GBJ5-2025-PrintFile

‘ e Ed’ Opens In Glens Falls As Centerpiece Of Downtown Revitalization And Community Renewal

BY PAUL POST

e wait is over!

Nine years ago, the City of Glens Falls applied for a potentially game-changing $10 million state grant to revitalize downtown.

Money came through a year later and in October 2023, following pandemic-related delays, workers broke ground on a new market center, part one of a huge multi-phase e ort to transform South Street. On Friday, May 16, hundreds of people gathered to celebrate opening of the Events Downtown Center, nicknamed “ e Ed” in honor of the late Ed Bartholomew, the Warren County Economic Development Corporation leader, whose driving force made the project possible.

“ is property in 2016 was the de nition of downtrodden,” Mayor Bill Collins said. “A jumble of rundown buildings, garbage in a parking lot, no residents. Hot Shots was closed, had been abandoned and stripped of all its copper plumbing by vandals. Sandy’s was on its last operating legs and, of course, the so-called incubator building had been closed for over two decades. Look at how far we’ve come.”

“Who would have ever believed we would ever have been here amidst all of this progress today? Ed Bartholomew that’s who,” Collins said. “He painted the vision with Mayor (Jack) Diamond, shared the vision with the community, worked with Mayor (Dan) Hall to build forward momentum. A er his (Bartholomew’s) untimely death, a coalition of citizens was brought together to continue that progress. ank God that they did.”

One of the center’s primary tenants, Glens Falls Farmers Market, will hold its rst event there from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 7 with a variety of special activities.

“I’m really excited about it,” market President Tom Wells said. “It’s going to be a new experience for our customers and vendors. I’m excited about the way the building has turned out. It’s

deceiving. When you get inside there’s a lot more room than it appears from the outside. It will be awesome when you can open the overhead doors, there’s a little breeze in there with music out back.”

e market is currently at Aviation Mall, with 38 vendors, but will have room for more at its new South Street home, creating business opportunities for the region’s growers and producers.

“I think it’s going to help out the South Street community, too, all those businesses and local restaurants,” Wells said. “A lot of them use our vendors for their fresh produce.”

Gregg Singer and Larissa Ovitt are especially pleased with “ e Ed’s” completion. In October

Rail Kicks O 2025 With Adirondack Tours, New Sails-to-Rails

2023, they opened the Golden Monkey Lounge directly across the street, and are counting on the center to generate South Street foot tra c.

“We put our stake in the ground a long time ago,” Singer said. “We’ve been waiting for this, it’s nally here and we’re excited.”

The center’s unique, leaf-shaped design is an attraction in and of itself. Outside, several large leaf-shaped patterns are found in the surrounding pavement, there’s a setting out front for people to sit and relax, and a performance space at the rear of the property for musicians to entertain crowds.

e $4.5 million, 6,000-square-foot structure was built by Latham-based Bunkoff General

Contractors. Chief foreman Mike Cole said the distinctive architecture made it a special, challenging and rewarding project to work on. e handsome interior has huge white pine timbers and cedar ceilings.

The $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant has also funded a variety of other work including improved streetscapes, green infrastructure, a mile-long arts trail, SUNY Adirondack culinary program’s move to 14 Hudson Street, and renovation of three other buildings – the former Hot Shots tavern and Sandy’s Clam Bar on South Street, and a business incubator behind Hot Shots on Elm Street.

e Hot Shots and Sandy’s buildings will have rst- oor commercial space with apartments overhead.

When completed, Saratoga Springs-based Bonacio Construction plans to start work on a large, six-story, multi-use building that will wrap around Sandy’s, which includes occupying the parking lot where the Farmer’s Market was previously held.

Separately, developer Chris Patten is currently renovating a large building directly across from Hot Shots at the corner of South and Elm streets, with rst- oor commercial space and apartments on upper oors.

In addition, he’s begun work at the point of land previously occupied by a Rite-Aid store, where South and Broad streets meet. Plans there call for a rst- oor parking garage with apartments above, for workforce housing.

“Now we have it all – o ce space, retail space and apartments,” said prominent Glens Falls businessman Ed Moore. “Apartments bring people. People make business.”

He described “The Ed” as a “foundational brick in the wall that we’re building on to make this town better and better.”

Deputy New York State Secretary of State

Saratoga Regional YMCA Launches Capital Campaign To Transform Glens Falls Branch

Mayor Bill Collins unveils the plaque for “ e Ed,” a new Glens Falls events center named for the late Ed Bartholomew, honoring his legacy and vision for downtown revitalization.

A Revolution Rail bike overlooks the Hudson River on a scenic Adirondack ride, part of the company’s 2025 rail biking season. Courtesy Revolution Rail

CEG Names A Seasoned Professional As Its Chief Economic Development O cer

e Center for Economic Growth (CEG) has announced the selection of Heather McDaniel as chief economic development o cer. is key position, which reports to CEG’s president and CEO Mark Eagan, is responsible for development and implementation of strategies and initiatives to drive regional economic growth and broad-based prosperity.

McDaniel has more than 20 years of experience in economic and community development. She most recently served as president of Ithaca (NY) Area Economic Development. She has served the organization for 18 years. McDaniel was hired as an Empire Zone coordinator in 2007, becoming director of economic development services in 2008, and vice president in 2014. She served as president for the last seven years. Prior to Ithaca, she worked in cooperative housing and redevelopment in New York City and began her career with Cushman Wake eld in Los Angeles.

“Heather brings balanced experience as a collaborative and results-oriented economic development leader,” said Mark Eagan, president and CEO, Center for Economic Growth. “She joins a strong team, which positions us well as we advance strategies to help the Capital Region realize its true economic potential.”

“I am thrilled to embark on this exciting journey at CEG and contribute to the advancement and development of the Capital Region,” said McDaniel. “I look forward to working with the team and stakeholders to ignite a dynamic and prosperous economic future.”

Ryan Silva, executive director of the New York Economic Development Council added, “Heather McDaniel is a talented and accomplished economic development professional. Her skillset, experience, and passion for the

work will bring tremendous value to the Center for Economic Growth as they work to accelerate economic opportunity across the region.”

McDaniel holds an undergraduate degree in sociology from the University of California Berkley and a Master of Urban Planning from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. A recognized economic development professional, McDaniel holds two designations: Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) and Certi ed Economic Development (CEcD).

She succeeds Katie Newcombe, who accepted a position last month as state director of Economic Development for National Grid. McDaniel will begin her new role in early July.

Warrensburg Favorite e Pizza Shop Rebrands To Canepa’s Pizza Shop Honoring Family Legacy

A er a decade of serving delicious, awardwinning pizza, e Pizza Shop in Warrensburg is excited to announce its rebranding to Canepa’s Pizza Shop, e ective March 18. e new name re ects the Canepa family’s legacy and deep roots in the community. e ownership, led by Giovanni and Maggie Canepa, remains unchanged, and customers can expect the same high-quality pizza they’ve come to love since the restaurant’s opening in December 2014. e name change simply adds a personal touch to the business that has become a local favorite.

“We want our customers to know that while we’re changing the name, everything else remains the same,” said Giovanni Canepa, coowner. “Our focus is still on providing the best pizza and a welcoming atmosphere for families and friends. We wouldn’t be where we are today without the amazing team we have, and we are incredibly grateful for the dedication and hard work of our sta .”

Canepa’s Pizza Shop has earned widespread recognition, including multiple “Best of the Region” awards and an appearance on the Rachael Ray Show. Known for its fresh ingredients and traditional methods, the pizzeria continues to be a standout in the area.

“ is name change is a celebration of the

past 10 years and the support we’ve received from the community,” said Maggie Canepa. “We’re excited to continue this journey and look forward to the future.”

While the name is updated to Canepa’s Pizza Shop, the menu, service, and atmosphere will remain exactly the same. e Canepas are committed to maintaining the quality and customer service that has made them a beloved part of the Warrensburg community.

To mark the rebranding, a ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place in partnership with the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) on May 29th at 12pm. e Canepas invite the community to join them in celebrating this milestone.

e new logo for Canepa’s Pizza Shop was designed by Trampoline Design, an awardwinning creative agency based in Glens Falls. Known for their innovative approach, Trampoline Design’s work perfectly captures the restaurant’s updated identity while honoring its roots.

e Canepas have always been dedicated to Warrensburg, building strong relationships with customers over the years. is name change re ects their ongoing commitment to making Canepa’s Pizza Shop a staple in the community for years to come.

Granville Community Foundation Awards

$20,800

In Grants To Support Health And Food Access

The Granville Community Foundation (GCF) has announced $20,800 in grant awards for the first half of 2025, following approval by the Glens Falls Foundation.

“We received grant proposals for $103,841 worth of projects with specific funding requests of $78,141 from the GCF,” said Michael Freed, chair of the GCF Advisory Board. “We’re able to support $20,800 of these requests and, coupled with our grants made in previous years, we have now made a total of 22 grants totaling $261,919 since starting in 2022.”

Freed added, “These two latest grants, once again, are focused on the health and social needs of the greater Granville community, through their emphasis on access to healthy food, and are consistent with a growing need for such food that we’ve witnessed over the last few years. Over 27% of our grants have gone for health and social needs since inception, and we’re honored to try and assist our passionate, local nonprofit organizations however we can.”

Laura Vamvalis, business administrator of the Glens Falls Foundation, said, “The Distribution Committee of the Glens Falls Foundation has received,

Mary Longley

131 River Street Hudson Falls, NY 12839

518-744-7791

mlongley10@yahoo.com

reviewed and fully supports the recommendation of the GCF Advisory Board to approve these grants, and we look forward to the positive impact these, and future grants, will have on the Granville community.” e approved grants include:

Granville Area Food Pantry & Community Service Inc. — $10,800 to install two mini-split heating and cooling units. ese systems will help regulate air temperature in pantry food storage rooms, which o en reach the high 80s during summer months. Consistently high temperatures have caused freezers and refrigerators to run without pause, reducing their lifespan.

Granville PTO — $10,000 to support the PTO Backpack Program, which provides snacks and meals to local students in need each weekend during the school year. e program currently serves 69 children from 29 families, ranging from pre-K to 12th grade. Demand is at an all-time high, and the one-time grant is intended to help meet the growing need.

For more information, contact Kate Austin at kate@advokate.net or (518) 353-2121.

Maggie and Giovanni Canepa stand outside their newly rebranded Canepa’s Pizza Shop in Warrensburg, formerly known as e Pizza Shop. e couple has owned and operated the award-winning pizzeria since 2014.

