such as traditional IRA and 401(k) accounts or tax-free Roth accounts. Some examples include:

• Taxable bonds, both individual bonds as well as mutual funds and ETFs that invest in them. Interest paid on bonds is generally taxed

at ordinary income tax rates for federal and state tax purposes. Income on Treasury bonds and other debt securities is generally fully taxable at the federal level but exempt from state income taxes.

• REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) including mutual funds and ETFs that invest in them. Generally, up to 80 percent of the income generated by a REIT can be taxable as ordinary income to investors with the other 20 percent qualifying as pass-through income in most cases under the Tax Cut and Jobs Act. Th is exemption is scheduled to expire in 2025.

• Actively managed stock ETFs or mutual funds. Many of these funds generate a high level of short-term capital gains income due to the frequent turnover of holdings in their portfolio. Short-term capital gains do not receive preferential tax treatment and are taxed at ordinary income tax rates.

Asset location can be an important consideration in investing as we all want to invest in the most tax-efficient way possible.

In our opinion, however, asset allocation should govern your investing strategy. Th is includes the types of investment vehicles, the asset classes included in your portfolio, and the percentage amounts allocated to each of the various asset classes.

Sometimes your situation doesn’t allow you to perfectly align the asset location of every holding within your portfolio. Th is might be a function of the relative size of the balances in

Continued On Page 11

Jason Snyder is a senior associate at Tully Rinckey PLLC.

Bill Canty, CPA, CFP, founder, CFM Tax and Investment Advisors.

Upstate CEOs: Inflation Is Having A Negative Impact, But Most Will Invest In Fixed Assets

Fift y-four percent of Upstate New York CEOs say business conditions have worsened over the last year and only 19 percent, down from 36 percent a year ago, expect improvement in the coming year according to the 16th annual Upstate New York Business Leader Survey from Siena College Research Institute (SCRI), sponsored by the Business Council of New York State, Inc and released March 10.

Only 23 percent of CEOs say the economy has improved this year and 54 percent up from 41 percent last year see worsening conditions in the next year, according to the survey. Th irtyeight percent, (down from 47 percent last year), predict increasing revenues in 2023 while 26 percent, (down from 34 percent), anticipate growing profits in the year ahead.

Still, unchanged from last year, over half, 55 percent, intend to invest in fi xed assets in 2023. Eighty-five percent say inflation is having a negative impact on profitability.

One-third of CEOs, down from 44 percent last year, plan to increase the size of their workforce this year, but 82 percent say that there is not an ample supply of appropriately trained local workers. Seventy-five percent are having difficulty recruiting for their open positions despite 72 percent offering increased wages and 53 percent being flexible with work hours.

By 61-5 percent CEOs believe increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour Upstate would have a negative rather than positive impact on the economy and they oppose the increase by 59-31 percent.

“It’s impossible to sugarcoat the fi ndings of this survey. CEO confidence is down dramatically from a year ago once again reaching the low point we saw in 2020 and greater now only than during the Great Recession of 2008,” said Siena College Research Institute Director Don Levy. “Only about 1 in 5 CEOs now say conditions have been and will continue to improve while about half say the opposite—conditions have and will continue to worsen.”

“Our index of business leader sentiment, a measure that considers both the current and future views of CEOs is down to 68.8 from 94.4 last year and about equal to 68.7 recorded in 2020 during the raging pandemic,” said Levy. “Two disturbing insights from these numbers. First, a score of 100 indicates equal levels of optimism and pessimism, we’ve got a long way to go, and secondly, in 2020, the current component was the problem as CEOs then predicted a better future, now both the current and future measures are over 30 points below 100.”

Leading a long list of challenges, 65 percent of CEOs, up from 56 percent, name adverse

Estate Plan

Continued From Page 10

economic conditions. Eighty-five percent say that inflation is having either a moderately (52 percent) or substantially (33 percent) negative effect on their company’s profitability. And in response, 73 percent are turning around and raising the prices they charge their clients and customers. Only 14 percent think the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act will have a positive impact.

