Glens Falls Business Journal - August 2023

Adirondack Balloon Festival Will Celebrate Its 50th Anniversary In September

BY PAUL POST

A downtown parade, evening gala and record number of high-flying special shapes are among the events in store for people at this year’s Adirondack Balloon Festival and its 50th anniversary celebration.

The five-day event, slated for Sept. 20-25, gives a boost to the local economy by generating thousands of overnight stays, creating a bonanza for hotels, restaurants and retail shops in addition to state and county coffers, which collect related sales tax.

Founded by the late Walt and Joan Grishkot, this is the East Coast’s largest balloon festival, attracting people from throughout the U.S. and overseas, and third largest in the entire country behind only events held in Albuquerque and Reno.

In keeping with the Grishkots’ wishes, the

Adirondack Balloon Festival is organized and run strictly by volunteers and is entirely commercial free. There is no admission charge for any of the six flights or moonglow activities, all held weather permitting.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that the absolute minimum economic impact from this festival is $5 million to $10 million annually,” said Mark Donahue, balloon festival board president. “Last year the moonglow was picked up by the Associated Press. That went national and international. We couldn’t pay for that publicity.”

In addition, thousands of people per day see banners and huge photos promoting the festival at John F. Kennedy Airport and Penn Station in New York City.

“TD Bank puts our schedule of events in every branch all the way down to Florida,” Donahue

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Queensbury Business Sells Velotric E-Bikes That Help Riders Manage Difficult Slopes

BY PAUL POST

John Jacobs has just the thing for Baby Boomer cycling enthusiasts who find uphill climbs a bit more daunting than they used to be.

Velotric e-bikes allow people to keep pedaling their way to health and fitness with help from modern technology that takes the strain off tired muscles and achy joints.

Inside Edge in Queensbury has three different models that have been leaving the store as quickly as Jacobs can stock them, he said.

“I had no expectation that we’d be selling these as fast as we have,” he said. “A lot of ‘snowbirds’ with second homes up here have been coming in. They live up around North Creek where there’s hilly terrain. They like to ride, but they’re getting older. These bikes are all designed to assist you. What they really do is smooth out the hills. It allows you to go somewhere fairly quickly, still getting some exercise but not struggling against a big headwind or steep hill. You’re going to go right through.”

Jacobs is director of sales and development for Inside Edge’s parent company, Reliable Racing Supply, an industry leader in ski racing equipment founded by his late father, Tom, a 1952 Winter Olympian and National Skiing Hall of Fame member.

The company currently offers three different ebike models. They are the Discover 1 (26-inch wheel),

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Some

Officials Confident Essity Workers Will Find Employment As Company Closes Shop

BY PAUL POST

State and local officials say the region’s strong economy should be able to absorb the 300 people forced out of work by Essity paper company’s sudden exodus from New York state.

The Sweden-based company unexpectedly shuttered its large South Glens Falls mill on July 20 and plans call for closing a Greenwich converting facility and Saratoga Springs warehouse-distribution center this fall.

Meanwhile, the union representing the workforce is urging the company to change its mind and not close operations.

Essity is the area’s second large heavy industrial employer to shut down this year as Lehigh Cement, less than a mile away, is in the process of leaving, too. The fate

of two large old mills is a major concern as potential public safety hazards if they can’t be repurposed or new buyers found.

Parts of Essity date back to 1864.

“I don’t think having an empty shell of an industrial plant is a good idea,” said state Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner. “The good news is that our employment situation is very strong. We have many unfilled jobs in a variety of different industries. But that said, you want to make sure you aren’t leaving an eyesore in a community that perhaps becomes an environmental nuisance. There’s still a lot of questions about what condition they’re (Essity) going to leave the buildings in and what can be done with them going forward.”

Company spokesperson Joanna Ford

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Tri-County United Way Saw Contributions Increase By Some 23 Percent This Fiscal Year

The Tri-County United Way announced that its allocations fund to support for partner agencies throughout Warren, Washington, and Northern Saratoga counties experienced a significant 23 percent increase this year

Tri-County United Way’s Allocation Committee will use those funds to help support agencies in 2024.

The committee includes local community leaders who reside and work within the communities Tri-County United Way supports.

After weeks of thorough review, including onsite interviews and program presentations, these individuals determine how funds raised by the organization are allocated to local partner agencies.

Kristin Chlopecki, executive director of TriCounty United Way, and Rebecca Wood board chairperson, emphasized the importance of these allocations in ensuring the sustainability of the services provided by these organizations.

“Tri-County United Way is dedicated to providing support to diverse community service organizations that offer a broad spectrum of assistance to individuals, families, and groups,” said Chlopecki. “In pursuit of our mission, we understand that a unified fundraising campaign is the most effective approach to generate funds

for the agencies involved. We are excited to see a 23% increase in allocation funds, especially during our 100th year anniversary, that addresses the community’s most prominent needs.”

“It is incredibly rewarding to see our community come together through the Tri-County United Way Allocations Committee,” said Wood, Board. “Local business leaders have joined forces with our funded agencies to learn about the amazing work being done daily. The ability to fund each agency with over 20 percent more than last year is something we should all be very proud of in this financial climate. It is a true testament to this area and our people.”

Tri-County United Way expressed gratitude to the local agencies, businesses and donors, acknowledging their donations and highlighting their significant role in creating a better living environment for everyone.

The agency remains committed to providing support and funds year after year. The organization continues to work in partnership with the compassionate strength of local agencies and businesses to help promote greater welfare for all.

Officials said the increase in allocation funds signifies a milestone for Tri-County United Way as the organization celebrates its 100-year anniversary.

A record number of balloons in special shapes are expected to be at this year’s Adirondack Balloon Festival, which is marking its 50th anniversary from Sept. 20-24. Paul Post

Essity paper company unexpectedly shuttered its South Glens Falls mill in July and plans to close a Greenwich converting facility and Saratoga Springs warehouse-distribution center this fall. Glens Falls Business Journal

the Nomad 1 (26-inch fat tire) and the T1 ST (700 centimeter wheel) urban commuter. All three models are available in step-through and step-over frame designs.

John Jacobs owns Inside Edge that sells three different models of Velotric e-bikes. Paul Post

Personnel Briefs

Community Bank has hired Jamison Flora as senior vice president, business banking sales manager. He will lead a team of business banking relationship managers in cultivating and expanding financial service relationships with businesses, according to the bank.

Flora is a 20 year-veteran of business banking. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University at Albany, and serves as a board member for Capital District Youth for Christ and Christian Business Men’s Connection.

* * *

Brown Brothers Automotive, an automotive sales and repair shop in Hudson Falls, has hired Brody Hayes to assist the company with the growth of its sales and service department. Hayes was born and raised in Queensbury. He’s been in the automotive industry for eight years and has worked in every aspect of the business.

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Tully Rinckey PLLC announced the addition of Jillian Groshans, Esq, to the firm’s Albany, office as an associate.

Groshans focuses primarily on criminal law and family and matrimonial law.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey, Ms. Groshans handled cases relating to family offense petitions, orders of protections, child custody and support, separation agreements, divorce and more. She previously served as an associate at a law firm in Albany where she handled litigation and motion practices in criminal, civil, estate, administrative and election law matters.

Groshans is a member of the New York Bar Association. She attended Albany Law School where she obtained her degree and worked at the Family Violence Litigation and Domestic Violence Prosecution Hybrid clinics at the Justice Center. She also has a bachelor’s in philosophy and English from SUNY Albany.

Tiki Tours Adds Boat To Its Fleet On Lake George As Demand For Its Services Grows

Capital CFO+ has announced a series of new hires.

Cara Maryanopolis, director of marketing and brand design. As an experienced marketing communications and brand design specialist, she helps businesses elevate their brands through holistic design and mindful strategy. She brings more than 15 years of professional marketing, communications and public relations experience to the table, including work with top financial and retail brands.

Prior to joining the Capital CFO+ team, Maryanopolis owned her own brand design and marketing business, helping both new and established businesses elevate their brands and achieve growth.

Lisa Koveleskie was brought on as part of the administration team.

Early on, she was an office manager where she was responsible for daily office operations, including payroll, accounts receivable and payable. She then explored an opportunity working as a medical management coordinator where she assisted customers in a busy call center, reviewed insurance information, and approved medical procedures.

After having her children, she transitioned back to the professional world, working as an administrative assistant to the owner and CEO of a small international business, utilizing her skills in Microsoft Office and SharePoint.

Holley Helser is a sales tax specialist. She  has six years of bookkeeping experience and three years of sales tax experience.

Most recently, she worked on a state and local tax team within a public accounting firm in Ohio, specializing in sales tax. She also spent three years at a law firm working with clients as a paralegal and bookkeeper.

Nelson Darling was hired as a CFO. He was the assistant controller for over 13 years with an Albany based self-clearing broker dealer, C.L. King & Associates with an affiliated investment advisory

Tiki Tours has added a new 30-foot tiki pontoon boat to its fleet.

The second boat allows Tiki Tours to offer more trips to meet the growing demand for unique experiences for family reunions, wedding parties, corporate outings, birthday celebrations, and more.

The spacious vessel, with a capacity for 16 people (and dogs), also adds a new level of comfort to the tours on Lake George, company officials said.

Tiki Tours and the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 18 at the dock behind Lake George Beach Club at 3 Montcalm St. in Lake George.

“Tiki Tours has seen tremendous growth in the last few years and is excited to add another vessel on Lake George. To offer fun experiences for visitors and residents gives our team great pleasure,” said Tiki Tours co-owner Gregory Teresi. “We are grateful for

the unwavering support of the George Beach Club, the Village of Lake George, the Lake George Park Commission, Adirondack Trust Co. and the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce.”

Tiki Tours has grown its operations to include tours on Saratoga Lake and Lake Havasu in Arizona and will expand on the west coast of Florida soon, according to the company.

The local boat builders were Steve Clark and Pete Bombard, well-known wood boat builders with years of experience working with Hall’s Boats. The pontoon boat measures 30 feet by 12 feet.

Tiki Tours offers 75-minute boat rides seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. from mid-May through mid-September. The maximum capacity per tour has grown to 16 people.

Tiki Tours, LLC is owned by Larry Davis, Anthony Ali and Teresi. Charters are driven by a state-certified captain.

Labor Relations Specialist Capital Region of New York State

CSEA, one of New York State’s largest public employee unions, is seeking resumes for a Labor Relations Specialist to serve an assigned territory in the Capital Region area of New York State. The position requires extensive knowledge of labor relations, ability to negotiate/administer collective bargaining agreements, resolve employer/employee conflicts, represent members in employment matters, prepare cases for arbitration. Responsibilities include working with union activists to engage members at their worksites and in their communities. A successful candidate should be selfdirected, maintain schedule and workload, and be able to operate within a team. Operate independently & schedule workload.

Starting salary $65,860 with salary progression and excellent benefits including health, vision, and dental coverage; generous paid time off and defined pension.

Qualifications: High School/Equivalency with 3 years full time related experience OR BA in labor relations or a related field or acceptable combination of work experience and education. Drivers license/car for business use.

Email cseajobs@cseainc.org or send resume to Director of Human Resources, PO Box 7125, Capitol Station, Albany, NY 12224. Please note LRSCR/GFBJ on all correspondence.