Courtesy Canepa’s Pizza Shop

Heather McDaniel, chief economic development o cer at e Center for Economic Growth (CEG).

Courtesy CEG

Glens Falls Dragons Ready For 10th Season

As East Field’s Comeback Gains Momentum

BY PAUL POST

Ben Bernard cut his baseball business teeth at East Field with the Glens Falls White Sox in the early 1980s.

A few years later, when he owned the AlbanyColonie Yankees, e Sporting News named him America’s Double-A Executive of the Year.

Eleven years ago, he went back to East Field where it all began, as new owner of the Golden Eagles, comprised of top- ight college players, which became the Glens Falls Dragons, preparing now for their 10th season in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League.

e ballpark Bernard took over had seen much better days. Bleacher seats weren’t safe, lighting was bad – a far cry from the venue’s glory days when future big leaguers such as 1983 AL Rookie of the Year Ron Kittle and Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz played there.

Slowly, despite a summer without baseball during the COVID-19 pandemic, East Field has made a steady comeback. Five hundred stadiumstyle seats were installed behind home plate last year, wooden bleachers are new and LED lighting casts a brighter glow when the sun goes down. is spring, city Public Works crews spruced things up by removing unsightly trees just inside the gate.

“We survived, that’s all I can tell you,” Bernard said. “Now we can concentrate back on the eld and marketing of the team.”

At Heritage Park, in Colonie, Bernard oversaw one of minor league baseball’s best-run operations and the Yankee lineup, at various times, featured future all-time greats such as Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera.

At East Field now, his job is much di erent.

“I didn’t mow the lawn in Albany,” Bernard said, smiling.

While he’s in the out eld riding a tractor, Assistant for Baseball Operations Mark Rogers sells ads and secures business sponsors, while Victoria Ferguson sta s the o ce – overseeing interns, handling player contracts and trying to nd housing for players who come from outside the Capital Region.

Lack of host families makes it hard to recruit premier talent from the nation’s best college baseball programs.

“I’d love to have a team that won all the time,” Bernard said. “But I look at it di erently. If guys from the local area are playing baseball, that

means their families get to come here and watch them. e biggest thing is kids coming out here to the ballpark. You see Little Leaguers out here with their parents. at’s what this ballpark is for.”

East Field also helps stimulate the local economy.

Parents and friends of players on opposing teams such as Amsterdam, Albany and Oneonta quite o en visit local restaurants prior to games and fuel up their vehicles before heading home.

“ ey’re spending money, no doubt about it,” Bernard said.

In addition to the Dragons, several youth tournaments are planned this summer including one by Rhode Island-based Firecracker Sports, which brings 75 teams to the Capital Region, using East Field as one of its venues.

“Lake George hotels probably bene t the most from that,” Bernard said. “A lot of things go on here that people don’t know about.”

Glens Falls High School Baseball Coach Matt Stevens is planning a Memorial Day Weekend baseball camp, Bernard said.

But the key to East Field’s future is putting people in seats during Dragons games. Drawing on its rich history, Bernard is planning a “ rowback Night” this summer when players wear jerseys with the logos of every team that’s ever played at East Field – White Sox, Tigers, Cardinals, Lumberjacks, Golden Eagles and Dragons. e observance coincides with this year’s 30th anniversary of the Lumberjacks’ 1995 Northeast League Championship, a team managed by former major league pitcher Dave Lapoint, of Glens Falls.

Last year, the Dragons hosted an Adirondack under night, which drew a big crowd, and Bernard believes there’s an opportunity for the Dragons to capitalize on the hockey team’s success by joining forces with cross-promotions.

under President Je Mead said, “We’ve never really done that formally. If they wanted us to do that ( under Night) again, we would be more than willing to, and help them in any way we can.”

e under set a franchise attendance record this year, averaging more than 4,500 fans per game including 16 sell-outs, despite having a last-place team.

“ ey’ve got great marketing, a great organization,” Bernard said. “I feel down the road it would be great to have those guys become part of this.”

Young Baker Builds Popular Bread Business From Home Kitchen To Queensbury Retail Shop

BY PAUL POST

His wholesale bread business is so good that Kevin Haux only needs to open his retail shop two days per week.

But it seems to be doing quite well, too, based on the steady stream of customers going in and out.

e Haux Nest Bread store will mark its rst anniversary in June, located at 430 Dix Avenue, near Queensbury Avenue (Airport Road).

“I love my wholesale accounts, the consistency, so I don’t see myself getting rid of them,” 26-year-old owner Kevin Haux said. “I see myself expanding on those. But we’re not really set up for wholesale here. Ultimately, I would like to have this place be just for counter space, a retail shop, and have someone invest with me and do the baking elsewhere at a bigger setup.”

e business is named (Haux pronounced like “hawks”) a er his grandparents’ summer camp in Bolton Landing.

He started it four years ago in the kitchen of his parents’ home on Chestnut Ridge Road in Queensbury. “I dragged my whole family into it, voluntarily,” Haux said, smiling.

His mom, Lisa Haux, and his sister, Haley Ward, help keep things running smoothly.

Haux Nest specializes in naturally leavened, hearth-style and old world-style breads; crusty crunchy sourdough; brioche-type cinnamon rolls; cookies and mu ns; and breakfast sandwiches on brioche buns with a choice of bacon or ham.

A Queensbury High School grad, Haux attended

Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I., which has a prestigious culinary arts program, but went there to study advertising and became interested in the business side of the food industry. However, health issues forced him to leave a er one semester, so he returned come, enrolled at SUNY Adirondack and began pursuing a newfound passion for baking. “I have ulcerative colitis,” Haux said. “I always tried to cook for myself to stay healthy. I gured if I’m going to eat carbs, sugar and breads I might as well do it myself and make it as healthy as possible.”

“I started baking and cooking for family,” he said. “ at turned into doing little catering gigs and to-go meals for friends and family. A er a couple of years, I got into sourdough.”

Wholesale accounts are primarily for large hearth-style country white and whole wheat loaves and baguettes, sold to eateries such as Park & Elm in Glens Falls, Saratoga Olive Oil and Hamlet & Ghost in Saratoga Springs.

In addition to the Queensbury retail store, Haux Nest goods may also be purchased at Pure n’ Simple health food store in Glens Falls.

e Dix Avenue retail shop was previously occupied by Deliciously Di erent cake decorating studio. “ ankfully the infrastructure was set up for a bakery,” Haux said. “I slowly collected ovens, refrigerators and shelving. We’re going in the right direction.”

e Haux Nest Bread store is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday only.

Ben Bernard, owner of the Glens Falls Dragons, stands at East Field, where preparations are underway for the team’s 10th season in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League.

Courtesy Paul Post

Kevin Haux and his mother, Lisa Haux, stand inside Haux Nest Bread in Queensbury, which celebrates its rst anniversary in June.

Courtesy Paul Post

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9 Broad Street #7 Glens Falls, NY 12891

BY LEE COLEMAN

New aircra hangers and other improvements have been made at Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport in Queensbury to meet an increased demand from the owners of both small and large aircra .

“ ere is a very large demand for T-hangers used by small, general aviation aircra ,” said Robin Mapp, airport manager for Warren County.

He said a $1 million project added eight new aircra hangers several years ago. Ninety percent of the cost of the construction was paid by the New York State Department of Transportation.

Construction of new hangers by airport owner Warren County and by Rich Air, the airport’s xed base operator (FBO), are underway this year as well.

is year the county nished another six-bay hanger and later in 2025 will demolish an old hanger built in the early 1940s and replace it with another six-bay hanger.

At the same time Rich Air has its own hangers, including recently completed hangers for larger aircra such as Gulfstream 650 jets, said Stephen Abbott, Rich Air’s general manager.

Rich Air manages approximately 70,000 square feet of hanger space and 37 T-hangers for smaller planes. e xed base operator also provides fuel and repair services.

e county, with funding from the Federal Aviation Administration, has also completed a new building to house snow removal equipment replacing an older facility from the 1940s. Runway lighting - speci cally taxi way lights - were upgraded to energy e cient LED lights to enhance visibility and reduce maintenance costs.

Mapp said projects planned for this year feature the installation of solar arrays on two unused land sites. e renewable energy initiative is expected to generate approximately $130,000 each year for the county.

e county has also identi ed more than 200 acres across ten designated development areas, o ering opportunities for both aeronautical and

non-aeronautical uses, Mapp said. Each of these development areas requires compliance with FAA regulations such as airspace reviews and environmental assessments.

e Airport master plan is also being updated, outlining a 20-year vision for the airport’s development. e master plan can be reviewed on the county website (warrencountyny.gov).

e airport property includes 500 acres with north-south and east-west runways. It is just three miles from downtown Glens Falls and serves the aviation needs of the southern Adirondacks, Lake George, and the greater Glens Falls-Capital Region area. e airport is named in honor of Floyd Bennett, who was born in Warrensburg in 1890 and was the pilot for Admiral Richard E. Byrd’s ight over or near the North Pole in 1926. He died in 1928 from injuries (pneumonia) a er a rescue mission.

Some years ago the airport had commercial ights coming in on a regular basis. For example Mohawk Airlines o ered service in an out of the airport back in the 1960s ending in the early 1970s. e airport’s terminal building and tower remain in place, serving as o ce space for county and Rich Air personnel. e county has three full-time employees at the airport and Rich Air has about seven or eight employees at the airport. Rich Air built four large hangers in recent years for jet aircra . Only two of these hangers are still available for use by privately-owned jets and charter jets, Abbott explained. He said the number of ights coming into the airport each day varies depending on the time of the year. e busiest time for the airport is between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Airport manager Mapp said a typical o -season day may see 10 ights coming into the airport. During the Saratoga horse racing season in July and August as many as 50 ights may land at the airport from “all di erent parts of the country,” Mapp said.

“We get a mix of everything,” Abbott said about ights coming into the airport. He said it

New hangars at Warren County Airport, built by both the county and Rich Air, are expanding capacity to meet growing demand from private and corporate aviation users.

Upstate Bug Busters Gives Homeowners Peace Of Mind By Eliminating Unwanted Insects

BY ROD BACON

It is never too early to embark on a career as an entrepreneur.

When he was 11 years old, Blake Mahieu started mowing lawns in his neighborhood, soon adding other yard maintenance tasks to his services. He built his client roster to 25 weekly clients, continuing to operate this business through his high school years at Christian Brothers Academy in Albany.

