Glens Falls Business Journal - December 2020

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DECEMBER 2020

Rosetti Properties To Build Mixed-Use Project COVID-19 Causes Adirondack Thunder With 142 Apartments Near SUNY Adirondack Team To Opt Out Of The ECHL Season

This is a rendering of a three-story mixed-used building that will be constructed in Queensbury by Rosetti Properties. It will have two commercial spaces in addition to apartments.

Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls will be dark next year on nights normally reserved for the Adirondack Thunder hockey team as COVID-19 causes the team to opt out of the new season.

Courtesy BBL Construction

BY R.J. DeLUKE Rosetti Properties, an Albany-based residential and commercial property company, is planning to build a mixed-use project at Bay and Blind Rock Road in Queensbury.

It will consist of mostly apartments in a series of buildings, the largest of which will also have a pair of commercial spaces. It is across the road from the SUNY Adirondack campus.

Through a real estate holding company Bay Road Development LLC, Rosetti paid $2.15 million to purchase property.

Jacqueline Rosetti-Falvey, Rosetti Properties president, said the company is developing 142 apartments. The project will be called Fowler Square.

“We’ve been going to the Lake George area for 40 years,” she said of her family’s experience in the region. “We’re very familiar with the area.” The company had been eying the property for about 10 years until the time “became right” to move on the project.

From a development standpoint, she likes that Continued On Page 2

The Adirondack Thunder hockey team, the ECHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils that plays its games at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls, is opting out of the 2020-21 season.

The Thunder joined the rest of the North Division in the decision to not play.

The Adirondack Hockey Coalition LLC and Adirondack Civic Center Coalition said in a statement that the Adirondack Thunder will not be able to participate in the 2020-21 ECHL season “due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic and the state’s guidelines on

permitting no fans inside the arena.

“We were hopeful that government restrictions would ease up as we approached the time we needed to declare our formal intentions for the season. Unfortunately, we are unable to have any fans in attendance for the foreseeable future and cannot sustain a season without fans,” officials said.

The North Division of the ECHL is comprised of six teams including Adirondack, Worcester, Maine, Reading, Brampton, and Continued On Page 10

As COVID And Online Shopping Hurt Stores, New Publication Assists People Looking To Malls Shift Strategies To Attract Business Open A Business In The Lake George Area

BY CHRISTINE GRAF As more retail stores are forced to close due to the rise of online shopping, malls are being forced to reinvent themselves in order to survive.

They are adding attractions and businesses that traditionally wouldn’t be located in malls.

Pyramid Management Group’s Aviation Mall in Queensbury is evolving to meet the changing landscape of the retail marketplace. In June, they were granted a zoning change that allows the company to build an apartment complex connected to the mall by two short paths. The project has been temporarily halted due to COVID-19.

Aviation Mall general manager James Griffith said COVID-19 has also impacted other negotiations that were in the works. Retailers are hesitant to make any decisions until the pandemic has ended.

“We were working on quite a few things, then COVID happened. COVID definitely slowed down some of the momentum we had with some of these national tenants. We’re in a holding pattern,” said Griffith.

He noted the mall isn’t just going after retail tenants anymore. The mall is open to uses that typically wouldn’t be in a traditional shopping center.

“One use that has been great this year that is an entertainment use is Adirondack Zombie Hunters,” he said. They were in downtown Lake George and came here about a year ago. They are just knocking it out of the park.”

Adirondack Zombie Hunters occupies a 3,000-square-foot space. In addition to selling survival and military surplus merchandise, the

Sammy Foda owns Two Strains, a CBD store and one of the small shops at Aviation Mall. store features two laser-based shooting range simulators.

“We’re fielding a lot of inquiries in terms of different uses coming into the center, so the landscape of what a shopping center is going to look like over the next decade is going to change,” said Griffith. “It’s going to be like a town center with a mix of experiences, services, retail, dining, and residential.”

“What you have seen over the course of the last several years is the re-purposing of space within the mall to alternative uses that actually make Continued On Page 10

The Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce has produced a new publication, available in print and digital form, to assist people looking to move to or open a business in the region.

The 2020-21 Community and Business Directory, is available in print by request and digitally on lakegeorgechamber.com.

It includes information about key industries, business resources, county facts, towns and villages, the Adirondacks Welcome Center, education, services and utilities, hiking, biking, public parks and environmental organizations, agriculture. It also includes a Chamber membership directory.

This marks the first year the Chamber has produced this type of guide. It has been producing a Four-Seasons Travel Guide aimed at tourists for decades. That guide is printed annually in January and has a 70,000 print circulation plus thousands of digital views. It is distributed strategically at key points to help reach the traveling public throughout the Northeast.

Though the COVID-19 pandemic delayed printing of the 2020-21 Community and Business Directory, the Chamber found it was more important than ever to have this resource to provide as an influx of people continue to move to the area.

“We decided to create this publication because we recognized the Travel Guide was a helpful resource for people looking to visit the region, but many of those visitors were then looking to become residents and had many questions that are now answered in this new guide,” said Executive Director Gina Mintzer. “We also wanted to provide this as an added member benefit to our Chamber members to help them reach additional people moving to the area or

This is the cover of the new Community and Business Directory. opening a business here.”

To help people access the guide, the Chamber provided a digital version on www. lakegeoregchamber.com and provided advertisers with a HTML code to display on their websites as well as posters with QR codes that provide access to the digital guide.

Printed copies are available upon request. People may fill out the form on lakegeorgechamber.com or call (518) 668-5755.

2 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • DECEMBER 2020

Flight Market & Deli, Glens Falls, Is A New Dagget Lake And Campgrounds Sells For $2.8 Spot For Sandwiches, Coffee, Meats, Cheeses Million, New Owners To Keep Existing Use

Melissa Brennan, right, and John Homkey, at the rear, pose with staff at Flight Market & Deli, a new store they own at 11 South St. in Glens Falls.

BY ANDREA HARWOOD PALMER Fresh ADK in Downtown Glens Falls has rebranded and reopened as two new ventures.

Flight Market & Deli and Flight Wine Bar & Restaurant at 11 South St., Glens Falls.

Melissa Brennan co-owns both venues with business partner John Homkey. Homkey is a residential mortgage originator at Homestead Funding.

Flight Market & Deli held its grand opening and ribbon cutting on Dec. 4. Flight Wine Bar & Restaurant is expected to open in 2021.

Larissa Ovitt, Brennan’s daughter, is the marketing and brand curator for the company.

“My younger brother is an animation and motion graphics designer in Manhattan. He came home during all of this, so we have a really sweet logo designed. The three of us have joined forces and brought on a really great team,” said Ovitt.

Beth Wadleigh and Danielle Kirkpatrick joined the team several months ago.

“Beth and Danielle are the core team on the market side. Beth, who runs the counter at the market, was the manager of Rock Hill Bakehouse Cafe for 15 years,” said Ovitt. “Her people skills are second-to-none and she prides herself on the relationships she builds with her customers.”

Sandwiches, charcuterie plates, gift baskets, coffee, beverages and a selection of artisanal meats and cheeses are available at the market. Ingredients are sold so patrons can make dishes at home.

Hours of operation are Monday, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Sunday.

The website for both locations is www.

FlightWineBarAndMarket.com. The ventures can be found on Facebook @flightwinebarandmarket, and Instagram @flight_winebar_market.

Dagget Lake Campsites and Cottages in the town of Thurman was sold by owners Tom Near and Pamela Finnegan to Terry Crikelair of Adirondack Preserve LLC. 25 years. It has that family environment feel to it. Tom was especially concerned with wanting that to continue. Those people were like family to him,” said Muroff.

The roughly 75 campsites will open in the spring when camping season begins.

“The property itself is one of the most magnificent sites anywhere. It’s unusual because it’s a 400-acre property that includes a 110-acre lake, all within the property lines.

