Glens Falls Business Journal - August 2020

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GBJ P.O. Box 766 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

VOL. 32 NO. 06

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AUGUST 2020

HVCC Plans New Building, Programs To Lake George Survey Indicates There Is Help Fill Shortages In Skilled Trade Workers ‘A Strong Pent Up Demand For Travel’

BY CHRISTINE GRAF Hudson Valley Community College is responding to the skilled labor shortage in the area and across the state by pursuing plans to build a new $65 million facility for skilled trades education.

The proposed 130,000-square-foot Applied Technology Education Center (ATEC) will allow the college to expand its training of the skilled technical workforce.

A capital campaign is underway, and a concept plan of the project has been prepared by JMZ Architects and Planners of Glens Falls.

Construction of ATEC, a net energy zero building, is in the planning phase. The architectural bidding process will begin in one to two months.

Officials said that within 10 years, ATEC will be able to graduate 4,877 technicians in a variety of fields, including mechatronics, plumbing, electrical, welding, HVAC and automotive. That would benefit areas including Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties. UA Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 773 in Glens Falls are among the area groups that have bemoaned the lack of people to fill job openings.

According to Dr. Jonathan Ashdown, Dean of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), “The crux of what we are trying to do with ATEC is build enough capacity into this 130,000 square foot building up front to account for the growth we anticipate. We want to accommodate students that are on our wait list every single year for (STEM) programs.”

To illustrate the demand that exists within STEM, Ashdown referenced HVCC’s $14.5 million Gene F. Haas Center for Advanced Manufacturing Skills. The building opened in August 2019 and allowed the college to double AMT (Advanced

This is a rendering of the proposed Applied Technology Education Center (ATEC).

Courtesy HVCC

Manufacturing Technology) enrollment from 144 to 288.

“We built capacity into that building and already filled and exceeded capacity in one year,” said Ashdown. “We just had to start a wait list for that program.”

The addition of the proposed ATEC building will allow HVCC to expand existing programs as well as add a new welding and fabrication degree program.

“Expansion into welding is crucial, as NYSERDA is investing $20 million into an offshore wind proposal for the Capital Region, which will result in the creation of hundreds of Continued On Page 14

A survey done by Warren County Tourism, Mannix Marketing and the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce says tourists still want to travel to the lake, despite the pandemic.

Courtesy Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce

Businesses in the Lake George area may be heading into their busiest months of 2020 yet, with almost 62 percent of nearly 6,000 customers surveyed planning to visit in August or the fall, according to an online survey conducted by Warren County Tourism, Mannix Marketing and the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The survey results came in as the region continues to experience an unexpectedly strong July.

“The survey confirms that there is a strong

pent up demand for travel and Lake George offers just what travelers want,” said Sara Mannix, owner of LakeGeorge.com and Mannix Marketing.

“Survey respondents stated they had the most interest in visiting the beaches, touring the lake on a cruise ship and experiencing the area’s lakes on paddleboards, kayaks and boats. The most desired activity that was not on the lake was outlet mall shopping and Lake George is home to more than 50 outlet Continued On Page 14

ECHL, Including Adirondack Thunder, Plans Ed Bartholomew, Economic Development To Start 2020-21 Hockey Season On Dec. 4 Leader, Beloved Community Supporter The ECHL Board of Governors, in conjunction with the Professional Hockey Players’ Association, has approved a revised start date for the 2020-21 ECHL Season, which includes the Adirondack Thunder which plays at Cool Insuring Arena.

The anticipated start date is Dec. 4 for a full 72-game schedule. The league did not comment on whether fans will be allowed to attend.

The ECHL 2020-21 Season was originally scheduled to start Oct. 16. Adjustments to the 2020-21 ECHL Schedule will be announced at a later date, officials said.

“We are eager to return to hockey, but at this time we believe this decision is prudent for the safety of our Players, Employees and Fans,” said ECHL Commissioner, Ryan Crelin.

“The ECHL and our Board of Governors are focused on the 2020-21 Season and remain optimistic for the safe reopening of our venues across the continent. We appreciate our partners and fans continued support and patience, as we work together with our venues, local health officials and the members of the PHPA’s Executive Committee toward the safe return of ECHL hockey.”

Began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-tocoast league with 26 teams in 19 states and two Canadian provinces for its 32nd season in 2019-20.

There have been 676 players who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League after starting their careers in the ECHL, including 14 who have made their NHL debuts in the

The Adirondack Thunder and the ECHL are is set to start play on Dec. 4.

Courtesy Adirondack Thunder

2019-20 season.

The ECHL has affiliations with 25 of the 31 NHL teams in 2019-20, marking the 23rd consecutive season that the league had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. The 2020-21 Adirondack Thunder season tickets are on sale. For more information on ticket packages, call 518-480-3355 or visit ECHLThunder.com/tickets. For all the latest Thunder news, follow the team on all social media at ECHLThunder.

Edward M. Bartholomew Jr., president of the EDC Warren County and the lead voice for economic development in the Glens Falls/Lake George Region, died on July 21 at the age of 70.

He was responsible for many projects in the county including the Glens Falls Civic Center, a project which he oversaw as mayor in 1979. He continued his economic development efforts right up to his death, officials said.

“Throughout the COVID-19 (pandemic), Ed was a fixture at economic response and recovery meetings and was an integral partner in stabilizing the future of Warren County’s local economy post-pandemic,” said Warren County Administrator Ryan Moore said.

Matthew Fuller, chairman of the county EDC, said Bartholomew was “tireless” in his pursuit of progress and entirely bipartisan in his approach to solving problems.

Fuller said Bartholomew died from complications from a medical procedure.

Bartholomew became a leading architect of the modern City of Glens Falls when in 1977 he was elected mayor at just 28 years of age, the EDC pointed out in a statement. He was the youngest mayor in New York state at the time and set about healing political divisions in his hometown over the building of the Glens Falls Civic Center, now Cool Insuring Arena.

“He made it his mission to make the Civic Center a success. Ed recruited a big-name Civic Center director in Union College’s legendary hockey coach Ned Harkness and landed an American Hockey League team in the Adirondack Red Wings,” the EDC said. “These

Ed Bartholomew, president and CEO, EDC Warren County, died in July at age 70.

Courtesy EDC Warren County

were just the first of many Ed Bartholomew projects over the next 40+ years to benefit the City of Glens Falls, Warren County and the entire North Country region.”

EDC pointed out that as mayor, he built a modern ball park and brought minor league baseball to Glens Falls. He brought new industry to Pruyn’s Island and an intermunicipal sewage project to the Upper Hudson River. He helped establish the Greater Glens Falls Transit System.

Continued On Page 3

2 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2020

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Personnel Briefs

Mannix Marketing announced the addition of Cameron Cardinale to Mannix Marketing as a social media intern for GlensFalls. com.

Cardinale was hired as a social media intern in June, working closely with Liz Sutton, the social media manager at Mannix Marketing.

He drives traffic to local businesses through Instagram and is starting the first Glens Falls TikTok and Reel channels. His goal is to market fun things to do in the Glens Falls region to the next generation.

* * * Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co. announced the appointment of Mark Wolfenden as director of internal audit and senior vice president.

He will be responsible for managing the Internal Audit Department functions and staff while overseeing the associated risk and quality control issues. He performs the same duties for Saratoga National Bank and Trust Co. and Upstate Agency, which are part of the Arrow Family of Companies.

Wolfenden will participate in the company’s strategic planning and refinement of tactical goals and objectives. He will report independently to the Board Audit Committee on risk and audit issues and to the chief risk officer on internal and administrative issues.

Wolfenden has more than 30 years of internal audit experience, most recently with Iron Mountain, an enterprise information management company in Boston and previously,

‘Dollar Dash’ Offers Various Products Priced At $10 And Less; Also Does Consignments •

with State Street, a financial services and bank holding company in Boston.

He received a master of arts in economics from the University of New Hampshire and a bachelor of science in business administration (summa cum laude) from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell.

* * * Mannix Marketing announced the addition of Pam Fisher as Glens Falls contributing editor and marketing consultant.

Her work will focus on helping businesses thrive through digital marketing strategies, not only to reach the Glens Falls region, but also to grow their visibility beyond the local market.

Over the past decade, Sara Mannix, CEO of Mannix Marketing, and Fisher have worked together in various capacities, including serving as board directors for the Adirondack Theatre Festival. Fisher also worked closely with Mannix Marketing during her time at the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce.

* * * Cost Control Associates in Queensbury announced that Liz Beaty has joined the company as an analyst.

Prior to joining Cost Control Associates, Beaty worked at Aeon Nexus Corp. as a business analyst and sold real estate in Florida.

She received her bachelor of science in management information systems from the University of Central Florida and is a Microsoft certified professional She resides in Queensbury.

Continued On Page 13

Rick Schrade

518-389-4060

1761 Central Ave. | Albany, NY

Gina Peters opened Dollar Dash in Queensbury in July. The store has cleaning and kitchen supplies, home and bath items, health and beauty items, electronics, pet supplies, hardware and more.

BY ANDREA HARWOOD PALMER A new discount store has opened at the Mount Royal Plaza at 959 Route 9 in Queensbury.

Gina Peters and her husband opened the store on July 24.

“We are here to serve the community. We’re not a franchise or a big corporation. We’re here for the local community and the surrounding area. We are a $10 or less store, because we wanted quality products in here. We also consign local artisans in the store, and we encourage people to buy local,” said Peters.

“The people we’ve had come in have been very encouraging and supportive. Day by day, our customer base in increasing,” she said.

The store carries cleaning and kitchen supplies, home and bath items, health and beauty items, toys, home décor, party items, electronics, pet supplies and hardware. There is also a small grocery section that is expanding and they are working on a small auto section.

“We opened up with the help of an organization called Liberty Opportunities. The initial set-up package was done through them, with their vendors who are known to be professional and reputable,” said Peters.

Andrea Harwood Palmer

Peters started the local artisan consignment program with friends, family and previous coworkers. She is currently advertising in the store and online, to attract regionally based vendors and consignees.

“I’ve been in retail for over 20 years. About 10 years ago, I learned about Liberty Opportunities.

I was looking at opening a traditional dollar store.

At the time, my kids were 3 and 4 years old, and the timing just wasn’t good. Now they’re teenagers, and I have a lot more retail experience. It was the right time,” said Peters.

Peters is leasing the property in Mount Royal Plaza, next to Adirondack Urgent Care.

“Queensbury is where I do my major shopping.