Never one to rest on his laurels, however, he added another business to his resume while still a student. A family friend in New Jersey had a company specializing in eliminating irritating insects from residential properties.

“He o ered to show me the ropes and didn’t want any equity in the company, and I thought ‘when is an opportunity like this ever going to happen again’ so I jumped at it,” Mahieu said.

He established Upstate Bug Busters, a company that protects outdoor spaces from unwanted insects like ticks, mosquitoes, eas, gnats, spiders, ants, stink bugs and chinch bugs. He uses an all-natural, environmentally friendly solution that is delivered via a high-pressure system mounted on a truck that ensures maximum coverage of a client’s property. e formula was devised by the family friend, who also manufactures and markets it nationwide. Mahieu purchases it from him.

He said the solution contains all natural essential oils rather than harsh chemicals. e high volume 300 psi delivery system allows him to fully saturate all the areas where bugs live, which include lawns, plants, tree trunks, most ower beds, retaining walls, and the bottom sides of leaves. To ensure full coverage he sprays 30 feet into any woods surrounding the property.

“For a while I was operating both businesses simultaneously but Bug Busters really took o so I gave up the lawn business last year to concentrate on it,” said Mahieu.

In the year since he started the business his client base has gone from eight monthly customers at the start of the season to 46 at the end. To date, he has 102 signed up for 2025. e season runs from April to October. He serves Niskayuna, Albany, Scotia Glenville, Cli on Park, Saratoga, and Queensbury.

Obviously, pricing depends upon the size of the yard, but Mahieu said the average is $150-$165 an application. He uses so ware that is integrated with Google Earth so when a potential customer contacts him he asks for their address, enters that into the program and can see an overhead view of the property. He then drags-and-drops the dimensions and can have a price quote within two to three minutes.

Mahieu self- nanced the business by selling two dirt bikes he owned when he raced motocross when he was younger. He was also still running his lawn care business, which provided income while he

built up Bug Busters.

Currently, he is operating the business himself but says if his customer base continues to grow he will be hiring employees, possibly this season.

In addition to working at his business Mahieu attends Hudson Valley Community College, majoring in Entrepreneurship.

Response to Upstate Bug Busters during its inaugural year has been extremely positive. For example, one customer said, “We just started using Upstate Bug Busters this past year for a monthly lawn treatments. Blake made our transition from our previous pest company to his very smooth and professionally. Blake was very informative with the types of treatment and what they treat. I highly recommend Upstate Bug Busters for all your bug needs.

Another said, “We have tons of mosquitoes where we live and I’m highly allergic, which makes it di cult to be outside. Blake did our rst application and I haven’t seen a mosquito since. It’s nice to nally sit outside on our porch or be in our background playing with our son and not getting attacked.”

Mahieu has been a member of the Capital Region Chamber since he started the business, and they recently held a ribbon cutting to recognize his success in the rst year. He attends networking mixers and the annual dinner, and has found the chamber to be a valuable resource in expanding his business.

He also believes in giving back to the community. He donates toy to Toys For Tots and supports K9s For Warriors, an organization that pairs veterans with service dogs. For further information go to upstatebugbusters. com.

might be people ying in to visit the Sagamore resort on Lake George or people coming in to attend performances at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. During the Adirondack under season in Glens Falls, professional hockey scouts may y in to observe up and coming under players.

“We service anything and everything,” Abbott said. Rich Air also makes ground transport arrangements for people staying at local hotels. He said Rich Air has arrangements with some hotels and limo drivers o ering reduced rates.

Rich Air works with some local businesses year-round, such as the Sagamore and Irving Tissue. ese businesses like the convenience of the airport. “ ere are no lines, no waiting,” Abbott said. For these businesses “time is money” and they save time by ying into Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport.

“We are always looking at ways to improve the

airport. Working with the county is a win-win situation,” Abbott said.

Abbott noted that Rich Air services all type of aviation missions at the airport not just ones for based aircra and corporate charters. New York State Police, US military and other government aircra and Med Flights aircra use the airport. He said the airport is a “vital lifeline and bene t to the region!” e airport also o ers community services such as airport tours and ight instruction (leafair.net). e 109th Airli Wing of the New York Air National Guard ies its large C-130 Hercules planes into the airport on training missions. Another common sight in the skies around the airport are Army National Guard helicopters. e Blackhawk helicopters from the Army Aviation Support facility No. 3 in Latham use the airport for nighttime training operations thanks to the airport’s pilot controlled lighting system.

For over two decades, the Tri-County United Way Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program has provided free tax preparation services to low- and moderate-income individuals and families in Warren, Washington, and Northern Saratoga counties. is year, the program once again demonstrated its vital role in the community—delivering over $4 million in total economic impact during the 12-week tax season.

In 2025, the VITA team welcomed 9 new IRS-certi ed volunteers, bringing the total to 49 dedicated individuals. Among them, 35 served as tax preparers while 14 managed appointment scheduling and client coordination by phone. Collectively, the team contributed 3,566 volunteer hours—valued at $127,342.

Operating from ve traditional VITA sites and two mobile teams, the program scheduled

2,473 appointments and completed 2,133 tax returns. ese e orts generated $3.2 million in federal and state refunds for local families and saved an estimated $746,550 in tax preparation fees—o ering a combined impact of $4.08 million across the region.

Between January 25 and April 12, VITA sites o ered 846 hours of free tax assistance, with operations varying from one to several days a week, ensuring exible access for clients across all three counties.

As the 2025 tax season concludes, TriCounty United Way is already preparing for a stronger 2026 by training additional volunteers, expanding access to services, and working to reach more families in need. e continued success of the VITA program is made possible by the dedication of its volunteers and the ongoing support of the community.

Blake Mahieu uses a high-pressure delivery system to rid customers’ properties of insects.

Courtesy of Upstate Bug Busters

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL

Leadership Development

LADK Provides Opportunities For Committed Community Members To Improve eir Skills

BY ROD BACON

A vibrant business community is created because its members are willing to contribute their time and energy to keep improving it.

To set the stage for best practices, the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce has, since 1991, o ered Leadership Adirondack (LADK), a program that brings management personnel together with proven leaders across many business sectors.

Historically, it was o ered every year but Covid disrupted that schedule and it is now run every other year. e most recent group is the Class of 2025, which started last fall and graduated this past February. Applications for the Class of 2027 will be accepted in the spring of 2026.

“ e reason for the change is that we’ve shi ed the program a little bit,” said Tricia Rogers, president and CEO of the chamber. “We’ve made it more of an intense leadership training.”

She noted that due to the more in-depth sessions, which continue to be modi ed to give attendees the best possible experience, the price has increased slightly over past years. e cost for members of the last class was $3,000, and Rogers foresees the possibility of a slight increase going forward. Non-pro ts may apply for needs-based scholarships, which are funded by the ARCC Foundation, of up to $300.

An outside leadership professional, who works with a sta liaison, is hired to run the program. Currently, the liaison is Carol Ann Conover, director of events and community engagement. Rogers attends as many of the seminars and tours as her schedule permits.

A request for proposal is sent out before each class begins to a chamber member who is a recognized leadership professional. Cal Hamel of Catamount Consulting, who has since retired, did it for several years. Last year Brian Rollo of Brian Rollo Consulting Group took the reins.

Prospective attendees must ll out an online application that includes a biography and questions about why they want to take advantage of the program. An advisory committee made up of Leadership Adirondack alumni review the applications and decide who will bene t from participation.

A typical class numbers between 14 and 18 members. Rogers estimates that approximately 600 chamber members have gone through the program since its inception.

e program starts with a meet-and-greet where the class gets together with alumni in an

informal setting. Rogers noted that because it is always “shi ing and growing” there are approximately eight half-day and full-day sessions and about 15 site tours. ere is also a requirement of 10 hours of volunteer work for a community non-pro t.

For example, the class of 2020 did a Support Your Trades project that focused on raising scholarship funding for BOCES students. e class raised $30,000 and helped 26 young people continue their training.

Past classes have raised funds for the Moreau Community Center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and the Glens Falls Youth Center.

e last class shi ed gears a bit and solicited suggestions from area non-pro ts about projects with which they needed help. Fourteen members devoted 10 hours each to 14 di erent organizations on these requests. .

“Many of these participants didn’t even know that some of these non-pro ts existed in our community, so it was such an educational piece for them as they grew their careers and learned more about our region,” Rogers said.

To learn more about this chamber initiative go to adirondackchamber.org, click on Education, and scroll down to Leadership Adirondack. Because the program is being revamped there is little current content but complete information will be available when the application process begins for the Class of 2027.

e Saratoga County Chamber O ers Two Programs To Enhance Leadership Skills

BY ROD BACON

In order for a community to thrive and reach its fullest potential it must develop the strengths and talents of its most important resource--its people.

In 1985, Linda Toohey, then executive vice president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, lead an ad hoc group of community leaders with the goal of engaging area business people in volunteer activities that would bene t both themselves and the region. Toohey retired in June 2012 and Program Director Kathleen Fyfe led the initiative until 2023.

“Linda’s vision was to develop a program to foster future volunteer leadership throughout Saratoga County,” said Greg Dixon, chief strategy o cer, who currently administers it ose interested in the program must submit a detailed application that is reviewed by the 13-member advisory board. is is followed by an in-person interview with Dixon and up to two advisory board members to determine the level of commitment of the applicants. Up to 24 members of the business community are selected for each class. e application process for the class of 2026 must be completed by May 30. It will open on April 1, 2026 for those interested in joining the next class.

Participants must make a signi cant commitment of time and energy to the program. Attendance at the two-day opening retreat, scheduled for September 21-22 at a Saratoga County venue, is mandatory, as is the closing re ection on April 29, 2026. Class members must attend at least 80 percent of the 13 halfday sessions as well as participate in the group project.

Topics presented during the sessions include issues facing human services organizations, e ective board governance, empowered leadership, ethical dilemmas, educational leadership, fund-raising and philanthropy, economic development and quality of life, nancial oversight and overhead, government, strategic planning, communications, and technology.

Presenters and panelists from the community include government o cials, board of education members, school superintendents, business executives, and non-pro t board members and executive sta .

Some of the non-pro t organizations that have been helped by past classes are Lifeworks Community Action, Our Lodge Foundation, Saratoga Pride, Saratoga Sponsor-A-Scholar, e Academy for Lifelong Leaning, Captain Human Services, Friends of Saratoga Spring Public Library, Wellspring, and Habitat for Humanity, among others.

