Jake Van Ness, Author at Glens Falls Business Journal

Jake Van Ness

2231 Articles

Cool Insuring Arena Head Sees Big Hockey Season, Eyes More Events Post COVID-19

August 13, 2021

Jeff Mead is the director of Cool Insuring Arena in downtown Glens Falls.

By Christine Graf

After being shut down for more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 4,800-seat Cool Insuring Arena in downtown Glens Falls reopened at limited capacity in April. At that time, event attendees were required to wear masks and present negative COVID test results. Those restrictions are no longer in place.

“In the middle of June of this year we were able to reopen normally which was a breath of fresh air,” said arena manager Jeff Mead. “As long as we have under 5,000 people in the building, there are no restrictions.”

Seventy-five percent of the arena’s staff have returned to work, and the rest are expected to return by the end of August, he said. Mead and his operations manager were the only two employees who remained working throughout the shutdown.

The arena hosted four dance events and three graduations during the month of June. Some occurred while the mask and testing mandates were still in effect.

“There were unfortunately a few people who weren’t the happiest of customers,” said Mead. “They either didn’t want to wear masks or didn’t think they should have to show a negative test. It was unfortunate, but I would say that 97 percent of people understood.”

Because of the pandemic, the arena was forced to cancel the 2020-2021 season for its East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) team, the Adirondack Thunder. An affiliate of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, the team will play its home opener for the 2021-2022 season at the arena on Oct. 23.

Senior Citizens Continue To Return To Programs And Social Life At Senior Centers

August 13, 2021

Kim Bren, standing, oversees activities at the Glens Falls Senior Center.

By Jill Nagy

Area senior centers are open and busy as COVID-19 safety guidelines eased up . Members are returning for exercise classes, meals, games, trips, and, most of all, the chance to socialize after over a year of isolation, officials say.

At the Queensbury Senior Center, there is a waiting list for some classes and others are full. Seniors at the Glens Falls Senior Center had their first trip of the season, to a youth theater performance at Lake George, at the beginning of August, but as a precaution, only six passengers were allowed in a 12-passenger van

At the Clifton Park Senior Community Center, dances are back but live music will have to wait until September, officials said. At the Saratoga Senior Center, art classes art full and demand is great for exercise classes and anything including food, especially Friday barbecues in the tents behind the building.

. On the whole, center directors report a slow but steady return of their members and attendance at about half the volume they were used to before the pandemic. Saratoga, for example, hosts about 70 seniors a day, compared to 130-150 a day before the height of the pandemic. But, according to director Lois Celeste, “each month, we keep adding.”

The centers never completely closed during the pandemic. They provided take-out meals and delivered groceries and medications; conducted online and outdoor programs; and made an effort to keep in touch with members. On the whole, staff worked from home and no one had to be laid off.

The Queensbury center bills itself as “Seniors on the Go.” The facility normally has a robust travel schedule, including overseas trips, said Stephanie Smith, the development coordinator, who is acting director while the center looks for a replacement for Michele Whitbeck.

Business Report: Prepare For Health Care Costs In Retirement

August 13, 2021

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

By Meghan Murray

It’s unfortunate but true: As we age, we encounter more health-related issues and they carry a price tag that can get pretty high in retirement.

Will you be ready for these costs?

Perhaps your first step in preparing yourself is knowing what you may be facing. Consider this: 80 percent of Americans 65 and older have a chronic condition and 42 percent live with a disability, according to the National Coalition on Aging and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as reported in a recent Edward Jones/Age Wave survey titled “Four Pillars of the New Retirement: What a Difference a Year Makes.” The study also found that retirees’ greatest financial worry is the cost of health care and long-term care—concerns that have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

And health care is likely going to be one of the largest expenses in retirement. The average couple might spend $10,000 to $12,000 per year on health care costs. Nonetheless, you can boost your confidence about meeting these costs by making the right moves.

National Commercial Solar Harnesses Energy For Businesses And Homes In New York

August 13, 2021

Brent McDevitt is the founder and president of National Commercial Solar Advisors Inc., which has an office in Queensbury. The company has simplified the process of going solar for businesses.
Lisa Balschunat

By Lisa Balschunat

National Commercial Solar Advisors Inc., with its office in Queensbury, is harnessing energy for businesses and residential properties in New York state, New Jersey and Vermont, and has its sights on Florida next, according to president and founder Brent McDevitt.