I was originally considering opening the store in Warrensburg. I worked in the Warrensburg Price Chopper for years, and you can really see the fluctuation in shopper traffic during the tourist season and the off season. We felt the niche and opportunity was greater in Queensbury,” said Peters.

Dollar Dash offers various discount days. It is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, with the exception of Wednesday, when they are opened 9 a.m. 5 p.m. Its website is www.dollar-dashllc.business.site. The phone is 518-502-1726.

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2020 • 3

Ed Bartholomew Continued From Page 1 He helped set the course for the revitalization of Downtown Glens Falls.

Bartholomew worked on solving the intricate political, financial and logistical challenges of complicated projects to benefit the communities he loved.

“After several years in state government, Ed came home in 2013 to lead EDC Warren County where, with his signature enthusiasm and energy, he secured federal, state and local funding for major public works projects and large and small businesses throughout Warren County, including a $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative Grant for Glens Falls.

“We at EDC have lost a beloved colleague and Warren County has lost a devoted lifelong champion whose enduring contributions to our quality of life will benefit many generations to come.”

Thoughts on Bartholomew came in from all over the state.

“I am deeply saddened,” said Heather Briccetti, president and CEO of the Business Council of New York State. “Ed earned a welldeserved reputation for being a dedicated and skilled public servant, in his many professional roles throughout his career where he brought great value to the communities he served. He was also a great friend, whose genuine warmth, intelligence and wit were apparent to everyone he encountered. He will be greatly missed.”

The Adirondack Thunder and the Adirondack Hockey Civic Center Coalition said “Ed was an integral part of bringing hockey to this great town and we will be forever grateful for his contributions.”

The effort top keep hockey in Glens Falls was one of many things Bartholomew was heavily involved in.

“His lifetime in public service had forged close friendships with many federal, state and local officials who admired him and often relied on his wise counsel,” Fuller said. “Ed was not only a trusted leader but a trusted mentor to me and so many other people. Ed didn’t see obstacles, he saw opportunities, and our entire region will forever be grateful for the countless contributions he made. His efforts cannot be replaced.”

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said the Glens Falls region “has lost an irreplaceable public servant,

but moreover, I like so many of you, have lost a good friend,” and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand cited his hard work “to secure funding and support for the projects that have built presentday Warren County, including his leadership in the continued revitalization of downtown Glens Falls.”

Former New York Gov. George Pataki said Bartholomew was “a dedicated public servant and his passing is a tremendous loss.

Throughout his career, in the state Senate, as mayor and as head of the Warren County Economic Development Corporation, Ed was a person who always cared deeply about making a positive impact.”

State Sen. Senator Betty Little noted how Bartholomew “put his heart and soul into every single project that he worked on.”

Amanda Metzger, marketing director for the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce, said Bartholomew “dedicated himself to the growth and progress of Glens Falls and the surrounding area, and for that we are truly grateful. His work helped revitalize Glens Falls, a benefit to both locals and visitors. His impactful legacy will continue to be felt long into the future.”

In 2019, he was honored by the State Legislature on the occasion of being the recipient of the Community Spirit Award by St. Mary’s-St. Alphonsus Regional Catholic School and contributions to the community.

The resolution that day said “rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individual for the benefit of others which Edward Bartholomew has displayed throughout his life ... It is the sense that when individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of this great Empire State.”

A statement from The FUND for Lake George executive leadership said the Lake George region “has lost one of its greatest champions ... over the decades his immense contributions grew to encompass our entire region, and particularly the Lake that he loved so much. As an inaugural member of The FUND for Lake George Council of Business Advisors, Ed was a tremendous advocate for the health of the lake and the region’s lake-based economy.”

Old School Pest Control In South Glens Falls Specializes In Removing Various Insect Pests

Old School Pest Control LLC in South Glens Falls is owned by John Herbaly, who wants old-fashioned service and reliability to be the hallmarks of his new business.

BY JILL NAGY John Herbaly wants old-fashioned service and reliability to be the hallmarks of his new business, Old School Pest Control LLC in South Glens Falls.

After 20 years working for other companies, Herbaly opened his own business on June 1. So far, it is a family enterprise.

Daughter Skylar designed the company’s logo, an owl wearing a mortarboard, sitting on a branch. Her sister, Larissa who loves owls provided the inspiration for that logo, ,her father said.

They are still too young to work, he said, but the girls are learning the business. His wife, Lisa, on the other hand, runs the office. If things continue to go well, he expects to add another employee next year.

Herbaly said he wants a company that has “old ways, deals sealed with a handshake, excellent customer service, and honesty behind the work.

Courtesy Old School Pest Control

I wanted my company to be about people.”

He specializes in removing insect pests, including ticks, mosquitoes, ants and termites, and “I’m really good at wildlife. I love doing the service, solving the problem. That’s really what it’s all about,” he said.

Although in business only for a short time, Herbaly said, “I havea been pretty busy. I like it.”

He said he has received good reviews and good feedback.

Herbaly was born in Glens Falls Hospital, is a graduate of South Glens Falls High School and went on to SUNY Cobleskill. He moved away from the area for a while but has since moved back. The company is “truly local,” he noted.

Headquartered in South Glens Falls, Old School Pest Control services all of Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties. The website is www.oldschoolpest.com and the telephone number is 518 724-6440.

4 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2020

Sen. Betty Little Confirmed A Member Of Jim Siplon Named Interim EDC President; Olympic Regional Development Authority Search On For A Permanent Replacement State Sen. Betty Little has been nominated

by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate as a member of the Olympic Regional Development Authority.

She was one of several appointments made on July 24.

“The COVID pandemic was a stress test on governments across the country, but New York showed what it means for government to perform for the people it serves,” Cuomo said. “The new additions to our team bring a wealth of expertise and knowledge that will be invaluable as we work to build back better from the COVID crisis and continue our record of delivering bold, progressive accomplishments for the people of New York state.”

Little is serving her ninth term as a state senator representing the residents of the 45th Senate District, which is comprised of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Warren and parts of St. Lawrence and Washington Counties.

She is not seeking re-election to another term.

Prior to first winning election to the State Senate in 2002, Little served in the State Assembly for seven years. A former teacher, she is the ranking minority member on the Senate’s Education Committee.

She also serves on the following committees: Housing, Construction and Community Development; Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation, Environmental Conservation,

Sen. Betty Little of Queensbury is in her ninth term in the State Senate.

Courtesy Sen. Betty Little

Finance, Health, New York City Education and Rules.

Born in Glens Falls, Little is a graduate of St. Mary’s Academy and the College of Saint Rose with a degree in elementary education.

She resides in Queensbury.

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL 2000 Business Of The Year

Adirondack Regional Chamber Of Commerce P.O. Box 766 • Saratoga Springs, New York 12866 (518) 581-0600 • Fax: (518) 430-3020 • www.glensfallsbusinessjournal.com

Editorial: RJDeLuke@glensfallsbusinessjournal.com Advertising: HarryW@glensfallsbusinessjournal.com Publisher & Editor Harry Weinhagen Associate Editor R.J. DeLuke Editor Emeritus Rod Bacon Sales and Customer Service Harry Weinhagen Production Manager Graphic Precision Contributing Writers Susan Campbell Jill Nagy Jennifer Farnsworth Christine Gaf Andrea Palmer Rachel Phillips Lisa Balschunat Glens Falls Business Journal is published monthly, the second week of each month, by Weinhagen Associates, LLC and mailed to business and professional people in Warren and Washington counties.

Glens Falls Business Journal is independently owned and is a registered tradename of Weinhagen Associates, LLC, P.O. Box 766, Saratoga Springs, New York l2866 (518) 581-0600. Glens Falls Business Journal is a registered tradename in New York.

Glens Falls Business Journal has been founded to promote business in Warren and Washington counties and to provide a forum that will increase the awareness of issues and activities that are of interest to the business community. Subscription price is $25.00 per year. Third class postage paid at Glens Falls, New York.

Rights to editorial content and layouts of advertising placed with Glens Falls Business Journal which are the creative effort of its contractors, and printing materials supplied by Glens Falls Business Journal are the property of Glens Falls Business Journal and may not be reproduced by photographic or similar methods, or otherwise, without the specific authorization of Glens Falls Business Journal.

The board of directors of EDC Warren County has named board member Jim Siplon as interim president following the unexpected death of Ed Bartholomew in July.

“We know we cannot fill Ed Bartholomew’s shoes and his legacy will endure here at EDC forever,” said board Chairman Matthew Fuller.

“We also know that, if Ed were here, he would tell us to keep moving forward and get the work done. Jim Siplon will help our board ensure that the many critical economic development projects that Ed was spearheading continue to move forward. There is so much work to do, and we will do it together and in Ed’s honor.’’

EDC will begin a search for a new president in the coming months.

“This is a critical time for EDC and our community, especially as we seek to help local businesses and municipalities recover from the economic damage of COVID-19,’’ said Fuller.

“That recovery mission was so important to Ed, and we are fortunate to have in Jim an experienced executive, board member and community leader who can step in to continue the business-support initiatives and assistance programs that Ed was leading.’’

“Jim Siplon is a very capable leader, and we look forward to helping him bring to fruition the many projects Ed was working on,” said Glens Falls Mayor Dan Hall.

Siplon was chief operating officer of JUST Water, leading a successful effort to create in Glens Falls an environmentally sound alternative to bottled water: spring water drawn from the Adirondacks and served in 100 percent recyclable plant- and paper-based packaging.

He forged JUST’s first-of-its-kind fair trade water agreement with the City of Glens Falls and established the company’s headquarters in the re-purposed St. Alphonsus Church on Broad Street. JUST Water now is produced in a new facility in Queensbury and is sold worldwide. Siplon completed his work at JUST earlier this year.

He previously served as the managing director of FIJI Water, responsible for building its tropical-island production to its current world-class output. Upon leaving FIJI, he led large-scale water efforts in New Zealand, Africa and the United States.

He is a former senior executive at MCI, GE, Roll International and Teleflora. Siplon also founded Rethinkh20, a consulting firm that helps large-scale water users reduce water consumption. Rethinkh20 helped Cedars Sinai Hospital in water-scarce Los Angeles conserve 20 million gallons of water annually.

He served in the U.S. Air Force for eight

Jim Siplon was selected as the interim president of EDC Warren County.

Courtesy EDC Warren County

years and holds an undergraduate degree in astrophysics from Utah State University and an MBA from Boston University. He and his wife, Susan, reside in Glens Falls.