Projects chosen by the class of 2025 will bene t the Wilton Fire District, Ballston Area Community Center, American Cancer Society-Capital Region, and Pitney Meadows Community Farm.

Tuition for this year’s class is $2,750. Merit-based scholarship assistance is available through the Linda G. Toohey Scholarship

Program and the Pamela Polacsek Scholarship Program. e chamber’s Veterans Business Council o ers need-based nancial assistance to veterans or those currently serving in the military.

Another program administered by Dixon is Saratoga Institute of Management, a collaborative initiative with Empire State University. Started in 2019 by Kathleen Fyfe under the leadership of Chamber President Todd Shimkus and the board of directors, it was suspended during Covid and reactivated last year.

“We took what we learned from that experience and relaunched a streamlined program this year with the support of 2024 Board Chairman Chad Kiesow and current Board Chairman Randy Metevier,” Dixon said.

Registration for the spring 2025 session is closed but Dixon envisions the next track will start in early 2026.

He explained that the framework of the program is blend of so skills, such as coaching and motivating employees, understanding leadership styles, self-exploration of values, communication skills, and technical skills around managing and leading workforce.

“ is training is really designed for newor-soon-to-be managers who may have an expertise in their area of work but have not had formal training in many of these areas... areas that will be critical to their success in a managerial role and the success of their team,” Dixon said.

e cost per employee per track is $945 for chamber members and $1,445 for nonmembers. Financial support comes from the original funding provided by the Saratoga County Capital Resources Corporation and the Saratoga County Foundation.

For further information about these programs go to saratoga.org, click on About, and then on the program with which you are interested.

Leadership Adirondack participants tour a dairy facility as part of their leadership training.

Courtesy LADK

Leadership Saratoga Class of 2025 members listen to program founder and instructor Linda Toohey. Courtesy of Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce

Business Report

Lead Yourself First: e Foundation of Lasting Leadership

BY ROB SHAUGER

Before you can lead others e ectively, you must rst learn to lead yourself—starting with balance, discipline, and time to think.

In today’s performance-driven business world, leadership is o en measured by team metrics, growth curves, and public visibility. But those who’ve led at the highest levels know the secret to sustained in uence isn’t external at all—it’s internal. As John Maxwell, one of the most respected voices in leadership, puts it: “ e toughest person to lead is always yourself.” at idea may be uncomfortable, but it’s also incredibly empowering. Before you can inspire others, you must rst cultivate self-awareness, discipline, and the emotional stability to lead from clarity—not chaos.

Self-leadership is the o en invisible act of managing your energy, decisions, habits, and mindset. Unlike performance reviews or boardroom wins, self-leadership isn’t publicly rewarded—but it shapes everything others see. Maxwell teaches that everything rises and falls on leadership—and that includes the internal leadership we practice daily. If you don’t have command of yourself, it’s only a matter of time before stress, misalignment, or burnout undermines your ability to lead others.

Self-leadership is about living your values, even when no one’s watching. It’s about showing up with consistency, setting the example, and making decisions rooted in principle. And most of all, it’s about creating the internal alignment that earns long-term trust.

One of the biggest threats to self-leadership is poor work-life balance. In our hyperconnected world, it’s become normal for leaders to respond to emails at midnight, skip vacations, and ll their schedules to the brim.

But hustle, when le unchecked, turns toxic. A leader constantly working in the business, but never stepping back to work on it, risks leading from exhaustion—not from vision.

Maxwell emphasizes the “Mirror Principle”: the rst person you must examine is yourself. If your days are lled with endless doing, but you’ve lost time for thinking, rest, or re ection, your leadership edge will dull. Emotional fatigue sets in, creativity su ers, and eventually, trust erodes—both your trust in yourself and others’ trust in your direction.

An overlooked discipline of great leaders is getting away to gain clarity. Maxwell o en encourages leaders to “pause to re ect, not to escape.” Strategic disconnection is not a luxury—it’s a leadership necessity.

Time away from day-to-day operations— whether a solo a ernoon retreat, a quarterly strategy day, or a quiet thinking session—allows leaders to rise above the noise and reconnect with the bigger picture. In this space, innovation happens. Priorities get clari ed. Values get re-centered.

Leaders who schedule time to re ect don’t just lead better; they lead longer. When you work on the business—not just in it—you identify what matters most, cut what no longer serves, and begin leading proactively instead of reactively.

Maxwell teaches that “You cannot improve what you do not understand.” Self-awareness is the rst step toward better self-leadership. at means asking:

- Am I living aligned with my values?

- Am I reacting or responding?

- Is my calendar re ecting my real priorities?

Discipline plays a critical role here, too—not just the discipline to work hard, but the discipline to pause, re ect, and realign. Sometimes the most courageous act of leadership is to say no to more work and yes to the habits that keep you grounded.

Great leaders lead from within. Maxwell calls this “leading from the inside out.” ese leaders don’t depend on charisma or control. ey lead through clarity, character, and calm. eir in uence isn’t manufactured—it’s earned.

When a leader is aligned personally, the organization o en follows. Teams don’t just mimic words; they model what they see. Leaders who are grounded, consistent, and present create environments of trust and high performance.

If you want to strengthen your self-leadership, consider adopting these habits:

1. Schedule Strategic Getaways – Block out time each quarter to step away, re ect, and assess what’s working—and what’s not.

2. Protect Boundaries – Don’t let urgency erode your energy. Set end-of-day rituals and protect your personal life like it’s part of the job—because it is.

3. Audit Your Week – Ask: Am I investing in things that create long-term value, or just reacting to short-term noise?

4. Build a Morning Routine – Start each day with clarity: a few minutes of reading, journaling, or planning can reset your mindset.

5. End With Re ection – Each evening, take ve minutes to ask: Did I lead myself well today?

John Maxwell reminds us that leadership isn’t just about position or power—it’s about in uence. And the rst person you must in uence is yourself.

Before you cast vision or set goals, check your alignment. Before you scale your team, strengthen your habits. Before you ask more of others, ask more of yourself.

Lead yourself rst. at’s not just a leadership principle—it’s a leadership foundation.

Rob Shauger is the CEO of Blueprint Leadership Development. Rob is a leadership consultant, speaker, and a certi ed John Maxwell executive coach who helps business leaders develop high-performance habits grounded in clarity, consistency, and personal growth.

Battle of Saratoga O ers Enduring Lessons For Onsite Leadership Training Program

BY ROD BACON

One of the most e ective ways to learn something is to immerse yourself as completely as possible in the subject.

Battle eld Leadership, under the guidance of President and CEO Col. (Ret.) Kevin W. Farrell, Ph.D., provides total immersion leadership programs based in history throughout the United States and several sites overseas. Clients attend multiple-day seminars at locations where some of the most signi cant military decisions were made, in uencing the destinies of the people at the locations in which they occurred. Based on the traits of Character, Courage, and Competence, facilitators use the lessons of history to prepare attendees for leadership positions in their companies.

One example is the Saratoga Leadership Experience, in which participants visit the historic battle eld and study the event considered the turning point of the American Revolution. Case studies of Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates, Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler, and Sir William Howe are used to illustrate key leadership lessons that show attendees how to seize the initiative, align a complex organization, overcome adversity, and defeat complacency.

As with all the organization’s o erings, this two-day program is facilitated by a leader with extensive knowledge of the subject. Chief Operating O cer Adrienne M. Harrison, Ph.D., holds a doctorate in Early American History and has written extensively on subjects related to the American Revolution. She is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point who has spent 20 years as a military leader and private sector executive.

e leadership qualities of a cross section of historical gures are highlighted in other on-site experiences o ered. ese include patriots at the Alamo, Antietam, the Boston Campaign, Chickamauga, Cowpens, Gettysburg, the Hudson Valley, Pearl Harbor, and Washington’s Crossing.

Overseas seminars explore the events at Malta, Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge, Vimy Ridge, Waterloo, and the entry of the United States into World War I.

ere are two Experiential Programs: Held in Dearborn, Michigan, e American Innovation Experience looks at great business “disruptors” like Henry Ford, Nikola Tesla, omas Edison, Cornelius Vanderbilt and the Wright Brothers. Another experience, held in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, focuses on the Wright Brothers and includes Glenn Curtiss, and Otto Lilienthal.

Venue-Based Experiences examine how Charleston, South Carolina, played a role in both the Revolutionary and Civil War periods. e Lincoln Experience in Spring eld, Illinois, studies the in uence the 16th president had on history. e National Museum of the Paci c War in Fredericksburg, Texas, is the site of a study of how the actions and decisions of key leaders shaped the outcome of World War II in the Paci c. Finally, the Space Race Experience highlights the in uence people like Neil Armstrong and John F. Kennedy had on making the United States a leader in space exploration.

An o ering entitled Championing Diversity & Inclusion: e Integration of Professional Baseball, held in Cooperstown, New York, tells the story of the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers and how Pee Wee Reese supported his teammate Jackie Robinson, the rst black player in the major leagues’ modern era.

e Hidden Figures Experience focuses on the

African-American women at NASA--Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson-who were instrumental in the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit.

ere are also Battle-Based, Leader-Based, and eme-Based workshops, which are shorter than the on-site experiences but still provide extensive information about military leaders, historical gures, and events that had signi cant in uences on world history.

e Open Enrollment programs allow interested parties to get a taste of what the company o ers. Currently, there are two on the schedule; one in Gettsyburg, Pennsylvania, set for July 2325, and the other in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on November 5-7.

“Open enrollment programs are available for individuals and small teams to sign up for,” said Harrison. “ e di erence is that with a mix of participants, they don’t get the customization that we provide to clients who contract with us for their own program, but for individuals and small teams who would not otherwise be able to experience one of our programs, it still is a life changing experience.”

For those looking for an intensive experience there is the Leadership Journey, a 12-18-month program that includes multiple experiential seminars and continuous engagement with facilitators and the team.

ere is also an extensive roster of keynote speakers that can be booked by clients as well as executive coaching services provided by people from the top ranks of Fortune 100 companies.

e military historians, all of whom are West Point graduates, have served in the military and have extensive knowledge of the subjects they present. ese include Kevin Farrell, Steve Barry, Pilar McDermott, and Adrienne Harrison.

“We assign facilitators based on historical expertise and best industry t/expertise for the client,” Harrison said.

e primary business facilitators, who come from a range of backgrounds, are Mike Chibbaro, Jim Czupil, Tim Reese, and Dianne Falk.