Established in 2019, the company has simplified the process of “going solar” for businesses, communities and public organizations by providing customers with a comprehensive proposal and package that makes the process seamless. With nine years of experience in the solar industry and previously aligned with Apex Solar, McDevitt said that he “knew the industry would pop” and wanted to be a part of it.

“When businesses invest in commercial solar energy they can significantly reduce their operating costs and potentially save tens of thousands of dollars over time,” McDevitt said. “This allows businesses to free up cash flow to use in other areas, and of course, utilize a green energy source that is good for the environment.”

Solar panels do not require any additional maintenance to a building or property and McDevitt stated that most systems are guaranteed for up to 25 years.

“Businesses who invest in solar energy receive a 26 percent federal income tax credit and 100 percent bonus depreciation” he said. The company offers customers looking to go solar with a total package of upfront services including a comprehensive proposal, site visit, design plans, state and federal application assistance through to a final contract.

“We’ve installed EV charging stations at The Sagamore Resort, The Inn at Erlowest, the Town of Queensbury, and at other hotels, resorts and bed and breakfasts in the Lake George region,” he said. “Right now, we are super proud to be working with our first five-star hotel, Mirror Lake Inn in Lake Placid, to establish commercial solar and EV Charging Stations there.

Stewart’s Shops Adding High-Powered Electric Car Charging Stations At Stores

August 13, 2021

Stewart’s Shops added its first NYPA EVolve Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Station in Schodack. Officials said they can charge an electric vehicle in just 15 to 30 minutes.
Courtesy Stewart’s Shops

Stewart’s Shops is adding electric car battery charging statiuons across its many stores..

The company broke ground on its first NYPA EVolve Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Station on July 1 in Schodack.

Officials said the chargers are powerful enough to provide a full charge to a electric vehicle in just 15 to 30 minutes.

The DC fast chargers have three kind of plugs to make sure an electric vehicle of choice can stop in and get a charge on the go. EVolve New York’s chargers are available to all non-Tesla electric vehicles.

Officials said some charging stations will have a Tesla adapter.

Stewart’s Shops currently has three Tesla supercharging stations throughout New York with plans to expand the program by installing two more by the end of 2021.

The Stewart’s Shops charging station in Schodack will be fully operational by September and is just one of five EV charging stations that Stewart’s Shops plans to open by the end of the year.

The Schodack EV charging station is an extension of Stewart’s Shops current EV Charging program. As part of NYPA’s EVolve New York Clean Energy Initiative, they plan for other charging stations at Stewart’s Shops locations throughout New York state in Moreau, Latham, Keene and Clifton Park.

Glen Street Associates Moves On With Its Specialty Of Bringing Old Buildings To Life

August 13, 2021

Peter and Suzanne Hoffman are overseeing the renovation of the old post office on Warren St. in Glens Falls. Historic features of the building and its character were preserved.

by Andrea Harwood Palmer

Glen Street Associates LLC is nearing completion on several projects in downtown Glens Falls.

Peter Hoffman, real estate developer and principal of Glen Street Associates LLC, with his wife Suzanne Hoffman,co-owner of the company, has been involved for several years in projects that involve renovation of older structures in the downtown area.

“It really is fun,” Hoffman said. “At my stage of life, I don’t want to build plywood buildings. I really love the restoration projects. When you get done and you see the vitality of the space—when you hear people say it’s fun to work in this space, with high ceilings, or post and beam, or brick walls—it becomes really gratifying.”

Hoffman said the renovation of the old Post Office building at 67 Warren St. is nearly complete. Historic features and the building’s character were preserved, while the infrastructure and utilities were thoroughly updated, he said.

When completed, the Social Security Administration will move into the ground floor. The second story of the building is currently occupied by Glen Street Associates, which relocated from its 100 Glen St. offices.

Hoffman purchased the building in 2011 for $150,000, from St. Mary’s Catholic Church located next door. The church was seeking permission to demolish the building when Hoffman learned of the plans and made an offer to purchase it.

Another project was the renovation of the former Red Cross building at 74 Warren St. That is completed and the space is rented. The ground floor is occupied by commercial tenants, while the second story is a high- end residential apartment. The parking lot was recurbed and refinished with green space and new exterior lighting.

PR Company Focusing On ‘Green’ Companies Lands Clients Including SUNY Albany

August 13, 2021

Sustainable PR, a public relations agency based in Glens Falls, specializing in media services for green companies, has added three new clients: Glens Falls Urban Agriculture Pilot; (re) x, a California eco-friendly design company; and the University at Albany’s School of Business.