“I look forward to the challenge of continuing Ed’s work, but no one will replace Ed. The best we can do is emulate him,” said Siplon. “Ed knew more about economic development in New York state than anyone I know. I particularly admired his ability to get things done through intellect, his connections with people at every level of government, and sheer force of will. I look forward to working with EDC’s great staff and my colleagues on the board.”

“Ed Bartholomew is irreplaceable, and we will feel his absence acutely in the coming weeks and months. But Warren County is very pleased that EDC is in the capable hands of Jim Siplon while its board of directors works on the next chapter of this accomplished organization,” said Warren County Administrator Ryan Moore.

Queensbury Supervisor John Strough said he had come to appreciate Siplon’s breadth of skills over the past five years through their interactions related to JUST and more recently EDC. “As town supervisor and EDC board director, I saw Jim work with the greater community to create and develop a very unique, now very successful business, called JUST Beverages. He will provide the type of leadership we need to bridge the EDC to the next level.”

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2020 • 5

Oak Tree Pediatric Dentistry Opened On State Association Of Counties Says COVID Aviation Road In Queensbury By Dr. Lewis Impact Could Be Severe Over Next Two Years

Dr. Jamie Lewis, originally from Pennsylvania, realized a longtime goal when he opened he left a practice in Clifton Park and opened Oak Tree Pediatric Dentistry.

BY ANDREA HARWOOD PALMER Oak Tree Pediatric Dentistry opened on Aug. 3 at 365 Aviation Road in Queensbury.

Dr. Jamie Lewis, originally from Pennsylvania, opened the practice.

“I had been working at the Smile Lodge in Clifton Park,” said Lewis. “I wanted to branch out on my own and create something a little different, a little more personal, a little more family-oriented. I wanted to get to know my patients better.”

Oak Tree is located in the space previously occupied by dentist Dr. Jennifer Shin. Shin sold her practice last year and relocated to New Hampshire with her family. Lewis purchased the property about a year ago, and renovated it to his specifications.

“I’d been looking for property for awhile. It’s always been a dream of mine to own my own practice, and run it the way I want to. I wanted to be able to treat patients the way I would want my kids to be treated,” said Lewis.

“I’ve always liked working with kids. They’re

Andrea Harwood Palmer

a lot more fun and exciting than adults,” he said. “I find it a lot more rewarding to make a nervous kid get through a procedure.”

He received his DMD degree from the Kornberg School of Dentistry at Temple University in 2014. He graduated summa cum laude. He then completed his two-year pediatric specialty residency at Temple University, graduating in 2016. He is fully board-certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.

Post-residency, Lewis worked for several years in Connecticut before relocating to Upstate New York to work at the Smile Lodge.

He was at the Smile Lodge for several years before deciding to branch out on his own.

“People are ready to get back in and get their teeth taken care of, especially kids that are in pain or who have been without care. They need somewhere to go,” said Lewis.

Oak Tree Pediatric Dentistry is participating with all insurances, including Medicaid.

His website is www.oaktreepd.com. His telephone number is 518-741-8733.

The New York State Association of Counties released an updated economic impact report in late July that says counties and New York City face a catastrophic $13.5 billion loss in revenue over two fiscal years because of COVID-19 circumstances that could lead to significant cuts to services and permanent layoffs, slowing the economic recovery and threatening gains made against the virus.

“This is terrible news for New York and the United States as the taxpayers of New York are major donors to the United States Treasury,” an organization statement said.

The group said a U.S. Senate plan from the Republicans fails to deliver aid to state and local governments.

“While there are elements of this plan that are laudable, it simply does not deliver for our residents who will face cuts to essential services, or for the essential workers who fought this pandemic on the front lines and now face layoffs.

As Congress continues negotiations, we will remain laser focused on fighting to ensure that the final bill includes unrestricted and flexible aid to allow states and local governments to offset expenses and significant revenue loss attributable to COVID-19 so our essential workers can continue providing essential services,” said Dan McCoy, Albany County executive and president of the New York State Association of County Executives and County Executives of America.

“Counties have reached a critical juncture in which the loss of revenue due to reduced economic activity and increased expenses from COVID-19 response have pushed them to the breaking point. Without direct, flexible state and local aid, counties across the state will be forced to cut local services and programs including transportation infrastructure improvement projects, services like county libraries and parks, senior meals on wheels, and human service programs benefiting thousands of New Yorkers,” said John F. Marren, president of the New York State Association of Counties

and chairman of the Ontario County Board of Supervisors.

“Part of the economic recovery is investing in America’s future. We are out of time—Congress must act to provide significant aid to states and counties and they must do it now. State and local governments compromise nearly 15 percent of the gross domestic product. Without federal assistance, counties will have no choice but to make layoffs permanent and eliminate local services – risking the health and well-being of our most vulnerable residents and jeopardizing the fragile economic recovery,” said Stephen J. Acquario, NYSAC executive director.

The report says: • Sales tax is the number one source of county revenue for nearly half of all counties and averages over 20 percent of local revenue • Over the next 12 months we project sales tax losses could be between $1 billion to $1.3 billion for the 57 counties (not including New York City). Including New York City, the sales tax losses over the next 12 months could reach $3.2 billion • Hotel occupancy taxes are down nearly 80 percent in most counties since COVID • Gaming revenues have stopped completely since COVID. For the next year we expect these revenue losses to range between $57 million to $86 million The report also notes that state and local governments are major employers and provide nearly 12 percent of all U.S. jobs. Economists have noted that in the last downturn, during the Great Recession, the federal government’s austerity approach and prematurely ending financial assistance to states and local governments contributed significantly to the slow recovery, both in employment terms and contributions to gross domestic product.

A bi-partisan group of county executives called on congressional leaders and the president to compromise on a new federal stimulus package that provides funding for states and local governments.

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6 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2020

SPECIAL SECTION

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL

Senior Living / Retirement •

Business Report Downsizing Your Home For Retirement

BY JENNA BURGER You and your spouse got married, bought a home, and raised three beautiful children. You’ve lived and loved your home for 30 years, but the kids have moved out and started their own families.

Now you’re living in the 2,500-square-foot home, half of which you don’t use other than the five times a year when “the kids” come to visit.

The question arises, why do we have all this space when most of it rarely gets used? Does it make sense to downsize? What opportunities can come about if we let this large home go? What are the pros and cons of downsizing as we are planning on retirement?

There is a lot to consider with downsizing.

Whether a house, townhome, or apartment, moving to a smaller space can have its challenges, but if planned well, the next chapter of your life can bring less maintenance and more fun. When relocating to a space that is a fraction of the size, there is a great likelihood that you’ll need to reduce the amount of furniture and decor that has been collected over the years.

The process of reducing your “stuff” can take time and potentially feel overwhelming. Purging can be exhausting. To start, it is best to approach the process with an objective mindset.

Allow yourself enough time to avoid pressure in making rash decisions. Create three different

• •

Jenna Burger, interior designer, Jenna Burger Design LLC. Courtesy Jenna Burger Design LLC.

piles or sections that include: keep, donate, throw away. Go room by room and give yourself a week for each space to keep the process from getting too daunting.

Downsizing can allow for more freedoms like traveling, spending time with your spouse and/or family, and trying new hobbies. Once you’ve got Continued On Page 7

Business Report 2020 Will Not Be Forgotten

BY DAVID KOPYC In January of this year, I wrote an article about what I anticipated for the stock market in the year 2020. In that article, I mentioned a Black Swan Event and little did I know that it would come to fruition.

The pandemic has had a dramatic impact on investors, employers, employees, deficit spending and the possibility our lives may have changed forever. Words such as social distancing, masks, freedom, travel, congregations, concerts, etc., have all taken on a new meaning to all of us. We will all look back at this event in our lives with different thoughts, opinions, and memories, whether they be good or bad.

As I write this article, the NASDAQ has just hit an all time high, and the Dow and S&P 500 are a few points shy of reaching their all time high. I bring this up because so many individuals went to cash when the pandemic came roaring into our lives and the doom and gloom that was predicted has not come to Wall Street that so many of the Monday Morning Quarterbacks said would happen.

I’ve been in the Financial Services business for 38 years and the words that always resonate with me when market volatility and uncertainty is upon us: Don’t try to time it.

From the internet bubble, flash crash and financial meltdown, the common theme has been that the markets are resilient and the pendulum always swings too far to the bull and bear side of the fence.

For those investors that went to cash and stayed there, they have missed one of the greatest rallies in the history of the stock market, when so many headlines have caused great anxiety and concern.

Historically, low interest rates are having a positive and negative impact on business and individuals, but savers that want safety and guarantees are being penalized by the interest

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David Kopyc, president of Retirement Planning Group LLC in Queensbury and Malta.

Courtesy Retirement Planning Group LLC

rate they can get for that protection. Some money market accounts are paying higher rates of returns than CDs and guaranteed interest contracts. Because of this environment of low interest rates, some investors have allocated more of their assets into riskier types of investments to receive a higher rate of return or dividends from stocks to pay their bills.

Make sure that your portfolio is allocated to your risk profile and you understand all the investments you are allocated into. These are unprecedented times and the retiree or future retiree that has to create a pension for their retirement years needs to be informed and educated on the decisions they are making with these retirement assets.

I highly recommend that you work with a financial advisor, and sooner is better than later.

We will get through this and our lives will be forever changed, but we still live in the greatest country on earth.

We’ll keep you in the loop . . . about business in the region.

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GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2020 • 7

‘Smooth Transitions’ Helps Seniors Downsize State Agencies Develop 5-Point Plan To Help Homes On The Way To New Living Situations Long Term Care Residents Access Services

BY SUSAN ELISE CAMPBELL When time comes for a senior citizen to downsize or enter assisted living, the physical and emotional aspects are more taxing than for someone who had fewer memories connected to their home.

Regardless of age or time spent at their address, many people desire a smooth transition between their current residence and the next place they’ll call home. That is what Barbara Morris set out to provide when she started Smooth Transitions locally in 1998, now a national company with 44 offices.

Keith Reed is president of one—the New York licensee of the company Morris originally incorporated as Moving for Seniors. He said the name was changed to reflect both the broader demographic served and the types of assistance the company has evolved to provide.

Like the company’s founder, Reed said, “My philosophy, too, is to help folks out. With five counties in the Capital District, there are enough people to help around the area.”

His area includes Saratoga and Warren counties and he can also provide service in Washington County if situations arise.