Frankly, I looked for comparables all over the country and never found one that had a completely self-contained lake of that size,” said Muroff.

The property includes two homes, cabins, cottages and RV sites. The previous owner ran a water skiing school on the lake.

Muroff Hospitality Group is a boutique hospitality firm based in Massachusetts that brokers the sale of hotels, motels, resorts and campgrounds.

“I’ve been a hospitality realtor for the past 8 years. Our focus is on the Adirondacks.

We sell more hotels on Lake George than anywhere else,” said Muroff.

Rosetti Properties

The entire complex will be maintenance free.

It will have a clubhouse, exercise area and outdoor patio with fire pits.

Rosetti-Falvey said the larger building will be geared toward a younger demographic. The buildings behind it will be perhaps more suitable for older people looking to downsize.

The project will include a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units. The company has not yet determined rental rates.

She said the company does not yet have any tenants in mind for the retail space. “As construction starts, we’ll probably get some input” on that aspect.

Rosetti Properties is working with BBL Construction Services of Albany on the project.

Rosetti-Falvey said it will take about 18 months to complete.

Continued From Page 1

Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce 100% Member Funded, 100% Member Focused As 2020 comes to a close, your team at the ARCC wishes to thank you for allowing us to serve you. In these most challenging of times we have seen the strength, passion, and resiliency of our community shine through.

We look forward to a new year filled with opportunities!

- Your ARCC Team

Michael Tricia

Amanda

Karen

www.adirondackchamber.org

Courtesy Dagget Lake Campsites

BY ANDREA HARWOOD PALMER Dagget Lake Campsites and Cottages in the town of Thurman has been sold.

Mitch Muroff of Muroff Hospitality Group said owners Tom Near and Pamela Finnegan sold the property at 660 Glen Athol Road in Thurman for $2.8 million.

“They owned it for 25 years. Tom wanted to spend more time in Florida, and he ran the campsite day-to-day. It was time,” said Muroff.

Terry Crikelair of Adirondack Preserve LLC purchased the property. The sale closed on Nov. 18. Muroff represented the buyer and secured the seller.

Muroff said the owners wanted to sell the property to the Adirondack Preserve so it would continue as a campground. “There were other offers (from) people who wanted to close the campground and keep the property as a private residential estate or family compound,” he said.

“It’s a very safe, friendly, well-run property with very little turnover. Many of the people who stay there have been doing so for 20 or

there is plenty of shopping, dining, tourism in the area.

“There’s really nothing like what we’re building up there. We’re very excited,” she said.

The family owned and operated business owns and manages more than 1,000 apartments and also owns approximately 500,000 square feet of commercial space. This is its first project north of Saratoga Springs.

The project will have one large building in front—a three-story structure with the two commercial spaces. That structure will have 74 apartments. The acreage behind it will have nine two-story buildings that will house 68 rental units.

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GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • DECEMBER 2020 • 3

Angelica Marquina Offers Skin Care Services New Book By Brian Rollo Aims To Help People And More At ‘518 Beauty Room,’ Glens Falls Accept And Acclimate To Leadership Roles

Angelica Marquina, owner of 518 Beauty Room in Glens Falls, works on the eyelashes of a client last January, pre-COVID 19. The new shop meets all health and safety guidelines.

BY JENNIFER FARNSWORTH Angelica Marquina brings the latest trends and techniques to lashes, skin care and waxing to the North Country with the opening of her 518 Beauty Room shop in Glens Falls.

She credits her entrepreneurial drive to the support she receives from her family, adding that they are the reason she has been able to accomplish so much at a young age.

“I know how lucky I am to have the support system that I do. They encouraged me to do what I love,” said Marquina.

She has two other employees who work with her in her 1,500-square-foot location at 18 Ridge St. One specializes in cosmetology and the other in waxing and facials.

All COVID-19 safety precautions are in place, including mask wearing and temperature checks.

In addition to the love of her craft, she also loves her location. Marquina said she has a fondness for the area. She grew up outside of Lake Plaid, and later attended Lake George High School. She said she feels at home in the area where she feels there is a real sense of community.

“Downtown Glens Falls has so much charm and everyone has been so good to us here. It’s such a great location to be in,” said Marquina.

Courtesy 518 Beauty Room

With the COVID-19 pandemic ongoing, “it has been crazy for sure. But I think I work best under pressure,” she said.

Marquina said she loves learning about the science behind skin care and beauty and is always making an effort to take courses to explore what is new and upcoming in the industry.

“Knowledge is power. So it’s important to me to always be learning,” said Marquina.

Marquina first entered the industry by renting a space, but quickly started to think about what it could be like to own her own shop, centered around her vision for beauty and skin care. She said the atmosphere of her business was a priority and she makes an effort to get to know her clients and their needs.

“I get to know my clients and what their goals and concerns for skin care are. We become friends, and that’s important,” said Marquina.

On one wall is a mural painted by a local artisan. She also shows support by raffling off gift cards redeemable at other local businesses.

“I love the downtown area and I am more than happy to do my support to show my support for other local small businesses,” she said.

Appointments can be booked online appointment, by visiting 518beautyroom.com.

ANDREA HARWOOD PALMER Brian Rollo, a leadership coach and cultural business strategist, has published a new book, “The 10 Habits of Influential Leaders”.

“I wrote this as an actionable handbook for someone who is a people-manager struggling to get results,” said Rollo, who operates his consulting company out of Queensbury. “I highlight the top 10 things that help peoplemanagers get better. Things people can do to get results from their team, and to make leading a team a little less miserable.”

“I tell the story of how I first became a manager, and really struggled in the beginning,” he said. “And I did a lot of research, reading over 50 white papers. I tried to be the channel to distill everything I learned throughout my career, and through extensive research.”

Rollo said the predominant struggle is that some people struggle to step into an authority role. “They may have the title, but they’re afraid to do anything because they don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings,.”

Others grasp authority too hard. “They need everyone to know they’re the boss,” he said.

“Both approaches are a road to trouble,” said Rollo. “I address this in the book. It usually plays out in how people deal with conflict.”

“It’s easy to be the boss when everyone just says, ‘I agree, I’ll do whatever you say’. But most of the time it is not like that. In real life, there is frequently conflict. When you’re a team member, you can try to stay in your own world.

When you’re a leader, you cannot just ignore it when your team is in conflict. You must be the one to step up and deal with it. If you’re uncomfortable with that, the conflict grows,” said Rollo.

Some managers are in their role through

Brian Rollo is a leadership coach and cultural business strategist in Queensbury.

Courtesy Brian Rollo

merit, some develop management skills through training, and some land in their position by default of being the only person available when the previous director leaves, he noted.

“The book is to help people, bottom line,” said Rollo. “Leadership can be a headache sometimes. Some things work, some things don’t, and managers are often stressed trying to figure those things out.”

Rollo is also host of the podcast “Lead with Impact”, found on Apple iTunes, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

The book can be found on amazon.com. His website is www.BrianRollo.com.

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4 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • DECEMBER 2020

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Owner Of ‘42⁰’ Shop In Glens Falls Opens A Second Similar Shop In Malta

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Robin Barkenhagen opened 42°, a glass gallery and smoke shop located in Ellsworth Plaza on Route 9 in Malta. He also owns a similar shop in Glens Falls.

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Editorial: RJDeLuke@glensfallsbusinessjournal.com Advertising: HarryW@glensfallsbusinessjournal.com Publisher & Editor Harry Weinhagen Associate Editor R.J. DeLuke Editor Emeritus Rod Bacon

BY CHRISTINE GRAF Glens Falls business owner Robin Barkenhagen recently opened a second location of his 42° ventures. The new glass gallery and smoke shop is located in Ellsworth Plaza on Route 9 in Malta.

Last year, he relocated his Glens Falls store from Park Street to the Colvin Building at 206 Glen St. The building was purchased for $945,000 in January 2019 by Brian Bronzino, part owner of 42°. Barkenhagen and Bronzino entered into their partnership in 2018.

