Month: February 2025

By Paul Post

A first-of-its kind sports event for Glens Falls drew a large crowd to Cool Insuring Arena while giving local businesses a welcome boost.

More than 3,500 people turned out February 7 for Cage Wars, a mixed martial arts fight promotion with more than a dozen bouts on the card. The event was sponsored by Anthony Constantino, founder and CEO of Sticker Mule, an Amsterdam-based online custom printing company, who is also seeking the 21st District congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, President Trump’s choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

“As far as Cool Insuring Arena is concerned, we did our best just to make it a sporting event and an event that brought people to Warren County and downtown Glens Falls,” General Manager Jeff Mead said. “That’s what we’re all about, bringing people and groups to the City of Glens Falls for entertainment and the business community. From that aspect, it worked out perfectly; 3,500 people came downtown on a Friday night while the hockey team was out of town. They stay at local hotels, go out to dinner before and out to bars afterward.”

By LEE COLEMAN

The design for the new Shepard park amphitheater and bandstand has received positive reviews since the plans were unveiled by AJA Architecture and Lake George officials in late January.

“We are endorsing the design, we love it. It will increase attendance and becomes its own art piece,” said Tanya Tobias-Tomis, director of Lake George Arts Project.

The former pavilion was destroyed by an early morning fire last June, just before the summer season of events were to begin. A temporary bandstand was erected and the summer season was saved.

“With an acoustic-centered design, improved sight lines to both the stage and the lake, and safer, more accessible seating, audiences will enjoy a world-class experience like never before,” Tobias-Tomis said.

“Artists will benefit from high-quality sound and lighting, green room facilities and much-needed storage, while key safety upgrades, including lighting improvements in the park, ADA compliant walkways, and wi-fi improvements will enhance the overall experience for all who are visiting the park,” she said.

Mint Restaurant, a well-regarded Glens Falls establishment renowned for its commitment to fresh, locally sourced ingredients and a delightful dining experience, is now bringing its unique charm to Slingerlands. 

Johanna von Geldern, the proud owner of Mint Restaurant, along with her daughters Katriel and Cagney Houlihan, is a fervent advocate of sustainable and ethical dining. Her passion for food is deeply rooted in her childhood, where she witnessed her mother’s recovery from a serious illness through a macrobiotic diet. This early experience sparked her lifelong interest in healthy, mindful eating.  

This concept is at the core of Mint Restaurant. The restaurant passionately prioritizes sourcing ingredients from local farms and artisans, ensuring freshness, quality, and ethical and sustainable practices, fostering a strong connection with the local community.

The current menu includes produce from Grazin’ Acres Farm and The Mushroom Shop in Salem, Almosta Farm in Gansevoort, Kilcoyne Farm in Hudson Falls, Jasper Hill Farm in Freeville, Rosemary Acres and Pleasant Valley Apiary in Argyle, Saratoga Gluten Free in Schuylerville, Rock Hill Bake House in Glens Falls, and Pleasant Valley Flowers in Fort Edward.

Von Geldern’s mission is to foster a “safe space” for both employees and customers, ensuring a positive and supportive environment. She handpicks staff members who share her passion for service and contribute to the restaurant’s warm atmosphere. “I want everyone to have the most pleasing experience we can possibly provide,” she affirms.

By Ann Donnelly

The Adirondack region is a popular destination for vacationers seeking natural beauty and outdoor recreation. A new company, LakeGeorgeVacay.com, aims to elevate the vacation rental experience in the area by focusing on luxury properties and personalized guest services. Co-owner James Rubino says, “We’ve seen that there’s a void in the luxury market up in the Adirondacks and Bolton Landing area and wanted to bring that resort feel to our vacation rentals and create lasting memories for our guests.”

Currently, LakeGeorgeVacay.com manages six properties, all located in Bolton Landing. While Rubino’s business partner, John Lasalandra, owns these initial properties, the company plans to expand its portfolio by managing other local vacation homes. This dual focus means they cater to two distinct client bases: homeowners seeking management services and vacationers seeking high-end accommodations.

Beyond simply providing a place to stay, LakeGeorgeVacay.com aims to be a comprehensive booking platform similar to Airbnb but with a key difference. By booking directly through LakeGeorgeVacay.com, guests can save 10 to 15% on booking fees compared to third-party platforms. “We want to offer a more economical alternative for guests coming to the area,” Rubino stated.

Do you have an idea for an environmental project that could benefit your community or the local environment? Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District might be able to help. The Soil & Water Conservation District  is accepting applications for its Community Conservation Program, through which grants of up to $1,000 are available per project.

Since 2017, Warren County Soil & Water Conservation District has funded a variety of conservation-related initiatives, including seed libraries, pollinator and rain gardens, tree plantings, and citizen science water quality monitoring. This grant opportunity is aimed toward schools, municipal departments, and local community-based organizations such as scouting groups, beautification committees, or other not-for-profits. Projects must be implemented on public land that is open and accessible.

Projects also must be completed by November 30, 2025 to qualify for this year’s funding.

By Ann Donnelly

Sheila Greco’s journey to becoming the founder and CEO of SGA Talent, a Saratoga-based recruiting firm, is a testament to embracing opportunity and the power of networking. Her story began in bond trading in New York City and took an unexpected turn after a chance conversation at a cocktail party. “Someone said, ‘Oh my God, you should be a recruiter,’” Greco recalls. Intrigued, she explored the field, landed a job at New York City firm Goodrich and Sherwood, and quickly discovered her passion.

Life, however, had other plans. In 1989, family matters brought Greco home to Saratoga. Fortuitously, a client offered to support her in starting her own business, and SGA Talent was born. “I started as sole proprietor, and within about three years,” says Greco, “I hired five people, four of which are still with me today.”

SGA Talent started as a research house that provided organizational chart structures and name generation, which involves providing a company with candidates from a list of competitors that they select. “Our clients said, ‘Why aren’t you doing recruiting? Why aren’t you doing competitive intelligence?’” Greco explains, highlighting how the company’s service offerings evolved organically based on client needs.

Over the years, SGA Talent expanded into executive recruiting and, more recently, ventured into the staffing sector. In 2022, an opportunity arose to staff the Saratoga race track. Despite having no prior experience in hospitality, Greco embraced the challenge. “I said, ‘I don’t know anything about it,’ and embraced it,” she says. This leap of faith led to SGA Talent staffing major events like Formula One races in Las Vegas, the Super Bowl, and the PGA. The firm also provides staff for college food service, outdoor festivals, and corporate events. “That business is a lot of fun, and we’re having a great time,” Greco enthuses, “I love the industry.” 

By Rod Bacon

An often quoted proverb states “When one door closes, another door opens.”

This was the case for Eric Mattison, an entrepreneur who recently established two businesses in Whitehall.

For 10 years Mattison owned Square Nail Rustics in Glens Falls, a business that made wide plank flooring and farmhouse furniture. His 30-employee firm was located in the Chase Bag Building and he a showroom in Union Square and a second manufacturing facility on Dix Avenue. 

He decided to move his base of operations to a home he purchased in Hartford that had a carriage house on the property. The previous owner had made wide plank flooring from old gym bleachers, and Mattison figured the transition to the new location would go smoothly. 

“It was a pre-existing use so I thought it would be pretty easy for me to use that carriage house that he was using to make my wide plank flooring,” he said. 

That was not the case. He had planned to enlarge the carriage house to suit his needs when the COVID pandemic hit. According to him, the price of construction materials went up considerably and the demand for custom flooring and farmhouse furniture declined.

“It simply wasn’t financially feasible to continue with this business anymore,” he said.

So he sold the Hartford property and started looking for another business opportunity.