Help can come in many forms depending on what the client’s goals are. Many are downsizing within the area, moving in to be closer to children and grandchildren, or entering an apartment or care facility. And they are looking to people like Reed to assess needs and make the transition happen.

“I can sit across the kitchen table with an individual and their family and explain our full turnkey approach,” Reed said. “We can do the packing, get a mover if the client didn’t hire one, unpack and arrange their furniture,” “Even the cable and electricity is hooked up and ready the same day with our service,” he said.

“Clients do not have to stay overnight in a hotel while the staff sets up.”

He said while “that’s the goal,” the company doesn’t have control over everything.

“A client in Albany was very nervous and had penciled in moving day on a Friday,” he said. “I changed that to Tuesday. If something goes wrong, I told him, we cannot get help over the weekend.”

It is also comforting to have staff like Reed’s help re-organize homes and stage them for the eventual sale.

“If you have 40 years of stuff in the basement, we can sort through and take care of that,” he said. “We know pickers and antique buyers all over New York who will purchase it.”

Whatever is not taken with the client or purchased might be given to charity. Reed said it’s important to people which charities receive their donations.

“We are looking for partnerships with

Downsizing Your Home Continued From Page 6 your head wrapped around what is staying and what is going, the next best step is to determine what size space would be the right size for you.

Living in a smaller setting is certainly going to be different, but for downsizing to make sense and worth the effort, the right space may take time to figure out. If you’re unsure of the best size for your new space, visit homes of varying sizes to see if it provides what you need. Stay in an Airbnb for a week to see if it suits your spatial desires.

Determining the right size for your new setting will be an important step to ensure the space is just the right fit!

If you’re selling a larger home, maybe of which you purchased decades before, you most likely will make a profit on the sale. A smaller home that costs less to purchase, will then in turn leave you with more money in your pocket. This could potentially leave you in a position to retire early or move to a more desirable area. A larger home that isn’t used to its fullest potential may be the weight to be lifted

Keith Reed is president of the local Smooth Transitions branch. ©2020 Saratoga Photographer.com

nonprofits, as well real estate brokers, short-term and long-term care and senior communities who are looking for support,” he said. “They can get a discount on movers, for example. We support each other, whatever it takes.”

Smooth Transitions also has two interior designers available to set up a new home or stage the former one to make it look more attractive and functional to prospective buyers, he said.

The company also offers a Design-A-Gram service that helps clients visualize what their new spaces will look like when the pieces they select are all in place.

Sometimes in the process of downsizing people will be attached to some items, but those experienced in the senior market can help take some of the emotion out of parting with things.

“We might say, ‘I know you really love that oversized armoire, but we will find a place for it if you really want to,’” Reed said. “The next day they’ve decided they didn’t like it that much after all.”

Reed said the original vision of the company was to target seniors who were moving, but “everyone needs a little help. It may be couples in their 30s or early 40s who are working and raising families, who don’t have time or know where to start. Moving is a hard thing to do.”

The company helps with costs by offering military discounts, senior discounts and a referral discount, he said.

Visit www.smoothtransitions.com for more information about the company’s services and capabilities. Reed can be reached at (518) 376-5790 or kreed@smoothtransitions.com.

care facilities and the families they serve of the ongoing requirement to allow residents and families continued access to their ombudsman through various methods of communications including telephone calls and video conferencing.

3. Provide additional resources for residents and families appealing involuntary discharges.

Require nursing homes to provide a listing of free legal advocacy options, facility ombudsman contact information, and additional information on resident rights consistent with adult care facilities, upon serving a notice of involuntary discharge.

Agencies will work with stakeholders to develop best practices for avoiding involuntary discharges.

4. Expand LTCOP volunteer recruitment strategies.

Officials said there is an urgent need for LTCOP volunteers, regardless of age. This program offers a challenging and rewarding volunteer opportunity that offers flexible hours—and is an important way to contribute to one’s community by assisting some of its most vulnerable members.

State agency partners will: Provide information to all state employees regarding becoming a volunteer ombudsman; work with the Office of National and Community Service to have LTCOP listed on their web portal as a volunteer option; coordinate outreach to AARP and other stakeholders about development of a volunteer recruitment campaign.

5. “Reimagine” the program workgroup chaired by state agencies and the AARP. The “reimagine” workgroup will provide recommendations to enhance the ability of LTCOP and DOH to assist residents and their families.

The goals of the workgroup will focus on: developing a cohesive statewide training for certifying new ombudsman, including development of a standardized web-based training to allow for more flexibility and increase the volunteer pool; increasing collaboration and information sharing between LTCOP and DOH to address issues raised by residents and their families that are not resolvable by LTCOP; developing clear guidance for residents and families regarding when to contact an ombudsman and when to file a complaint with the Department of Health; engaging with schools of social work and schools of nursing to develop opportunities for students to obtain credits for becoming a certified ombudsman; exploring strategies to best harness the power of volunteers, as well as research alternative models to expand the program.

to allow for a better and more enjoyable lifestyle.

Along with the home savings of a smaller home, the maintenance and upkeep costs can also be lessened. From utilities to lawn care to cleaning, maintaining a larger home can be overwhelming, costly, and time consuming. Who wants to spend three hours mowing the lawn on a Saturday when you could be hiking or playing golf? With a home better suited to your needs and life goals, the costs and maintenance of a space can be a fraction of the time needed for a larger home.

Making the decision to downsize can be difficult.

Many wonderful memories have been made in a home where your children were raised. But is that worth staying? When evaluating the idea of moving, ask yourself why. Why are you considering downsizing. Spending less time cleaning and more quality time on what is important certainly could make for better years ahead.

Lastly, downsizing, doesn’t have to be downgrading. Your standards for living can certainly be met even though you‘re in a smaller space. There is no need to compromise on your surroundings and the lifestyle you‘ve worked so hard toward.

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The state Department of Health and state Office for the Aging have developed a five-point plan to help long term care residents and their families access services.

The plan would run through the Office of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program and would provide additional resources to residents and families appealing involuntary discharges, expand the ombudsman volunteer program, “reimagine” a multi-agency workgroup to enhance services and provide up to $1 million in funding for long term care facilities to purchase tablets, webcams, headphones, or other accessories to help residents stay connected with family during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.

“When our loved ones reside in a nursing home, regular communication concerning their care is vital to the advocacy of residents and the peace of mind for their family members,” said State Commissioner of Health Dr. Howard Zucker.

State Office for the Aging Acting Director Greg Olsen said the ombudsman program “has not gone away through this pandemic. It has shifted its work to remote and technology based advocacy. Families and friends of residential facility residents can and should reach out to LTCOP staff and volunteers if they have any quality of care concerns with their loved ones. We will continue to work with the Department of Health, resident councils, and facilities to ensure the safety and security of all residents.”

New York’s Long Term Care Ombudsman Program is a vital resource for adult care facility and nursing home residents and their families, officials said. The agency partnership will: 1. Provide up to $1 million for nursing homes to purchase technology tools to enhance resident communication options and help reduce social isolation.

This targeted use of federal Civil Monetary Penalty (CMP) funds is expected to assist residents of nursing homes with social isolation as facilities are currently required to restrict visitor access.

Nursing homes will be encouraged to submit an application to DOH to receive up to $3,000 through the CMP fund for the purchase of communicative technology and accessories needed to connect residents to family and to the LTCOP. 2. Publicize LTCOP’s availability to residents and their families.

During the COVID-19 response, the state ombudsman sent letters reminding long term

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8 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2020

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Environment / Development High-Tech Designs Improve Movement Flow FUND For Lake George Program To Help For People In Apartments And Businesses People Upgrade Septic Systems Around Lake

This is the new Stewart’s Shop prototype in Port Henry, built by Hilltop Construction. The interior is larger, which allows the company to have more grocery space in its stores.

BY LISA BALSCHUNAT When Atrium Properties of Clifton Park was awarded two town contracts, the company began working on the projects by incorporating new design techniques and technology that creates an efficient transfer of information,said Jacqueline Phillips Murray, a member of the Plank Road Centre LLC. Rob Holbrook, president of V&H Construction, of Fort Edward, which built the new Common Roots Brewing Co. in South Glens Falls, agrees that new digital design techniques provide a field crew at the site with real-time changes they can pull up on a tablet, instead of waiting for a hard copy blueprint change as in earlier years.

“The change can be emailed to the project manager and the information can be given quickly to the guys at the site,” he said. “They can blow up a drawing or sketch and see the details on a tablet or smart phone easily … that was not possible Fyears ago with just a print.”

Tom Albrecht, president of Hilltop Construction, of Hudson Falls, said, “codes are always evolving in this industry—looking for energy efficiency and better building practices,”

Courtesy Stewart’s Shops

he said. “We’re not building the cracker boxes of the 50s anymore. Projects are becoming more engineered and more specialized.”

“Demands are more specialized,” he noted, “Forty-four years ago it was so simple.”

According to Phillips Murray, “the Plank Road Centre has 34 units, with 12 two-bedroom and 22 one-bedroom—all with balconies, central air and state-of-the art kitchens,” he said. “One retail space, for a food service tenant, is also proposed on the first floor, which will have four apartments.”

The complex abuts existing “green” area and will include streetscaping and connectivity to Market 32 in Clifton Park Shoppers World.

She said Clifton Park created a Town Center plan several years ago to encourage “corresponding walkable environments” for residents to access existing retail and commercial development. “We happy to be part of the that vision.”

Additionally, Atrium Properties is constructing Town Square, a 39-unit luxury apartment complex at 451 Clifton Park Center Continued On Page 9

Expanding on its role in protecting Lake George from failing and aging septic and wastewater treatment systems, The FUND for Lake George unveiled a new basin-wide program dedicated to equipping and empowering property owners to ensure every private septic system in the basin is performing as needed to keep the Lake clean and healthy.

“One of the greatest threats to Lake George’s legendary water quality is the increasing levels of nutrients, especially phosphorus and nitrogen escaping from failing and aging septic systems and treatment plants,” said Eric Siy, executive director of The FUND for Lake George.

“The increased nutrients pose a risk for the development of harmful algal blooms (HABs) like those that have devastated lake ecologies and economies across New York state and the country.”

The Safe Septic System Program features: • A no-interest/low-interest loan program for septic system replacements in the Lake George basin in partnership with Adirondack Trust Co. and Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co.; • The SafeSepticSystems.org website, an online guide to help homeowners ensure their systems are not harming the Lake.