The first 42° opened in 2010, and the move to the larger store on Glen Street allowed Barkenhagen to expand his product line.

Both stores feature glass products that are handmade by more than 100 independent glass artists throughout the United States, he said. Convenience store items are also sold at the Glens Falls location.

“We sell things like cigarettes and vape products,” he said. “Our glass gallery features high-end glass. We have pipes ranging from $15 to $80, and our most expensive piece is $40,000. It’s a glass chess board that’s in our window in Glens Falls.

“Some people buy our glass and use it as decorations. There are collectors around the country that will seek out some of these blowers that we have that are nationally and internationally known,” Barkenhagen said.

42° also sells a full line of CBD products.

They carry several brands including their own proprietary product line of pain creams, tinctures, and candies. It is produced with

Washington County New Business Registrations NOVEMBER

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.

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CBD that was harvested in 2019 during Barkenhagen’s brief foray into hemp farming, he said.

Although the market is flooded with CBD products, Barkenhagen said not all products are equal. The 42° brand of products are made with strains that have a very high CBD count, are competitively priced, and “offer more for less.”

“But we pride ourselves on having employees with the best knowledge of CBD. It’s so overwhelming, and we try to break it down into general terms” for customers, he said.

The stores also sponsor special events. In July, they held a show featuring the work of Karma, a well-known glass artist from North Carolina. The event attracted collectors from all over the country, according to Barkenhagen.

Barkenhagen has 10 employees between both stores. Although walk-in sales have declined due to COVID-19, online sales have grown, he said. The increase is due in part to the store’s expanded product line.

He said his website used to generate maybe a few sales a month. “Now we do $20,000 a month in online sales.”

Barkenhagen is involved in the Glens Falls community and recently helped organize a drive through food distribution event that provided boxes of food to more than 300 families. He is president of the Glens Falls Collaborative and a member of the Glens Falls Urban Renewal Agency.

For more information, visit 42degreesgallery. com.

BCS Construction Tile Stone 90 Eddy St Greenwich, NY 12834 Elysian Ink Tattoo Lounge 950 State Route 22 Eagle Bridge, NY 12057 McPhees Candy Shop and More 345 Main St. Hudson Falls, NY 12839 Memorable Interiors 80 Seminary St. Fort Edward, NY 12828 Dilos 240 Main St. Hudson Falls, NY 12839 The Snack Shack 54 River St. Hudson Falls, NY 12839

Express Pack N Ship 3316 State Route 4 Hudson Falls, NY 12839 Beckwood Creations 49 Taylor Woods Rd. Fort Ann, NY 12827 Greenwich Massage Professionals 2615 State Route 40 Greenwich, NY 12834 Elite Cleaning Service 3955 State Route 4 Hudson Falls, NY 12839 Askew and Son Excavating 292 Hoag Rd. Valley Falls, NY 12185

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • DECEMBER 2020 • 5

With Business Growing At North Country ‘Something Secret Boutique’ Transitions From Paws For Obedience, Owners Plan Expansion An Online Business To A Lake Luzerne Shop

Brianna Rabine, left, and Lora Bacharach started North Country Paws for Obedience three years ago and are already expanding to a larger location at a site in Hudson Falls.

BY SUSAN ELISE CAMPBELL Lora Bacharach and Brianna Rabine started North Country Paws for Obedience only three years ago and are already expanding into a second location.

The partners purchased a 31.8-acre parcel on Route 4 in Hudson Falls. At the new site, they will be able to train more pets in a wider variety of skills while giving them better opportunities for socialization and healthy play, Bacharach said.

What started as a small obedience school moved seven months later across the street to a space four times larger at 1638 Route 9 in South Glens Falls.

Since then, “we were looking for a space to buy before the pandemic hit because we wanted to get farther away from the road,” Bacharach said. “The current location limits the size of our classes as well as the services we can offer, such as off-leash training. Our long-term goal is always to accommodate our clients and the needs of the dogs.”

Bacharach said puppy preschool and training will continue at the Route 9 location for the foreseeable future. But the new space will be a “K-9 enrichment center promoting healthy adventures and relationships” between people and their pets, she said.

There will be more room for boarding, training and rehabilitation. There is a pond nearby for introducing dogs to the water and plenty of space for agility training. There are also miles of hiking trails.

The COVID-19 pandemic that forced people indoors turned out to be an unexpected “blessing in disguise,” Bacharach said. “It helped us re-evaluate the business and how to

Courtesy North Country Paws for Obedience

use our staff and time to be more efficient.”

When it first hit and their doors were closed, Bacharach and Rabine got creative and started doing video training sessions.

“They were a big hit,” said Bacharach.

“People signed up from all over the country.”

Bacharach said they will continue to offer virtual events and classes and may be hiring an events manager. The team is also planning to add more instructors, handlers and a groomer.

When New York went on PAUSE, many families decided to adopt pets. But as parents went back to work and kids back to school, some suffered from separation anxiety and other behavioral problems, she said.

For that, Rabine “has taken on more behavior cases perhaps due to the shut down,” Bacharach said. “Some people got dogs and puppies during isolation without really knowing what they were in for.”

Some problems include hypersensitivity and aggression, which Rabine helps solve with consultations and private lessons.

A day program is available five days a week for dogs and puppies who have already gone through the private training or preschool programs run by Paws for Obedience and who are now in need of management or maintenance, Bacharach said.

Bacharach said she and Rabine “have a great business partnership and complement each other with the same methods, but their own style.”

They both have certifications with American Kennel Club and the International Association of Canine Professionals. Visit paws4obedience.com for more information.

15 Unique Locally Owned Boutiques and Restaurants in the heart of downtown.

The Saratoga Marketplace is the home to 15 locally owned and operated shops and restaurants. Local artists, merchants and chefs supporting the local economy.

BY JENNIFER FARNSWORTH After a year of running a successful online boutique, Jonie McCleary has opened Something Secret Boutique at 4 Bridge St., Lake Luzerne.

McCleary said online sales were much stronger than she anticipated. But she was starting to long for the in-person experience and decided open the Bridget Street location. McCleary said there was some skepticism about opening a brick-and-mortar store during the COVID-19 crisis.

“Honestly, 2020 was the best year for online sales.

I don’t know if it was because people were just home and couldn’t shop in the store. But whatever it was, I am more than grateful.”

“I didn’t want to be just restricted to being behind a computer screen. So I decided why not? I have had people tell me I am crazy for—number one, opening in the off season for my area—and number two, opening in the middle of a pandemic. I If I can make it now I should be able to make it through whatever,” she said.

It was January 2018 when McCleary said she decided to go back to school for business. A marketing professor noticed her knack for business and encouraged her to follow her dreams.

“He said to me ‘Jonie you have entrepreneur written all over you’ and at first I kind of just dismissed it. And then his words kept popping back into my head ... I always knew I wanted to be my own boss. I’ve always had a drive and what I like to think is a good work ethic,” said McCleary.

She opened the online boutique in early March 2018, initially with a small group of friends and family. The business quickly began to grow. In 2019 she started Facebook Live and her 100-member group turned into nearly over 5,000. When she began shipping to at least 20 different states she realized she was outgrowing her then basementbased business.

“I wanted a space to dedicate just to the boutique.

I drove by 4 Bridge St. every day, and I would think to myself, ‘How cool it would be to have a brick and mortar?’”

She made an offer on the building and was moving into the store within a week.

Something Secret Boutique has customers ranging in age from 18 to late 70s, according to McCleary.

Something Secret Boutique was opened at 4 Bridge St., Lake Luzerne, by Jonie McCleary.

Courtesy Something Secret Boutique

“I think the wide client base stems from my love of basics. We have lots of trendy items, but there are more pieces in my store that you will have in your closet for years to come. Yet there are no blouses over $30,” she said.

