By Carol Ann Conover

After more than 20 years in health care, Alisha Stosic is shifting from senior living leadership to a pet-care business in downtown Glens Falls with the launch of Downtown Dogs Spa & Boutique at 45 South St., the former Hot Shots building. The business will host its grand opening Nov. 21–23, offering full-service dog spa treatments and a curated retail boutique.

Stosic brings a long background in senior-care management, rising from hands-on caregiving roles to executive director positions. She studied health and human development with a focus on geriatrics and worked in caregiving, activities, sales and marketing, and administration. After moving to Glens Falls in 2016, she continued in health care until the opportunity to launch a business aligned with her lifelong love of dogs. She had considered a boarding and day-care facility, but the South Street location helped shape the concept into a spa-and-boutique model.

Recently released by the Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance, the Visitor Center reported a strong finish to its fourth season, highlighted by increased participation in tours and continued interest in restored historic sculptures. More than 500 people joined guided tours of the park in 2025, a 34% increase over the prior year. Museum visitation rose 3% to 3,665 guests.

Alliance President John DiNuzzo credited the season’s momentum to the restoration and rededication of three bronze sculptures completed earlier this year. The project, conceived by the late sculptor Dan George and carried out by Workshop Art Fabrication, was funded by the Society of Colonial Wars, Lorna Hainesworth, the Lake George Park Commission, and community supporters.

The Alliance also marked the installation of two historical signs on Diamond Island, commemorating the September 1777 battle. Work continues in the off‑season on the “Repose of the Fallen” project, which will reinter the remains of 44 individuals who died at the Continental Army hospital in 1776. The reburial is scheduled for May 22, 2026.

By Paul Post

Interest in available Warren County shovel-ready sites is at its highest point in recent history. The key is matching prospective investors with the property they need.

Quite often, firms don’t have to be sold on features such as reliable infrastructure and high quality of life. They come because of prior familiarity with the area.

“It’s generally relationships that lead people here,” said Jim Siplon, Warren County Economic Development Corporation president. “They’re referred by somebody they do business with, they’ve been to our area or have a connection to someone in our area. For example, the medical device industry, the Sheridans and Phil Morse, they chose to build that industry here because they had some connection to the place. It’s those relationships that tend to generate the most impact, more than purely listings.”

Queensbury Industrial Park near Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport, Tech Meadows in West Glens Falls, and large privately-held parcels off Big Bay and Corinth roads near Exit 18 are prime development sites in Warren County.

“Right now we have more than 60 active business inquiries,” Siplon said. “That’s as high as it’s ever been since I’ve been on the job five years. We continue to be bullish about it. Most are from this area, but some are from other parts of the country and world.”

Last month, a prospective food-related business visited Warren County.

“It was a combination of place and access to some of the raw materials they would use,” Siplon said.

Glens Falls was once a hub of heavy industry, not only paper mills, but other large employers that have shuttered their doors, most recently the former Lehigh Cement Company that closed in 2023 after 130 years of operation. Across the Hudson River, the large former Essity paper mill lies idle in South Glens Falls.

But the days of chasing similar firms to locate here are long gone, Siplon said.

By Paul Post

 Industry leaders call it a two apple season.

“The color and flavor this year are phenomenal, where if you have one apple it’s so good you immediately reach for another one,” said Cynthia Haskins, New York Apple Association president. “If you haven’t tried a new crop apple yet, go out and buy some. They really are good.”

New York is the nation’s second-leading apple producer, surpassed only by Washington state; a $2.1 billion industry that supports nearly 12,000 jobs, a Cornell study says.

The impact is especially important to rural small towns and hamlets where farms are located, as there are 150 you-pick destinations that draw huge crowds on autumn weekends. Visitors quite often patronize other small business, too, such as retail shops and convenience stores during fun family outings.

A recent Warrensburg Apple Festival gave a variety of local vendors a chance to market their products in this Adirondack town.