“Fortunately, Lake George property owners have it in their power to stop and reverse this intensifying threat. Every system counts, and The FUND’s new program will empower property owners to do their part, from fixing to financing, in keeping their septic systems safe and our Lake protected,” said Siy. Central to this comprehensive program is the new no-interest/low-interest loan program for septic system replacements. Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Co. and Adirondack Trust Co. have each developed special financing programs for qualified property owners whose septic systems need to be replaced. The lifespan of a typical septic system is 30-40 years, and replacement costs can range from $17,000-$30,000, depending on system specifications, size requirements, and site conditions.

Adirondack Trust is offering no-interest loans for qualifying property owners in certain areas of the Southern Basin. For more information, please call Matthew Harrison, vice president of residential lending, at (518) 584-5844, ext. 2222.

Glens Falls National is offering an array of low-interest loans to qualifying property

A worker pumps out a septic system in the Lake George area.

Courtesy FUND for Lake George

owners throughout the entire Basin. For more information, please call Helen Tobias, branch manager of the Lake George office, at (518) 6685461.

“People take on a very special responsibility when owning a septic system on Lake George,” said William Creighton, vice chairman of The FUND’s board of trustees, who worked closely with the banks in establishing the loan program.

“At the same time, The FUND recognizes that replacement costs can be an obstacle to fulfilling this responsibility, particularly for families whose properties have been handed down from generation-to-generation.

“We are tremendously grateful that these community-focused banks recognize this challenge—and the importance of a healthy Lake George to our regional economy—and have stepped up with the future of our Lake in mind.”

Charles V. Wait, Jr., president and CEO of Adirondack Trust said the project “reinforces one of our core beliefs: taking care of our local communities. We are pleased that we can provide a lending option that will help local homeowners and small businesses improve their standard of living, while preserving the ‘Queen of American Continued On Page 9

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2020 • 9

Building Designs Continued From Page 8 Road. It will provide a walkable environment to the Clifton Park Center, YMCA, and Hannaford Supermarket in Village Plaza. “These two particular projects are state-of-the-art for Clifton Park,” she said.

“Both are ‘smart buildings’ that cater to individuals working remotely with high speed internet and data services needs, temperature control and car charging stations.”

Smart buildings typically manage and control operations including lighting, security, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and other systems. “We are also meeting design demands of the town code by building closer to the road and not behind a parking lot. We are conscious of connectivity and have the good design features the town required for tenants,” she said.

For two months, the pandemic shutdown the Plank Road Centre, but “on the flip side, the construction industry opened in Phase One. We put all of our protective measures in place and were pleased that the project was outside work,” she said. “Our crew is doing a great job with the project. It was important for them, and for our economy, to get back to work.”

Holbrook, said efficiency was at a premium after the 2019 fire that destroyed Common Roots. Then COVID-19 halted construction of the redesign, and all eyes were on V&H Construction workers as they attempted to resurrect a beloved establishment in 11 months.

Designed by Phinney Design Group, of Saratoga Springs, the build was fluid.

“We work on-line often to communicate with the architects and engineers on the design build,” Holbrook said. “Then, we found ourselves discussing the project even more on-line” due to the pandemic.

With technological advances, Holbrook said “there is more integration between the mechanical, electrical and build teams now” that creates a more streamline process.

V&H needed a three-week extension with the brewery project due to the pandemic shutdown, but was able to finish by July 4. Twelve employees worked on the job, as well as several subcontractors.

V&H was recently awarded a $390,000 project to build a Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Co. branch in Greenwich and is working on an addition for the Cambridge Pacific on Route 22, where a $1 million printing press is being installed. The company has several other projects on tap.

Albrecht said Hilltop crews have been working to “beat the heat” by starting early wherever possible.

The masks are hot in the heat, but the workers are working through it. In this industry you have to be adaptable,” he said. “Change happens. You either go with it or get left behind.”

Hilltop is presently framing a Stewart’s Shop in Indian Lake and just completed one is Port Henry. The structures are the company’s new prototype buildings, with more room and expanded grocery sections. There will be a ground breaking in Keene soon.

Albrecht said the footprint for the convenience shops is consistent.

“The guys know what to expect. We’ve had a 10-year relationship with Stewart’s — building 74 new shops” he said. “Life is good. Business is good.”

“I commend Gov. Cuomo for making hard decisions early on in this pandemic. He made tough choices. I fully advocate all to wear masks.

We all need to get healthy again,” said Albrecht.

Lake George Septic Systems Continued From Page 8 Lakes’ for generations to come. It is this type of innovative partnership that provides quality of life and economic benefits for all, and we are very proud to be part of this initiative.”

Marc Yrsha, senior vice president of Glens Falls National Bank said they are pleased to provide low-interest financing options to property owners for septic and water improvement systems.

“Lake George is a vital part of our local economy and we want to help residents maintain or update their systems to be environmentally sound and protect the lake,” said Yesha.

In addition to the loan program, The FUND’s new Safe Septic System website provides easy-tounderstand, step-by-step guidance for property owners to determine if their system is operating safely and how to properly maintain or replace it, officials said. Included are overviews of how various types of septic systems work, how to choose the right system for a property, and how

to select qualified engineers and contractors.

Officials said the need for the loan assistance and educational materials for septic system owners came to the forefront last year with the findings from a major assessment of near-shore systems in the town of Lake George, conducted in coordination by The FUND’s Lake George Waterkeeper program, with funding from a state Department of Environmental Conservation grant.

The assessment covered more than 400 septic systems that are within 500 feet of the lake and 100 feet of tributary streams and found that: • Two-thirds of the systems were either near or past their estimated life expectancy or there was no information available on the age; • Nearly one out of five systems were undersized for the required volume, which could result in premature system failure; • More than half of the systems reviewed had

State Gives Grants To Help Maintain Parks The State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Department of Environmental Conservation, and the advocacy group Parks & Trails New York have awarded grants to support nonprofit organizations involved with stewardship of 29 state parks, historic sites and public lands.

The grants—including five in the area— provided to partner organizations will help to improve the maintenance of these historic open spaces.

The grants “will help bolster efforts to keep New York’s open spaces beautiful and pristine at a time when more New Yorkers than ever are turning to nature for refuge and relaxation,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “New York is thankful for this dedicated group of volunteers, which provide invaluable support to our park system by devoting their time to help make improvements that all of us can enjoy.”

The program grants are funded through the state Environmental Protection Fund and support partner group efforts to raise private funds for capital projects, perform maintenance tasks, and provide educational programming.

Grants in the area went to: • Friends of Moreau Lake State Park, $13,500, to fund a consultant to create promotional materials designed to promote membership in the group.

• Friends of Saratoga Spa State Park, $12,000, to fund a consultant, membership management software and promotional materials, digital marketing and Chamber of Commerce membership.

• Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance, $3,528, to purchase new signs in the park.

• The Friends of U.S. Grant Cottage in Wilton, $48,000, to fund an assessment of current conditions and master plan for potential future improvements including off-site parking, accessible pedestrian pathways, connection to the Palmertown Trail network, a memorial garden and new pavilion.

• Wilton Wildlife Preserve, $4,800, to fund new signs for trail kiosks and school programming on the environmental history of the Saratoga Sand Plains. no record of maintenance or pump-out, and/or have never been pumped out; • One in five systems utilize drywells that have reduced treatment efficiencies and have a greater potential for releasing pollutants into groundwater.

These findings closely mirrored a prior Waterkeeper assessment of septic systems on Dunhams Bay in Queensbury and are likely to reflect system conditions in communities throughout the Lake’s basin.

“Unfortunately, septic systems can be a classic example of ‘out of sight, out of mind,’” said Lake George Waterkeeper Chris Navitsky. “Many people simply don’t think about their system until it causes a problem in their home. Overlooked is what’s happening underground and how it might be impacting the lake and its tributaries.

We’re sure people want to do the right thing when it comes to maintaining their systems and protecting the lake, and we’re committed to doing everything we can to help them.”

10 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2020

Girl Who Spent Summers In Silver Bay Makes Big Boom Self Storage Near Exit 18 Has Space Board Game With Real-Life Destinations For Large Commercial Clients, Small Units

BY ANDREA HARWOOD PALMER Bryna Haldeman has spent summers in Silver Bay in the town of Hague in Warren County for as long as she can remember.

The 16-year old high school student created the Silver Bay game, a board game utilizing the reallife destinations of Silver Bay. Haldeman thought of the idea with her grandfather, Bob Haldeman. They worked on the idea together over the years. Bob died not long ago.

“We thought it would be a really fun idea to create a game that would remind people about all the great things in Silver Bay. It’s a way for people, friends and family to enjoy time together,” said Haldeman. “We started writing our ideas on a piece of paper, and it grew from there.”

“It’s a great game, in the board game style. The game path goes in the pattern of an ‘S’ and a ‘B’, for Silver Bay. There’s different destinations on the board, destinations you also find in Silver Bay. You want to get as many destination cards as you can, and that’s how you win,” said Haldeman.

“Silver Bay is a community that is all about being good citizens. So we added Helper Cards to the game,” said Haldeman’s mom, Tracey Haldeman. “We wanted to incorporate that feeling into the game.”

“My favorite thing to do while I’m in Silver Bay is going to the ice cream shop,” said Haldeman, who volunteers to scoop ice cream at the shop during the summer.

Haldeman has a prototype game on hand, and recently launched a Kickstarter campaign (www.kickstarter.com/projects/traceyannh/

Bryna Haldeman developed a board game using the real-life destinations of Silver Bay. Andrea Harwood Palmer

the-silver-bay-game) to crowd-fund capital for manufacturing and distributing the product. After raising capital, the teen plans to partner with area stores to potentially carry the board game.

During the school year, Haldeman attends a music and art high school in Baltimore. She is a classically trained violinist, considering college for music. “I’m hoping to go professional,” said Haldeman.

COMPUTER TRAINING CUSTOMIZED FOR YOUR BUSINESS

BY ANDREA HARWOOD PALMER Jerry Nudi, a real estate investor and founder of Warren Electric, has purchased the storage units at 94 Big Boom Road, near Northway Exit 18 in Queensbury.

The business and property was purchased for $2.7 million, according to Nudi.

“I looked at it for a couple years,” said Nudi.

“I just hadn’t decided to move forward until recently. I’m already in warehousing. I have a number of facilities that offer businesses space to operate, including warehouse space.

This particular storage facility has additional larger commercial spaces.”