Equal Opportunity Employer.

The new 30-foot tiki pontoon boat Tiki Tours added to its business has a capacity for 16 people and also provides a new level of comfort to the tours on Lake George, ownership says.

Courtesy Tiki Tours

BG Auto Keys In Queensbury Can Replace Lost Car Keys And Fobs On The Spot

State Seeks Applications For Downtown Revitalization, ‘NY Forward’ Program Funds

New York state has $200 million in funding available through the State’s two signature downtown revitalization and economic development programs— $100 million each for Round 7 of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and Round 2 of the NY Forward program, which focuses on revitalizing smaller and rural downtowns.

Th is year’s funding brings the total amount of state investment across all rounds of the programs to $1 billion since 2016. Together, the two programs have awarded $800 million in funding to 93 communities across every region of the state.

Applications are available on the Downtown Revitalization Initiative website (www.ny.gov/ programs/downtown-revitalization-initiative ) and the NY Forward website (www.ny.gov/ programs/ny-forward).

The deadline to apply is Sept. 29 at 4 p.m.

is working, representing a public/private partnership that serves as a model for the rest of the nation.”

DRI was launched in 2016 to accelerate and bolster the revitalization of downtowns and neighborhoods in all ten regions of the state to serve as centers of activity and catalysts for increased local investments.

Led by the Department of State (DOS), DRI communities benefit from partnerships with and coordinated technical assistance provided by state Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), Empire State Development (ESD) and the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA).

BY SUSAN ELISE CAMPBELL

People who lose car keys on the golf course or at the beach or campgrounds that are miles from home can now get help from BG Auto Keys in Queensbury.

The company operates a mobile van that serves the North Creek area and Adirondacks down to Saratoga Springs, bringing the right equipment to copy keys or reprogram fobs, according to the company’s founder Brian Granger.

“We’re not only faster but also cheaper than going to a dealership,” he said.

Granger is a lifelong resident of Queensbury who has two other businesses based in the community. More than 21 years ago he founded BG Lender Services, an automobile repossession company that serves 500 to 600 clients per month. He sells some of the repossessed cars though BG Auto Auction and others online, he said.

His son Quinn is running, managing and growing the business for BG Auto Keys, Granger said,

“He has been making keys since he was 13 years old,” he said

There is a considerable learning curve to electronic car fobs and automatic starters because “different brands of vehicles have different tricks to them and you have to get to know each manufacturer,” said Granger. “There is a lot of technology and practical knowledge in this line of work. Quinn is keeping up with the advancements.”

The mobile van has all the right tools, materials and computers to program a new fob and remake a key with the appropriate blank—all in the customer’s driveway. By avoiding the

dealership, customers save considerable time and money. Granger said dealers don’t stock them, so customers can never get a new key on the spot.

“One reason why the process is more expensive and time consuming is that the dealer has to order it,” he said. “Then you’re coming back a few days later to pick it up from another department.”

BG Auto Keys can sell original manufacturer’s equipment or use less costly, logo-free aftermarket items if the car model is a few years old.

“It’s the same fob, but without the emblem on it,” said Granger.

Quinn Granger has the van out almost daily and is doing about 80 percent of the company’s business from his office on wheels. The remainder is out of their storefront at 100 Park Road in Queensbury, near the airport.

“Quinn will go out nights and weekends,” Granger said. “Every weekend it’s something, especially during tourist season.”

The team expects that next year BG Auto Keys will have two trucks on the road.

When the car show rolls into town, car owners may need keys made and Granger said, “Classic cars are cheap and easy because there is no need for programming.”

Commercial businesses that have large fleets of vehicles also use them for their extra keys.

BG Auto Keys recycles old keys and fobs, sending them out to wipe the programming and then affi xing a new blank. Using the products they recycle is yet another way the Grangers save their customers money.

Visit www.bgautokeys.com for more information.

“These two programs have created a wave of revitalization that is sweeping across the state with no signs of slowing,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “The programs are not only reinvigorating downtowns, but they are also making our regions and the state as a whole a world-class destination for businesses, families and tourists. The programs are fulfi lling the original vision for the DRI of creating a critical mass of vibrant downtowns of all shapes, sizes and characters in each region to entice businesses to invest and locate in New York state.”

New York Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez said, “An investment in a downtown is an investment in economic development, quality of life, sustainability and housing that will multiply and generate dividends for years to come. Every dollar we commit through our successful DRI and New York Forward programs leverages multi-fold additional investments, in addition to supporting local governments and existing area businesses by attracting more people, families and businesses that provide a variety of amenities and jobs to the area.

“The formula for the DRI and NY Forward

The DRI represents an unprecedented and innovative “plan-then-act” strategy that couples strategic planning with immediate implementation. In addition to the traditional applications, this year there is a new option for two or three communities to jointly apply for one DRI award by working together on a shared revitalization at the micro-regional level.

To date, DRI has awarded a total of $700 million to 69 communities in its fi rst six rounds and supported the creation of over 3,000 new housing units. It is estimated that every dollar invested in the DRI generates $3 in additional investments as the revitalization accelerates and projects are completed. Th is catalytic effect will continue well after DRI and NY Forward communities complete all their projects.

As part of last year’s budget, Hochul announced the $100 million NY Forward program to build on the success of the DRI and expand its benefits to more communities across the state. The innovative new program, which received an additional $100 million in funding in this year’s Enacted State Budget, supports a more equitable downtown recovery for New York’s smaller and rural communities with a focus on hamlet and villages.

NY Forward is meant serve smaller com-

BG Auto Keys uses this mobile van to go to the scene where people in the area have lost their car keys, bringing the right equipment to copy keys or reprogram fobs.

Courtesy BG Auto Keys

Lake George Boat Tour Business Operator Brings The Experience To Saratoga Lake

BY PAUL POST

Some people are fascinated by notorious underworld figures such as Lucky Luciano who hung out at the casino nightclub where world-famous entertainer Bing Crosby performed.

Others simply like to hang out with friends, take a swim or experience the thrill of being towed behind a powerful boat on an oversized fun tube.

These are some of the options Daleys Adventure Boat Tours offers with a new service on Saratoga Lake.

“I grew up on this lake,” said Mechanicville native and company owner Don Daley. “When I was 14 or 15, my uncle had a camp right down the road ... We spent our summers here on Saratoga Lake.”

In 2016, three years into retirement, Daley founded Lake George Island Boat Tours, telling guests about the lake’s history.

“Eventually people wanted to go swimming, cliff jumping or tubing so we turned it into an adventure,” he said. “Out of 45 tours on Lake George, we’ve been the number-one tour on TripAdvisor for four of the past eight years. The difference between us and other operators is that we customize tours. We let people do whatever they want.”

This year, Daley expanded his company to Saratoga Lake.

“We always wanted to get here, but couldn’t get parking, a marina and dock space,” he said.

This year, the marina secured new off-site space for boat storage, allowing it to greatly expand its parking lot. This gave Daley a place to work out of and he jumped at the opportunity, renaming the company Daleys Adventure Boat Tours.

He also bought two new Silver Wave tritoon boats. The difference between a tritoon and pontoon is that tritoons have three large metal tubes that give boats more stability, allow them to hold more people and go faster.

Daley’s Saratoga Lake venture is run by his son, Nick, who has experience with digital marketing, sales and advertising in New York City. “He’s taken over that aspect of the business for me, which is why we expanded here to Saratoga,” Daley said.

Daley’s nephew, Joe Pearl, oversees the Lake George operation.

“Joe is a 200-ton boat captain,” Daley said. “Nine months of the year he’s all over the world doing scuba

diving tours in places like the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, the Caribbean and Fiji. For three months in summer he’s at Lake George where we operate out of Fischers Marina.

“At Lake George 95 percent of our clients live outside the 518 area. We get them from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut and the Midwest. And we’ve already hosted two Israelis this year.”

He added, “What we want to create here is something nobody else does.”

Bachelor and bachelorette parties are also popular, giving revelers a chance to have fun and relax without having to worry about how to operate a boat and the variety of rules and regulations that go with it.

“With us, they bring whatever they want to eat and drink on the boat,” Daley said. “A lot of them don’t know how to drive a boat, so they want to rent one ... And with one of our captains driving, you don’t have to worry about getting stopped for Boating While Intoxicated.”

Daleys Adventure Boat Tours operates from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. seven days per week. For information visit daleysboattours.com or call (518) 469-8745.

‘Ice Castles’ Group Will Replace It Th is Winter With Newly Designed ‘Winter Realm’ Event

BY PAUL POST

Ice Castles is planning major changes to its Lake George operation in response to mild, climatechange conditions that pose a major challenge to every winter sports and tourism-related business.

Officials said more than 60,000 people visited the frosty attraction during its inaugural run two years ago at Charles R. Wood Park’s Festival Commons. But attendance declined during last year’s shortened season, caused by warm, rainy weather that hit 60 degrees in February.

Instead of a large castle, with up to 35-foot high walls, crawl spaces and icy slides, plans call for a large glycol-cooled skating rink surrounded by colorful light installations, a Polar Pub ice bar and a variety of ice sculptures.

The newly designed attraction will be called Winter Realm.

“Mother Nature hasn’t been very kind to us the past two winters in Lake George, but we’re willing to return because of the overwhelming support from the community, the county, the village of Lake George and all the citizens in the area as well,” said Brad Buehlhorn, Ice Castles East Coast operations manager. “We’ve always received a very warm welcome. That’s the primary reason we’re returning to Lake George this season with a revamped concept. We have experienced more cooperation and collaboration with local officials and businesses than we’ve had in almost any destination we’ve worked with.”

The company has similar attractions in Utah, where it’s based, in addition to Wisconsin, Minnesota, Colorado and in North Woodstock, N.H.

Lake George and Wisconsin are the first sites that it’s offering a new, different type of attraction instead of the traditional Ice Castle.

“This is a new step for our company to build a new type of experience utilizing all of our skills,” Buehlhorn said. “I think it speaks volumes about our relationship with the village of Lake George that we’ve completely revamped our business model to remain in that market for another year.

“We had to rethink our entire operation to maintain that relationship. We’re very committed to being in Lake George in some capacity.”

“The location at Charles R. Wood Park is phenomenal,” he said. “It has the infrastructure that makes our job easier to work within that kind of space and the setting is absolutely gorgeous.”

Last fall, Ice Castles spent $80,000 for a new water line to Charles R. Wood Park, ensuring there would be enough water for the company to build and maintain the castle throughout the season. But it didn’t take shape until late January because it was so warm.

Buehlhorn said it’s hoped that the Winter Realm skating rink, kept cold with a new system of glycol-filled hoses, will open in early December and keep going into March.

“Our specialties are lighting and ice,” he said. “So we’ve decided to have a different take on how we use ice to entertain people. We have some very talented ice artisans that we’re going utilize more this year to create works of art out of ice that people can come and see and enjoy. We will have an ice sculptor there on site throughout the season so there will always be new sculptures to see no matter how many times you come to visit.”

An exact schedule of days and hours hasn’t been determined yet.

As before, the company expects to hire about 35 to 40 local people for daily operations. Job postings will be available on the company website (icecastles. com) beginning in September.

Ice Castles’ Winter Realm will be joined by another major attraction this winter that officials are counting on to give Warren County’s year-round

tourism industry a hefty one-two punch.

