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January 27 - February 2, 2021 | COLONIE SPOTLIGHT 7
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Dive into this The COVID pandemic hit the economy hard, but one industry was swimming with business By MICHAEL HALLISEY halliseym@spotlightnews.com LATHAM — With as many as 35 million people home and out of work, the combination of summer sun and a global pandemic created a splash for backyard pools. As local economies struggled and people feared contracting the COVID-19 strain, community pools were either closed or sparsely populated during the summer. That need for respite from the heat painted a caricature of a picture for an industry already quite busy in the summer.
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8 COLONIE SPOTLIGHT | January 27 - February 2, 2021
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An informal observation of skyrocketing prices for pools revealed an elementary lesson on supply and demand. Online prices for just inflatable pools that, a year before went for $50, sold last summer for $300. That’s when they were in stock. Online influencers addressed landlocked property owners with howto-do videos on converting metal livestock food troths into personal swimming pools. Nothing like the real thing, though. Latham Pool Products hired as many as 300 new employees to address last year’s surge of demands. Latham Pool Products’ chief executive Scott Rajeski told Albany Business Review he didn’t see business slowing down anytime soon. It’s a national trend Reuters captured early in the pandemic as pool manufacturers first started fielding inquiries. One company quoted a 200 percent increase for steel and composite pools in just
60 days. The boom immediately preceded big news for Latham Pool Products. Last October, its controlling partner, Pamplona Capital Management, obtained yet another pool manufacturer into its portfolio of companies. GLI Pool Products, out of Youngstown, Ohio, is known as a service leader in shipping custom inground swimming pool liners and safety covers. It now falls under the same umbrella of companies that includes Latham Pool, which is North America’s largest provider of inground residential swimming pools and accessories. “For years, I have sought to ensure that GLI and our associates would continue to thrive long into the future,” said GLI Pool Products owner Gary Crandall, “I have found the right partner to maintain and accelerate our positive trajectory.” GLI and Latham operate independently, leveraging shared
Digital tools like the Latham Liner Visualizer and the fiberglass AR app give homeowners innovative resources to build the backyard of their dreams. Latham Pool Products technology and best practices in order to provide the best customer experience. “Gary Crandall has built an outstanding organization,” said Rajeski, “We look forward to our relationship with GLI and all the possibilities it presents.” GLI Pool Products is a privately held and locally owned manufacturer. They currently employ
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over 340 people operating three shifts within their Youngstown facility. GLI utilizes lean manufacturing processes to manufacture and ship custom pool liners and safety covers worldwide. GLI is committed to delivering their products, particularly custom pool liners and safety covers, quickly and professionally. Predictably fast and flawless delivery in a seasonal business is a service that
customers come to rely on for planning their business with GLI. They combine this with a blend of consumer and trade marketing programs that are targeted at incremental profit enhancement. A majority of GLI’s products are sold through approximately 450 wholesale pool distributors and 1,500 swimming pool retailers/dealers/builders/ service companies.
Latham is the largest provider of residential inground pools and accessories in the world with over six decades of experience. Every day, families in North America, Europe and Australia enjoy the Latham pool experience, and each year, thousands more join them. When it comes to quality, selection, simplicity and support, Latham is The Pool Company.
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518.785.7480 Latham • 518-785.7746 Butcher • 518.587.6004 Saratoga
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OPEN SUPER SUNDAY • Latham Store 9–3 • Saratoga Store 10-3
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January 27 - February 2, 2021 | COLONIE SPOTLIGHT 9
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Most likely to soar
Where is she now, Madison VanDenburg? By MICHAEL HALLISEY Colonie Superintendent Joseph Corr went on halliseym@spotlightnews.com LATHAM — Two short years ago, a Shaker High School junior captured the world’s attention with her voice. Madison VanDenburg was one of three finalists on ABC’s hit television series American Idol. Running so far deep into the competition afforded the high school junior the opportunity to welcome the community on to the show. The camera’s eye was treated to a pep rally atmosphere. Town Supervisor Paula Mahan declared the day as Madison VanDenburgh Day as she handed the teen the key to the town. North
to share that, in the community’s eyes, she was already the American Idol. The 18-year-old was the talk of a town that hadn’t yet stopped chatting about another one of their own who went on to wow television audiences. Moriah Formica was with VanDenburgh as Colonie’s pomp and circumstance pulsated through what Spotlight News’ Jim Franco described as a “wet, damp day ‘’ for thousands of cheering fans. Local fans had a brief moment to reclaim VanDenburgh as their own. Within weeks they were introduced, fell in love and marveled at the dreamscape
that had unfolded on primetime television. They watched as she struck Lionel Ritchie “speechless” and later appeared invincible singing alongside Pat Benatar. It seems like a lifetime ago. VanDenburg did not sing the final number as that season’s American Idol, but the momentum of that experience continues to carry through to a music career. Since her appearances on Idol she has been featured on TV and performed in front of live audiences coast to coast, from the San Francisco 49ers’ 70,000 seat Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara to the Times Union Center in Albany, and in countless live streaming sessions on Instagram, Facebook and Twitch.
Known for her powerhouse vocals and commanding stage presence, VanDenburg has quietly spent the last several months developing her songwriting skills with solo and co-writing efforts. Now she is releasing singles from her first EP with a growing catalog of new material. VanDenburg has remained busy with her music, performing live streams for audiences sequestered home during this COVID pandemic. The Palace Theatre featured her last week in its most recent episode of The Palace Sessions, a monthly series they produce with Mirth Films. She shared screen time with fellow television stars Formica and American Idol-winner Sawyer Fredericks. A week before, she was in
Madison VanDenburg. Woodstock to perform at the Bearsville Theatre. Nippertown’s Elissa Ebersold described an “effervescent” VanDenburg in her downstate performance. “Madison is a triple threat,” stated Ebersold. “Of course, she’s a powerhouse vocalist, and she can strum a guitar as good as the
madisonvendeburg.com next person. But I think a hidden talent is the way her fingers fly across those ivories. There’s something so incomparable about the sound of a well-played grand piano paired with a strong voice on the same metaphorical circuit.” To purchase, VanDenburg’s music, visit madisonvandenburg.com.
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10 COLONIE SPOTLIGHT | January 27 - February 2, 2021
Latham
Residents
Housing
20,736 37.9
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by the numbers The number of people who reside here as of 2010.
$276,687 According to Zillow.com, the median value of a home here exceeds $275K as of Dec. 31, 2020.
Is the average age of a resident.
Education $76,652
The percentage of residents who have attained a high school education or higher.
94.4%
The median household income. United States Census Bureau
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