The property contains over 300 storage units of various sizes, spaces utilized by commercial industries. Adirondack Offroad, General Roofing Contractors, Vermont Bread Co. and Line X are some of the larger business tenants at the property.

“A lot of people rent storage space for their personal belongings. Then, there are businesses who will take a unit for their salespeople who need access to inventory or equipment. Other businesses use the space for receiving and distribution to trucks,” said Nudi.

Big Boom Self Storage has an on-site manager.

“Most self storage places don’t have an on-site person. The former owner always had someone here and we kept that person on as an employee. I find it very important to have that personal service available for people,” said Nudi.

The property has security cameras and portions of the property are fenced off. Some of the larger warehouse areas are open to allow tenant access twenty-four hours a day.

“There are people coming and going at odd

Jerry Nudi has purchased the storage units at 94 Big Boom Road, near Northway Exit 18.

Andrea Harwood Palmer

hours, getting ready for deliveries the next day; people receiving their goods, or coming back from their jobs late at night,” said Nudi.

“It’s a nice extension to my current portfolio.

It has larger warehouse units that people use for distribution and storage. That ties in nicely to what I already have. What I didn’t already have was smaller units, like the 10 x 10 spaces people often inquire about,” said Nudi.

“When business is good, people need space.

When business is bad, people need space. I think it’s a good business for that reason. It’s going to always have that need,” he said.

Big Boom Self Storage can be reached at (518) 793-6622.

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Work Place / Legal / Security To Keep A Business Secure, People Should Consider Shredding Certain Documents

BY ROB SHAUGER Most businesses these days are very aware of security threats and have policies in place to keep themselves protected. However, even with these policies in place, there are many seeminglyinnocent documents that are often forgotten about that can leave your business open to security breaches.

Here are five documents you should be shredding, but probably aren’t: 1. Junk mail. While junk mail seems harmless, enough personal data is usually included for identity thieves to use against you. For example, names and addresses are inserted into preapproved credit card applications. It would be all too easy for a person to send in these applications and use them for their own personal gain.

2. Photos. Photos of employees, customers, and suppliers may seem harmless, but thieves can use these photos to make up an identity. Combine this with any other personal information they may have collected from your business, and you could be in trouble. Keep your employees and customers safe by shredding these photos instead of tossing them into the garbage.

3. Hiring information. When people apply for jobs a hard copy of their resume and other documents containing personal information is often left behind. This information would be all too easy for identity thieves to take advantage of.

Keep these applications in a locked location and shred when no longer needed.

4. Shipping Labels. Shipping labels include confidential information such as your business’s address and account numbers. Mail room employees should always remove and securely shred these labels before boxes or packages are broken down and recycled.

5. Post-it notes. Post-it notes are a staple in any office. They are easy to grab and jot down information when on a call or collaborating with a coworker. Many times what is written on these notes are passwords, account numbers, and other confidential information. Yet when they are no longer needed they are often just thrown into the trash. Keep yourself protected by shredding these notes instead.

Implementing a sound security policy and training employees on those policies is a great first step to keeping your business safe. Enlisting the help of a reputable document destruction company can help ensure your shredding protocols are up to snuff and that no potentially harmful documents are falling through the cracks.

If your business handles personally identifiable information, it is important to keep the information secure in order to protect your

Rob Shauger is director of sales and development at ConfiData.

Courtesy ConfiData

clients. This includes patient records, employment records, loan applications, tax forms, medical forms, credit card applications, and more.

Security breaches are a real and large threat to businesses of all sizes and across all industries.

The average total cost for companies who suffered a data breach of more than 50,000 records cost an average of $10.3 million. Think your company is too small to have a data breach really affect you? Think again. According to an IBM study, data breaches involving small businesses can cost a staggering $4.5 million. Data breaches small or large also tarnish your company’s hardearned trustworthy reputation, making it harder to gain new clients even years down the road.

While many people associate data breaches to cyber terrorists and online hackers, the truth is often times data breaches occur from improper handling or disposing of personal documents.

Thieves target paper documents and use the information to open fraudulent accounts.

Information can also be recovered from computer hard drives that have been improperly disposed of. Simply throwing away hard drives without proper destruction could leave your business (and clients) at considerable risk. If the thief has access and the knowledge, they can wreak havoc on a business.

Do you rip up credit card offers when they come in the mail? If your answer is no because you shred credit card offers, good for you.

Right now your office probably has a policy that sends confidential documents to the shredder and non-confidential paper to the recycling bin.

But who is deciding what’s confidential and nonconfidential, and are you sure that the confidential papers are really getting shredded?

•

Business Report Why You Are Mired In Dysfunction Junction?

BY MICHAEL CRUZ The first reason is that you simply do not trust each other. In his breakthrough work, “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team”, Patrick Lencioni wrote that the absence of trust is the biggest reason teams do not work well together.

This is because we are not often trained to be vulnerable and to trust the people we work with. This means that everything else we try to do is built on a weak foundation.

The second dysfunction is fear of conflict.

Again, we were taught in kindergarten that it is most important for everyone to get along.

Even if that means holding back on contrary views. If we don’t trust each other, we cannot have intelligent debate about options to solving problems. This hurts the team because we do not bring our best ideas to the table.

This leads to a lack of commitment. Decisions that are made are not ‘bought into’ by each individual. That leads to ambiguity in achieving goals. If we don’t agree, we are free to head in different directions. And that allows us to wait for the idea that we did not buy into to fail.

His fourth principle is avoidance of accountability. We don’t trust each other, so we don’t have a healthy discussion. We walk out of a meeting committed to doing our own thing.

And, no one holds the other’s feet to the fire.

At the top of the pyramid is inattention to results. The first four dysfunctions mean that we don’t need to focus on outcomes because we never bought in to the decision in the first place.

Lencioni’s book was a NY Times bestseller and is still in print. It makes for great reading.

If your organization is struggling to establish good objectives AND to meet them, you probably suffer from two or more of these dysfunctions.

It can be fixed! The first step is to hold a team meeting to lay out why things aren’t working.

•

Michael Cruz is president of Lighthouse Advisors LLC in Queensbury.

Courtesy Lighthouse Advisors LLC

Then, it’s important to tackle these one at a time.

For teams to be effective we must establish trust.

Without trust we will never work well together.

With trust, healthy dialogue is easier. The focus then becomes making sure everyone commits to group objectives. We must be accountable to each other to accomplish these objectives.

These changes lead to positive results. You will have measures that you can focus on and review on a regular basis. This is most critical for executive teams. If the executive team doesn’t work well together, how can you expect the whole company to understand where you are going?

This is a process that we lead many organizations through. If you would like to know more, please feel free to contact us at Lighthouse Advisors.

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12 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2020

REGIONAL STOCKWATCH Stock Name

Closing Price 07/10/2020

Closing Price 07/17/2020

Closing Price 07/24/2020

Closing Price 07/31/2020

Closing Price 08/07/2020

Albany Int’l 51.89 52.58 51.97 48.08 52.54 Arrow 27.89 28.39 28.48 27.30 29.04 AT & T 30.13 30.25 29.57 29.58 30.02 Ball 72.40 70.29 73.16 73.63 75.54 Ballston Spa National Bank 43.50 40.25 41.50 41.50 41.50 Bank of America 24.02 23.22 24.35 24.88 26.10 Best Buy 84.90 87.96 96.99 99.59 102.91 Citizens Bank 23.80 24.76 25.18 24.81 25.43 Espey 18.29 18.16 17.75 18.63 18.87 General Electric 6.69 7.07 6.86 6.07 6.40 Hilton 75.24 79.90 77.43 75.05 83.62 Home Depot 250.11 260.38 265.31 265.49 271.69 Int’l Paper 34.54 36.92 36.32 34.79 35.50 Key Corp 11.55 11.69 12.25 12.01 12.54 Lowe’s 137.43 144.39 147.03 148.91 152.81 Martin Marietta 210.15 223.55 223.65 207.18 220.05 M&T Bank 100.37 99.32 105.13 105.95 107.61 McDonald’s 184.88 191.48 198.72 194.28 204.60 National Grid 55.27 56.06 57.38 59.11 59.18 NBT Bancorp Inc. 28.33 29.38 29.89 29.79 31.59 Plug Power 9.30 8.99 8.52 7.71 11.28 Quad Graphics 3.25 3.26 3.02 3.11 3.45 Starbucks 74.29 74.16 75.78 76.53 75.79 Sysco 52.31 54.17 54.94 52.85 57.81 Target 118.86 121.67 123.71 125.88 131.78 The TorontoDominion Bank 44.10 45.39 45.05 44.28 45.76 Trans World 7.95 6.01 6.25 7.97 10.33 Trustco Bank 5.93 6.12 6.02 5.79 6.18 Verizon 54.49 56.30 56.85 57.48 58.52 Walmart 130.68 131.74 131.24 129.40 129.99 This list of quotations is provided through the courtesy of Robert M. Schermerhorn, CFP®, Saratoga Financial Services, Securities offered through LPL Financial /Member FINRA & SIPC, located in Saratoga Springs, NY. www.SaratogaRetire.com

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Home / Energy Insurance Employee Benefits Fitness / Nutrition Publication Date: September 10, 2020

New York State Cooperating With Others To Ramp Up Electrification Of Trucks, Buses New York state, along with 14 states and the District of Columbia, plans to develop an action plan to ramp up electrification of buses and trucks.

In a joint memorandum of understanding issued in July, the state committed to work collaboratively to accelerate the market for electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, including large pickup trucks and vans, delivery trucks, box trucks, school and transit buses and longhaul delivery trucks.

The goal of the MOU is to ensure that 100 percent of all new medium- and heavy-duty vehicle sales be zero emission vehicles by 2050 with an interim target of 30 percent zero-emission vehicle sales in these categories of vehicles by 2030. The announcement supports the state’s nation-leading targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. “With a lack of federal leadership and an outright failure to follow science, it has fallen to the states to address the climate crisis by working together to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from all sources,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “Reducing pollution from medium- and heavy-duty vehicles will result in cleaner air for New Yorkers, particularly low-income neighborhoods and communities of color that have historically and disproportionately borne the brunt of the worst environmental consequences.

“As New York continues to implement nation leading climate initiatives, this multi-state agreement furthers the critical leadership roles of the states in combatting climate change and establishes an example for other states to follow.”

Signatories of the MOU are California, Connecticut, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia.