“CEOs are struggling to maintain profitability in the face of inflation,” Levy said. “While governmental regulation, rising supplier costs, healthcare costs, taxes and energy costs all weigh on Upstate CEOs, many are raising their prices while still trying to cut their costs. Currently the solution to this Rubik’s cube is unclear to most CEOs. Is there a ray of hope? Sixty-seven percent of CEOs, up from 59 percent a year ago expect that their business will still be doing business in New York in ten years.”

The survey also addressed attitudes toward government. Only 11 percent think the government of New York is doing either an excellent or good job of creating a business climate in which companies like theirs can succeed. Over half would like to see the governor and Legislature focus on business and personal tax reform and spending cuts while about 40 percent call for infrastructure development, workforce development and business development incentives.

Looking to the future, only 17 percent are confident in the ability of New York’s government to improve the business climate over the next year.

Most CEOs oppose paying the nearly $8 billion Unemployment Insurance (UI) debt through increased payroll taxes paid by the employer and 84 percent say increased UI taxes would have a very (33 percent) or somewhat (51 percent) serious impact on their business.

Most, 60 percent, say that the Climate Leadership and Community Protections Act (CLCPA) will have a negative impact on their profitability and by 64-16 percent, CEOs think the CLCPA will have a negative rather than positive impact on the state economy.

“Loudly and clearly, Upstate CEOs say that Albany isn’t making it any easier for them to be successful,” Levy said. “Business leaders are telling New York’s leaders to cut spending, curtail regulation, and work to make it easier rather than harder for businesses, the engine of New York, to be successful. At present, while 38 percent say that if they had it to do all over again they would locate their business in New York, a majority, 53 percent say that they would if they could have located someplace else.”

Another reason why millennials should consider making an estate plan is that when you’re young, it’s difficult to imagine being gravely ill and unable to make your own medical decisions, leaving you unprepared should the worst happen. Accidents happen that could leave you gravely ill. In the event you become incapacitated, who will pay your rent or deal with your health insurance company? What about making your other loan payments or depositing your checks? A healthcare or durable power of attorney can ensure that you have designated people who care about you making decisions on your

Asset Location

Continued From Page 10

your various types of accounts or other factors.

Where appropriate and feasible, we feel that using asset location principles to determine which holdings are located in various types of accounts makes sense for most investors. However, we would caution investors to use good common sense in implementing an asset location strategy.

For example, incurring unnecessary taxable income to realign your portfolio generally defeats the whole purpose of asset location which is tax savings.

There are a number of ways to realign your portfolio to be more in line with an asset location strategy that best fits your situation. These include:

• Make adjustments in tax-deferred and taxfree retirement accounts whenever possible.

• Use new money to add to positions to help

behalf should the worst befall you. While a gross oversimplification of everything an estate plan can take care of, it is important for the younger generation to realize everything that an estate plan can offer them when it comes to fully transitioning into adulthood outside of the traditional house and stock accounts.

While it’s easy to push off the thought of estate planning till you get older, life comes at you fast. As an estate planning lawyer, one of the most common phrases I hear is, “I regret not taking care of this when I was young and healthy.” Whether it is actually creating this roadmap towards protecting your ideal future or just having a conversation about where to start, taking these steps earlier on in your life will certainly pay dividends in the future.

implement an asset location strategy when possible.

When rebalancing your portfolio on a periodic basis, keep your goal of improving your portfolio’s asset location strategy in mind. If you can utilize any tax losses you harvest from taxable accounts in the process, so much the better.

When considering an asset location strategy for your portfolio, it’s important to keep both current and future tax implications in mind. For example, will you be in a higher or lower tax bracket in retirement?

Asset location should be implemented as part of your overall fi nancial plan and your investing strategy. If done correctly, asset location can be a key tool in your tax planning efforts.