A Montreal-based company, Moment Factory, is planning a large new immersive multi-media experience called Winter Experience at Fort William Henry.

Moment Factory has done more than 525 shows around the world featuring a blend of advanced lighting, video, architecture, music and special effects that transform venues and events. Clients have included the likes of Sony, Microsoft, Toyota, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, the NFL and pop star Madonna.

The company has committed to a five-year run in Lake George, made possible in part with $3 million worth of occupancy tax funding from Warren County.

“It works toward that collaboration piece,” Buehlhorn said. “Moment Factory is phenomenal at what they do. Having seen what they’ve done in other places, I think we’ll offer a very complementary experience and work well together. The two should work hand in hand to attract people to give Lake George visitors a great time this winter.”

“It’s going to be a tremendous winter season,” said Gina Mintzer, Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce executive director. “Unlike Ice Castles, which was weather-dependent, this new attraction will be weather-proof, offering consistent enjoyment to visitors regardless of the conditions.”

Buehlhorn said Ice Castles is constantly looking at new ways to improve attractions, especially in the face of rapid climate change.

“Every year we are revamping our techniques to build and keep the ice up for as long as we can,” he said. “Our build teams are spectacular at figuring out solutions that have not been explored before. Part of this new experience we’re offering this year is the result of research and development about how we can create a ‘winter-tainment’ destination wherever we happen to operate in the United States.”

The company is also expanding to other times of year. Beginning Sept. 1, it will open a new Sculpted Sand attraction at its North Woodstock, N.H. venue, featuring eight- to 10-feet tall sculptures.

“They are massive and spectacular,” Buehlhorn said.

More than 4 million people have visited Ice Castles venues across the U.S. since its inception in 2011. Founder Brent Christensen crafted his first icy creation in his home’s front yard, for his children, after moving from sunny California to snowy Utah. Lake George was the company’s first foray into New York state.

Daleys Adventure Boat Tours owner Don Daley, right, with boat captain Ben Burns. Paul Post

This is the Ice Castles attraction that ran for two winters in Lake George. Courtesy Ice Castles

Stewart’s Shops, Dake Family Donate $25K To The Hyde To Support Education Programs

Glens Falls Native Moves His PSG Golf Business To Maple Avenue In Saratoga

BY CHRISTINE GRAF

Less than one year after Glens Falls native Mike Gerarde established PSG Golf, he and partner Jeff Boss have opened an indoor golf facility at 615 Maple Ave., Suite 2, in Saratoga Springs.

PSG Golf offers golf lessons to students of all ages and skill levels, and their new facility features two golf simulators, a TopGolf simulator, an indoor putting and chipping green, and a bar.

Before opening his own facility, Gerarde taught lessons at the Luxury Box in Queensbury.

Gerarde began playing golf about 10 years ago while a student at Syracuse University. After graduating and joining his family’s payroll company, Keena Staffing, he found himself entertaining clients on the golf course.

“The connections you create through the golf course are invaluable, and that’s how I got the idea to start a golf lessons business,” said Gerarde. “A lot of people that I worked with or that I knew didn’t want to get out on the golf course because they thought they weren’t good enough.”

After becoming certified as a golf teacher, he established PSG Golf in July 2022. The business is named in honor of his father, Paul Stephen Gerarde, who passed away when Gerarde was 10.

The Hyde Collection has received funding from a long-time supporters of the arts community and museums—Stewart’s Shops and The Dake Family.

Representatives from Stewart’s Shops recently visited The Hyde in Glens Falls to present a donation of $25,000 that will fund the 2023 educational offerings.

As lead education sponsors for the season, Stewart’s Shops and The Dake Family are the signature underwriters of the overall programming calendar for 2023, which is designed to offer enriching opportunities to all guests, from children and families to art enthusiasts of all interests.

Kate Wilkins, director of development at The Hyde Collection said, “Our educational programs affirm The Hyde’s commitment to enriching the lives of children of all ages and backgrounds throughout our region, and we are thrilled to celebrate Stewart’s Shops and The Dake Family as champions of these efforts.”

“Stewart’s Shops is committed to supporting and giving back to all our Shops’ communities,” said Susan Dake, president of Stewart’s Foundation. “We are proud to be supporting the educational programs at the Hyde Collection which provide opportunities for local children and families to participate in painting and performing arts classes. At Stewart’s, we like to say the arts are an important part of all of us.”

Highlights of 2023 programming underwritten by Stewart’s Shops and The Dake Family, which will occur on-site and off, include:

• Artful Afternoons, which invites families with children five and older to examine artwork and engage with materials.

• Art After Hours, which will pair local entertainment with art and leverage community partnerships every third Thursday of the month.

• A performing arts series based around The Hyde’s upcoming exhibition Songs of the Horizon: David Smith, music, and dance, featuring partner-

ships with regional performing arts organizations

• On Screen @ The Hyde, a series of performances streamed live from the National Theatre stage.

• Summer Art Explorations: Summer classes for third to sixth graders where children visit exhibitions and partake in special demonstrations and art making.

• Fashion Lab New York-Upcycle Couture Fashion and Sewing Camp, a summer program for teens focused on art, sustainability, sewing, and fashion inspired by famous paintings of women.

• Creative Play at (g)row for kids, which takes place at (g)row for kids on Exchange Street in Glens Falls, and will allow students to play with different elements of art and create an original piece of art.

• Painting with Patrice: A class led by local artist Patrice Jarvis-Weber in which participants are directed through the creation of acrylic painting.

• Free admission every second Thursday for everyone.

The Hyde is distinguished European and American art collections. The core collection, acquired by museum founders Louis and Charlotte Hyde, includes works by such artists as Sandro Botticelli, El Greco, Rembrandt, Peter Paul Rubens, Edgar Degas, Georges Seurat, Pablo Picasso, and PierreAuguste Renoir, and American artists Thomas Eakins, Childe Hassam, Winslow Homer, and James McNeill Whistler. The museum’s modern and contemporary art collection features works by artists including Josef Albers, Dorothy Dehner, Sam Gilliam, Adolph Gottlieb, Grace Hartigan, Ellsworth Kelly, Sol LeWitt, George McNeil, Robert Motherwell, Ben Nicholson, Robert Rauschenberg, and Bridget Riley.

The Hyde offers significant national and international exhibitions and a packed schedule of events that help visitors experience art in new ways. Visit www.hydecollection.org for more information.

Gerarde also previously taught lessons at Tarks Indoor Golf Center Saratoga. He then partnered with Jeff Boss, a Capital Region native who has been golfing since he was 10.

“Jeff is a tremendous golfer,” said Gerarde. “He was an accountant in Albany, and when I started the lessons business, he wanted to join.”

After deciding they would like to have their own facility, the partners created a business plan, obtained financing, and began searching for a location. They ultimately chose the former home of Artisanal Brew Works, a space that became available after the brewery moved a stone’s throw away to 617 Maple Ave.

“We looked at a lot of places, but either they weren’t wide enough or their ceilings weren’t high enough or there wasn’t room for a bar and the simulators,” said Gerarde. “This space was exactly what we were looking for. They had a nice bar area, and the ceilings in the back where the beer vats were plenty high enough. It’s like a warehouse back there.”

Simulator lessons are available year round, and playing lessons—lessons that take place on the golf course—are offered during the months that golf courses are open. During a playing lesson, students are taught golf rules and etiquette as well as how to play different shots on the course.

For beginners who may self-conscious about taking lessons, PSG offers a private setting.

“A lot of people are much more comfortable learning in a private space,” said Gerarde. “That’s why I love these simulators. They are private, and it’s just the teacher and the student.”

PSG’s simulators utilize launch monitor and swing camera data to help students improve their ball contact and swing path. Instant video playback includes several different camera angles. Gerarde said the data is especially beneficial to low handicap golfers looking to take their golf games to the next level.

“They love the technology because they can see their swing rates, their club path, the spin rate that’s coming through on the ball, the side spin, and their launch angle. They love to see all that data,” he said.

The SUNY Adirondack golf team, coached by Gerarde and Boss, also utilizes PSG as their practice facility. Two of their players went to nationals, and one finished 8th in the country.

In addition to being used for team practices and lessons, simulators can be reserved for private use by individual or groups. PSG does not charge simulator patrons for use of the putting and chipping green, but it is available only when it has not been reserved as part of a “party package” that includes rental of both simulators.

According to Gerarde, PSG’s indoor putting and chipping green is the only one in the area.

“It was expensive, and we used really high quality turf. People tried to talk us out of it because it doesn’t generate revenue, but to us, it was really important. It provides added benefit to our clients who want to come in and have some fun putting and chipping around.”

Although Gerarde and Boss are PSG’s only employees, they expect to hire additional staff during the winter when indoor golf facilities are in high demand.

“Golf simulators don’t get much use during the summer when everyone is outside golfing,” said Gerarde. “But the main idea for our business was to provide lessons for students, so we are getting a lot of people who are coming in for lessons.”

PSG has a limited snack menu as well as a bar that serves alcoholic beverages. They have no plans of installing a kitchen, but patrons can order meals from Artisanal Brew Works and have them delivered to the PSG Golf facility.

In addition to offering simulator rentals, individual lessons, and 3 lesson packages, PSG offers a limited number of memberships that include 24 hour access to the facility. For more information, visit psggolf.com.

Washington County New Business Registrations

From left, Katelyn Foley of The Hyde Collection; John Lefner, Hyde CEO; Kate Nelson of Stewart’s Shops, Kate Wilkins of The Hyde; and Jennifer Frame of Stewart’s, attend the donation ceremony.

Courtesy The Hyde

Mike Gerarde opened an indoor golf facility at 615 Maple Ave. in Saratoga Springs. ©2023 Saratoga Photographer.com

Home/Energy Insurance Employee Benefits

Fitness/Nutrition

Publication Date: September 14, 2023

Office

Publication Date: October 12, 2023

Business Sells Velotric E-Bikes

Continued From Page 1

“The step-through frames are by far the most popular as they accommodate anyone from 5-foot-1 to 6-foot-4,” Jacobs said. “The T1 ST weighs only 35 pounds, which is incredibly light for an E-bike.”

All three models may be ridden by pedal power alone or by pedaling with an electric-power assist, up to 20 miles per hour. Riders select the level of assistance they want.

But the Discover 1 and Nomad models may be driven by electric power alone, without pedaling, similar to a motor scooter.

All three bikes have an electric-power range of about 55 miles.

Velotric’s most popular model, Discover 1 ST, retails for $1,399, which includes free shipping, free assembly and a free back rack.

“That’s a savings of $179 compared to ordering direct from the company’s website, even at their current promotional price of $1249,” Jacobs said. “You pick the color and accessories, place the order and we’ll see you in 10 days.”

The Nomad fat tire and T1 ST models are priced at $1,599 and $1,499, respectively, also including free shipping and assembly.

Consumer Reports recently gave the Discover 1 its highest budget value rating, a score of 82, when tested against five other company brands. “An upright riding position and wide tires (which soak up bumps) provide a comfortable ride,” the publication said. “In our tests, this e-bike accelerated quickly and climbed hills with ease.”

Discover 1’s tires and wheels are light enough that it can be taken almost anywhere. This model is ideal for commuting, for example from one of the small towns surrounding Glens Falls into the city.