To learn more about how Battle eld Leadership can help your company become the best it can be go to battle eldleadership.com.

e Saratoga Monument is a key site in the Saratoga Leadership Experience program.

Courtesy SaratogaPhotographer.com

Rob Shauger, CEO of Blueprint Leadership Development.

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL

Construction

Hilltop Sees Steady Work Ahead With Commercial, Residential Projects Despite Industry Challenges

BY PAUL POST

A new service station in Rexford, a Stewart’s Shop in Plattsburgh and dining hall at the Luzerne Music Center.

ese are among the many commercial projects on Hilltop Construction Company’s work schedule as it tries to navigate uncertain economic times of rising prices and potential supply chain issues related to the current tari situation.

“We’re very diversi ed in what we do and what we can do to help deal with that situation,” co-owner and Vice President Dan Washburn said. “If one sector pulls back the other might not. We get a good mix to help deal with that.”

Commercial work, which accounts for half the company’s revenue stream, is primarily focused on an area from Albany to Lake George, although Hilltop is one of the main rms Stewart’s calls on for remodelling and new store construction projects throughout the region. It’s nearing completion of a new Stewart’s Shop at the corner of Glen Street and Sherman Avenue in Glens Falls, and is also renovating and expanding a store at the north end of Saratoga Lake, just over the Fish Creek bridge, on Route 9P.

Other upcoming projects include remodeling Anytime Fitness gym in Hudson Falls, and putting a new façade on Glens Falls Tile & Supplies on Dix Avenue.

“Realistically, we can do almost anything,”

Washburn said. “We’ve got a lot of things in the pipeline. You put estimates out and the next thing you know you’re going at it. We’re on pace to do the same business we did last year. I don’t see a huge increase, but we can get a phone call tomorrow for a $3 Million job that changes everything. I think that’s true of the construction industry as a whole.”

“ e outlook is pretty favorable,” he said. “We’ve got several projects already lined up for 2026.”

Before COVID, the price of building materials was quite stable, but quickly skyrocketed because of supply shortages, prompting some developers to delay or scale back construction plans.

In some cases, contractors got caught in a bind as the end cost of projects became higher than the price customers were quoted, cutting into the builder’s pro t margin.

“It started going out of control, there was no way to deal with it, so construction rms began putting clauses in contracts to protect them,” Washburn said. “It’s carried over to the present. Now you’ve got tari s thrown into the mix.”

“We are getting some phone calls and emails about the uncertainty of pricing with tari s, which is a delicate topic with customers and the jobs we currently have going on,” Washburn said. “We try to plan ahead, to lock in pricing on the products we need in the immediate future.

Continued On Page 9

F.H. Alexander Lines Up More an e Usual Construction Projects For Commercial Clients

BY SUSAN ELISE CAMPBELL

F.H. Alexander, Inc., the Schaghticoke based commercial construction company, has a full docket for the summer.

Owner Frank Alessandrini said that over the course of business since 1991, his company has become known for building restaurants, convenience stores, and retail spaces, and for renovating hospitals, schools, libraries, and other business and medical spaces.

“But this year is a little bit unusual for us,” Alessandrini said. “We are doing more and smaller projects than in past few years.”

“ is trend is not an overall indication of the general economy or the business,” he said. “It’s just what we have landed.”

Starting mid-May, there are two projects for COARC, the Columbia County chapter of e ARC NewYork. One is an addition and a renovation and the other is a smaller renovation, he said.

Also starting soon are some interior renovations for Greenwich Library.

“ ey are modernizing a number of rooms,” said Alessandrini. “We have done a half dozen projects for them over the years and they are a good customer.”

ere have been other recent library projects. e company put a sizable addition onto the Valley Falls Library and did a project with Easton Library. Alessandrini said he has been working with Schaghticoke Library recently to secure a

grant to move the entire library to the lot next door.

“ e project is in the application and fundraising process,” he said. “ ey got the phase one funds to buy the lot, but they also need a grant to physically move the building.”

“ e library building sits on a high bank that will ultimately slide into the Hoosick River,” he said.

Also underway is a fast food restaurant in Schenectady and crews are also working in Moreau and Glens Falls. Two Dunkin’ Donuts projects in Clinton County are also scheduled for summer.

“Summer will be busy and a little hectic for us,” he said.

F.H. Alexander has a tight-knit operation that Alessandrini said people enjoy working for.

“ e people who stay, stay,” he said. “We generally only lose people to retirement.”

“We value independence but also expect people to respect the company,” he said. “It’s a smaller sized construction company but we have the infrastructure to do large projects.”

Whether a half-million dollar project or ve to 10 million, the company aims to give “a better experience for our clients, and a better work environment for our employees.”

Alessandrini said his son, Frank H. Alessandrini IV, is on board as project manager and that the team is always on the lookout for skilled help. Learn more at alexander.com.

e interior of the restaurant, Paper & Pencil in Ticonderoga, showcases the cra smanship of F.H. Alexander, Inc., a Schaghticoke-based construction rm.

Courtesy F.H. Alexander, Inc.

A rendering shows a new Sunoco service station in Rexford, one of several commercial projects underway by Hilltop Construction Company amid uctuating material costs and labor challenges. Courtesy Hilltop Construction

Munter Enterprises Continues To Produce Quality Commercial Projects In e Region

BY ROD BACON

e skilled cra smen at Munter Enterprises have plenty to keep them busy for quite some time.

e Middle Grove-based construction company is in the midst of several projects, is nishing up others, and has still others in the planning stages.

According to Vice President Mike Munter, one of the more interesting projects for which they hope to break ground soon is a new branch for the Hudson River Community Credit Union.

e 2,500-square-foot building in Greenwich will include a drive-thru and state-of-the-art Interactive Teller Machines (ITMs). Munter worked with Paone Architecture of Saratoga Springs for the building’s design and Verity Engineering, D.P.C. of Troy for site design. All approvals are in place and a June ground breaking is planned.

“ is project is very interesting because of the demographic in the area,” said Munter. “For the Amish community there will be a hitching post and water hydrant in the parking lot for the horses.”

Another local project is for a rm relocating from Albany to a 15,000-square-foot building on Pierce Road o Northway Exit 10 in Cli on Park. Munter Enterprises is renovating the building for Kinsley Power, a company that supplies a variety of backup generator systems. ey carry industrial and residential generators as well as cogeneration and battery storage systems. at project is underway and will be completed in June. e company has two projects in the WJ Grande Industrial Park in Saratoga Springs. Under construction is a 35,000-square-foot, approximately $6 million, building for a tenant in the warehousing and distribution sector that Munter said he can’t disclose at this time. Site work, which was done by W.J. Morris of Saratoga Springs, started last month and they estimate completion of the project in 2026. Subcontractors for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work have not been chosen. Munter Enterprises

will do the concrete work, steel erection, and insulated panel envelope installation.

Also in the industrial park is a 120,000-squarefoot proposed warehouse on a portion of a 12.4-acre property at 20 Skyward Drive that is currently before the Saratoga Springs Planning Board.

“We’re going in for approval so we have a shovel-ready project within the City of Saratoga Springs on industrial zoned property that has water, sewer, gas, and electric available,” said Munter. “We do not have a tenant lined up but we want to be ready when a tenant or a buyer comes along.”

Munter Enterprises is nishing up phase two of a large expansion for Environment One Corporation in Niskayuna, which manufactures and markets pressurized sewer systems and hydrogen generator systems worldwide.

Last year they completed a 30,000-square-foot production facility addition. Phase two is an approximately 10,000-square-foot dock expansion, with an estimated completion at the end of June.

A project that Munter terms “a fun one” is the new 5,000-square-foot clubhouse at the Ballston Spa Country Club that they are just completing. It was started in October and will be nished on schedule.

It includes a dining and bar area, member locker rooms, and a large kitchen designed for preparing food for large events. ere is also an approximately 2,000-square-foot patio overlooking the 18th hole. e Munters worked with Dan Loewenstein, president of the club’s board of directors, throughout the planning and construction process.

“It will be a nice addition to the course for the players and members,” Munter said. “ ey’ve been great to work with and we’re excited for them to have that open.”

For more information about the company go to munterenterprises.com.

Continued From Page 8

But there is de nitely a lot of uncertainty with that. We haven’t had somebody call and say we aren’t doing a project because of tari s. But whether they’re having those conversations internally … it’s a de nite possibility.”

On another front, many contractors have been challenged with a severe labor shortage in the building trades. Numerous e orts are taking place to educate young people, boys and girls both, about a full range of rewarding and goodpaying jobs from plumbers and electricians to high-tech design personnel.

e construction industry is also working with school counselors to help them better understand what it does, and encourage students to consider careers in this eld.

Washburn said Hilltop has openings for lead carpenters, superintendents and site work laborers, as the rm began doing this type of work on its own last year.

“Labor is still a problem, but for us it’s getting better,” he said. “We’ve got a pretty solid team that we’ve put together. We’re always advertising, trying to nd the next guy. If we had more people we could probably expand, but we’re happy with where we’re at, also.

In addition to commercial projects, Hilltop has a robust residential sector as well.

“We’re doing a ton of work in Brant Lake, Schroon Lake and Lake Luzerne,” Washburn said. “All those markets are booming residentially, mostly from people coming up from the Metro New York area.”

Hilltop employs 36 skilled professionals. “ ey are the heart and soul that makes this company successful.” said Washburn. Hilltop also does a great deal of subcontracting so 70 or more people might be working on its variety of projects at any given time.

“Being a general contractor with the ability to subcontract out, you can adapt to the work ow,” he said. “ e big thing is having a few key employees to help manage and facilitate things. From there it’s reaching out to the sub pool to deal with those ebbs and ows.”

Business Value

As a business owner, you may have an idea of what you think your business will sell for, but we nd that an owner’s expectation of value is typically much higher than an outside buyer would pay or a bank would nance.

A potential buyer’s (and banker’s) perception of value is based on the expectation of future cash ows. at is calculated from the historical nancial performance of your company; not your idea of what a buyer could do if they purchase and grow your business.

To build value, avoid these deal killers:

Focusing on Minimizing Taxes - In an e ort to reduce income taxes, you may be purposely driving down pro ts by running it as a “lifestyle” business with lots of discretionary (personal) expenses run through your company. While it may reduce taxes it also drives down the value of the business.