There are also high-end items, like boutique brand jeans such as Kan Can and Cello McCleary said she is open to expanding into children’s clothing and home decor.

McCleary said she has found ways to be creative and is still learning and growing . She has had weeks where she couldn’t place her next order until she sold what inventory she had.

“I’ve always found a way to hustle and flip inventory, and I’ve found some ideas work while others are a bust. I’m still learning. If that’s one thing I’ve learned in business, you can’t ever think you’ve got it figured out because in a blink of an eye what worked yesterday doesn’t work today,” said McCleary.

Learn more about the online portion of the business at somethingsecretboutique.commentsold. com or on Facebook. The phone is 518-696-6356.

6 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • DECEMBER 2020

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL

SPECIAL SECTION

Nonprofit

Amorak Youth Provides Art And Music ‘Comfort Food’ Organization Helps Get Meals Programs For Hudson Falls Area Students To People In Need Throughout The Region

BY LISA BALSCHUNAT This year, when many nonprofit organizations had to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Amorak Youth found a way to carry on to serve middle and high school students in Hudson Falls and Fort Edward in safe and fun ways.

Amorak offered Circus Smirkus magic classes via Zoom in late spring, Paintbrush Expedition painting classes at home in August, online music lessons throughout the summer and early fall, and the first Apples to Zucchini 1K Relay in October to encourage outdoor family activities and help stock local food pantries.

For 12 years, the small nonprofit has offered Hudson Falls and Fort Edward teens and younger children creative classes and programs that fosters self-awareness, self-confidence and a sense of community. Grants, corporate and individual contributions have supported its programs and classes so Amorak can offer its programs free of charge.

Run by a nine-person board and a part-time administrator, Amorak provides youths an alternative to the phrase “there isn’t anything to do.”

With a mission of “helping youths achieve positive life changes through recognizing their unique needs and capabilities while providing a sense of connection with the larger community,” Amorak designs programs or works with existing programs that draw upon the strengths of each person, fostering a sense of pride, loyalty and strength.

“Amorak has the potential to get kids involved in programs in an environment where school are cutting back on music and the arts,” said executive board officer Dr. Kathleen Braico. “The arts are a very important part of a child’s growth and self-expression. Children can modulate emotions through art. Worldwide, adults have had to process and regulate their emotions during this pandemic. Children have to work through it, too.”

“We want youths to be engaged in their community,” Braico said. “That can take on many different forms with Amorak.”

Amorak’s Hudson Falls Hometown Heroes program partners with area schools, fire departments, the American Red Cross, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and ham radio operators to teach teens about local emergency volunteer and career opportunities.

Amorak also offers an emergency preparedness program through the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Zombie Apocalypse manual that sets up realistic scenarios of a disaster and how people have to work together to survive.

“The teaching tool is woven into a creative and engaging situation that teens can have fun with while learning the basics of protecting public health,” Braico said.

Over the past decade, Amorak has had to re-tool its offerings to meet the needs of the teens. The group recently began offering free tutoring for high school level math and chemistry. Tutors and music

This mural from Amorak Youth was given to the American Legion Post 574.

Courtesy Amorak Youth

instructors receive payment from the organization, but families are never charged. Most recently, Amorak aligned with the LEAP Outdoor Adventure Program in Washington County.

This year, Amorak amped up its Facebook page during the pandemic to give families COVID-19 fun and safe activities. The group also launched a new website and with a new logo with its wolf mascot, thanks to Mannix Marketing and Black Dog Designs, respectively.

Amorak operates with an annual budget of $27,000 and relies on volunteers, grants and donations from supporters including Calamity Jane’s Firearms and Fine Shoes, Eight Pines PR & Marketing, Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council (LARAC), Hudson River Brewhouse, Saint-Gobain, Stewart’s Shops, Spectrum Plastics Group, The Strand Theater, Tops Furniture and Underwood Park CrossFit, as well as contributions from Adirondack Community Trust, Charles R. Wood, The Sandy Hill, Frank Smith and Touba Family foundations.

“The business community has been a great support of our mission and efforts,” Braico said. “We have some awesome programs on the horizon and look forward to having Amorak kids participate, when it is safe to do so, in the Fort Edward Fishing Derby, Citizen Science Stream Program for elementary students and our Kindness Klub for preschoolers,” she added. “We will again offer hiking and kayaking outings when this pandemic is in our rearview mirror.”

Businesses interested in sponsoring an Amorak program can contact administrator Catrina ScottBecker at amorakyouth@gmail.com, or visit www. amorakyouth.org.

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The Comfort Food Community recently received a $30,000 grant from the Marilyn Lichtman Foundation to help its mission of providing food for people of need in the region.

BY LISA BALSCHUNAT Four years ago, armed with a social services degree, life experience in Colorado and a passion for fresh food, Devin Bulger returned to his roots in Greenwich. With others, he created Comfort Food Community to help those in need.

Based in Greenwich, Comfort Food helps people in Glens Falls and Queensbury.

Bulger, its executive director, said, “we’ve partnered with a network of local agencies to develop a weekly delivery system to distribute free, fresh produce to sites including senior living and community centers.”

The program, known as the Fresh Food Collective, delivers over 100,000 pounds of produce annually to those in need, he said.

While Warren County was originally identified as the service area, Washington County and Saratoga County communities are also on the group’s radar.

“We deliver food to senior centers and libraries, the Greenwich food pantry, Cossayuna food pantry and have a stand at the Glens Falls Farmers Market that serves individuals with chronic health conditions,” Bulger said.

The group has also partnered with Hudson Headwaters Health Network.

“We work with an individual who is pre-diabetic, for example, and a Hudson Headwaters dietician to help mitigate the

Expert electrical service.

Courtesy Comfort Food Community

diabetes. We are leveling food as medicine where possible. We all know the cost for synthetic insulin is staggering and exponentially rising,” Bulger said. “We are working to improve a person’s quality of life through good food … At the same time, we help keep working farms working.”

He said thus far in 2020, Comfort Food provided 70,000 meals to local pantries, recovered and distributed 30,000 pounds of produce and delivered 27,500 meals to students in need. The organization supports 57 farms and community partners and 1,700 individuals are served weekly. During the peak of summer, the group distributed fresh food to 220 people every week.

Each summer, Comfort Food also provides 270 children, who meet the school free reduced meal profile, with free fresh food.

The group also receives grants in October garnered $30,000 from the Marilyn Lichtman Foundation for its efforts.

Comfort Food also offers children cooking classes through its Edible Education program and weekly fills 40 student backpacks with food for the weekend through Greenwich Central School and the Regional Food Bank for Northeastern New York to ensure they come back to school fed and ready to learn on Mondays.

For more information, visit www.comfort communityfood.org.

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GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • DECEMBER 2020 • 7

‘Luzerne Productions’ Video Company Works With Nonprofits To Help With Fundraising •

Bob English owns and operates Luzerne Productions, a video production company he opened in 2002. The company helps nonprofit groups with fundraising efforts.

BY ANDREA HARWOOD PALMER “We do a lot of work for nonprofits,” said Bob English, who owns and operates Luzerne Productions, a video production company he opened in 2002.

“It’s such a necessary part of service. For nonprofits, especially right now with the COVID-19 problem, fundraising is a challenge.

Everyone needs to raise money.”

He believes his company can help in that regard.

Luzerne Productions is responsible for many videos shown at area nonprofit fundraisers every year. Most recently they produced a fundraising video for Big Brothers, Big Sisters.

“What usually happens with annual fundraisers is: You get everybody in a room with some cocktails and food, you tell them about your service,” said English. “Then you show them a nice video and people say, ‘Wow, I wanna help’ because the people there are altruistic anyway or they wouldn’t be there to begin with. A video at a fundraiser is great because you have a captive audience. You show a video for 2-3 minutes, and if they’re wiping away a tear when you turn the lights back on, then I’ve done my job. That’s how I know I’ve been successful.”

With COVID-19, people can’t congregate in person.