“It’s not meant to be off-road, but you can certainly take it on the Feeder Canal Trail, Champlain Canal or dirt road,” Jacobs said.

The Nomad’s fat tire makes this bike well-suited for more adventurous exploring.

“The fat tire was originally designed for winter cyclists,” Jacobs said. “You used to see a ton of them out in Aspen and places like that. But slowly they’ve become popular everywhere because you can take them so many places. They’re great for people who want to go out on a logging trail or mountain biking.”

Jacobs described the T1 ST model as fast and efficient. “If you run out of juice, it has eight speeds and

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you do have a climbing gear to ride like a bicycle,” he said.

The T1 ST model comes with a charger, which can be carried in a pack or brief case, when going to work. Simply plug the charger into the bike and it fully re-charges in three to four hours.

“The Discover and Nomad bikes have removable battery packs that you take out and plug in,” Jacobs said.

Inside Edge is the only Velotric dealer from Albany to Plattsburgh including Lake Placid, the Olympic Village, where cycling is extremely popular.

“Velotric’s sales rep has opened 50 shops on the East Coast in the past few months alone,” Jacobs said. “They protect our territory and make it profitable for us to partner with them. A new ‘cargo’ model with 20inch fat tire wheels is coming on line, too. We’ll have one here for show and to test ride soon.”

California-based Velotric, founded just two years ago, is already the fastest-growing E-bike company in the U.S. Inside Edge began offering them this spring.

“We had been eyeballing e-bikes for the past three years, but it seemed to us that the bulk of the industry was selling direct-to-consumer online and we didn’t want to floor-plan E-bikes while competing with the supplier,” Jacobs said. “E-bikes were, up until now, expensive for something of decent quality and frankly, the dealer profit margins were thin.”

Earlier this year, right out of the blue, Velotric’s sales rep stopped in to introduce himself and the brand. He had visited other bike shops in the area, but was quite impressed with Inside Edge’s operation and offered to make it the area’s exclusive dealer.”

“Once we received the three demo models of bikes, got them assembled and out on the sales floor, the flood gates opened up,” Jacobs said. “Folks can come in, touch and feel the bike, review the specifications and quality, and then take a test ride through our adjacent neighborhood or the (Warren County) bike path just a few tenths of a mile away.”

“We run a special-order program so that the customer can pick the color they want and any additional accessories they might need,” he said. “It takes a week to 10 days for the bikes to arrive from California, and everyone seems okay with that. Plans call for Velotric to open a warehouse in New Jersey this summer. That will cut special order transit time down to one or two days on parts and components.”

AngioDynamics Sells Two Of Its Product Lines To Merit Medical Systems In Utah

AngioDynamics, which has manufacturing plants in Queensbury and Lake George, has sold its dialysis and BioSentry biopsy product lines to Merit Medical Systems of Utah.

The sale price was reportedly $100 million in cash.

The sale includes Angio’s DuraFlow, DuraMax and other dialysis catheter brands as well as its BioSentry lung biopsy system. Angio had acquired BioSentry for $39.8 million from Surgical Specialties of Westwood, Mass., in 2018.

AngioDynamics is a medical device maker.

Officials estimated the company generated some $32 million in sales through the dialysis and biopsy businesses during fiscal year 2023.

Jim Clemmer, a chief executive at AngioDy-

namics, said the fi rm will focus the company on high-growth, next-generation products for treating cancer and improving blood flow to and from the heart. He said the strategy is to transition from a vascular product company into a medical technology company.

“Th is is right in line with what our strategic direction had been, but it gives us an opportunity to do that now from a significant net-cash position and not a net-debt position in a capital market environment that is really still up in the air,” said Steve Trowbridge, CFO and executive vice president.

Angio executives said the company had a strong fiscal year, with net sales of $338 million to $339 million.

ARCC And Veterans Group To Hold Suicide Prevention Walk In Glens Falls City Park

Area Health Institutions Work To Have Access To OB/GYN Services Continue

A group of area health organizations are working to ensure strong access to comprehensive OB/GYN services in Glens Falls and Saratoga in the wake of the impending closure of Women’s Care, an obstetrics and gynecology practice with offices at 45 Hudson Ave. in Glens Falls and 6 Carpenter Lane in Saratoga Springs.

Officials said the practice will close permanently on Aug. 30.

Saratoga Hospital and Hudson Headwaters Health Network are working in close collaboration with Glens Falls Hospital and Women’s Care to ensure access to services continues.

“It has been an honor taking care of our patients and their families,” said Dr. Diana Sustar, a physician and partner of Women’s Care. “While closing the practice is a difficult decision, we are heartened that Glens Falls Hospital, Saratoga Hospital and Hudson Headwaters have engaged in critical conversations and planning to ensure our community has access to comprehensive OB/ GYN services. We also thank our patients for their support throughout the years.”

ues in our community,” said Dr. William Borgos, chief medical officer of Hudson Headwaters Health Network.

“Dr. Bashant and Dr. Sustar are joining a knowledgeable and passionate team at Women’s Health, and we are pleased they will continue to provide patient care in our region,” he said.

“We’re delighted to have Drs. Bradford and Doyle join the OB/GYN and midwifery practice at Saratoga Hospital,” said Scarlet Clement-Buffoline, vice president of operations at Saratoga Hospital. “We welcome this opportunity to collaborate with them to ensure continuity of care for their patients and the continuation of high-quality obstetrical and gynecological services for women in our communities.”

The Veterans Business Network (VBN) of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) is again hosting the Veteran Suicide Awareness & Prevention Walk in downtown Glens Falls on Wednesday, Sept. 13, beginning in downtown Glens Falls City Park.

The event will be held rain or shine.

Veteran resource booths open at 3:30 p.m. Walk participants will convene at 4 p.m. at the City Park gazebo for a brief greeting. The walk will begin promptly at 4:22 p.m. and end at 4:46 p.m. at the starting point. Each registered participant must donate a minimum $1 per person at the time of event.

After brief greeting remarks, participants will walk a circuit around Downtown Glens Falls for 22 minutes in remembrance of those lost and to raise awareness of the need for prevention.

In 2021, the VBN partnered with the VFW Post 2475 to organize what was then known as the Stop 22 Walk, an initiative, started in 2018 between the Department of NY Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the health care company Humana, to increase awareness of Veterans committing suicide.

The walk has grown in attendance and

offerings. Last year saw the addition of informational tables featuring resources and services for Veterans. Currently, 11 businesses and organizations are scheduled to provide information and resources for veterans.

Donations collected at the walk will benefit this year’s chosen veteran-focused nonprofit: Alliance 180. Alliance180 is a peer-to-peer, purpose-driven program that aims to prevent suicide for fellow veterans, first responders and frontline healthcare workers facing the effects of trauma through a transformative equine experience.

“The leaders of the ARCC’s VBN have worked tirelesslåy to reach Veterans in our community to provide valuable connections to resources, business opportunities and each other,” said Carol Ann Conover, ARCC liaison to the Veterans Business Network. “This will be the third year the VBN has hosted a walk to raise awareness of the epidemic of Veteran suicide. I am proud to help organize this vital initiative to support our veterans in need and raise funds to invest in prevention. I invite our community to walk with us and share this opportunity to raise awareness with your veteran friends and colleagues.”

Four Women’s Care physicians will be joining existing OB/GYN practices following Women’s Care’s closure.

Dr. Jennifer Bashant and Dr. Diana Sustar, will join Women’s Health at Hudson Headwaters Health Network in Glens Falls (call 518-792-7841 to establish, www.hhhn. org/locations/womens-health).

Dr. Susan Bradford and Dr. Ali Doyle will join the Saratoga Hospital Medical GroupOB/GYN and midwifery (call 518-587-2400 to establish, www.saratogaobgyn.org).

“We are appreciative that the leaders of Women’s Care have engaged in thoughtful dialogue with Glens Falls Hospital, Saratoga Hospital and Hudson Headwaters Health Network to ensure OB/GYN access contin-

“We are proud to partner with Hudson Headwaters Health Network, Saratoga Hospital and the physicians of Women’s Care who are joining new practices,” said Paul Scimeca, president and CEO of Glens Falls Hospital. “Our goal is to ensure access to family-centered maternity care whether families choose Saratoga Hospital or the Snuggery at Glens Falls Hospital.”

Women’s Care providers encourage patients to keep any appointments from now until Aug. 30 to talk through transition plans.

Patients should expect a letter from the practice within the next week. Their providers are working closely with prenatal patients with due dates near the planned Aug. 30 closure to discuss individualized needs.

Further updates concerning the transfer of medical records and future plans of Women’s Care midwives and nurse practitioners will be listed on the Women’s Care website, www.womenscareny.com, as they become available.

The gazebo in Glens Falls City Park will be the starting point for the Veteran Suicide Awareness & Prevention Walk on Sept. 13. The event will be held rain or shine.

FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL Environment / Development

Documentary Series Produced By NYSERDA Showcases State’s Clean Energy Innovations

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced a new documentary series created by Roadtrip Nation: “Empowered State,” that showcases New York State’s abundant clean energy innovation and green job opportunities, as it follows three young adults who travel throughout the Empire State to see the exciting, clean energy transition already underway, and the meaningful clean energy careers driving it.

This documentary series highlights the impact of New York state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act) in demonstrating a clean energy economy results in new economic development opportunities statewide and supports long-term jobs across all sectors.

Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO, NYSERDA said, “Integral to Governor Hochul’s commitment to economic development across the State, is ensuring a just clean energy transition for all New Yorkers and fostering a robust pipeline of clean energy workers. This inspiring documentary, which also includes industry insights from clean energy experts, will help raise awareness about the exciting green job opportunities in New York and across the country and encourage aspiring workers to consider joining the clean energy economy at this pivotal time in United States history, as it is the future of tomorrow that we are building today.”

Roadtrip Nation created the four-part series, “Empowered State,” which was made possible with support from NYSERDA. The series documents the journey of Leila Tevlin, 19, a current student at Elmira College; David Yang, 21, a recent Columbia University graduate; and Julia Dworetzky, 23, an Energy Engineer at Goldman Copeland in New York City. \ The trio traveled 975 miles in 21 days, beginning in Buffalo and ending in Long Island, and conducted 10 insightful interviews with clean energy professionals across the Empire State.

These industry experts represent various clean energy sectors including: high-efficiency buildings, heat pump technology, wind and solar energy, energy storage, hydro power, clean transportation, and community sustainability.

During the road trip, these young adults learned

many facets of New York’s growing green economy and helped them better understand the passion and commitment of clean energy workers to make a difference in the lives of others. The documentary series also provides an overview of how to get started in various clean energy career paths while also providing insight into some of the hurdles and ultimate success experienced by those currently employed in this sector.

The four-part documentary series is available to watch online here, or on your local New York State PBS station starting this week. Local airtime listings can be found using an airtime widget located at the bottom of the webpage.

Additionally, a clean energy workforce community portal, “Energize Your Career, Transform the Future,” is also available to help local career seekers and young adults explore their interests and find viable clean energy career paths in New York. The portal offers numerous interviews with clean energy professionals who give candid advice on what it was like for them as they pursued a green job and what path they took to secure it. It also provides an online self-discovery course for young adults, activity guides for students and teachers, and connects current job seekers to current job opportunities.