If you are looking for a fee-only fiduciary fi nancial advisor who will always put your interests fi rst, please give us a call to discuss asset location or any other fi nancial issues. We are here to help.

Publication Date: April 13, 2023

What Goes Into A Retirement ‘Paycheck’?

BY JOHN GABLE

During your working years, you generally know how much money you’re bringing in, so you can budget accordingly. But once you’re retired, it’s a different story. However, with some diligence, you can put together a “paycheck” that can help you meet your income needs.

Where will this paycheck come from? Social Security benefits should replace about 40 percent of one’s pre-retirement earnings, according to the Social Security Administration, but this figure varies widely based on an individual’s circumstances.

Typically, the higher your income before you retire, the lower the percentage will be replaced by Social Security. Private pensions have become much rarer in recent decades, though you might receive one if you worked for a government agency or a large company. But in any case, to fi ll out your retirement paycheck, you may need to draw heavily on your investment portfolio.

Your portfolio can provide you with income in these ways:

• Dividends. When you were working, and you didn’t have to depend on your portfolio for income to the extent you will when you’re retired, you may have reinvested the dividends you received from stocks and stock-based mutual funds, increasing the number of shares you own in these investments.

And that was a good move, because increased share ownership is a great way to help build wealth. But once you’re retired, you may need to start accepting the dividends to boost your cash flow.

• Interest payments. The interest payments from bonds and other fi xed-income investments, such as certificates of deposit (CDs), can also add to your retirement income. In the years immediately preceding their retirement, some investors increase the presence of these interestpaying investments in their portfolio. (But even during retirement, you’ll need some growth potential in your investments to help keep you ahead of inflation.)

• Proceeds from selling investments. While you will likely need to begin selling investments once you’re retired, you’ll need to be careful not to liquidate your portfolio too quickly. How

much can you sell each year?

The answer depends on several factors — your age, the size of your portfolio, the amount of income you receive from other sources, your spouse’s income, your retirement lifestyle, and so on. A financial professional can help you determine the amount and type of investment sales that are appropriate for your needs while considering the needs of your portfolio over your lifetime.

When tapping into your investments as part of your retirement paycheck, you’ll also want to pay special attention to the amount of cash in your portfolio.

It’s a good idea to have enough cash available to cover a year’s worth of your living expenses, even after accounting for other sources of income, such as Social Security or pensions. In addition, you may want to set aside sufficient cash for emergencies.

Not only will these cash cushions help you with the cost of living and unexpected costs, but they might also enable you to avoid digging deeper into your long-term investments than you might like.

You may be retired for a long time — so take the steps necessary to build a consistent retirement paycheck.

Publication Date: May 11, 2023

John Gable is a financial advisor with Edward Jones Financial in Warrensburg.

Courtesy Edward Jones Financial

Officials At ‘State Of CDTA’ Meeting Stress Merger With Glens Falls Transit District

Lunch With Legislators

Continued From Page 1

they had enough financial resources to retire and opt out of the workforce, Woerner said. “And a lot of people have chosen to stop working for somebody else and start their own business,” she said. “Business starts have skyrocketed the past couple of years (23,745 this January versus 16,862 in January 2019).”

Also, there’s significantly fewer people ages 35-39 and 55-59 than there are in the 18-24 age bracket. “So there’s a shortage of people with 10 to 20 years of experience that you’re all counting on,” Woerner said. “The only thing we can do is invest in smart workforce development.”

But this must be done strategically, training people for the jobs that are most available. “We’re seeing an increase in jobs in our region, but they aren’t in manufacturing,” Woerner said. “They’re in education, health care, professional and business services, leisure, hospitality and construction. We really need to focus our workforce development efforts on where the jobs are being created. We’ve got to recognize that our economy up here is shifting. We need to be paying attention to where the puck is going, not where it’s been.”

your business or another one outside of yours, to pluck those employees away,” he said. “If you aren’t taking care of people they’re going to leave you.”

KEENA helps people looking for new career opportunities, and assists companies in their search for talented personnel.