“What we’ve managed to do is hold a number of fundraisers online, on YouTube Live.

Everyone is already on the internet anyway.

We’ll gather 200-300 people together who are altruistic enough to help the community, and we give them a URL, and a time and date to click on it. The entire fundraising premise will be there for them, pre-produced and put online.”

“Everyone has a website, but if it’s just text,

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people don’t tend to hang around for very long,” said English. “It takes so much longer for your brain to process words than it does video. My slogan is, ‘Don’t tell me what you do, show me what you do’. With your website, video is such a great opportunity for someone to see your product or service in a way they’ll remember.”

“Most of the time, these annual fundraisers include an auction of some sort,” said English.

“So we take those auctions, and put it online.

English grew up in Brooklyn, New York and graduated from Syracuse University with a bachelor’s degree in TV production, with a minor in political science. He moved to the Capital District in 1973, and spends much of his time on Lake Luzerne.

“I’ve been in the video and television production business all my life,” said English.

He worked at all the local television stations over the years and in 2002, decided to strike out on his own.

“I didn’t like the direction the industry was going in,” he said.

Previously, he directed and produced the local portions of the annual Jerry Lewis Telethon. Having worked as a producer, he built relationships with high level leaders and CEOs in the area. When he went out on his own, those contacts would take his calls.

“It helped a lot,” said English. “The first thing I did when I went out on my own was for the Double H Ranch in Luzerne. Neal Golub from the Price Chopper family was on the board and he called me” about help with fundraising.

“We managed to do a half-hour video that was aired on all of the stations around Christmastime. I had Paul Newman do the open and close (of the segment) and I had Rachel Ray walk through the camp. It was extremely successful.”

Business Report Protect Your Biggest Investment

BY MICHAEL CRUZ When working on annual planning, we often look at the company’s strengths and its weaknesses. Most often, I see “our people” as a strength. I often see “bench depth” as a weakness.

My advice always is to build on your strengths.

Then, do what is reasonable to mitigate your weaknesses. There is one simple thing you can do to reduce that bench depth pain. Invest in the people you already have. We already know that it costs less to keep our customers than it does to acquire new ones.

The same is true about the people that work for you. Hiring is difficult, it is expensive, and it is not a 100 percent solution. Many years ago, I worked for a very fast-growing software company. When I joined it, the company’s sales were $18 million. When I left, seven years later, sales topped $450 million.

One of the most stunning attributes of that industry was that we were all fairly young and inexperienced. We were a young company and we were a young management team. We worked to figure out our weaknesses and we brought in experts to address them. And that personal growth kept me loyal to the company even when I was offered more money to leave.

I outlasted every person that joined the company when I did. Many others quit. When asked why I stayed, I said the growth afforded me opportunities. Remember, it is cheaper to keep customers.

It is also cheaper to keep customers than it is to replace them. The same is true of employees.

They are harder to find than customers. They are hard to train. The whole process is expensive.

You want to keep your better employees. And your better people want to stay. They want to grow with you.

They want to grow their skills. Continuous learning is part of human nature. Goodemployees always want to learn new things. Many people fear training people because they might leave.

You are right, they might. That is a risk.

Michael Cruz is president of Lighthouse Advisors LLC in Queensbury.

Courtesy Lighthouse Advisors LLC

But I know that I did not leave companies that invested in me. Employees like to learn new skills (and apply them). And, I know that people do not leave my clients when they get more training and more opportunities.

So, how do you invest in your business by training your people? During annual reviews, identify areas for employee improvement. YOU do not have to be the one to identify what training will help them. Engage them. Ask your employee to identify programs that might help them.

Figure out the cost. Sometimes it is nominal, as in Fred Pryor training sessions. They teach basic skills for $100 or $200 and regularly come to our area. Sometimes it might include a more expensive program and even travel.

The purpose of growing your people is twofold. One, it helps you accomplish more in your business. That should make you more money. Two, it adds some depth to your business.

And, maybe it relieves some of the stress you have when you realize only one person in the company knows how to do a particular task.

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8 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • DECEMBER 2020

SPECIAL SECTION

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL

Retirement Planning

Calm Urged By Advisors During COVID; Roth IRAs Among Strong Investment Options

BY SUSAN ELISE CAMPBELL Retirement plan holders went on a historic roller coaster ride this past year, but to their credit they held on tight, said local investment professionals.

“Fortunately no one panicked in March,” said Mark Wells, CFP, co-founder of Three Buckets Wealth Management serving clients out of Fort Covington and Glens Falls.“In all aspects of life, when things are up in the air it’s easier to act irrationally.”

Uncertainty is what no one wants, said Wells.

The Three Buckets formula is to determine guaranteed income sources such as Social Security and pension, then calculate the gap between that amount and what the client wants to live on in their retired years, he said.

With a comprehensive plan and short, intermediate and long-term investment buckets in place, Wells said “clients understood how unexpected market swings can affect their overall goals and therefore did not act emotionally” when COVID-19 drove down the stock market.

“Who could know how the pandemic would play out?” said Conor Boyd, managing partner of Thoroughbred Advisors, which has a Queensbury office. “But we were prepared by being positioned in such a way that we could take advantage of opportunities.”

Boyd highlighted the need for a strong liquidity position in any portfolio, through cash equivalents and a guaranteed portion, which is traditionally fulfilled by insurance products.

“One end of the advisory spectrum is investment and the other is insurance, an area in which some advisers fall short,” said Boyd.

He promotes three factors to successful retirement planning. “The first is a focus on habit formation, which includes automated savings.

Next are the tools, including investments and insurances. The third is the strategy that informs the habits to create and the tools to implement.”

At Minich MacGregor Wealth Management in Saratoga Springs, financial planner Cory Laird, CFP said the methodology is “to determine the risk profile and make sure clients are getting the growth rate they’re expecting and the amount of sleep that they want at night” using a sector rotation strategy.

“Even if we see a couple of down years,

customers can still be comfortable,” he said.

With COVID’s striking impact on investments, Laird said “by the time clients got their statements the first week in June, the markets were already improving.”

Now, with a new year and a new administration ahead, professionals are focusing on planning techniques that help retirement account holders meet goals beyond simply accumulating money.

One strategy is to consider converting traditional IRA assets to a Roth IRA. There are two reasons why, say the experts. The first is the current ordinary income tax rates and the second is a new, but less advantageous, provision in the Secure Act passed at the end of 2019.

IRA assets can accumulate so much that when combined with other retirement assets, one’s tax rate may be higher than it is today. The current levels sunset in 2025, but people today are facing 30 years in retirement or more, Laird said.

While IRA assets may still be taxed at a marginal rate lower than it was during the client’s accumulation years, professionals say most people will be in a higher bracket during retirement than they had anticipated.

Roth IRA earnings are never taxed, said Laird, so if Congress has increased income tax rates or shifted brackets in the years withdrawals are made, Roth IRAs can become more attractive.

“Earlier this year, the concern was for legacy planning,” said Wells, when the Secure Act changed the required minimum distribution age for tax-deferred qualified plans from 70 1/2 to 72.

While that’s a plus, say the experts, that provision was countered with another that makes it difficult for beneficiaries to keep more money for themselves, according to Wells.

“In the past a non-spouse beneficiary could stretch distributions from the deceased’s plan over many decades based on life expectancy,” he said. “Now all assets must be liquidated within 10 years. That means that unless a person aged 72 takes more money out of the plan during retirement, there will be more left for beneficiaries who will incur a quicker and higher tax liability.”

One solution is a Roth IRA, which has neither a required minimum distribution nor any tax liability for beneficiaries.

He said there are also are strategies that shift Continued On Page 9

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Business Report Your Retirement Plan Under A New Employer

BY MEGHAN M. MURRAY Your employer-sponsored retirement plan is a valuable asset. But sometimes things happen that can affect the status of your plan. So, for example, if you work for a hospital that changes ownership, and you have been participating in a 403(b), 457(b) or 401(k) retirement plan, what should you do with it now?