Both the portal and the documentary series can be used nationally to showcase clean energy careers and inspire young people to become a part of it.

A critical component of New York’s Climate Act is ensuring that the advancement of a low-carbon and clean energy economy drives new economic development opportunities in New York and supports long-term careers, while simultaneously providing support and tools to the workers and communities who may be affected by the unfolding energy transition. A Jobs Study, issued by New York’s Climate Action Council’s Just Transition Working Group, found that job increases are anticipated in every corner of New York State, totaling more than 200,000 by 2030.

NYSERDA has committed more than $170 million for workforce development and training initiatives, which prioritizes targeting and benefiting priority populations, disadvantaged communities and transitioning fossil fuel workers.

Hilltop Construction

Now Headquartered

In Queensbury With New Offices, Warehouses

BY CHRISTINE GRAF

Hilltop Construction is putting the finishing touches on a new office/warehouse headquarters at 21 Casey Road in Queensbury.

The 10,000-square-foot facility is being built on two lots located in the Airport Industrial Park.

“Our company is growing, and we needed space for expansion,” said co-owner Dan Washburn.

Warren-Washington Industrial Development Agency sold the two vacant industrial park lots to Hilltop Construction for $40,500.

Washburn’s in-laws, Tom and Cindy Albrecht founded Hilltop Construction in 1975. After the couple retired two years ago, Washburn, along with his wife April Washburn and brother-in-law Tom Albrecht Jr., assumed control of the business.

Hilltop Construction builds custom homes that range in price from $400,000 to $5 million. The homes are located throughout the Capital Region and the Adirondacks.

“We’ve done a lot of work in Schroon Lake, Brant Lake and Lake George,” said Washburn. On the commercial side, Hilltop has worked on projects as far west as Syracuse. Stewart’s Shops has been a consistent client over the years.

According to Washburn, the company has numerous commercial projects in the works.

“We’ve got a new gas station in Malta (EZ petroleum on Route 9). We’re doing a Stewart’s Shop on Weibel Avenue in Saratoga that we will start on at the end of August. We are also in the middle of a huge commercial renovation at Garvey Hyundai in Queensbury, and we’re doing a small project in Colonie–a $300,000 renovation of an office,” he said.

The company recently entered into the preengineered steel building market. They work with Kirby Building Systems, an industry leader in the manufacture of custom-engineered, high-quality, and cost-effective metal building systems.

“This is a new market for us,” said Washburn. “We did a big slaughterhouse for Champlain Beef and a few car dealerships.”

The majority of Hilltop’s 36 employees work in the field on construction sites. After the new office is complete, Washburn expects to add to the company’s small administrative staff.

“The custom home market is flourishing, and we are continuing to grow and expand into different avenues,” he said.

From left, Hilltop Construction co-owners Dan Washburn, April Washburn and Tom Albrecht Jr. stand in the company’s new offices at 21 Casey Road in Queensbury.

Balloon Festival

Continued From Page 1

said. “Every store in the Price Chopper chain tells customers about the festival on radio and with circulars a week beforehand.”

All of these combined efforts create priceless publicity for Warren County’s tourism industry. The festival operates with a roughly $200,000 budget. The festival foots the bill for lodging for pilot and their crews, propane used to inflate balloons and special pilot luncheons.

Revenue comes from business/corporate sponsorships, ad sales, merchandise sales and $50,000 in Warren County occupancy tax funding. Parking fees go directly to the county, not the balloon festival.

To kick off this year’s special golden anniversary, an extra fifth day has been added to the schedule, starting with a Wednesday evening gala and moonglow hosted by WNYT-Channel 13 news anchor Mark Mulholland at Hiland Park Country Club in Queensbury.

Three business sponsors that have supported the festival throughout its long history will be honored, along with veteran pilots who are gathering from throughout the country for this special occasion. There will be live music by Rich Ortiz, and local artist Lynn Benevento will unveil a special painting done for the 50th anniversary.

This event is open to the public. Tickets are $40 per person and may be purchased soon on the festival website, www.adirondackballoonfest.org.

The event continues Thursday with a 4 p.m. parade from downtown Glens Falls to Crandall Park where opening ceremonies will be held at 5 p.m., highlighted by inflation of a special birthday cake balloon, the launch of 10 balloons, music by The McKrells (4-6 p.m.) and The Refrigerators (79) p.m. and a first-ever Crandall Park moonglow.

On Friday, gates at Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport will open at 3 p.m., allowing guests to start gathering for the 5:30 p.m. launch of 70-plus balloons including special shapes. There will also be a Zonta craft fair, food vendors, exhibitors, numerous children’s activities and music by Pluck & Rail from 4-6 p.m.

In addition to boosting local business at the start of the fall tourism season, the balloon

State Has Funds Available For Electric Vehicle Charging Station Infrastructure

Some $29 million has been allocated in new York state for electric vehicle Level 2 charging infrastructure under Charge Ready NY 2.0 and consumer rebates through the Drive Clean Rebate Program.

The incentive and rebate programs mean more New Yorkers can drive electric as New York state reached a milestone of 150,000 EVs on the road in June 2023.

The funding supports the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 85 percent by 2050 and New York state’s requirement that all new passenger cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs sold in the state be zero emission by 2035, officials said.

in a disadvantaged community. Publicly owned facilities in a disadvantaged community are eligible for $4,000 per port.

Additionally, $3 million is dedicated for workplaces and multifamily buildings that hold educational “ride and drive” community events, purchase electric fleet vehicles, or offer free charging.

The Charge Ready 2.0 program also continues to accept new equipment and network eligibility applications from EV charger vendors until program funds are exhausted.

festival has helped area nonprofits raise nearly $1 million over the years, officials said. Groups and organizations set up fund-raising booths at the airport, and this money goes right back into the community.

The largest balloon launches are scheduled for Saturday morning and evening, and again on Sunday morning.

Airport gates open at 4:30 a.m. Saturday. There will be a special Dawn Patrol launch of five to 10 balloons in the dark (5:30 a.m.) and 90 more will take to the skies at 7 a.m. including special shapes.

Activities will be ongoing in the afternoon with a craft fair and vendors and music. About half the balloons will take flight at 5:30 p.m. Saturday while others stay at the airport and prepare for a large moonglow at 7:30 p.m.

On Sunday, a mass ascension of all balloons at the festival will take place at 7 a.m.

For a full schedule of events visit www. adirondackballoonfest.org.

‘NY Forward’

Continued From Page 9

munities and support local economies that often have a feel and charm that is distinct from larger, metropolitan urban centers funded through DRI. To date, NY Forward has awarded a total of $100 million to 24 communities in its fi rst round.

Like with DRI, DOS and an assigned consultant will work with NY Forward communities through a planning and technical assistance process to develop a slate of readily implementable projects. NY Forward differs, however, by providing additional one-to-one technical assistance to support communities in developing their full applications and throughout the implementation process. NY

Forward also offers two funding options for each region—two $4.5 million awards or one $4.5 million award and two $2.25 million awards.

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward program “are breathing new life into our downtown areas by adopting locally-focused strategies shaped by residents, businesses and stakeholders. These programs continue to create successful projects in communities across the state, and have been the catalyst needed to generate new investments and spur economic growth.”

“New York’s climate and clean transportation leadership is reducing air pollution and emissions through solution-based investments in charging infrastructure and rebates,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “Providing cleaner air in communities that face high vehicle traffic, particularly those that are historically marginalized, is an essential step to improving the state’s quality of life while building a more sustainable future for residents, workers and visitors alike.”

Under the program, some $15 million was added to Charge Ready NY 2.0, to support EV charger installation at workplaces and multifamily buildings statewide, as well as public facilities located in disadvantaged communities. This program can help eligible entities save up to 50 percent on installation costs for Level 2 chargers, which are ideal for locations where a car will be parked for a few hours and can provide up to 25 miles of electric range for each hour charged.

Officials said the program has $12 million available for charging station installation at workplaces and multifamily buildings with an incentive of $2,000 per port, and $2,500 per port

To support consumers seeking cleaner driving options, $14 million has also been added to the State’s Drive Clean Rebate to help reduce up-front costs on the purchase or lease of a new EV. The point-of-sale rebate ranges from $500 to $2,000 on one of more than 60 models currently eligible through a participating car dealership in New York state.

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said electric vehicle adoption “is rapidly accelerating in New York, and as more drivers make the switch, deploying charging infrastructure to match demand is essential. The additional support announced today through Charge Ready NY 2.0 and the Drive Clean Rebate will not only make convenient charging more accessible, but also help lower the cost of purchasing a new vehicle -providing complementary opportunities for more New Yorkers to join the EV revolution.”

Charge Ready NY 2.0 and the Drive Clean Rebate are administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and are funded through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and the State’s 10-year, $6 billion Clean Energy Fund. More information is available on NYSERDA’s website.

Since 1945 Eastern Heating and Cooling, Inc. has been serving commercial and industrial customers through Upstate New York, Western Massachusetts and Southern Vermont with designs, installation and maintenance service. When faced with difficult complex problems, experience matters

A record number of balloons are expected to be at this year’s Adirondack Balloon Festival. Paul Post

Chuck Ciaccia 29 years

Jude Gosh 34 years

Dave Weiss 23 years

Spencer Agan 25 years

Senior Living / Retirement

Activities At Area Senior Centers Keep People Active And Engaged In Their Communities

BY CHRISTINE GRAF

Research shows that older adults who participate in senior center activities have higher levels of health, social interaction, and life satisfaction than their peers. Locally, the Glens Falls Senior Center and the Queensbury Senior Center are enhancing the quality of life for more than 2,000 members.

Located at 380 Glen St., the Glens Falls Senior Center has 642 members. Memberships cost just $30 per year, and the center receives funding from City of Glens Falls, the Warren County Office of the Aging, the Town of Queensbury, and the Tri-County United Way.

Glens Falls Senior Center Executive Director Kim Bren believes that senior centers play a vital role in the community, helping seniors to stay active and engaged and to meet new people. She works to dispel the notion that senior centers are filled with people sitting around playing Bingo.

“People say, ‘I don’t want to sit around and do nothing,’” she said. “That’s not who we are. We are a very active center. One of the hardest things is getting that awareness out.”

Stephanie Smith, director of Queensbury Senior Center, agrees. She believes that staying active and engaged is the key to aging well.

The Glens Falls Senior Center offers a variety of exercise classes including Osteobusters (a strength training class designed to prevent osteoporosis and improve balance), chair yoga, and tai chi. Games including Bingo, bridge, pinochle, and Scrabble also take place regularly. Craft workshops, line dancing, Wii bowling, and educational programs are also on the calendar, and each month, the center holds a themed luncheon.

In addition to offering programing, the center offers all members full access to their wood shop which is equipped with a table saw, band saw, chop saw, drill press, belt/disc sander, drum sander, planer, jointer, and more.

According to Bren, many of the center’s events are held off site.

“We have a Lunch Bunch where our members meet for lunch at local establishments, and in the summer, our most popular programs are the things that we do that get you out and about. We have an ice cream tour every Monday where they go to different ice cream shops ... We try to get them out—doing things and being active.”

Members who attend outings can provide their own transportation or ride on the center’s 12-passenger van. Free transportation to medical appointments is also available to members.

Before planning the activities schedule for upcoming months, activity coordinator Nicole Laing meets with members.