Legislators also discussed the ongoing need for improved broadband, which is critical not only for economic development, but public health, safety and education as well. Ashby said there’s a cellular phone “dead zone” on Route 9 in Colonie, near Siena College. “There’s no cell service until well into Latham,” he said. “It speaks to the longstanding inefficiencies with some of these programs.”

Stec said he’s concerned that capacity issues in urban issues could take already inadequate resources away from rural areas. His 41st District encompasses northeastern New York from Warren County to the Canadian border.

“We’re seeing a lot of people who want to move to rural communities because they’re able to work remotely instead of someplace they don’t want to live any more,” Woerner said. “All they need is a house and a wire, so let’s get the wires.”

CDTA, which oversees public transportation in the Capital District, is working hard in 2023 to expand its services. In a State of CDTA meeting on March 2, officials said merging with the Glens Falls Transit District was among its priorities.

A new transit line and electric bikes and an expansion are also among the changes on the horizon, officials said.

The event recognized how CDTA is “entering 2023 from a position of strength, innovation, and confidence,” officials said.

According to CDTA, “ridership is rebounding quickly. For the past year, ridership is up 20 percent, fueled by universal access agreements with even more major employers, colleges and other partners.”

Total ridership for the fi rst 10 months of the CDTA fi scal year is 11.4 million. Th is brings the CDTA ridership count to more than 90 percent of what it was before the COVID pandemic began, officials said.

Establishing new regional mobility hubs remains a top priority for the transit association. Merging with the Glens Falls Transit District to provide transportation services would make Warren County its sixth county partner. The partnership would provide Warren County residents with access to other municipalities.

“CDTA has a progressive vision for 2023 to introduce new services and projects to make the regions more connected than ever,”

CDTA Board Chairman Jayme Lahut said. “I am proud of the milestones recognized today and bold plans for the future as we work with community partners to support the region’s economic development.”

CDTA announced electric bikes will be added to the CDPHP Cycle! fleet during season seven.

“It is amazing to witness the impact and growth we have had on the region during a pandemic,” said CDTA CEO Carm Basile.

“Our Bus Rapid Transit lines, the only BRT network in upstate New York, span nearly 40 miles. We have a network of electric vehicles, which now includes carshare, and electric bikes, and we are expanding our footprint to provide even more connections to the Capital Region.

“We have emerged from the pandemic with forward-thinking ideas that reimagine mobility and transportation, but none of them would be possible without our community partners. I am beyond appreciative to those who have helped us get to this point and can’t wait for all that’s to come in 2023 and beyond.”

Over the last 50 years, CDTA has grown into an organization with 750 employees, a budget of $115 million and served approximately 16 million customers annually, pre-pandemic. It has also grown its fleet to 330 buses and vehicles, which travel 10 million miles annually on more than 50 different routes.

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Stefanik criticized the extension of unemployment assistance long after the pandemic ended “where the incentive was for folks to stay out of work rather than go back to work.”

“We’ve incentivized people to stay home and not go back to the workforce,” Stec said. He also cited the state’s declining population as a reason for fewer eligible workers. Almost 300,000 people left New York for other states last year.

“I think a lot of them are leaving for economic reasons,” Stec said.

Simpson, a former Warren County Industrial Development Agency chair, said job retention is just as important as job creation. “We need to have a business climate that keeps people here, and make sure after (tax) incentives are taken advantage of that there’s a sustainable plant that’s going to stay here,” he said.

Event attendee Shawn Weinberger, of Queensbury-based KEENA Staffing, agreed with Simpson’s assessment. “You need to invest in people within

In addition to these issues, Stefanik said her chief economic concern is rising inflation. “It impacts every family, every small business, every farm, every manufacturer,” she said. “I would say it’s the top economic concern I hear from our district.”

She is sponsoring a Reign in Inflation Act that would mandate analysis of the inflationary impact of executive actions taken by the president.

“We need transparencies for these executive actions because it’s been causing inflation to rise faster than at any time during my lifetime,” she said.