Basically, you have four options: Cash out your plan. You can simply cash out your plan and take the money, but you’ll have to pay taxes on it, and possibly penalties as well. So, unless you really need the funds and you have no other alternative, you may want to avoid liquidating your account.

Roll your account into your new employer’s plan. If it’s allowed, you can roll over your old 403(b), 457(b) or 401(k) plan into your new employer’s plan. Before making this move, you’ll want to look at the new plan’s investment options (which should be numerous) and fees (which should be low). If you move the money directly to the new plan, you won’t be taxed at the time of the transfer, and your funds can continue to grow tax-deferred.

Leave your plan with your old employer. If your account balance is above a certain level, you may be able to leave your plan with your old employer’s plan administrator. You won’t be able to contribute any more money to the plan, but if you like the investment options you’ve chosen, keeping the money in your old plan might be a viable choice.

Move your account into a traditional IRA. One possible advantage to moving your 403(b), 457(b) or 401(k) into a traditional IRA is you’ll open up a world of new investment options, because you can fund your IRA with virtually any type of vehicle, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, certificates of deposit (CDs) and exchange-traded funds.

And if you already have a traditional IRA, you can combine the new funds with the old ones, making it easier to track your holdings.

As is the case with leaving your money in

•

Meghan Murray is a financial advisor with Edward Jones Financial in Queensbury.

Courtesy Edward Jones Financial

your old employer’s plan or transferring it to a new plan, you’ll continue to benefit from tax-deferred growth.

Keep in mind, though, that IRAs have costs, too, possibly including transaction costs to buy or sell new investments. (One more thing to keep in mind: When you want to move a retirement plan to an IRA, you may want to make a direct rollover, so the old plan’s administrator moves the money directly into the IRA, allowing you to avoid immediate taxes.

If you were to make an indirect rollover, you’d get the money yourself, but your old employer would have to deduct 20 percent for federal taxes, and you’d have to deposit the entire balance, including the withholding, into your IRA within 60 days.)

Which of these choices is best for you?

There’s no one “right” answer for everyone.

You’ll want to consider all the options and possibly consult with your tax advisor and financial professional. But do all you can to protect your retirement plan – you’ve worked hard to build it, and you’ll need to rely on it to help you pay for your years as a retiree.

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • DECEMBER 2020 • 9

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL

SPECIAL SECTION

Cyber/Tech

Communications Technology Like Zoom Is AARP Report Says 26 Percent Of Those Over Helping Business People Meet During COVID 55 Are Victims Of Cyber Identity Fraud

BY JILL NAGY The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the dynamics of how offices run and how business meetings are held as companies work to meet health and safety standards.

“Everyone’s jumping on the Zoom,” said Rose Miller, head of Pinnacle Human Resources, an Albany company with an office in Saratoga Springs. Miller is quick to praise Zoom and other remote communication methods, but added, “We’re all looking forward to meeting face-to-face again.”

Saratoga attorney Debra Verni of Herzog Law has been presenting “webinars” on a regular basis covering such topics as “What To Do When A Loved One Dies,” “How Not To Pay For Services,” wills versus trusts, and “Aging in Place.” She has also mastered the complicated new rules for witnessing and notarizing documents remotely. Now she no longer has to meet with clients in a parking lot or back porch to have them execute documents.

“There were a few glitches in the beginning,” she said, but things are going smoothly now.

Patti Gray Whann, owner of Glens Falls Area Realty, said the real estate industry “was way ahead” using online resources for at least 10 years. In fact, one online source, Zillow, has revolutionized the industry.

“In the old days,” she said, “Realtors had the book,” which contained all the information on real estate listings. Clients had to come into the office to look at listings. Now, “Zillow took all the information we had and put it on the internet.”

COVID restrictions prevent real estate agents from attending closings, inspections, and other steps in the purchase and sale process.

But transactions can now take place remotely.

Also, mandatory continuing education courses are all online this year.

Tim Halliday, a Malta businessman and president of the Malta Business Association, said the current situation “put us three to five years ahead of where we would be anyway.”

He said the trend toward remote communication will continue in the future.

He participates in meetings a couple of times a week and routinely sends documents electronically. Fewer people attend online networking meetings and seminars than previously attended face-to-face meetings, but the meetings are often lively and Halliday finds that people send business to one another, often people who never met in person.

“Frankly, I hate it,” he said, “I like people and for a sales person not to be able to shake hands is awful.”

Compared to other types of remote

communication like telephone or email, media like Zoom retain some facial expressions, but it is hard to collaborate or do anything creative, Halliday said. While he finds it “incredibly useful,” he feels that it is a “huge disservice to the consumer” when they can’t go through documents in person.

He is more positive about working from home. He and many of his colleagues like working at home for several reasons, not the least of which is avoiding commuting time.

“There are a boatload of roles that worked perfectly” for working from home, Miller said. It places more emphasis on what gets accomplished and less on the number of hours worked.

Amanda Blanton, a spokesperson for the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce, said as people are allowed to meet in person safely, the organization will go back to that. In the meantime, the Chamber is using the Zoom platform for educational events and meetings “It’s working out pretty well,” she said, but most people would rather meet in person. The chamber’s staff returned to the office in midJune.

Whann has a daughter in Seattle and has been guiding her, via technology, through the process of purchasing her first home. She began her search, as so many people do, with Zillow.

Then, at her mother’s urging, the daughter drove by properties she thought might interest her. “ But pictures did not tell the full story, he daughter discovered in one case. The picture did not show the noisy nearby bus stop or the city park that has become a campground. The online research “is just the start of the journey,” Whann.

For one client of Whann’s, everything was done remotely.

Miller said she misses visual social cues.

In addition, “looking at a screen has its own limitations” and can cause eye strain and back strain, among other problems.

Also, she said employers can catch a glimpse on Zoom of how people work from home. “There are lots of things going on in the background” like dogs and children wandering by. Overall, though, she said “We’re rolling with it.”

Many online events she has seen were carried out poorly, Miller said.

“You have to rethink the entire thing,” she said. Events should be more interactive and include some “fun” things. There should be colorful and engaging visuals. In other words, things to draw in the participants.

“Think of the audience,” she said, and what it is a meeting needs to deliver.

A report in November from AARP shows that 26 percent of Americans aged 55-plus have been victims of identity fraud, according to the organization.

However, more are taking additional precautions to prevent losses of personal information, as 29 percent have placed credit freezes on their credit bureau information following an identity theft incident. More than half have enrolled in identity protection or credit monitoring services, the report said.

The report, “Identity Fraud in Three Acts,” was developed by Javelin Strategy & Research and sponsored by AARP. “Older Americans are leading more digitally infused lives, with two-thirds using online banking weekly, so it’s encouraging to see that many are taking proactive steps to protect their identity following a data breach,” said Kathy Stokes, director of AARP Fraud Prevention Programs. “Passwords still represent a security threat, however; using repeated passwords across multiple online accounts makes it easy for criminals to crack one of them so that all of your accounts, including financial accounts, become accessible.”

According to the report, consumers 55plus want to bank using stronger security authentication. Roughly 90 percent state a desire to use more fingerprint scanning, and 80 percent view facial recognition capabilities as trustworthy forms of technology for financial transactions and private business matters.

The report also said identity fraud victims age 65-plus do not necessarily change how they shop, bank or pay following a fraudulent event, with 70 percent exhibiting reluctance to change familiar habits.

“Criminals are regularly targeting Americans

aged 55-plus through a combination of sophisticated scams via computer malware and also through more traditional low-tech channels via telephone and U.S. mail,” said the report’s author, John Buzzard, lead analyst, fraud and security at Javelin. “The combination of high-tech and low-tech strategies unfortunately gives the upper hand to the criminal — not the consumer.”

The report offers several tips on protecting against identity fraud, including: • Hang up on strangers, and independently verify everything.