“We listen to what they want,” said Bren. “If there’s a program they would like to have or a place that they would like to visit, we make it happen. This

is their center. We are here for them.”

Senior service specialist Ed Capezutti is on staff to help seniors—both members and non-members-with issues related to a variety of issues including insurance, housing, and household bills. A notary, he will travel to a senior’s home if they are unable to come to the center. He also assists with SNAP applications and helps seniors fill out the application that enables them to receive farmer’s market vouchers.

At the height of COVID when the center was closed, Bren said she and her staff kept in contact with members, making regular phone calls to check in on them. They ran errands, picked up medication, and even procured a wheelchair for someone who was getting out of the hospital.

“We were there to make sure they were okay during that period. Some of our phone calls were 5 minutes, and others were 35 minutes because some people had no one,” she said.

As the director of Queensbury Senior Center at 742 Bay Road, Smith ensures that her 1,400 members have access to a wide variety of programs available at little to no cost.

The center offers exercise classes including Zumba, tai chi, stretch and tone, Latin moves, yoga, and Nordic pole walking. Those who participate in pole walking visit local trails, using poles to help them navigate the terrain.

Games including pinochle, pitch, Mahjong, and dominoes are played regularly between the hours of 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., and the center’s calendar also includes craft workshops and a weekly watercolor class. Off-site activities include bowling, an out to lunch group, and a golf league. The center’s com-

Continued On Page 14

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Business Report Care For The

Long Term

BRIAN M. JOHNSON, MBA, CLTC

When it comes to where and how you live, and what you do with your money, you want the freedom of choice and confidence that you’re making the right decisions.

The same is true with your long-term care strategy, helping you set the stage for the future and the legacy you have planned.

Long-term care is quite simply assistance with simple everyday tasks, even as simple as eating or getting dressed. The need for care could arise from an accident, illness, cognitive impairment, or the aging process. You may never need it.

But, the best time to start thinking about it is before the need arises and while you’re still able to take control. Many Americans work hard, save diligently for retirement, yet fail to address the single biggest risk to their portfolio and families: extended healthcare.

When it comes to long-term care, do not be swayed by common misconceptions such as:

• “It won’t happen to me.”

People unrealistically downplay their personal risk. Seventy-nine percent of people put off discussions about long-term care, but 98 percent of financial professionals say they have clients who have needed it. In fact, being healthy presents even a higher risk of needing long-term care services than someone who is managing chronic a condition.

• “Medicare or Medicaid will cover me.”

If qualified, Medicare will likely be insufficient for long-term care needs and Medicaid does not account for your choices or preferences, and one must financially qualify for benefits.

• “That’s what my savings are for.”

Many Americans significantly underestimate long-term care costs. Home care, assisted living and nursing care can run between $40,000-$150,000 per year in today’s dollars.

• “My family will take care of me.”

This might not be a misconception. However, do you really want to put the burden on your loved ones?

Interestingly women and adult children are more likely than men to become family caregivers. Due to life expectancy rates, women are also more likely to need care.

With an aging population, that contradiction means it’s more important than ever for women to be open and honest about the expectations for the future. 87 percent of caregivers surveyed say emotional challenges are among the most difficult aspects of providing long-term care.

When should you begin planning? Clients tends to wait until they age 60 before beginning their long-term care planning, but financial professionals suggest moving that timeline up a decade or more.

The earlier we start, the more options we will have. Planning ahead not only protects our assets and loved ones, but it also gives us peace of mind. Long-term care is in the back of all of our minds and dealing with it up front can be extremely freeing.

When planning, we should consider:

• Caregiving. Let your loved ones know your preferences. Do you want to be home, in assisted living, etc?

• Health-related decisions. Designate who has authority to discuss your medications and treatment and inform your physicians.

• Finances. Find out what the costs of different types of services may be where you retire.

Take inventory of your assets, income, legacy planning goals, and any debt obligations.

• Legal matters. Make sure you have a living will, a trust, a durable power of attorney and healthcare proxy and be sure your attorney is also in tune with your wishes and desires.

Above all, planning starts with a conversation. Some of the most important conversations about your care are not the easiest, however, the easiest time to discuss the topic is when you’re healthy and not yet in need of long-term care.

Remember, it’s never too early to address long-term care and the sooner you do it, the sooner you’ll have that peace of mind.

The Glens Falls Senior Center offers members access to a well-equipped wood shop.

Brian Johnson, director, business development at Advisors Insurance Brokers. Courtesy Advisors Insurance Brokers

AARP Study Says Voters Over 50 Can Be Pivotal In Upcoming Elections Across The U.S.

Pre-Retirement, 12-Month Checklist

BY BILL CANTY, CFP, CPA

The period leading up to your retirement is a critical time to ensure that you have your financial plan in place as you enter retirement. Financial planning doesn’t stop once you retire, things change and your need to stay on top of things and adjust as needed.

This is the focus of much of our work with clients approaching and in retirement.

Here is a checklist of items to review during the 12 months leading up to retirement.

Retirement budget. One of the most important things to do during this period is to formulate a retirement spending budget. This will drive almost everything else that you do financially in retirement. This budget should take into account your normal monthly costs plus money to cover things like travel or other activities that you plan to do in retirement.

Sources of retirement income. During this period it’s important to identify all sources of retirement income that you can tap. This might include many of the following:

Employer retirement accounts such as a 401(k), 403(b), Thrift Savings Accounts (TSP), or deferred Compensation; IRA accounts, both traditional and Roth; taxable investment accounts; real estate.

Depending upon your situation there may be additional sources of income to consider as well.

It’s important to be sure that you have your arms around all potential sources of retirement income, and how much income you might generate from each of these sources. Additionally, you will want to be sure that you understand the tax implications of tapping each of these income sources.

Retirement withdrawal strategy. Putting a retirement withdrawal strategy in place is critical. Which accounts will you withdraw funds from and in what order? This will be driven by a number of factors including your age at retirement. When you claim your Social Security will certainly be a factor in this strategy.

This goes hand-in-hand with your retirement budget and also encompasses tax planning in terms of whether to tap taxable or tax-deferred retirement accounts first.

Regularly reviewing and adjusting your retirement withdrawal strategy is vital for effective financial planning during retirement. Our team specializes in assisting clients with this essential aspect of retirement planning.

401(k) and employer retirement plans. When our clients retire or leave their employer, they often ask about what to do with their 401(k) or similar retirement plan. We assist them with rolling over their plan to an IRA, developing a retirement withdrawal strategy, and ensuring their investments are aligned with their goals and time horizon.

For many individuals, the 401(k) or employer retirement plan represents their largest retirement savings, so it’s crucial to develop a well-defined strategy for managing and investing these funds

throughout retirement.

Transferring a 401(k), 403(b), TSP, or Deferred Comp to an IRA account offers several advantages for portfolio management. It provides a wider range of investment options, such as individual stocks, bonds, ETFs, and a more extensive selection of mutual funds compared to employer-sponsored plans.

Rolling over the employer plan allows for better integration into an overall investment strategy and alignment with other managed assets. Moreover, IRAs often offer lower-cost investment options when compared to employer retirement plans.

When taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) or taking distributions from tax-deferred accounts, it’s important to consider the associated tax implications and engage in tax planning. Additionally, careful consideration should be given to selling the appropriate investments to facilitate distributions.

Healthcare costs. A key budget item is the cost of healthcare. Depending upon the circumstances surrounding your retirement, how you cover the cost of healthcare may vary over the course of your retirement.

In the case of a married couple, if one spouse is still working while the other spouse retires the working spouse may be able to add their spouse to their employer’s policy. If you are retiring as part of an early retirement package from an employer, check to see if they offer any extended health insurance benefits.

Medicare is the main vehicle to cover healthcare costs in retirement and it’s important to learn as much as you can about the basic coverage offered by Parts A and B as well as other options such as drug coverage and Medicare Advantage plans. You can learn more about the basics of Medicare in our article here.

Social Security. Prior to retiring, you should

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Candidates who support the issues most important to Americans ages 50-plus can improve their margin significantly in close 2024 races, according to a new AARP poll.

The poll, which surveyed likely voters from the 40 most competitive congressional districts, found caregiving to be a pivotal top issue for voters 50 and over. Americans 50 and over are the largest—and perhaps the most crucial—voting bloc, said AARP.

While the poll shows that voters 50-plus say candidates’ stances on Social Security and Medicare are very important factors impacting their vote next November (81 percent and 77 percent, respectively), 70 percent of these voters want candidates to support policies to help older adults live independently at home as they age.

Thirty-eight percent of voters are currently caregivers, a number that doubles when those who have been one in the past or expect to be one in the future are included. Democrats have an advantage over Republicans among voters 50-plus on caregiving (44 to 38 percent), but in a generic congressional ballot, more caregivers today vote Republican over Democrat (49 to 38 percent). Over two-thirds (67 percent) of voters 50-plus also rate the cost of prescription drugs as a very important issue, with Democrats leading by just three points (42-39 percent) on their perceived handling of this issue.

“Caregiving and the cost of prescription drugs could very likely be the most important issues of the upcoming election cycle,” said Nancy LeaMond, AARP executive vice president and chief advocacy and engagement officer. “Candidates can’t afford to ignore the issues that matter to the 50-plus—who will likely be the decisive voting bloc in 2024—especially in an election cycle where control of Congress and the

White House are both up for grabs.”

In the 2018 and 2022 mid-term elections, the share of voters 50-plus was approximately four times that of voters under 30, (56-15 percent and 59-12 percent, respectively). In the 2020 presidential election, the share of voters 50-plus was nearly three times that of voters under 30 (53 percent-18 percent).

Not only will older voters likely continue to make up a larger share of the electorate in 2024, AARP’s new poll shows that they are also much more motivated to vote. Eighty-five percent of voters 50-plus say they are extremely motivated to vote in 2024, compared to just 67 percent of younger voters.

In these 40 competitive districts, the parties are tied on a generic congressional ballot. Among voters 50-plus, the 50-64 age group strongly favors the GOP (52 -35 percent), while those age 65 and older lean Democratic (46-43 percent). Women age 50-plus favor the GOP by just one point over Democrats (44-43 percent), while men age 50-plus show much stronger Republican support (52-38 percent).

AARP commissioned the bipartisan polling team of Fabrizio Ward & Impact Research to conduct a survey. The firms interviewed 1,752 likely voters in 40 of the U.S. House districts that Cook Political Report rated as “lean” or “toss up” as of July 5.

This includes a sample of 1,200 likely voters distributed across the districts, with an oversample up to 1,200 likely voters age 50 and older distributed across the districts, between July 5-11. The interviews were conducted via landline, cellphone, and SMS-to-web. The margin of sampling error for the 1,200 likely voter and 50-plus likely voter samples is plus-or-minus 2.83. Interviews were offered in English and Spanish.

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

Longtime Glens Falls Doctor Opens Practice In Malta Office; Handles All Patient Care

BY JILL NAGY

Dr. Danushan Sooriabalan—known as Dr. Dan to many of his patients and a hospitalist at Glens Falls Hospital for 10 years—expects his new “direct primary care” practice in Malta to give him more time with patients and less with paperwork.

Patients will pay a fixed monthly fee, the amount depending upon their age, for unlimited access to his care.

