Month: July 2026

Munter Balances YMCA Renovation With Major Regional Construction Projects

July 21, 2026

A rendering shows the Glens Falls YMCA, where Munter Enterprises is carrying out an $8 million, multiphase renovation designed to keep programs and facility use operating during construction.
Courtesy Munter Enterprises

By Rod Bacon

The crews at Munter Enterprises are looking at a very busy year. The Middle Grove-based construction firm has numerous projects underway or nearing completion.

In Glens Falls, Munter is doing an $8 million renovation of the Glens Falls YMCA using a multiphase approach to help keep programming and use of the facility as seamless as possible for staff and members.

Phase one, which is underway with an anticipated completion date this fall, is the redesign of a family locker room, a women’s locker room and a men’s locker room.

Phase two will be a dedicated group fitness studio.

Phase three creates a multiuse indoor sports complex.

Phase four is a complete redesign of the wellness floor.

Phase five redesigns the front lobby, creates a youth STEAM area and includes a new cycle studio.

And somewhere in the mix of the other phases, the pool deck on the Fire Road side of the building will be expanded to include an on-deck restroom, sauna and hot tub.

Queensbury’s Hilltop Construction Celebrates 50 Years And Third-Generation Growth

July 21, 2026

From left, Cindy Albrecht, Tom Albrecht Sr., April Washburn, Daniel Washburn and Tom Albrecht Jr. gather at Hilltop Construction as the Queensbury family business marks its 50th anniversary.
Courtesy Hilltop Construction

By Paul Post

Tom Albrecht Sr. launched Hilltop Construction with a dollar and a dream.

Now marking its 50th anniversary, the firm is one of the area’s best-known residential and commercial builders, with projects from Saratoga to the southern Adirondacks and from Great Sacandaga Lake to Lake St. Catherine in Vermont.

But Albrecht says he never worked a day in his life.

“That’s because I loved the business, every aspect of it,” he said. “But more importantly, I loved building people’s dreams.”

A celebration for clients, current and former employees and business friends is planned for August at Hilltop’s new headquarters at 21 Casey Road in Queensbury’s Airport Industrial Park.

Albrecht and his wife, Cindy, recently celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary. Now retired, they enjoy spending time with grandchildren and traveling, especially to major league ballparks across the country.

KPM Targets Larger Restoration Projects Through Regional Expansion

July 21, 2026

KPM Restoration employees gather beside company vehicles as the firm expands across the Capital Region, Hudson Valley and Vermont to pursue larger residential and commercial restoration projects.
Courtesy KPM Restoration

By Susan Elise Campbell

KPM Restoration now has five fully staffed offices in the Capital Region, three in the Hudson Valley and one in Vermont, allowing it to handle 30 or more jobs each week, according to President and founder James Kennedy. The firm restores homes and buildings damaged by water, fire, mold and sewage caused by natural disasters or system failures due to age or accidents.

Kennedy said clients range from Lake Placid to Long Island and that the Bronx is the latest market he is entering. He is moving into the boroughs by “getting out there networking and keeping relationships tight,” which has been his approach since starting KPM Restoration in 2017.

“The growth we are experiencing goes back to taking a chance and getting a network of good vendors, building managers, insurance companies, construction project managers, plumbers, and others to partner with,” he said. “And it is about making a foundation of people with grit who are like family to me.”

The firm is shifting to larger jobs from its new location in southeastern New York because, as Kennedy said, “bigger buildings need bigger restorations.”

Hinman Construction Builds Aging-in-Place Business Through Remodeling Demand

July 21, 2026

A remodeled kitchen illustrates Hinman Construction’s design-build work as growing numbers of homeowners age 50 and older choose to update their existing homes rather than move elsewhere today.
Courtesy Hinman Construction

By Carol Ann Conover

Ballston Spa-based Hinman Construction, a family-run design-build firm, has built a growing share of its business around a demographic shift familiar to communities across the region: homeowners age 50 and older who want to remodel rather than move.

Nationally, 75% of adults age 50 and older say they want to remain in their current home as they age, according to AARP’s Home and Community Preferences Survey, and 73% of remodelers report increased client demand for aging-in-place features over the past five years, according to the National Association of Home Builders. Owner Kim Hinman said she sees that demand play out in a few distinct ways among her clients.