Officials said the transportation sector is now the nation’s largest source of climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to unhealthy levels of ozone and smog in many parts of the U.S. Accelerating the electrification of trucks and buses will help achieve the deep, economy-wide emission reductions needed to avoid the worst consequences of climate change and protect public health.

Trucks and buses account for an estimated four percent of vehicles on U.S. roadways, but contribute nearly a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.

According to officials. in addition, electrification of trucks and buses is anticipated to reduce the burden of air pollution that results

from heavy truck traffic in communities. Diesel emissions from medium- and heavy-duty trucks contribute to elevated levels of particulate matter and air toxics. These emissions disproportionately impact low-income communities and communities of color, often located near major trucking corridors, ports and distribution hubs.

State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said New York “is setting the bar for state-led action on climate. To achieve the State’s nation-leading goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, New York must reduce emissions from the transportation sector, now the largest source of climate pollution.”

MOU signatories will work through the existing multi-state ZEV Task Force facilitated by the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management to develop and implement a ZEV action plan for trucks and buses.

By promoting and investing in electric trucks and buses and the charging and fueling infrastructure needed to serve these vehicles, the signatory jurisdictions will support job creation, and help to build a resilient and clean economy.

State agencies, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and others, developed Clean Transportation NY, a plan to strategically invest the Volkswagen settlement resources for maximum benefit and to build on New York’s leadership on clean energy and climate change.

The funds were secured to mitigate damages from the Volkswagen emissions cheating scandal through the federal settlement with Volkswagen.

The state’s strategically leveraged investment of settlement funds is anticipated to result in at least $300 million of clean vehicles and infrastructure on New York’s roadways.

In addition, New York is working on a bipartisan basis with other states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With 10 state partners, New York is strengthening the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, an effective tool to reduce power sector emissions. When the Trump Administration pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement, New York co-founded the U.S. Climate Alliance, now 25 states and territories strong with a combined $11.7 trillion economy.

The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act requires the state to achieve a carbon free electricity system by 2040 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions 85 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, setting a new standard for states and the nation to expedite the transition to a clean energy economy.

The new law will drive investment in clean energy solutions such as wind, solar, energy efficiency and energy storage.

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GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2020 • 13

Rasp Inc. In Moreau Eyes Expansion Of SUNY Adirondack To Offer Google IT Its Warehouse Space At Plant On Route 9 Support Professional Certificate This Fall

BY JENNIFER FARNSWORTH RASP Inc. is expanding their manufacturing space at the company’s 27,000-square-foot plant off Route 9 in Moreau.

The company has selected the JAG Group to design and construct the project.

According to Ronald Richards, CEO of Rasp, the expansion comes in response to high demand from manufacturers.

Richards said the company is hoping to break ground at the end of August. The expansion has been scaled back. The company is now looking at a budget of between $150,000 and $200,000 for the project.

He said there are three reasons for the expansion; employee safety, the immediate need for more manufacturing space and a strong year in sales.

“When the COVID-19 struck, I initially shut down the company and sent everyone home with full pay so I could assess the situation,” he said. “Our COO, Michael Close, and I came up with a plan to reopen safely but this required more floor space to ensure everyone stayed separated. We were able to make it all happen but we were already having a strong year and also in talks with new customers.

“We knew space was going to be a real problem. We thought about adding additional manufacturing space but after

evaluating the situation, determined that we would have enough space if we could remove finished products along with inventory. So the plan is to add a warehouse facility to store these items and that will free up the space we need.”

As a result of the initial shutdown and the cautious reopening, Richards said the company fell behind schedule. They have been able to work to get back on track with the timeline by bringing in additional help.

“I knew this was going to happen but employee safety was first priority, and keeping them with a paycheck was second.

We have been slowly catching up with help from two recently added employees. Both came from the SUNY Adirondack/BOCES Early College Career Academy, Advanced Manufacturing program and are working out great. We may add another employee once the storage facility is completed and we free up space,” said Richards.

RASP Incorporated was established in 1995 by Richards and Close. The business focuses on delivering industrial control projects in a timely manner while maintaining quality as a fully insured system integrator and industrial controls manufacture. They provide turnkey or any portion of engineering, software design, AutoCad, panel manufacturing, installation, testing and commissioning.

Personnel Briefs Continued From Page 2 The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce announced that ballots were cast in July and the newly elected leaders to the ARCC Women’s Business Council for the 2020-2021 year were announced.

They are: Stefanie DiLallo Bitter, principal, Bartlett Pontiff Stewart & Rhodes PC, chair; Wendy Little Waldron, founder WaldronWorks, co-chair; Sabrina Houser, founder Capital CFO, membership and metrics lead; Leslie Kendall, founder, Kendall & Associates, mentorship and education lead; Karen Candida-Lombardo, founder Put Another Way LLC, communications chair; Sherry Finkel Murphy, CFP, ChFC, RICP, The Atrium Financial Group Glens Falls, past chair and advisor.

* * *

KeyBank has hired Erica Choi as its senior vice president and senior banker in commercial banking for the Capital Region.

Choi is responsible for business development, portfolio management and acting as trusted adviser for commercial banking clients in the Capital Region and Northeast.

Choi previously worked for Bank of America in Albany as a middle market relationship manager. She has also worked for the U.S. Small Business Administration in Albany, as a senior brand manager for Beech-Nut Brand in Amsterdam, and as a senior associate brand manager for Kraft Foods in Glenview, Illinois.

Choi earned her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and chemistry from the U.S. Military Academy and served in the Army from 2000 to 2005 as a counterterrorism officer, company executive officer and engineer battalion intelligence officer.

SUNY Adirondack will offer a five-course certificate program developed by Google which includes an innovative curriculum designed to prepare attendees for an entry-level role in IT support.

People interested in a career in IT can register for the Google IT support professional certificate program available for the first time at SUNY Adirondack this fall.

The five-course certificate program developed

by Google includes an innovative curriculum designed to prepare attendees for an entry-level role in IT support and for additional industry certifications, college officials said. A job in IT can mean in-person or remote help desk work in a small business or at a global company like Google.

No lT experience is needed. Participants

Courtesy SUNY Adirondack

should have an interest in the IT field and a willingness to do the work necessary to succeed.

An experienced SUNY Adirondack IT instructor will support learning and completion of the program.

Support includes regular individual and group meetings on campus and/or virtually, assisting with tracking progress and action planning to support completion, providing instructional coaching and tutoring as needed, and connecting with career services.

Preregistration is required; please contact conted@sunyacc.edu to participate.

More To Read . . . More Leads For You.

(518) 581-0600 GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL

14 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2020

Lake George Survey Continued From Page 1 stores. Therefore, we anticipate we will see even more visitors as the fall and back-toschool shopping season approaches,” she noted.

According to the survey: • 62 percent plan to visit in August and/ or the fall with 33 percent of those planning for August.

• 62 percent say they plan to stay overnight.

• 29 percent plan to visit three or more times.

• 8 percent do not plan to travel due to COVID-19 concerns.

The top five interests of the survey respondents were: • 72 percent rated beaches as somewhat to extremely important to their decision to visit.

• 67 percent rated shopping as somewhat to extremely important.

• 65 percent rated the cruise ships as somewhat to extremely important.

• 58 percent rated water sports as somewhat to extremely important.

• 57 percent rated museums and the arts as somewhat to extremely important To bolster consumer confidence in the Warren County/Lake George region as a safe and healthy place to visit, nearly 200 businesses, organizations and municipalities have taken the Lake George Region-Southern Adirondacks Health and Safety Pledge to adhere to health and rigorous sanitation protocols. Safety signs reminding visitors to stay six feet apart and wear a facial covering when they cannot to do so have been placed in every municipality in Warren County.

The home communities of those most interested in staying overnight, according to the survey results, are in the Westchester, Orange and Dutchess counties areas, officials said. Respondents from Massachusetts and areas of Long Island and Central New York also showed strong interest in overnight visits, according to the survey.

Most respondents (62 percent) said they planned to stay overnight while 24 percent said they sometimes stay overnight and sometimes come for just the day. This means

86 percent of respondents stay or sometimes stay overnight, showing strong continued interest in booking lodging, which generates occupancy tax and likely increased sales tax revenues, both of which offset local property tax burdens of residents, officials said.

The survey, conducted by email, reached people who had provided an email address to Warren County or Lake George area businesses. It was promoted through the Warren County Tourism Department, Mannix Marketing and Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce social media channels.

Approximately 30 prizes were donated by area businesses to encourage participation in the survey.

Officials said that particularly notable was the finding that 29 percent of people surveyed plan to visit three or more times this year, with 11 percent of respondents planning to visit five or more times.

“We are thankful for the generosity of local businesses who donated prizes to help encourage participation,” said Chamber Executive Director Gina Mintzer. “The survey results provided keen insight into the sentiments of travelers to our area. This will assist us as we continue to communicate with our valued visitors and plan for the future as a business community. More than ever we have pivoted our communications and marketing strategies as we listen to consumers. Our area is rich in the top five activities and interests travelers deemed most important,” “The Lake George area offers the perfect combination of family attractions and unlimited, healthy outdoor recreation.

We encourage visitors to stay a few days to experience the fun of Lake George and then venture out to explore our hiking trails and paddling routes, cycle our country roads and raft our rivers. Small town charm awaits with quaint restaurants serving locally sourced food and small boutique shopping. Survey results show that visitors are seeking a safe and uncrowded summer vacation, which is exactly what we have to offer,” said Warren County Tourism Director Joanne Conley.

Italian Restaurant, ‘Saluti,’ Opens On Canada Street In Lake George After COVID Delay

Jimmy Hartwyk is the co-owner of Saluti, a new Italian restaurant at 25 Canada St. in Lake George.

After a delay caused by the coronavirus, it opened Memorial Day weekend.

BY JILL NAGY Saluti, a new Italian restaurant at 25 Canada St. in Lake George, got off to a rocky start. They opened in February but had to close down in March because of the COVID pandemic. Then they re-opened after Memorial Day. According to co-owner Jimmy Hartwyk, the biggest problem now is staffing because of the federal government cut-off of the usual stream of temporary workers from overseas.

But, “Things are going really well for us,” Hartwyk said, “I am pleasantly surprised.”

“It is not the year we thought we would have,” he added.

Requirements for social distancing limit capacity and, in general, “throws a wrench into our business plan.” For example, they are not yet serving lunch. On the plus side, “Our landlord has been very gracious” and, so far, “we are very lucky,” he said.

Saluti (the “i” is not pronounced and the name means “cheers” in Italian) serves dinner with indoor and outdoor seating and a full bar. All the pasta is cooked to order and they bake their own bread.