Stefanik also called for reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act, which she described as the “underpinning for all local workforce development.”

But she said the business community is best suited for driving workforce development because it’s “most in touch with the technical training needed to develop that pipeline.”

“If you go to employers they can tell you exactly what skill sets they need,” she said.

Officials discuss CDTA business at a recent gathering called the ‘State of CDTA,’ wherein they said merging with the Glens Falls Transit District was among its priorities.

Courtesy CDTA

Maple Syrup

Continued From Page 7

pressure to push sap out the next day. We’re on a vacuum system, which overcomes that to some extent, but there’s still limitations.”

He and other farm owners share the “ins and outs” of maple production during sugarhouse tours.

Galusha said his business set attendance and sales set records during last year’s Thurman Maple Days, as people were anxious to come back following the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’re hoping to do something like that again this year,” he said.

PIZZA SPECIAL

Many other maple farms in Saratoga and Washington counties host open houses in March, too. The 21st annual Hadley Maple in April Festival is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Rockwell Street in Hadley with a full lineup of activities.

For more information about Thurman Maple Days including directions to farms go to www.visitthurman.com.

For a list of area maple producers and information about Maple Weekends go to: www.upperhudsonmaple.com.

Glens Falls Area Restaurants

Glens Falls and surrounding towns have a variety of casual dining opportunities for every taste, budget and occasion. Find a Glens Falls NY restaurant from the list below.

Park & Elm

Glens Falls, NY

Park & Elm is a multi-concept eatery with a gourmet market, delicatessen, and fi ne dining restaurant located in walkable downtown Glens Falls. Enjoy an elevated dining experience, grab a breakfast or lunch to go, or shop the market for local goods.

Park 26

Glens Falls, NY

Park 26 is an innovative restaurant that offers locally-inspired, modern American cuisine that’s perfect for a date night, business dinner or family celebration. Located inside The Queensbury Hotel in Glens Falls.

O’Toole’s Restaurant Pub

Queensbury, NY

Whether you’re looking for a relaxed meal or a night of fun and excitement, you’ll want to come to O’Toole’s. We’ve got the best food, drinks and entertainment in the area! Come on in and experience dining at it’s best. We look forward to seeing you.

Jack’s American Bistro

Queensbury, NY

Jack’s American Bistro was the culmination of a lifetime spent in the restaurant business. After several months of planning in June 2004 the doors were open to a new dining experience in the Glens Falls/Queensbury area.

The Docksider Restaurant

Lake George, NY

Open year round on Glen Lake in Queensbury, The Docksider Restaurant features lunch and dinner with a fireplace for winter and a great deck for outdoor dining overlooking the water.

Fenimore’s Pub

Glens Falls, NY

Fenimore’s Pub in the heart of downtown Glens Falls is open daily for lunch and dinner.

Davidson Brothers Restaurant

Glens Falls, NY

Located in downtown Glens Falls, Davidson Brothers Restaurant & Brewery is a hotspot for craft beer and food in a laid-back atmosphere.

Morgan & Co. Restaurant

Glens Falls, NY

Experience fine American dining in downtown Glens Falls at Morgan & Co. Every dish offers a unique and innovative twist on original recipes. Morgan & Co. also caters events from weddings to reunions and more!

The Grateful Den

Glens Falls, NY

The Grateful Den offers a different take on traditional pub grub, as well as classic favorites like chicken wings, burgers, and salads. Their menu also includes specialty appetizers, sandwiches, and plenty of craft beer options on tap.

The Log Jam

Lake George, NY

An authentic log cabin serving lunch and dinner daily. Featuring signature sandwiches at lunch and succulent prime rib, juicy hand cut steaks, live lobsters, fresh seafood, chicken,and more at dinner. All entrees include our bountiful salad bar.

Mint

Glens Falls, NY

Enjoy seasonally fresh fare and exquisite cocktails in a relaxed atmosphere at Mint in Glens Falls. The upscale yet casual restaurant works with around 50 local farms and businesses to be able to use fresh, thoughtfully raised, in-season ingredients.