The agency will promote these green-focused clients in ways that will help them deliver on their sustainably focused missions and goals, the company said.

“There’s a combination of factors driving the sustainability marketplace,” said Tony DeFazio, principal of Sustainable PR. “The ebbing of the COVID-19 pandemic is turbocharging the U.S. economy. Additionally, President Biden has launched public policy initiatives to ‘green’ the economy to compete globally, especially with China.

“And the growing awareness and acceptance by consumers of the importance of sustainable practices to counter climate change, is creating a perfect storm of opportunity for entrepreneurs and the advisors who serve them.”

The Glens Falls Urban Agriculture Pilot, a pioneering private/public initiative sponsored by the City of Glens Falls, engaged Sustainable PR to generate exposure for its new vertical farming system. This project will develop and refine a self-contained vertical farming system, designed to grow a wide variety of vegetables, herbs, and plants at site-independent locations year-round.

The goal of this project will be to help communities across New York state pursue a green path of recovery through the post-COVID era of economic transition.

Business Report: Goatopia?

August 13, 2021August 13, 2021

Rose Miller is president of Pinnacle Human Resources LLC.

By Rose Miller

We found a cool place to vacation in Rhode Island this year. The owner calls it Goatopia. She has created a little slice of heaven beside the Sakonnet River.

She is a former dancer who took her dance studio and her artistic style to create a unique and comfortable guest house for visitors.

The house is surrounded by beautiful gardens where she also tends to chickens and goats daily. The goats have names and you can tell the Billy because he stands proudly on the tallest stump in the pen.

This place got me thinking about how employers tend to their flocks. As employers, we have a responsibility to understand who works for us and what we want people to do for us. Results can be achieved when understanding how employee traits translate into achieving goals.

But here’s the thing. Do you need a herd of goats or do you need a flock of sheep? They may look all the same but there is big difference.

The owner of the house likes goats because they are independent thinkers just like her. There is nothing ordinary about her place and it’s as colorful and whimsical as she is.

Business Report: Renovations Can Inspire A Return To The Office

August 13, 2021

Dorothy Rogers-Bullis is owner and president of drb Business Interiors in Saratoga Springs.
©2019 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Dorothy Rogers-Bullis

If the past year has taught us anything, it’s that life requires flexibility. We’ve all had to make adjustments both large and small in order to cope with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Businesses in particular have had to pivot and in many cases reinvent the way they operate in an effort to keep their doors open and ensure employees and customers are safe.

For many companies, the initial solution was to allow certain employees to work from home. Of course, this wasn’t an option for some industries like restaurants, medical practices, and grocery stores. But for many office-based businesses, employers and employees managed to make working from home “work” through a combination of technology and ingenuity, and oftentimes, a whole lot of patience.

Meetings and conversations that used to be done face to face were moved to video conference. Workers figured out new platforms and software, working out the kinks as they went. They stacked up piles of books to get their computer at the right height, found their most flattering lighting, and tidied up their workspace to get it camera-ready.

It may not have been an ideal work-from-home set-up, but indeed, necessity is the mother of invention, so they made it work.

Partners Develop Space-Themed Candy Store At French Mountain Commons, Lake George

August 13, 2021

From left, Jeff Small, Zach Moore, Chad Rabinovitz are business partners in The Candy Space, a new space-themed candy store located on Route 9 in Lake George.
Andrea Harwood Palmer

By Andrea Harwood Palmer

A new space-themed candy store has opened in the French Mountain Commons outlet center on Route 9 in Lake George.

Business partners Chad Rabinovitz, Jeffrey Small and Zach Moore had the grand opening for The Candy Space on July 8. The store has thousands of different candies, toys, cotton candy and space-themed paraphernalia, as well as 180 bulk bins of candy.

Rabinovitz and Moore had been talking about opening a store together in an empty retail space Moore had available at the outlet center.

“I said, ‘Here’s the deal. I’m in if it’s a candy store’,” said Rabinovitz.

“I’d love to say there was a ton of market research that happened, but the reality is I’ve always wanted to open a candy store. So that’s how it happened,” he said.

After the business partners made the decision to open a candy store, Rabinovitz started playing with ideas of what the business model should be and how they would offer something that didn’t already exist. With Amazon being the current retail leader in candy sales, Rabinovitz knew he needed to give people a compelling reason to come into a brick and mortar location.