Driving Revenue Instead of MarginsDon’t assume that simply increasing revenue will increase business value. Gross profit margin and net pro ts are the major drivers of business value.

Ignoring Business Risk - Potential buyers are seeking quality businesses that are scalable, transferable, and have little risk. And the price they are willing to pay is largely a re ection of their perception of that risk.

ielGroup is a business advisory service providing brokerage, M&A, and valuation services in upstate New York and New England. Interested in discussing how we can help you sell your business? Give me a call. I have been selling companies for over 20 years!

(518) 599-0219

kthiel@thielgroup.com www.thielgroup.com

A rendering shows the new 5,000-square-foot clubhouse at Ballston Spa Country Club, including a patio overlooking the 18th hole, dining and bar areas, locker rooms, and a commercial kitchen for event catering.

Courtesy Munter

Kathlene Thiel, MBA, CVA M&A Master Intermediary

Health Community Services

Ascend Mental Wellness Expands Services To Support Businesses And Address Rising Workplace Stress Levels

BY PAUL POST

ASCEND Chief Executive O cer Andrea Deepe wants everyone, but business owners especially, to know that help is only a phone call away.

Her non-pro t agency is Warren and Washington counties’ main mental health wellness provider with numerous programs and support services available.

Just about every workplace has some degree of stress, but unsettling geopolitical issues, fast-rising prices and mounting nancial pressures have contributed to unhealthy levels of anxiety and depression for many people.

“People are having to make some really di cult decisions now more than ever,” Deepe said. “We’re just all trying to keep up and get it done; just trying to show up for work and be there for our families. It’s a lot for a person to take on, especially when there’s no rulebook or guidebook for these types of life scenarios.”

Large companies and small rms alike should be cognizant of such issues and do their best help employees because as Deepe said, “If you don’t have them, you don’t have your business, so you have to invest in them and that includes mind and

body. It makes a signi cant di erence when you have top-down leadership who are invested in their employees.”

Simple steps can reduce workplace stress like having a break room to disconnect so people aren’t eating lunch at their desk top; taking breaks to stand up, walk around and do breathing exercises; and having one-on-one interaction with supervisors so people can about their jobs and stressors.

“It’s important for people to understand that we have to take mental health just as seriously as physical health,” Deepe said. “A lot of times it can be di cult because there can be a lot of di erences in terms of what people’s needs are.”

“It’s also important for entities to take a look at what services they’re providing to sta ,” she said. “For example, an employee assistance program is a resource they can hand over to an employee. ey can provide training and support at low cost to an employer while providing a great bene t to employees.”

ASCEND can also provide simple trainings for businesses, answering basic questions such as: What is mental health? What is mental wellness?

Continued On Page 11

Foreverly House Is First In Region Designed To Assist Veteran Mothers With Children

BY ROD BACON

An idea oated at a breakfast meeting at Shirley’s Diner in Saratoga Springs six years ago has nally come to fruition.

ree local residents -- Cheryl Hage-Perez, Ray O’Conor and Ti any LeAndrea -- were planning the annual Veterans’ Ball, a fund raiser for the Ballston Spa-based Veterans & Community Housing Coalition.

Eventually, the conversation turned to the unmet needs of veterans. LeAndrea, an Air Force veteran with two children, mentioned the fact that there wasn’t a facility where veteran women in similar situations could nd housing and support services while they are making the o en di cult transition from the military to civilian life.

“Later that night Ray called me and said ‘We need to do something for veterans in this situation’,” Hage-Perez said. “ at’s how Foreverly House started to take shape.”

e inspiration for the name came from a song entitled “Foreverly” penned in 2017 by local singer/songwriter Je Brisbin.

Foreverly House is comprised of two separate living spaces, each with its own entrance and each featuring four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, dining area, pantry, and laundry room, ensuring privacy and comfort for the families. It will welcome its rst residents June 1.

“Beyond housing, Foreverly House provides on-site counseling and facilitates access to essential services, empowering veteran mothers to rebuild their lives while keeping their families intact,” said Hage-Perez, executive board liaison for the Veterans & Community Housing Coalition.

It cost approximately $800,000 to build and was paid for by grass-roots fund raising e orts and community support from Stewart’s Shops, Business For Good, and the South Glens Falls High School Marathon Dance, among many others. e Veterans’ Ball, now in its 10th year, raises approximately $80,000 from each event.

Local businesses also stepped up and provided an array of in-kind services and supplies. ese

included design/architecture by Dan Sanders and John Muse, surveying by Bill ompson, project management by Trinity Construction, counter tops from Granite & Marble Works, and appliances from MJG Appliances, among others. “ ese communities and business people we work with are so generous to our veterans,” said Hage-Perez. “It’s amazing and very much appreciated.”

e coalition has approval to build four more units and they have secured funding for two. e new units will be adjacent to Foreverly House.

While the women and their children could stay in coalition housing permanently, experience indicates that they will not. Hage-Perez said they want to be independent and have their own home and a stable environment for their children.

To help them achieve their personal goals each woman is assigned a case manager who helps them nd a path forward. Case managers assist them in getting a job, returning to school, applying for disability, and resolving any medical issues they or their children may have. ey also act as a liaison between the mothers and the schools to ensure the children have a stable educational environment. e coalition has linkage agreements with the Veterans Administration, legal aid, Wellspring, and Saratoga Hospital to provide the necessary services.

While all of the coalition’s facilities are in Saratoga County, it administrates a variety of veterans’ programs in Warren, Washington, Fulton, Montgomery, Schenectady, and Schoharie counties. While Foreverly House is the only facility in the region speci cally designed to assist single veteran mothers and their children, the coalition board of directors is discussing the possibility of building one in Warren County.

“ e board is very much in favor of more development and we will be looking outside of Saratoga County,” said Hage-Perez.”

For more information about the services o ered by the Veterans & Community Housing Coalition go to vchcny.org.

Supporters take part in a downtown walk organized by ASCEND Mental Wellness to raise awareness during Mental Health Awareness Month.

Courtesy ASCEND

Foreverly House provides shelter and support services for female veterans with children while they transition from military to civilian life.

Salem Family Health Opens, O ering Primary Care, Pediatric Services, And Free Nutrition Classes

Salem Family Health, Hudson Headwaters Health Network’s 26th brick-and-mortar health center, is now open. Located at 1830 County Route 64, Salem Family Health is a 14,300-square-foot building with nine exam rooms for general primary care and three exam rooms designated for pediatrics. Hudson Headwaters has also partnered with Glens Falls Hospital to operate on-site lab services at the center.

“ e establishment of Salem Family Health has been a longtime community e ort, with many details thoughtfully developed to improve access, convenience and patient experiences for years to come,” said Hudson Headwaters CEO Tucker Slingerland, M.D. “Salem was our rst community to experience mobile health in 2021, resulting in numerous patients establishing primary care for themselves and their families, some for the very rst time. is demand encouraged our further investment in Washington County. We thank Salem town o cials and community members for their ongoing engagement and partnership.”

Salem Family Health opens with 14 employees, including full-time providers, Hunter Southerland, M.D., Jillian Herrington, PNP and Sarah Hyland, FNP. Services include family medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, nutrition counseling, as well as virtual care management and behavioral health services. Future plans include a community pharmacy on-site, and Hudson Headwaters will inform the community once updates are available.

Salem Family Health also includes the Stewart’s Shops/Dake Family Teaching Kitchen,

a state-of-the-art space o ering patients and community members free nutrition classes. A program series called “Kitchen RX: Cooking for Better Health” will launch in June, with classes scheduled throughout the remainder of 2025. is program series is made possible by the Mary McClellan Foundation.

“ anks to the generous support from Stewart’s Shops and the Dake Family, along with the Mary McClellan Foundation, Salem Family Health o ers the Network’s rst teaching kitchen, including free programming for patients and community members,” said Hunter Southerland, M.D., Salem resident and lead provider at Salem Family Health. “At Hudson Headwaters, we recognize the importance nutrition plays in overall health, and the Teaching Kitchen is a resource that will positively impact health outcomes for Washington County families well into the future.”

Salem Family Health is open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Same-day access will be available for Hudson Headwaters patients with designated walk-in hours between 8:00 a.m. –10:00 a.m. e Glens Falls Hospital lab at Salem Family Health is open Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. For more information about the center, and to view further details about the programming of the Teaching Kitchen, visit HHHN.org.

New patients may call the health center to register or schedule appointments online at HHHN.org. With the health center opening, the Mobile Health Center will no longer visit the Salem Courthouse. All Mobile Health patients are welcome at Salem Family Health and will not need to re-register.

ASCEND

Continued From Page 10

And how do we do mental wellness or health and mental wellness programs to support our employees?

e Covid pandemic created considerable mental health concerns because of the isolation it fostered while people weren’t able to interact normally in public settings.

“Some people were able to bounce back, but others, for lack of a better word, were really traumatized by that isolation,” Deepe said. “What we’re seeing now is a dichotomy in individuals. Some people aren’t that comfortable in crowds any more. People have really changed the way they integrate into the community.”

e pandemic had a profound impact on business -- restaurants, supermarkets and retail stores in particular.

“Some had to shut down or provide other services to survive,” she said. “A lot of people have gone to online shopping because they nd it to be more convenient. ey don’t have to into a store any more, which is hurting some businesses. Restaurant delivery services boomed so now people don’t have to leave their homes to get a bite to eat. at’s a ecting businesses, too.”

Fall from the pandemic is still being felt among some students and young adults whose schooling, at all grade levels, and college careers were impacted.

Many of ASCEND’s connections to the business community come from its engagement in Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce activities.

Founded in 1948 as the Glens Falls Mental Hygiene Association, Ascend has evolved over the decades to meet the changing needs of the community. e organization has undergone several name changes, most recently rebranding from the Warren Washington Association for Mental Health to ASCEND Mental Wellness in 2023.

It has a $10.5 million budget, largely from state and federal funding, 130 sta and serves between 1,200 and 1,500 people each year, with hubs in Hudson Falls and Glens Falls.

Several of its main departments are: Caleo counseling provides outpatient therapy

and psychiatric services for children, adolescents, and adults.

“ at’s where people can physically walk into our clinic and say, ‘I need help. I need mental health services,’ rather than a traditional intake where you have to call and set up an appointment Here they can just walk right in and we start the process. We’re really trying to promote it more so people undersand there’s places they can go.”

Residential services provides both restorative and supportive housing options for individuals in recovery. ASCEND recently obtained funding for 45 new beds.