Some house specialties, according to Hartwyk, are a braised short-rib ragout with papardeli, a fresh mozzarella pan fry, and eggplant rigatoni. The menu is mainly Italian. Hartwyk, who is co-owner and co-

Courtesy Saluti

chef, is Italian. He claims kinship with Michael LoPorto, the well-known chef and owner of the Troy restaurant bearing his name. Hartwyk also worked for LoPorto when he operated Sign of the Tree at the Empire State Plaza.

Hartwyk’s partner, Yerbol Kenzhebekov, is from Kazakstan. He first came to work for Hartwyk 10 years ago, at a different restaurant, as a J-1 student. (The J-1 visa allowed foreign college students to work temporarily at seasonal jobs in the U.S., many of them at restaurants).

He returned to Kazakstan and, some years later, won the green card lottery and returned to the U.S. with his wife and daughter, as permanent residents. The two are equal partners, according to Hartwyk, and share all the duties involved in running Saluti. The men are mostly in the kitchen.

Their wives rule the dining room.

The new restaurant next door to Biscotti Brothers Cafe, a breakfast and lunch restaurant owned by Hartwyk since 2017. Before that he operated a pizzeria in Manchester, N.H. Saluti will be open year-round. Their hours are 3-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 3-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

People can order online or make a reservation at salutilakegeorge.com. The telephone number is 518 685-3030.

HVCC Plans New Building, Programs Continued From Page 1 local positions to build and assemble turbine bases,” said Ashdown.

HVCC estimates that ATEC will generate more than $2 billion in salaries for the regional and state-wide economy. Graduates from HVCC skilled trade programs typically earn starting salaries of $55,000 or more.

“One of the things I would like to get across is just how great of an investment this will be for New York state,” said Ashdown. “The is a win-win for the state and Capital Region.”

“We are at the stage of working with architectural firms to get the formal engineering plans drawn up. After that, we will be going out to solicit state and federal funding,” said Ashdown.

“We have a plan to get programs up and running by fall 2021. We will not be at full capacity before the building is complete. We are hoping to have Phase 1 complete by fall 2022 and Phase II by 2023.”

Ashdown acknowledged that COVID-19’s impact on state and federal budgets could make obtaining funding challenging in the short term.

He is hopeful that the timing of the project will align with a post-COVID economic rebound.

Corporate partnerships are also in the works although none have been finalized.

“Companies and CEOs have voiced the need for this in the Capital Region especially to support the offshore wind initiative,” said Ashdown.

Capital Region companies have also voiced the need for additional trained healthcare professionals to fill the region’s more than 2,800

annual job vacancies.

HVCC has responded to this need by announcing plans to build a 7,250-square-foot health sciences building at HVCC North in Malta.

It will be located next to the school’s existing TEC-SMART (Training and Education Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing and Alternative and Renewable Technologies) building.

According to Penny Hill, dean of economic development and workforce initiatives, current demand exceeds capacity for HVCC’s healthcare programs.

“Healthcare is an area where we always have a wait list,” she said. “We have capped program due to the intensity of the programs.”

The proposed health science building will house state-of-the-art classrooms as well as biology, chemistry, microbiology, and anatomy and physiology labs. It is being designed to provide first year students with the core courses required for HVCC’s many health care programs. HVCC North will be considered an extension campus.

“The first year is a foundational year. It gets students started, and then they can go in different directions from there,” she said. “We have a good partnership with Regeneron in Troy for biotech science, and a lot of these same courses could be pathways into the biotech field. It’s also a pathway for those who want to go on to a four year institution for biology or pre-med.”

HVCC’s capital campaign for the healthcare building is underway, and Hill estimates they have raised approximately half of the necessary funds.

Business Briefs

•

GlensFalls.com is celebrating celebrates 10 years in business this summer. The website is an online destination guide to the Glens Falls region.

Mannix Marketing, a digital agency headquartered in Glens Falls, purchased it in 2010 to fulfil its mission of creating success for local businesses and the community.

Mannix said in the past quarter, the site saw an increase year-over-year of 46 percent more views of advertiser listings and 43 percent more clicks to learn about those advertisers.

Sara Mannix, the CEO of Mannix Marketing, said although 50 percent of site visitors are from the Glens Falls region (Glens Falls, South Glens Falls, Queensbury, Lake George, Greenwich and Bolton Landing), the other half comes from places like Saratoga, Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Colonie, Granville, East Glenville, the northern Adirondacks and as far as New York City, Massachusetts, Vermont and New Jersey.

In the past year, visitors came to the site to learn about local businesses and the region over 486,000 times. The majority of the visitors used mobile devices to find information and found the information they were looking for on GlensFalls. com from a search on Google, the company said.

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SAIL (Southern Adirondack Independent Living), a local organization that serves people with disabilities with offices in Queensbury and Ballston Spa, is recognizing the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The landmark legislation was signed into law

by George H. W. Bush on July 26, 1990. It was modeled after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and mandates that people with physical or mental disabilities have the same rights as others to employment opportunities, to purchase goods and services, and to participate in state and local programs and services.

Specifically, ADA Title III covers public areas, like schooling and transportation, and “public accommodations” that also include businesses, restaurants, hotels, theaters, doctors’ offices, pharmacies, retail stores, museums, libraries, parks, daycare centers, and places of work.

As part of the ADA requirements, employers have to provide accommodations so employees with disabilities are able to do their jobs.

SAIL works to continually promote the spirit of the ADA and to ensure that the community adheres to the requirements. SAIL can assist people with disabilities in determining various programs and services that are available throughout the region. For more information, visit www. sailhelps.org.

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16 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • AUGUST 2020

Exhibit Of Famous Pinball Machines Is SUNY ADK Degree Technical Trades Ongoing At Universal Preservation Hall Management Help People Open Businesses

The interactive Rock & Roll Hall of Fame exhibit, Part of the Machine: Rock & Pinball, is ongoing at Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs.

Universal Preservation Hall opened the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame exhibit Part of the Machine: Rock & Pinball on July 26 for a two-month run.

The interactive exhibit showcases rockthemed, playable pinball machines and combines them with merchandise and artifacts to explore the artistic portrayal of artists and bands.

Part of the Machine: Rock & Pinball is presented at UPH by Adirondack Trust Co. UPH, a partner in the Proctors Collaborative, is selling tickets for 90-minute blocks throughout the run.

Tickets will be available for admittance at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. each day and hours are extended to include 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. admittance on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

The event concludes on Saturday, Sept. 26.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students and are available at universalpreservationhall.org.

“Rock and roll and pinball have a lot in common. Loud, colorful and rebellious, it was inevitable that the two would combine to celebrate rock’s icons,” said Karen Herman, vice president of Collections and Curatorial Affairs, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. “A number of artists and bands have been immortalized in pinball games. It gives fans another way to experience the energy and power of rock and uniquely connect with their favorite artists.”

Making its debut as part of the exhibit is Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee and shock rock pioneer Alice Cooper’s newest pinball machine, Alice Cooper’s Nightmare Castle. The classic

Jim Gilbert

horror adventure game is narrated by Cooper himself.

Fans can also view pioneering pinball machines of their favorite musicians such as Captain Fantastic (1976), based on the album by Elton John and his character in Tommy, and Beat Time (1967), one of the oldest rock and roll tables, which capitalizes on Beatlemania, featuring several mop-topped musicians and a drumhead emblazoned with “The Bootles.”

Other rare and sought-after playable machines in the exhibit pay tribute to the Rolling Stones, Dolly Parton, Guns N’ Roses, Elvis, Metallica, KISS and AC/DC. From Peter Criss of KISS’ drum set to Dolly Parton’s dress that inspired the backglass for the DollyParton pinball machine, fans will find other artifacts on display as they learn more about the popular pinball and rock subculture.

Hosting the exhibition at UPH has been in the works more than a year as the Saratoga venue sought to develop programming that complimented - rather than competed - with Saratoga’s live entertainment scene in the summer.

“It wasn’t clear when COVID-19 came along that we could hold the event, but now that museums are reopening in the state we are proceeding with our plans,” said Teddy Foster, director at UPH. Capacity will be initially limited to 20 guests per time slot and will re-evaluated regularly.

A new associate of occupational studies (AOS) degree is geared toward journeyworkers like this, interested in taking on a management role or opening their own businesses.

SUNY Adirondack announced a new degree program, Journeyworker: Technical Trades Management, for its Fall 2020 semester.

The associate of occupational studies (AOS) degree is geared toward journeyworkers interested in taking on a management role or opening their own businesses.

“We’re excited to offer this opportunity to trained, skilled workers throughout the nation,” said Kristine D. Duffy, president of SUNY Adirondack. “This degree provides a strong foundation in the best business and management practices to round out their invaluable hands-on expertise.”

A journeyworker in building trades or advanced manufacturing may earn up to 30 credits toward the new AOS degree. The remaining required credits will be earned in courses such as public speaking, business law, accounting, computer science and principles of business, among others.

“I could not be prouder of the relationship Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 773 has forged with SUNY Adirondack. The transformation the union has made over past 100 years is incredible, starting in rental facilities and ending up in the multimillion-dollar training facility we have today,” said Mike Jarvis, business manager of Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 773. “This degree is the next step forward: SUNY recognizing our apprenticeship training program opens endless opportunities for our members, which is very exciting.”

Courtesy SUNY Adirondack

Officials said the program is groundbreaking in that any journeyworker in building trades and advanced manufacturing from anywhere in the U.S. can gain advanced standing toward degree completion at SUNY Adirondack.

“We are excited to partner with such a prominent educational system as SUNY,” said Mike Mastropietro, business manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 236. “Our registered apprenticeship programs have long been recognized by the Department of Labor as the gold standard and the addition of SUNY’s support speaks to this. Their commitment sheds a desperately needed light on the importance and value of building trades as a valid, fulfilling career path.”

“Building a strong and highly trained workforce is vital to maintaining a vibrant regional economy,” said Assemblyman Dan Stec of Queensbury. “Continuing professional education is a cornerstone in this effort and I commend our local building trades and SUNY Adirondack for establishing this academic program.”

Those interested in starting an apprenticeship program should visit www. labor.ny.govapprenticeship/appindex.shtm.

For journeyworkers or those enrolled in a journeyworker program to learn more, please visit www.sunyacc.edu/journeyworker-technicaltrades-management.

Applications are being accepted for the Fall 2020 semester.