• Adopt security practices that go beyond a single password. Start using a password manager tool or app to create and safely store complex passwords.

• Write down important numbers of companies you do business with rather than rely on a web search for a customer service number, as criminals post fake numbers online.

• Secure your devices – mobile phone, laptops and tablets – with a complex password, preferably with screen locks that use a fingerprint or facial recognition.

• Secure personal payments with digital wallets.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network launched in 2013 as a free resource for people of all ages.

Consumers may sign up for “watchdog alert” by email or text that deliver information about scams, or call a free helpline at 877-908-3360 to report scams or get help from trained volunteers in the event someone falls victim to scammers’ tactics.

The Fraud Watch Network website provides information about fraud and scams, prevention tips from experts, an interactive scam-tracking map and access to AARP’s hit podcast series, The Perfect Scam.

Investment Options

the existing plan doesn’t currently offer one, and employees should request it.”

But be careful with Roth accounts, said Laird.

“Unlike a traditional IRA or rollover, Roth account assets can be used by Medicare during the five-year look-back period for nursing home care, although not in-home care,” he said.

Laird said he recommends to all eligible clients during the open enrollment period to carefully choose a Medicare Advantage plan that suits their needs for medications, dental coverage, and level of premiums versus co-pays.

He said the right health care program is another way of keeping more money for yourself, as some people have lost everything to expensive hospitalizations and treatments. For this same reason Laird is also a proponent of long-term care insurance.

Continued From Page 8

retirement assets in order to be in control of taxes paid and money kept. “For some clients this may mean taking out more retirement money now and putting it into accounts managed in a way to provide tax advantages for heirs.”

Boyd said Roth 401(k) plans resolve tax issues for many retirees, but many lack knowledge about what they are and how to get an account.

“Many employees think they are not eligible, but every employee or small business owner may be eligible regardless of income,” said Boyd.

“Adding the right option is straightforward if

10 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • DECEMBER 2020

Malls Shift Strategies Continued From Page 1

our mall more diverse,” said Wilton Mall property manager Mike Shaffer. “This started for us back in 2012 with the opening of Healthy Living Market and Café at the mall along with Planet Fitness gym.

“And then we transitioned to putting a Home Goods in a mall site which is not typical for them.

That took up six previous small spaces. We did the same thing with Ulta Beauty a few years ago.

We boxed up three small spaces into one larger space. And now, the welcome addition of Saratoga Hospital is a re-purposing of Sears which was a large anchor store,” he said.

“Quite frankly, those kinds of retailers are hard to find to fill big spaces. It’s about re-purposing space to continue to keep the mall relevant.”

Saratoga Hospital moved into a 56,000-squarefoot space in September.

The majority of the square footage is occupied by more than 100 information technology and health information services staff members.

The employees were relocated to the mall from the main hospital campus off Church Street in Saratoga Springs.

The hospital’s mall location also includes the Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine, home to the hospital’s first hyperbaric oxygen chambers. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy utilizes pure oxygen in a pressurized environment to speed the wound-healing process.

According to Angelo Calbone, Saratoga Hospital president and CEO, the move allows the hospital to utilize more of its campus space for acute care.

“We have more than 20 locations throughout the Saratoga region, but only one place—our hospital campus—is equipped with the technology and expertise to meet the needs of our most critically ill patients,” he said. “We owe it to our growing community to make the best use of every square foot of that campus by dedicating it to services that

can’t be provided anywhere else.”

In addition to Saratoga Hospital, Equitas Realty/Equitas Realty Management is another of the mall’s new tenants. The realty and property management company was previously located in downtown Saratoga Springs.

Hempire State CBD will be also be opening a store at the Wilton Mall in the near future.

Malls throughout the country face the additional challenge of reassuring shoppers that it is safe to shop at malls during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aviation Mall and Wilton Mall have intensified their cleaning and sanitizing protocols and are employing the use of electrostatic sprayers to clean nonporous surfaces. Both malls have installed MERV filters that remove a higher percentage of contaminants in the air. Shoppers at both malls are required to wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines.

Since being allowed to reopen in July, the malls have experienced a gradual increase in traffic.

“When we first opened, quite a few of our national tenants had not reopened,” said Griffith.

“We saw the traffic steadily increase when these stores reopened. During the summer, we saw some pretty good traffic based on regional tourism.

We’re not seeing traffic late into evening. That has a lot to do with Regal Cinema not being able to reopen yet.”

According to Shaffer, retailers are forgoing major holiday sales that would attract large crowds. Instead, they are spreading out their sales over a longer period of time.

“Retailers are prepared for an extended holiday season that started early due to a number of factors including pent up demand by shoppers who have missed in-store shopping,” he said.

For more information, visit shopaviationmall. com and wiltonmall.com.

Adirondack Thunder

Ticket pricing for the 2021-22 season will remain flat and went on sale Dec. 1.

Despite not being able to participate in the 2020-21 season, the team still encounters significant expenses throughout the winter.

Those who would like to donate their ticket money to our Keep Hockey Here campaign can contact Mead at jmead@echlthunder.com.

“We are thankful to our community as well as local and state officials that have supported the Cool Insuring Arena and Adirondack Thunder since 2015. We know without this incredible support, we would not be able to operate the arena and team,” the team statement said.

“As we continue to navigate the continually changing regulations across North America, we recognize the difficult nature of this decision,” said ECHL Commissioner Ryan Crelin. “While some of our teams’ host cities have allowed upcoming plans to include fans inside arenas, we unfortunately do not see the same path for these highly-affected areas in the North East.”

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Newfoundland.

“We knew this season would be a challenge regardless of any state restrictions on fans in the arena,” officials said. “We had worked on numerous contingency plans to socially distance fans and to ensure a clean, safe environment, and to fully abide by all stateimposed guidelines. We were ready to play at a 50 percent capacity, knowing it would be difficult to operate at that capacity.

“We know the disappointment our fans, coaches, players, staff, and community share with this announcement. Our focus going forward will be to start the planning for the 2021-22 season.”

All season ticket holder payments will automatically be shifted to the 2021-22 season, officials said. Fans that wish to discuss their plans, can call 518-480-3355, ext. 319. Season

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Personnel Briefs

Lotus Analytics in Warrensburg announced that Jim Cripps has been appointed as the company’s new chief operating officer.

He will support CEO Ash Anand and senior vice president of operations and strategy Lee West of the Lotus Group of Companies in executing the company’s strategy and vision for their Analytics division.

Cripps joins Lotus Analytics with more than 20 years of experience in the evolving business solutions environment. He has held numerous executive level and operational leadership roles which included various functions across business development, marketing, investor relations and corporate communications.

Cripps will oversee Lotus’s business development and operations team, with a focus on leveraging advances in business intelligence, automation and modern computing and artificial intelligence.

* * * Gore Mountain Ski Resort has hired Stephanie Backes as the company’s marketing director.

Backes most recently c om e s f rom C opp e r Mountain Ski Resort just outside of Denver, Colo., where she served in various marketing, communications, and public relations capacity for eight years.

Backes graduated summa laude from SUNY Oswego in 2011, with a major in broadcasting and mass communications, and a minor in business administration.

* * * Arrow Financial Corp., the parent company of Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Co. and Saratoga National Bank & Trust Co.,

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* * * Berkshire Bank has named Carly Remington as first vice president, regional branch manager, for Berkshire Bank’s Capital New York and Vermont markets.

Remington joined Berkshire in 2011 as branch manager and most recently was the area retail leader in Vermont. In her new role, she will oversee 24 branches in the Albany area and Vermont, managing a team of 19 branch officers. Remington will report to Brian Sullivan, senior vice president of retail branch banking.

She has a bachelor of science in accounting from Florida Metropolitan University and serves as the co-chair of the Power of Women Employee Resource Group with Berkshire Bank.