Courtesy of GlensFalls.com

State Basketball Tournament

Continued From Page 1

events like this to promote the area for other similar activities.”

Passes may be obtained by going to the “Area Information” heading on the tournament website (nysphsaa.org/tournaments), which directs viewers to a wide range of information about local attractions and places to eat in Glens Falls and Lake George.

The basketball tourney returned to Glens Falls in 2022 following a four-year absence after Binghamton had it for three years, plus a year off because of COVID. Tourney director Arthur “Chip” Corlew cited major arena capital improvements as a key reason for Glens Falls getting the tournament back again.

“The basketball’s always going to be good,” he said. “Where it’s gotten better is Cool Insuring Arena has done a ton to get the facility looking great. Between the locker rooms, painting walls and ceilings, the sound system, scoreboard, and WiFi, they have done an amazing job to make that the venue to play the high school championships in.”

The tourney is run by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. “Before it was simply a basketball tournament,” Mead said. “That’s how it was operated for many years. Now they operate these tournaments as events. We use the video board, show replays and use technology and building upgrades to meet what NYSPHSAA wants.”

Last fall, five new luxury suites opened just in time for hockey season, giving the arena a much-needed additional revenue stream. Priced at $1,000 per game, they sold out for 30 of the Thunder’s 36 games, and several were

fi lled for a recent visit by the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters to Glens Falls.

Mead said the suites will be priced significantly lower for those who want one during the basketball tourney.

Th is spring, the arena will embark on another major project with hopes of further enhancing its income. Plans call for a complete makeover of Heritage Hall, the building’s event space.

“We think there’s a lot of opportunity to bring in trade shows, business meetings and weddings,” Mead said. “By partnering with Queensbury Hotel we can bring bigger shows to downtown Glens Falls.”

Work on the $750,000 project will begin right after the Thunder season ends. It will include all new carpeting, walls, a dropped ceiling, audio visual and HVAC upgrades, a new kitchen, increased storage space and a much larger bar capable of hosting large parties.

Looking further ahead, a new ice resurfacing machine is scheduled to arrive in early 2024, replacing the current outdated model and plans call for new glass and boards around the hockey rink as well.

“Any day there isn’t an event going on here we rent ice time to Adirondack Youth Hockey Association and four or five adult leagues,” Mead said. “So the building is used seven days a week, August through May. Plus, we have some summer events a well.”

“We invest about $250,000 per year on capital improvements,” he said. “It’s a long term process that will never end.”

Zobel & Co. Kitchens Earns Another ‘Best Of Houzz’ Service Award From Online Platform

Zobel & Co. Kitchens has won a “Best of Houzz” Service award on Houzz, an online platform for home remodeling and design, including the all-in-one soft ware solution for industry professionals.

The custom kitchen and cabinetry design firm, located in the Union Square Building in Glens Falls, was chosen by the millions of homeowners that comprise the Houzz community from among more than 3 million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.

Best of Houzz Customer Service award honors professionals whose work was the most popular among the Houzz community, based on several factors, including a professional’s overall rating on Houzz and client reviews submitted in 2022. This is the ninth consecutive year Zobel & Co. Kitchens has received this award.

“Decades of design expertise is just one of the factors that make us successful”, said Arthur Zobel. “Being a boutique firm gives us the opportunity to be very thorough, giving each client our upmost attention, even after our part in their project has been completed. Our dedication to our clients is evidenced in our Houzz reviews”

“We are thrilled to highlight incredibly talented and customer-driven pros from the Houzz community through the Best of Houzz awards,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of industry marketing for Houzz. “At Houzz, we strive to support professionals from building their brands and attracting clients, to managing their business efficiently and profitably, and collaborating with clients.”

Zobel & Co. Kitchens offers custom cabinetry and design services for kitchens, entertainment centers, closets and other living spaces.