“We have a wait list to be lled so we’re looking for landlords with one- or two-bedroom apartments so we can create this space for people,” Deepe said. “We rent the apartment or help an individual rent it and support them in their care while they’re living there.”

Dual Recovery o ers support for individuals dealing with both mental health and substance use challenges.

Care Management, which assists individuals in coordinating care and accessing necessary services.

Outreach, which engages with individuals in the community to connect them with appropriate services.

Community Mental Health Training is extremely important because it o ers educational programs to raise awareness and reduce stigma.

But for all that ASCEND does, Deepe said there’s still a need for more and improved services to meet the challenge of growing demand.

“ ankfully, though, there are some new types of services out there especially for homebound people, things such as online and tele-health services,” she said. “We can connect with people through a computer, cell phone or even having sessions with a telephone call. ings of that nature were not available before and now they are. It’s more tools in our toolbox to reach more people.”

“Nobody has to walk this line alone,” Deepe said. “Everybody’s got a di erent recovery journey. We want to be part of that in some way, shape or form.”

Michelle Schultz Owner / Designer

Salem Family Health, Hudson Headwaters’ newest health center, o ers primary care, pediatrics, and free nutrition classes in a state-of-the-art facility.

Courtesy HHHHN

GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL

REGIONAL STOCKWATCH

Restoration Pros Open Duct Kings To Tackle Mold, Dust, And Dryer Vent Fire Hazards

Duct Kings, a new business based

BY LEE COLEMAN

Duct Kings, a new business specializing in professional air duct cleaning, dryer vent cleaning and mold removal, has opened at 5 Knabner Road in Mechanicville.

James Kennedy, owner of KPM Restoration, and Dan Kirchner started the business eight months ago and serve Saratoga County, Albany County, Schenectady, Troy, and southern Warren County.

“Being in the restoration world, we have seen many fires that have started due to clogged dryer vents. This is an easily preventable issue,” said Kirchner, who did work for Kennedy’s fire and water restoration business.

“Along the same lines we have done many restoration projects on properties with mold, water and fire damage. The air ducts in these properties are affected and need to be cleaned for healthy air quality,” he said.

“We are fully licensed, certified and insured. We serve residential homes, businesses and institutions with the same dedication to quality and attention to detail,” Kirchner and Kennedy said in a joint statement.

“Our commitment is simple: to provide exceptional service that ensures the air quality and safety of your property,” they

said.

Kirchner said it took Duct Kings a couple of months to develop a good system that is now in place. The company employs a three-person field tech crew and one office person. “We are looking to add another service van and another field tech team,” he said.

He said that regular air duct cleaning improves the indoor air quality. People sometimes get sick because of clogged air ducts and associated mold and dust. Kennedy and Kirchner recommend that residential and commercial air duct systems be cleaned every two or three years. Using the example of a 2,000-square-foot home, Kirchner said a duct cleaning would cost approximately $700. A dryer vent cleaning costs $99.

When a home’s ducts are cleaned on a regular basis it decreases the home’s energy bills because the furnace runs more efficiently. “Over the course of three years, the home would save $700 on energy bills,” Kirchner said.

For more information on Duct Kings see: info@ductkingsny.com.

KPM Restoration, which been in business for more than a dozen years, is also located in Mechanicville.

Washington County New Business Registrations

APRIL

Glens Falls Bakery Boosts Output, Plans For Employee Ownership To Sustain Mission

BY PAUL POST

Rock Hill Bakehouse sells more than 14,000 loaves of bread per week, from Westchester to Lake Placid and is aiming for a 30 percent increase in production.

“ at’s one of the main reasons we moved here, to get wholesale manufacturing back to a breakpoint in production,” owner Matt Funiciello said.

Wholesale accounts for about 80 percent of the rm’s business to health food stores, co-ops, supermarkets and restaurants, including ski areas and resort towns in western Massachusetts and Vermont as well.

e other 20 percent is retail, from its cozy cafe at 18 Curran Lane adjacent to e Shirt Factory in the east end of Glens Falls. Funiciello moved there ve years ago, from a Route 9 strip plaza just north of Exit 17 in Moreau.

Now everything is under one roof. Previously, Rock Hill also had a café on Exchange Street in Glens Falls, in addition to the Moreau bakehouse.

“We are in the arts community now, not just serving the arts community, which is what we did in the old café,” Funiciello said. “We’re here for musicians, graphic artists; it’s a place for people to write, read and we also do shows.”

Leaving a bustling downtown, a block o Glen Street, was a bit risky. But the convenience and e ciency and being in one building outweighed this, and has paid dividends more than Funiciello could have imagined.

“Last year was the best we’ve ever had compared to the old café,” he said.

Getting there wasn’t easy, though.

“ e pandemic almost killed us,” Funiciello said. “We opened here in January 2020. By the end of March or early April our doors were closed. We had massive construction loans, huge amounts of uncertainty, ingredient prices were skyrocketing and eventually labor costs skyrocketed because we were competing with unemployment that paid twice as much as I do. It wasn’t an easy business to be in, in upstate NY during that period. Just brutal.”

But Rock Hill continues to have a strong and growing presence in the regional market, despite increased competition from co ee houses and cafes with somewhat similar business models.

Kitch A Vibe Micro Eatery in Glens Falls, along with Haux Nest Bread and Uncommon Grounds in Queensbury, have all opened within the past year joining establishments such as Kru Co ee and Spot Co ee of Glens Falls.

“ ey all hold their own because people are looking for community and we’re losing it in so many other places,” Funiciello said. “Wi-Fi us-

ers are big users in co ee houses. ere’s been a major shi in the way people work. ey have jobs in the city, can do work on a laptop and have a six-dollar cup of co ee. at’s not something local people in Glens Falls were looking for ve years ago.”

“More people are also looking for food made from scratch with good ingredients, not fast food,” he said. “ ey’re looking for food that’s healthy for them. People who really want something extra special are coming here.”

Rock Hill’s reputation for high quality, naturally leavened hearth breads is known far and wide It’s received high praise on multiple occasions from e New York Times and has been included in books by renowned culinary a cionados such as Julia Child, James Beard and Bernard Clayton.

Funiciello and his brother, Josh, purchased the rm in 1991 from its founders Michael and Wendy London, who launched it four years earlier out of a 400-square-foot space at their farmhouse in Greenwich, Washington County.

“We packed bread in trucks on their law,” Funiciello said. “It was a cottage industry business gone awry.”

But business boomed a er moving to a much larger space in Moreau.

Before long, Rock Hill had 40 employees and its bread was being served in a dozen three-star Manhattan restaurants. It also had a café at Colonie Center, a retail shop at Crossgates Mall, a kiosk in Cli on Country Mall and was churning out 30,000 loaves of bread per week.

“It was too much to manage so we downsized to doing a lot of farmer’s markets and a lot of restaurant business, which we could handle, plus supplying some retail stores in New York City,”

Funiciello said.

By this time, his brother had le to pursue other interests.

e bakehouse and café have 26 employees now.

“I wanted to work with a small group of people, with a good work ethic and attitude, who I knew really well and didn’t have to manage,”

Funiciello said.

He describes the workplace atmosphere as “a happy chaos and anarchy more than an authoritarian workshop with masters and peasants.”

But at 57, he’s also begun taking a serious, hard look at both his and the company’s future.

“When I go into some type of retirement, I’d like there to be an employee-ownership plan that guides the next generation into managing their own bakery,” he said. “I can’t see selling it and maintaining any kind of integrity. at matters to me.”

Lower Adirondack Pride To Host ird Annual Lower Adirondack Pride Festival

Lower Adirondack Pride, an LGBTQIA+ organization serving Warren, Washington, and Northern Saratoga Counties, is set to host the third annual Lower Adirondack Pride Festival on Sunday, June 1, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Glens Falls City Park.

“Now more than ever, building community isn’t just important — it’s essential,” said Cam Cardinale, President of Lower Adirondack Pride. “At a time when LGBTQIA+ rights are under attack across the country, coming together in joy, pride, and solidarity is an act of de ance. It’s a reminder that we are here, we are strong, and we are not going anywhere.”

Since its inception in 2023, the Festival has seen remarkable growth, with attendance increasing by 300% between its rst and second year. With community support continuing to surge, the 2025 Festival is poised to be the most groundbreaking yet. Lower Adirondack Pride has expanded alongside the Festival, serving more than 10,000 individuals in 2024 alone — a testament to the need for visibility, advocacy,

Glens Falls YMCA

Continued From Page 1

new indoor youth climbing center.

“ is building has been a cornerstone of health, connection, and community spirit in Glens Falls for over a century,” said Paul Bricoccoli, Chair of the Glens Falls YMCA Capital Campaign Committee and former Board Member. “Now it’s time to give it the care and investment it deserves—so it can continue to serve today’s families and inspire tomorrow’s leaders.”

e campaign’s momentum is already strong, thanks to a generous $500,000 lead gi from longtime Y supporters Bill and Susan Dake. e Charles R. Wood Foundation has also stepped up with a $250,000 matching grant, challenging the community to rise to the occasion and double the impact of every gi .

Major early supporters include Adirondack

and connection.

“ is Festival is not just a celebration — it’s a declaration,” Cardinale continued. “We are declaring that queer people deserve to take up space. at we deserve to live fully, love openly, and lead boldly. Lower Adirondack Pride will never back down from ghting for a future where everyone is free to be exactly who they are.”

is year’s Festival will feature over 70 vendors, a Drag Show, and live performances by Jay Mullen and e Spotters, along with singersongwriter Erin Harkes. Attendees can expect a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere lled with entertainment, community resources, food, and activities for all ages.

Lower Adirondack Pride remains committed to creating spaces where LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies can come together to celebrate authenticity, resilience, and collective power. ousands are expected to gather once again for what promises to be a joyful, energizing day in the heart of Glens Falls.

Chopper’s Golub Foundation, e Glens Falls Foundation, and e Sandy Hill Foundation. With 30% of the goal already raised, the Saratoga Regional YMCA is calling on the community to help close the gap. Whether it’s $25 or $25,000, every donation brings us one step closer to a brighter future for Glens Falls.

To mark this important milestone, SRYMCA will host a Capital Campaign Kick-O Celebration at Common Roots Brewing in Glens Falls on Wednesday, June 18th. is event will recognize key donors and share the vision for the facility’s transformation.