Berkshire Bank had more than $1 billion in deposits among 22 branches in the 11-county Albany region as of June 2020.

Business Briefs

The Park Theater, 14 Park St., Glens Falls, will host the second event in its Dinner & A Movie series on Dec. 16 with a showing of the Christmas classic film “It’s A Wonderful Life.”

It will include a special three-course prix fixe menu presented by executive chef Matthew J. Delos, featuring a selection holiday dishes, all made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Guests will be able to choose from a selection of entrées including rosemary roasted prime rib of beef, roasted breast of turkey and butternut squash ravioli. All meals will be served with a mixed baby green salad, as well as cranberry bread pudding for dessert.

Upon the purchase of a ticket, guests will receive a follow-up email prompting them to select meal choices for their party.

The doors open at 5 p.m. and dinner service will begin at 5:30 p.m. The film will begin at 6:30 p.m.

The Park Theater has a state-of-the-art fresh air ventilation system with MERV 13 filters for the indoor space and is closely following all state and CDC health and safety guidelines.

There will be limited seating and tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets are $60 per person.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.parktheatergf.com or phone the box office at 518-792-1150.

* * * The Adirondack Nonprofit Business Council will hold its next Nonprofit Brown Bag Lunch Chat on Wednesday, Dec. 16, via Zoom.

The event will run from noon to 1 p.m.

Kathy Tolstrup of the Tri-County United Way is the guest speaker. She will be reporting on the results of a community survey that the organization conducted.

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has promoted Christine Snow to director of customer experience and Marc Yrsha to director of relationship banking.

Snow joined the company in 2016 and was previously senior vice president of branch administration, overseeing all branch and call center functions. In her new role, she will oversee the customer experience unit, including the call center and deposit, loan and branch operations.

Yrsha joined the bank in 2015 and most recently was senior vice president of corporate development, which includes business development, small business and home equity lending, municipal banking, and business services. As director of relationship banking, Yrsha will oversee the retail banking unit, as well as small business and home equity lending.

Glens Falls National Bank also reported it had $2 billion in deposits among 23 local branches, according to the most recent federal data from June 2020. Saratoga National Bank had $673 million in deposits among 11 branches.

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There is no admission fee.

To register, visit www.adirondackchamber. org/events/details/nonprofit-brown-bag-lunchchat-4010.

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The new feature documentary, “My Native Air: Charles Evans Hughes and the Adirondacks,” is premiering on-demand in a limited run from Jan. 15 to Feb. 15.

The film’s premiere is acting as a major fundraiser to benefit the Arts District of Glens Falls and the Charles R. Wood Theater.

Advance tickets are on sale now at woodtheater.org for $15.

The 43-minute documentary tells the story of the life and career of Glens Falls native Charles Evans Hughes, his role in Adirondack forest land conservation and preservation of the springs at Saratoga Springs, and his connections with cultural attractions in the district such as The Hyde Collection art museum and Crandall Public Library in Glens Falls, Fort Ticonderoga, Silver Bay Association in Hague, scenic Lake George, and Lady Tree Lodge at Upper Saranac Lake.

Underwriters of the production include Behan Communications, Adirondack Chip Carving, JMZ Architects and Planners, Glen and Carol Pearsall Adirondack Foundation, Touba Family Foundation, Glens Falls Foundation, Warren County Bar Foundation, and individual donors.

Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council and Warren County Historical Society were nonprofit partners. The Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library, Silver Bay Association, The Hyde Collection and Fort Ticonderoga provided use of historic photographs.

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GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • DECEMBER 2020 • 11

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12 • GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL • DECEMBER 2020

‘Festival Of Lights’ At Charles R. Wood Park Gore Mountain Has Health And Safety Has Displays Crafted By Local Businesses Guidelines in Place As 2020-21 Season Starts

Charles R. Wood Park will be the site of a new holiday event called the Holiday Festival of Lights It is a recurring event weekends through Dec. 20.

Charles R. Wood Park will be the site of a new holiday event called the Holiday Festival of Lights.

It will be a recurring event weekends through Dec. 20.

The Holiday Festival of Lights includes over 20 light displays that have been crafted by local businesses and organizations.

It has been organized by Events To a T, a local event planning business.

“The interest and generosity of our region never ceases to amaze me,” said Letizia Mastrantoni, Events To a T owner. “Within minutes of releasing the information of this event, several businesses replied with an enthusiastic ‘yes.’”

Attendees are required to purchase a ticket to this outdoor, walk-through event. Each ticket gives access to the event for a 40-minute session. Tickets are $5 with proceeds benefiting local charitable organizations such as Operation Santa Claus, WAIT House and 11th Hour Rescue.

Tickets can be purchased on Eventstoat. net, Facebook/Eventstoat123 or on eventbrite.com under Holiday Festival of Lights.

The event will run every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until Dec. 20 with sessions starting at 4 p.m. until 9 p.m.

She said the event is now taking walk-

ins and the wait time has been less than five minutes recently. Vendors are also on site to provide warm beverages and treats to enjoy or take home. Parking for the event is along Westbrook Road as well as in the parking lot adjacent to Biscotti Brothers Cafe. Restrooms are available for use.

Participating Businesses and organizations include: TCT Federal Credit Union, Ledgeview RV Park, Lake George Steamboat Company, Greater Glens Falls Transit, Entertainment One Rentals, Roaring Brook Ranch, Glamp ADK, Whittemore, Dowen & Ricciardelli LLP, Fort William Henry, AccentsbyKK, Boathouse Restaurant/Lodges at Cresthaven, Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce, TD Bank, Lake George Mermaids, Village of Lake George, High Peaks Hospice, Adirondack Cotton Company, Northern Living, Caldwell Presbyterian Church, Double H Ranch, Holiday Inn Resort.

The event happens outdoors rain or shine. All tickets are sold online only and all attendees must have a ticket. No dogs are allowed and there is no smoking on the property For more information, email eventstoat123@gmail.com or call 518796-3917

Gore Mountain in North Creek opened on Dec. 6 with procedures in place to satisfy health and safety guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BY ANDREA HARWOOD PALMER Gore Mountain opened recently with procedures in place to satisfy health and safety guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have several health and safety protocols in place to keep our guests and employees safe throughout the season,” said Stephanie Backes, Gore Mountain marketing director.

“Most importantly, we have face masks or coverings required at all times,” she said.

“When you’re in the base area, on the lift, inside the lodge, wherever it may be. Guests can take their mask off when they’re actively skiing or when they’re seated, eating and drinking. “ “We’re also strongly encouraging our guests to be ready when they leave their vehicle, to minimize the amount of items they have to store in the base area, and to minimize the amount of time they need to spend inside.”

Like other skiing locations, Gore Mountain has a 50 percent capacity limit. In the dining areras, there are grab-and-go options this year.

“Another item of note this year is the ski lift,” she said. “We are allowing only people who are in the same party to ride the lift together. Singles will ride the lift alone.”

Backes said the response to the new

Courtesy Gore Mountain

protocols have been great.

“Our guests have been very compliant and positive about it,” she said. “They’re with us, in terms of having a great season and making sure we can provide a safe and enjoyable experience.”

Season passes, day lift tickets, ski rentals and lessons are all available to purchase online, and guests are encouraged to secure them digitally before arriving. Touchless pickup options are available for all passes, rental and lesson purchases.

“If you have a specific date in mind, I’d recommend logging on earlier, rather than later, to make sure you get the dates and times you want,” said Backes. “People understand we’re trying to manage our numbers here. It’s an easy process to get online and get what you need. We want everything to be as easy and safe for guests as possible.”

“We want to drive home that we have processes in place for the health and safety of everyone, and we are looking forward to a great season,” said Backes. “We want everyone safe, happy and having fun.”

Lift tickets, rentals and lessons can be purchased online at www.goremountain. com. Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, with expanded hours expected as the season continues. Gore Mountain is located at 793 Peaceful Valley Road in North Creek.