The doctor, an internist, has been in practice since 2007. He did his internal medicine residency at Albany Medical Center, including a year as head resident. In addition to his time at Glens Falls Hospital he was part of the Hudson Headwaters practice group.

In May, he set out on his own with an office at 2452 Route 9 in Malta.

He said after his first six weeks, he had 87 patients. He aims for a maximum of 300.

Most of his new patients are from Malta, Clifton Park, Saratoga and other nearby communities. He made no attempt to bring patients from his prior practice “out of respect for my previous employers,” he said.

While he expects to hire a nurse in the near future and uses a third-party company for billing, everything else is “do it myself.”

His practice model is a fairly new one but, he said, a growing trend, especially in the southern United States. It is also referred to as “concierge medicine.”

He said that he wants to get to know his patients and to be able to spend as much time with each one as necessary. “They see only me,” he said. “No fragmented care.”

He also appreciates the autonomy of a private single-physician practice.

Since they pay his monthly fee directly, patients do

Operator Of 33 Subway Restaurants In The Region Plans Another Store In Queensbury

BY CHRISTINE GRAF

Russ Faden, a real estate developer and franchisee who operates 33 Subway restaurants, has acquired property at 1471 Route 9 in Queensbury where he will build another store in the franchise.

He purchased the two-acre property from Frank Parillo and Saratoga Prime Property for $575,000.

As part of his plans to redevelop the property, Faden will tear down an existing 3,500-squarefoot building, replacing it one that measures approximately 8,500 square feet. The building will be home to a new a Subway restaurant and Faden plans to lease the remaining retail space.

He said he will also build 24 self-storage units in the rear of the property. The estimated cost for the project is $2.5 million.

At one time, Faden leased space in the building he plans to demolish.

“We had a Subway there for about seven years, and it hasn’t been open for about a year to 18 months. It always did pretty well, but it was just an outdated building,” he said.

“I know it’s a good business to get into. Everybody needs storage units, and I think it will be good for that area because there are a lot of businesses that probably could benefit from it.”

Demolition is expected to begin in 30 to 60 days, and Faden hopes to have the project completed by next summer. Several prospective tenants have already expressed interest in leasing retail space in the building, which is located across from the Log Jam Outlet Centers.

“There’s so much traffic up there—especially in the summer—but all year long,” said Faden. “I think it’s a great, growing area.”

In addition to developing real estate, Faden is in the process of updating his Subway restaurants with the “Fresh Forward” design. The new design is part of Subway’s franchise development strategy, one that will require all franchise owners to update their restaurants.

Faden has already converted about half of his Subway locations and said that he expects to have the rest completed by the end of next year.

not need insurance in order to cover the cost of their care. However, he said, he encourages them to carry private insurance to cover other costs, such as hospital care and referrals to specialists.

Sooriabalan was born in Sri Lanka but left that island nation, with his family, at the age of 2. The family spent seven years in England and then moved to Canada. He came to the United State to complete his medical training at Albany Med.

Further information about the practice can be found at www.DrDanMed.com. His telephone number is 518-886-3338.

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“I think that with a new building, with better design and better parking, that it has the potential to be a great plaza. It’s going to be a whole tear down and redevelopment. We’re essentially going to push the building back a bit and have parking in the front and parking in the rear. It’s a deep lot, and the storage units will be in the very back where there’s not a lot of visibility.”

For Faden, a former Saratoga Springs police officer turned entrepreneur, this will be his first self-storage facility. He cites the area’s growing demand for storage space as the reason for his decision to enter that market.

Personnel Briefs

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firm, Paradigm Capital Management, with over $2 billion in assets under management. He went on to become the controller of a small Albany personal injury law firm, Dreyer Boyajian.

From there, Nelson was a controller/consultant for Shade Tree Advisors that handled all aspects of financial reporting and management for high-networth clients, assisting with getting the company up and running and transitioning to new financial software and getting timely financials to clients and standardizing the financial reporting process allowing the company to take on more clients. He continued as the controller for a construction company and finally as the director of finance for TRG Property Management which is an Albany-based commercial real estate management company.

Terry Delong is also a CFO. With over 40 years of experience as a CPA and CMA, Delong analyzes and evaluates company needs and develops shortterm and long-term strategies for growth and stability. He has performed accounting for a wide range of industries, including insurance, manufacturing, wholesale and retail consumer goods, hospitality, marinas, and professional employer organizations.

Delong has led the accounting and finance departments for several start-up companies, and he has provided them with the financial leadership to grow into top companies in their industries He ran his own CPA firm in Lake George for over 15 years.

“It’s a good size investment to do it, but in every store that we’ve done it, it has turned out well. Some have done better than others, but overall, it’s a clean look and it helps with the overall perception of Subway. It’s a big move, but it’s much needed in a lot of restaurants,” he said.

Overall, sales have increased. Expenses have also risen, and hiring remains particularly challenging.

“By far the biggest challenge is finding help and keeping good help,” he said. “Just when you think things are getting better, you have a setback. We will hire 10 people, half will show up, and we will end up keeping one or two.

Another CFO hire is Karl Cote. He is an experienced business professional helping organizations to achieve a wide variety of goals and fulfill their missions.

Most recently, he served as the chief financial officer at Liberty ARC, a nonprofit with a $60 million budget, where he led all aspects of financial services including strategic planning, financial statement preparation and analysis, and cost report and tax return preparation.

He served as the executive director of the Northeast Health Foundation for 17 years, where he led team members, strategic planning, and action plans to raise over $66 million during his tenure. In addition,Cote served as a financial leader within St. Peters Health Partners where he held various positions including director of finance, controller, and accounting manager, where he spearheaded many system implementations and led the consolidation of multiple finance offices. Prior to his time in private industry, he worked as a CPA for five years for the regional firm of Urbach, Kahn & Werlin, (now UHY). Karl received his BBA in Accounting from Siena College.

He is a Certified Fund Raising Professional (CFRE), as well as a Certified Public Accountant (inactive).

Chris Williams is a sales tax specialist. He has 10-plus years of sales tax experience ranging from retail, manufacturing, and telecommunications, with his most recent experience coming from working with a news broadcasting company. He has a business administration degree with a concentration in accounting and enjoys working with new clients and cultivating relationships.

Dr. Danushan Sooriabalan is known as Dr. Dan to many of his patients.

Courtesy Dr. Danushan Sooriabalan

Center At Glens Falls Hospital Is Working With Schools On Farm-To-Table Projects

The Health Promotion Center at Glens Falls Hospital and area school districts are trying to increase their farm-to-school efforts and agricultural learning in the classroom.

Local school districts have partnered with the center. The goal is to further promote health and wellness for district students, faculty, staff, and community.

Officials said the districts benefit from the support of Creating Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC), a state Department of Health grant secured by Glens Falls Hospital. The CHSC initiative strives to increase physical activity and access to healthy foods in our communities and schools, whether this be through school districts, early childcare centers, work sites, or community settings.

The Health Promotion Center of Glens Falls Hospital works to improve the health and wellbeing of the people and communities in the region. Its work focuses on strategies to make it easier for people to eat well, be tobacco-free, be physically active, and obtain preventative care.

Th is work is currently supported through numerous grant-funded initiatives housed within the Health Promotion Center, including Creating Healthy Schools and Communities, Health Systems for a Tobacco-Free NY, and Cancer Prevention in Action programs. Schools in Warren and Washington counties have gravitated toward indoor growing systems, which can be incorporated into the classroom and school year schedule. Classrooms from preschool to grade 12—including science, home and careers, and special education classes—have integrated gardens, allowing teachers to utilize them for several topic areas and lessons.

Presently Granville, Whitehall, Johnsburg, and North Warren school districts have indoor growing capacity. Classrooms are growing produce such as microgreens, parsley, cucumbers, tomatoes, chili peppers, and arugula. Officials said they have provided their harvests to the school cafeteria to be used in their schools’ meal programs, classroom taste testing, and meals cooked by the Family and Consumer Science class.

At Mary J. Tanner Primary School, special education students in grades 1-3 have a relationship with the agricultural students from Granville Junior and Senior High School. The students in the high school program visit the primary school and assist with their tower garden and mentor the students on growing skills. The model is beginning to be replicated in other school districts.

The Preschool at Mary J. Tanner has also

started to grow vegetables in their classrooms with a grow tower, which allows them to learn about the chemistry of aquaponics.

Johnsburg has indoor grow trays in several of their classrooms beginning with Preschool, as well as, in their science and Family and Consumer Science classrooms. Sarah Fink, science teacher at Johnsburg Central School, said, “A huge success for us is that we have met as a team and put together a great proposal for extending our garden to an outdoor one next year. Just yesterday our superintendent gave me the go-ahead to go forward with planning, which is extremely exciting.”

Whitehall Central School has indoor grow trays and towers at both the junior and senior high cafeteria and special education classroom, as well as in the science lab at the elementary school. They have harvested lettuce and herbs for their lunch program.

North Warren School has integrated growing into both their FACS class and health classes. plans for the end of the school year included reinvigorating their community garden which has been vacant since COVID.

Schools have formed garden committees and the Health Promotion Center has created a network of teachers and food service directors that have integrated gardening into their classrooms and school districts. Teachers can ask questions of other teachers throughout the two counties to help guide them through the ups and downs of gardening.

For the 2023-2024 school year, two more school districts, Fort Edward and Hudson Falls, will partner with CHSC to implement and grow their programs as well as Christ Church and North Warren preschool programs.

For questions regarding the grants or the Health Promotion Center of Glens Falls Hospital call 518-926-5919.

Glens Falls Hospital serves patients across five diverse counties in an area that spans 6,000 square miles. Founded in 1897, the main Glens Falls Hospital campus is home to the C.R. Wood Cancer Center, the Joyce Stock Snuggery Childbirth Center, the Breast Center, and the Wound Healing Center.

Along with the main hospital, more than 20 regional facilities provide a vast array of specialized medical and surgical services, including coronary care, behavioral health care, rehabilitation, and wellness services. Glens Falls Hospital is a member of the Albany Med Health System, which also includes Albany Medical Center, Albany Medical College, Columbia Memorial Health, Saratoga Hospital, and the Visiting Nurses.

The Glens Falls Business Improvement District (BID) has contracted with Victoria Beagle, employee of the Adirondack Civic Center Coalition, Inc., to conduct a census of the businesses located within the Business Improvement District in Glens Falls, a requirement of their bylaws.

Assistance from the businesses within the BID will be greatly appreciated, officials said. The census has an anticipated start date of Aug. 14 and will last until it is completed, which is expected to take approximately one week.

People with questions regarding the census or the Glens Falls BID in general can contact Victoria Beagle, at vbeagle@coolinsuringarena.com or 518-480-3355.

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The historic Parks-Bentley Place in South Glens Falls will host a free, family program titled “Games that Grandma and Grandpa Played” at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, at 53 Ferry Boulevard in South Glens Falls.

The event centers around the games that were family favorites in days gone by when there were no electronics and few places to go for entertainment, including dominoes, hopscotch, checkers, and cards.

Parks-Bentley Place is also open to the public for house tours from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays throughout the summer. Currently on display is an exhibition of military uniforms and gear from the Civil War through the conflict in Afghanistan.

The historic home is one of the three oldest buildings in South Glens Falls, but is the only one open to the public. For details regarding Parks-Bentley Place, visit parksbentleyplace. org.