“I would say almost like three groups,” Kim Hinman said. One group built a large home within the past decade or so and later realized they wished they had a first-floor bedroom and bathroom, whether for an aging parent or for themselves as mobility needs change. A second group modifies existing space to make it work, converting a closet into a shower area or turning a dining room into a bedroom. A third group sells a larger house and hires Hinman Construction to fully renovate a smaller, existing home to suit their needs going forward.

Cerrone Builders Advances Two Residential Projects in Warren, Saratoga Counties

July 21, 2026

A newly built home at The Village at Upper Sherman in Queensbury reflects Cerrone Builders’ response to demand for smaller homes, flexible floor plans and maintenance-conscious living options.
Courtesy Cerrone Builders

By Susan Elise Campbell

Cerrone Builders Inc. is addressing continued demand for varied housing choices in Saratoga County and the North Country with smaller homes and maintenance-conscious options for buyers who may not be seeking a traditional subdivision with larger lots.

Following its success with The Village at Sweet Road off Northway Exit 19, Cerrone launched a similar maintenance-free community two years ago: The Village at Upper Sherman in Queensbury, said Steven Cerrone, one of the managing partners of the family-owned residential construction business.

“‘Upper Sherman’ has been very well received, with more than half of the 45 lots sold,” said Cerrone. “The first six builds are waiting on permits right now.”

“Two model homes have been sold, and we got a building permit last week to build another one,” he said.

While the newer development was intended to mimic the Sweet Road project, Cerrone said The Village at Upper Sherman has larger lots and appeals to a broader demographic than the anticipated market of people 55 and older and empty nesters.

AAA Northway Highlights Trust As Travel Demand Grows Among Older Adults

July 21, 2026

Amy Roode leads AAA Northway travel operations as demand grows among older travelers.
Courtesy AAA Northway

By Carol Ann Conover

As more adults 50 and older look to travel rather than downsize their plans, AAA Northway says it is seeing steady demand for hands-on trip planning, along with a renewed emphasis on the trust between traveler and travel agent.

Amy Roode has spent 20 years with AAA Northway and now serves as managing director of travel operations, based out of the organization’s Queensbury office. AAA Northway’s footprint spans five locations, from Vestal in the Binghamton area up through Schenectady, Saratoga, Halfmoon and Queensbury. Roode works with more than 50 preferred vendors, including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruise Line and Trafalgar escorted tours, managing marketing contracts, training and travel events while coaching the sales team one-on-one.

Roode said travel habits among the 50-plus set have shifted noticeably since the pandemic. “I think COVID has helped us,” she said, describing a mindset she now sees regularly among clients. “They’re like, travel while you can. They have that mentality.” River cruising, in particular, has grown. “River cruises have picked up in the past eight years in our area,” Roode said, noting it appeals to travelers who want the intimacy of a smaller ship and closer ports alongside the variety of an escorted tour.

Long-Term Care Planning in New York: Why Waiting Can Limit Your Options

July 21, 2026

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

By Brian M. Johnson, MBA, CLTC

Ask most Capital Region residents about retirement planning, and they’ll likely talk about 401(k)s, IRAs, Social Security, investment portfolios, or estate planning.

Ask about long-term care planning, however, and the conversation often becomes much quieter.

That’s surprising considering that long-term care may represent one of the largest financial risks facing retirees today. Whether care is received at home, in an assisted living community, or in a nursing facility, the costs can have a significant impact on retirement savings and family finances.

In New York, those costs are among the highest in the nation. According to Genworth and CareScout’s most recent Cost of Care Survey, the median annual cost of a home health aide in New York is approximately $77,792, assisted living costs roughly $75,600 annually, and a semiprivate nursing home room costs approximately $176,660 per year.

For many families, the challenge isn’t simply paying for care; it’s understanding their options before a health event occurs.

Why Waiting Can Reduce Your Options

One of the biggest misconceptions about long-term care planning is that it can be addressed later. The reality is that many planning options depend on both age and health. Traditional long-term care insurance and many hybrid long-term care solutions require medical underwriting. As people age, premiums generally increase, and certain medical conditions may limit eligibility or reduce available choices. A strategy that may be available at age 55 could be unavailable at age 70 following a major health diagnosis. That’s why many financial professionals encourage clients to begin evaluating long-term care funding options in their 50s and early 60s, while they are still healthy and insurable.