To support the campaign or learn more, please contact Allie Mantica, Director of Development, at (518) 583-9622, ext. 395 or allie. mantica@srymca.org.

Together, we can build a stronger, healthier, and more vibrant future—for everyone.

Rock Hill Bakehouse & Café owner Matt Funiciello shows o some of the breads at his rm’s retail shop located at 18 Curran Lane in Glens Falls.

Courtesy Paul Post

Trust, Arrow Bank, Della Auto Group, Hudson River Community Credit Union, Kathleen and Dan Grasmeder, Nemer Auto Group, Price

Revolution Rail

Continued From Page 1

a rail biking tour paired with a sightseeing cruise on Lake George. New this season is the reverse option, “Sails to Rails,” which begins with a lake cruise and transitions to a ride from the Hadley station.

“At Rev Rail, we’re all about creating memorable experiences that help people feel good and unplug,” said Robert Harte, CEO of Revolution Rail Co. “We’re thrilled to partner again with the Lake George Steamboat Company—an institution that’s been o ering cruises for over 200 years.”

Seasonal rides also include Twilight Tours, returning to North Creek starting June 14.

Revolution Rail has earned Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Award four years in a row, placing it in the top 10% of attractions worldwide. e company has hosted more than 330,000 riders across its stations in New York, New Jersey, Maine and Colorado.

For more information visit revrail.com.

5

Key Tourism Trends NE Destinations Can’t Ignore in 2025

BY JOE LEGAULT

As 2025 approaches, destination marketers across the Northeast — including Upstate New York — must navigate a travel landscape shaped by economic caution and international uncertainty. Recession fears are prompting more selective spending, while Canadian visitation continues to wane, in uenced by unfavorable exchange rates and new tari s. For destinations that have long depended on cross-border tra c, the challenge is clear: how to attract more local and regional visitors without compromising experience or revenue.

Fortunately, travelers aren’t simply cutting back — they’re rethinking what makes a trip meaningful. Many are now favoring slower, more intentional experiences that align with the strengths of Northeast destinations. For tourism professionals — including DMOs, lodging providers, and tour operators — these ve trends present opportunities to capture emerging demand and deliver value in a shi ing market.

Travelers are increasingly drawn to noctourism, or nighttime experiences that o er intimacy, a ordability, and a break from daytime crowds. Whether it’s stargazing hikes in the Catskills, sunset paddles on Adirondack lakes, or full-moon yoga under the stars, these low-light adventures deliver a sense of wonder. Destinations can capitalize on this interest by packaging meteor shower viewings, lunar eclipse events, and guided night outings, while promoting lodging that highlights dark-sky settings and peaceful environments.

weekend retreats, girlfriend getaways, or customcurated private tours can all serve this growing segment. Destinations that o er personalized touches — such as local welcome gi s, private experiences, or small VIP upgrades — can help these moments feel memorable without extravagance.

Kiss: French Drink: Russian Eat:

• Covered & Heated Deck

Solo and small-group travel is surging as people seek autonomy, clarity, and low-pressure connection. Many are traveling alone not for isolation, but for restoration and genuine engagement.

e Northeast’s quiet trails, creative workshops, wellness events, and safe, small-town festivals are perfect for this demographic. Destinations should develop itineraries that cater to solo travelers, promote small-group experiences like culinary classes or farm tours, and market these options as low-stress but highly rewarding.

Looking ahead to 2025, destination marketing e orts must adapt to shi ing traveler values and behaviors. To stay competitive:

• Open Patio & Outdoor Seating for 100

• Adirondack Chairs & Picnic Tables LAKESIDE

• Inside Dining & Full Bar

• FREE Kayak & Canoe Launch Next Door Seafood

“Calmcations” — trips centered on peace, quiet, and digital disconnection — are gaining traction among travelers burned out by screen time and sensory overload. e Northeast’s wooded retreats, lakeside cottages, and cabin rentals make it a natural destination for this trend. Forest bathing in the Adirondacks or unplugged weekends in the Berkshires appeal to visitors seeking low-cost mental resets. To meet this demand, businesses should market screen-free amenities, bundle wellness o erings like yoga or spa services with overnight stays, and highlight locations where serenity is the main attraction.

- Reallocate advertising budgets to prioritize local and regional visitors over international markets.

- Use interest-based targeting — such as ads tailored for solo travelers, milestone celebrations, or wellness seekers — instead of relying on broad demographics.

Rising costs are fueling the slow travel movement, where visitors stay longer and engage more deeply with local culture and environment. From multi-day bike tours in the Hudson Valley to immersive food-focused getaways in Saratoga or Vermont, travelers are opting for depth over distance. is gives an edge to destinations that can promote extended stays, local artisan experiences, and scenic, walkable downtowns. Emphasizing longer itineraries and partnering with farms, guides, and makers for bundled activities will encourage travelers to stay and spend.

Milestone-based getaways — travel driven by life events like big birthdays, anniversaries, and retirements — are replacing far- ung splurges with thoughtful domestic escapes. Instead of international trips, travelers are booking celebratoryexperiences closer to home. Romantic

- Refresh website and content assets to highlight trend-aligned experiences, from quiet getaways to hands-on local adventures.

- Build bundled packages with other small businesses that pair lodging with activities like night hikes or farm-to-table dining.

- Share authentic traveler experiences through video, blog content, and testimonials to build trust and inspiration.

ese trends re ect a broader cultural pivot toward meaningful, value-rich travel — and the more destinations align with that mindset, the stronger their appeal will be in 2025 and beyond.

Joe Legault, Digital Marketing Strategist and Senior Editor at Mannix Marketing.

Courtesy Mannix Marketing

Lake George Land Conservancy Announces 2025 Land Campaign

To Protect More an 1200 Acres

e Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) announces its 2025 Land Campaign, a $9 million fundraising campaign to permanently protect more than 1,200 acres of land that protects Lake George.

e Campaign includes the protection of 517 acres of Pilot Knob Mountain and more than 700 acres in Bolton. Together, these forested lands have 2.8 miles of streams and more than 26 acres of wetlands that are critical to maintaining Lake George’s exceptional water quality.

e LGLC is under contract to purchase 517 acres of Pilot Knob Mountain, including its 2,159-foot summit, and 1.6 miles of streams.

e land is close to the LGLC’s Schumann Preserve at Pilot Knob, and sits just south of Buck Mountain, sharing more than 1.6 miles of its border with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) Wild Forest. Because of its proximity to NYSDEC’s protected lands, this part of Pilot Knob is o en mistakenly believed to be already protected; in fact, it is one of the largest privately-owned properties in the south basin and is zoned for development of up to 60 buildings.

LGLC Executive Director Mike Horn said, “We are grateful to the landowners of Pilot Knob Mountain for being good stewards of this land for many decades, and for working with the LGLC to keep it protected, forever.”

e Campaign also includes multiple conservation projects in the Town of Bolton that will total more than 700 acres in the Indian Brook and Northwest Bay area. Collectively, these properties will provide critical protection of stream corridors, wetlands, steep slopes, and forested lands that clean and lter water, reduce

downstream sedimentation, and prevent pollution from entering Lake George’s Northwest Bay.

e LGLC purchased one of the properties, named Sundew Pond, on April 22. is 207acre parcel has a large wetland and pond that supports a healthy, diverse plant ecosystem, including carnivorous sundew and pitcher plants. Several of the other Bolton projects are under contract.

LGLC’s 2025 Land Campaign is the largest fundraising e ort in LGLC history. To date, $6.6 million has been secured, including grants that provide $2 for every $1 donated. e remaining $2.4 million is needed by the end of the summer to complete all of the Campaign’s projects.

“ e LGLC has committed to increasing our pace of land conservation to secure Lake George’s future, and we have a wonderful slate of high-impact projects,” said Horn. “We can only complete these important projects with the generous support of those who love Lake George and want it to remain clean and beautiful for future generations. I hope that anyone with an interest in the future of Lake George will join our 2025 Land Campaign.”

e LGLC is o ering a live, public Zoom presentation to discuss the Campaign and its projects, June 11 at 7 p.m. is presentation will also be recorded and shared for viewing. To register, visit LGLC.org/2025Campaign/register.

Donations to the 2025 Land Campaign can be made online at LGLC.org/2025Campaign, or send a donation by mail to LGLC, attn: 2025 Land Campaign, PO Box 1250, Bolton Landing, NY 12814. For additional assistance, please call 518-644-9673.

‘ e Ed’

Continued From Page 1

Kisha Santiago applauded Glens Falls o cials for ongoing e orts to improve the city.

“Glens Falls is really leveraging its community spaces like this market and events center,” she said. “It serves as a beautiful and shining example of why this DRI program is so essential. Communities need businesses and jobs to thrive.”

Empire State Development Regional Director Mike Yevoli said “ e Ed” creates a sense of place that will “bring tourists, make people want to move here, make companies want to invest here.”

“ is is phase one of many phases we’d like to see happen here at South Street,” he said.

“ e Ed” is expected to host many di erent kinds of events, year-round, and would be the focal point of outdoor festival-type gatherings when South Street is temporarily closed o .

South Street long ago earned the nickname “street of dreams” because it was a place where people with hope, hard work and a little money could earn a slice of the American pie. More recently, it had fallen into a state of decline evidenced by many closed, boarded-up storefronts.

Now it’s come alive again, fulfilling Bartholomew’s dream of a revived center for economic vitality.

Bartholomew, who passed away in 2020, was mayor Glens Falls from 1978-85, and its director of economic development from 2010 to 2013 when he became president and chief executive o cer of the Warren County EDC.

Collins unveiled a plaque bearing Bartholomew’s likeness and an image of large “ e Ed” signs that will be placed on the building’s exterior.

“We’re confident that this center will be a significant energizer for our downtown,” he said. “We believe it will continue strong sales tax revenue. We believe it will draw more heads in beds at the Queensbury Hotel. It will be a gathering place that our city will be well known for throughout the state and we owe it all to Ed’s vision, his determination to make this city better.”

e plaque describes Bartholomew as “Mr. Glens Falls.”

“Ed epitomized that audacious spirit – the Glens Falls di erence – that focused on making Glens Falls a better place to live and work each day,” it reads. “It was his vision and his ability to create partnerships that brought this building and the entire Downtown Revitalization Initiative to life, and his city will be forever grateful.”

Sailboats glide across Lake George, whose surrounding lands are the focus of the Lake George Land Conservancy’s ambitious 2025 Land Campaign. Courtesy LGLC