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The top airline carrier at Albany Interna-

tional Airport added on July 11 a new direct flight to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C.

Southwest Airlines is handling the flight. The airline already has a number of direct flights out of Albany, including to Baltimore, Chicago’s Midway Airport, Denver (June through October), Orlando and Tampa.

Flights to Washington, D.C., will leave at 2:55 p.m. and arrive there at 4:40 p.m.. Flights from Washington to Albany will leave at 12:35 p.m. and arrive in Albany by 1:55. * * *

Catholic Charities of Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties will hold its annual summer fundraiser, An Evening at SPAC, featuring the Philadelphia Orchestra, on Thursday, Aug. 18 at 7:30 p.m.

The evening’s performance is Earth: An HD Odyssey. Tickets are priced at $175 each.

The performance will be preceded by a reception on the South Portico at the Hall of Springs beginning at 6 p.m. The cocktail reception will feature an open bar, hot and cold hors d’oeuvres catered by Mazzone Hospitality, and a silent auction. Following the reception, guests will proceed to the amphitheater and enjoy prime seating for the performance.

Catholic Charities of Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties has been serving the tri-county area through a wide spectrum of counseling and programming efforts since 1975. In 2022, the agency served more than 3,000 residents regardless of religion, race or economic status. Catholic Charities services are provided by skilled professionals and services benefit youth at risk, victims of domestic violence, families in need of counseling, the terminally ill, and countless others.

For more information on the mission or services provided by Catholic Charities, call 518-587-5000.

Glens Falls Area Restaurants

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

Park & Elm

Glens Falls, NY

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

Park 26

Glens Falls, NY

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

O’Toole’s Restaurant Pub

Queensbury, NY

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

Jack’s American Bistro

Queensbury, NY

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

Fenimore’s Pub

Glens Falls, NY

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

Davidson Brothers Restaurant

Glens Falls, NY

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

Morgan & Co. Restaurant

Glens Falls, NY

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

The Grateful Den

Glens Falls, NY

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

The Log Jam

Lake George, NY

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

Courtesy of GlensFalls.com

Senior Centers

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munity craft group makes hats, scarves, and mittens that they donate to area school children during the holidays.

Continuing educations programs are offered throughout the year, addressing fraud prevention, estate planning, defensive driving, and other topics relevant to seniors.

“In September, Maria Spagnola Home Instead is going to present a program called ‘Depression in our Senior Years,’” said Smith. “Depression is pretty common as people get older, and we want them to recognize the symptoms, risk factors, and treatment options.”

Smith’s assistant director, Elizabeth Stone, oversees the travel program which includes both day and overnight trips. This year, members traveled to Maine and Charleston, S.C., as well as to Proctors, SPAC, and local museums. In October, Stone will be leading a group of 20 seniors on the center’s first international trip. They will be traveling to London and Paris.

A membership to the Queensbury Senior Center costs just $25 a year, the remainder of the center’s funding being provided by the Town of Queensbury

and sponsors including CDPHP and Eddy Senior Living. A recent grant from LARAC was used to fund a drawing class, and a grant from the Glens Falls Foundation provided funds to update an outdoor picnic area. A grant from the Adirondack Community Trust Fund is being used to offset the cost of travel for day trips.

According to Smith, she and Stone plan activities based on input from their members. While games are exercise programs are especially popular, they are open to trying new things.

“Whatever people tell us they want to see, we try to make that happen. This is their center, and we will try anything once. We tried a few games that didn’t work out, but you never know. We just keep trying things and see how it goes.”

Many of the center’s members are new to the area and are looking to connect and make friends.

“This is a great place to start. You don’t have to join everything all at once, and slowly you get to meet people and feel more comfortable,” said Smith. For those interested in learning more or to see a calendar of events, visit www.seniorsonthego.org and gfseniors.com.

730 Upper Glen Street Queensbury NY

Wednesday thru Saturday 4:30 - 9pm Reservations recommended

Kiss: French Drink: Russian Eat: American

Pre-Retirement Checklist

Continued From Page 11

obtain a copy of your Social Security statement and review it for accuracy. It’s important to be sure that all of your earnings are properly credited to your record as this is the basis of how your Social Security benefits are calculated. If you find omissions it’s important to contact the Social Security Administration immediately to get this corrected.

During this time period, you should also review your benefit levels based on claiming at various points in time. This will help you determine when is the best age at which to claim your benefit as part of your overall retirement financial picture.

Pension. If you are covered by a defined benefit pension plan from your employer, this is the time to be sure you understand how to claim your benefit and any options available to you as to how to receive your benefit and the benefit level based on when you claim it.

Most defined benefit plans offer the benefit as a monthly annuity payment. The payment amount may differ based on the age at which you commence your benefit. Some companies may also offer the option to receive a lump-sum payment versus the stream of annuity payments.

You will also want to ensure that your beneficiary information is up to date. If you are married, the beneficiary is generally your spouse, but you should verify to be sure.

You may also be entitled to a pension benefit from a former employer if they offered a pension plan and you were vested in a benefit prior to leaving that employer. Vesting typically occurs

after five years. You should contact that former employer to be sure you are on top of what needs to be done to initiate your benefit.

Stock compensation. If you have received any type of stock-based compensation from your employer, you want to be sure that you understand what needs to be done to take full advantage of this prior to leaving the company.

This might include stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), or other vehicles. Be sure that you understand when and how to convert these vehicles to shares and also any restrictions on selling the shares if desired.

Taxes. Many might think that once you retire worrying about taxes is a thing of the past. In fact, taxes are among the top issues that retirees need to focus on. During the year leading up to your retirement, you will need to do some tax planning in conjunction with formulating your withdrawal strategy.

You will also want to look at the tax impact of pension payments and other streams of retirement income. Assisting clients with tax planning is a regular part of our services, both as they approach retirement and throughout their retirement years.

In the year leading up to retirement, or prior to that time, there are a number of planning issues to resolve and things to verify. The items listed above are a good starting point, your list may differ a bit depending upon your own unique situation. The more prepared you are, the more likely you are to enjoy a financially successful retirement.

First Time in 50 Years! Mohican Resort

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Essity Closes Local Plant

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said Essity’s top priority is keeping employees informed about everything they need to know about the closing.

“The future of the sites is something that we will be discussing in the next several weeks,” she said.

However, Woerner said she contacted the United Steelworkers union, which represents Essity employees, and “they’ve been told there’s no plan to sell the plant to another business, that their plan is to just mothball the building.”

The United Steelworkers (USW) has sent a letter to Essity urging management to reconsider the decision. “The community needs management to consider alternatives to shutting down in South Glens Falls,” said USW International Vice President Luis Mendoza. “Hundreds of loyal, experienced workers deserve to work for an employer with plans to operate the mill.”

Essity has indicated that it will neither seek a buyer to operate the facility nor allow the USW to look for one.

“We are shocked and disappointed that Essity has made the additional decision not to look or allow the union to search for potential buyers,” Mendoza said. “This decision ultimately leaves these members, their families and the surrounding community in a devastating position.”

Mendoza said that the company’s actions in South Glens Falls are impacting morale at other USW represented Essity facilities.

The USW and Essity are engaged in negotiations over the effects of the company’s decision to close the South Glens Falls mill, covering subjects such as severance pay and recall rights.

The need for more modern, technologi -

cally-advanced facilities was a major factor in both Essity’s and Lehigh’s decisions to shift operations elsewhere.

The South Glens Falls mill made Tork brand away-from-home paper products such as napkins, bathroom tissue and hand towels found in fast-food restaurants, travel rest stops, hospitals, schools and other institutional settings, all made from 100 percent recycled paper.

“Our product line is evolving and many of the machines in our New York plants do not have the capability to make these more innovative and in-demand products,” Ford said. “Essity will consolidate production at sites that make the products that have the highest customer demand. Our U.S. manufacturing plants are located in Alabama, Kentucky, Ohio and Wisconsin.” Essity’s U.S. headquarters are in Philadelphia. The company has no other facilities in New York aside from those South Glens Falls, Greenwich and Saratoga Springs, which are closing.

Some observers believe New York’s unfriendly business climate—high tax and energy costs—are also to blame along with a shrinking labor pool caused by a declining statewide population.

“While Saratoga County has the lowest upstate tax burden, New York is a notoriously high-cost state with a regulatory bureaucracy that challenges even the smallest employers, never mind larger ones like this,” said Todd Shimkus, Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce president. “Heavy manufacturing in the U.S. and New York state have continued to be challenged by foreign competition, labor rates, regulations and taxes. Now with inflation and

cost increases for everything, every business is in a restructuring mode of some sort to adapt and remain successful.”

But he, too, is optimistic that Essity workers will be able to find new jobs fairly quickly.

“Saratoga County leaders reacted swiftly to communicate with organizations like the Chamber as they plan job fairs for the impacted employees,” Shimkus said. “We’ve already had a number of distribution, manufacturing and construction firms call us looking to talk with these employees. The county’s Career Center is coordinating all of this and we’ve pledged to send an email to our entire employer database to invite everyone to help. We never want to see an employer leave Saratoga County, but from a labor perspective we have many jobs available locally as our historic labor shortage persists. As of June, we had more Saratoga Country residents working and fewer unemployed than in years.”

Woerner added, “I don’t think it’s a matter of leaving manufacturing and having to take a lower-paying service job. I hear from manufacturing businesses all the time such as Miller Mechanical, Fronhofer, machine tool businesses, medical device manufacturers, that they need workers.”

And despite the exodus of Essity and Lehigh, Woerner said she believes area manufacturing is still strong. A Canadian company that makes large wastewater pipes, creating 50 jobs, is coming to Grande Industrial Park in Saratoga Springs soon, she said.

“There’s also a lot of start-up manufacturing, a lot of spin-offs of other businesses and young people coming out of RPI and SUNY Albany, coming here that don’t get a lot of attention,” she said. “With the natural resources, quality workforce and quality of life we have to offer, companies

find us a very appealing place to locate a business.”

Essity, previously called SCA, purchased the South Glens Falls mill from Encore Paper Company in November 2001. The closing comes as a surprise because the plant underwent a $20 million, 52,000-square-foot expansion upgrade in 2009, highlighted by an $8 million paper converting machine and a new employee service area.

The new high-speed converting winder made hard-wound brown paper towels, the kind commonly found in public rest rooms.

“It’s too early to tell what will become of the existing facility,” said Todd Kusnierz, Moreau supervisor and Saratoga County Board of Supervisors chairman. “As Essity remains the owner, they will be expected to continue to pay any property taxes owed and maintain compliance with any local codes regarding the appearance of the site.”

In 2016, the Essity property had an assessed valuation was $25,590,000. A stipulation Moreau Town Board approved by a 3 to 2 vote on Dec. 18, 2017, reduced this in steps to $14 million in 2022, the most recent year for which figures are available.

“Essity has been a major longtime company in our community that has provided good well-paying jobs,” Kusnierz said. “This news is a tremendous loss that will have a devastating impact on the employees and their families. Right now, the primary focus is to help those who have lost their jobs. We have the Saratoga County Department of Workforce Development, the Saratoga-Warren-Washington County Workforce Development Board, the state Department of Labor and the various Chambers all working to identify potential employers for these individuals.”