In Argyle, Washington County, McWhorter’s Orchard owner Mel McWhorter said, “We’re very, very busy. We’ve got a lot of activity. Traffic through the building here is very good. Ninety percent of our business is from Warren and Washington counties, but I always look at the address when people pay with checks. We get customers from Crown Point to the Schoharie Valley and some from Poultney, Vt.”

By Paul Post

The Adirondack Thunder, under new Head Coach Sylvan Cloutier, can’t wait for the puck to drop at their Saturday, Oct. 25 home opener against the reigning Kelly Cup champion Trois-Rivieres Lions.

A successful season, and a wide variety of upcoming non-hockey events, would bolster Harding-Mazzotti Arena’s fiscal bottom line and enhance its positive impact on the downtown Glens Falls economy.

“Hopefully in 2025-26 we have a great year on and off the ice with the team and big events; a great season where we can invest all the money back into the building,” said Jeff Mead, Thunder president and arena and general manager.

The 46-year-old arena has seen a series of major capital upgrades in recent years, but needs a whole new ice plant, engine room, and ice rink boards and glass, costing an estimated $5 million, he said.

Tough, speedy forward Matt Salhany, returning to Adirondack after five years in Europe; defenseman and former South Carolina Stingrays captain Jacob Graves; and 15-year ECHL veteran Justin Taylor are among a core group that Cloutier is counting on heavily to provide leadership for the team’s younger players.

“Character, commitment, hard work,” Cloutier said. “We wanted guys with a high compete level and people that want to buy in coming into our community, knowing how passionate and knowledgeable our fans are about the game. Obviously you want to win hockey games, but it’s a small community so we need guys who want to be a part of it. That was a very important part of our recruiting.”

The Thunder set an all-time attendance record in 2024-25, averaging about 4,500 fans per game, and season ticket sales are already head of last year’s total (2,150). Four of the arena’s five suites have been purchased by corporate clients and a fifth, made available game by game, is almost sold out, too.

Nearly 270 people attended the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce’s annual Business Awards breakfast at The Queensbury Hotel, celebrating the businesses and organizations that strengthen the region.

One of the event’s highlights was recognizing the contributions of 45 nominees before announcing the 2025 award winners.

Winners of the 2025 ARCC Business Awards were:

•  Steven M. Sutton Small Business of the Year: Kingpin’s Alley Family Fun Center — A community entertainment center known for hosting fundraisers and collecting donations to support local causes.

•  Large Business of the Year: ADNET Technologies — A leading IT solutions provider with an 86–90 percent employee retention rate and a “work-from-anywhere” culture that promotes productivity and satisfaction.

•  Professional Business of the Year: FitzGerald Morris Baker Firth P.C. — A regional law firm founded in 1936 that operates under the motto “Power in Team.”

•  Large Nonprofit of the Year: Silver Bay YMCA — A retreat and conference center that has provided more than $1.4 million in community benefits through its programs and services.

•  Small Nonprofit of the Year: The Hyde Collection — A world-class art museum committed to expanding access to art education, workshops, and hands-on activities for all ages.

The Saratoga Regional YMCA Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Allison D’Antonio as the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer. A seasoned YMCA leader with nearly 15 years of experience across multiple sectors of the organization, Ms. D’Antonio brings unmatched expertise and a proven record of impact at a critical time for the SRYMCA’s expansion. 

Since joining the Saratoga Regional YMCA in 2017, D’Antonio has served in several key leadership positions, including Vice President of Operations and, most recently, Interim CEO. In these roles, she has advanced major operational improvements, strengthened member and staff experiences, and guided the organization through a period of significant transition and growth.

“Allison’s deep understanding of the YMCA mission and her proven leadership across multiple areas of our organization make her the ideal person to lead us into the future,” said Scott M. Peterson, Chair of the Saratoga Regional YMCA Board of Directors. “This is an exciting time of growth for the SRYMCA, and we are confident in Allison’s ability to expand our reach and deepen our impact across the region.”

“It’s a tremendous honor to serve as CEO of the Saratoga Regional YMCA,” said Allison D’Antonio. “The Y has been at the center of my professional and personal life for many years, and I’ve seen firsthand the impact it makes in the lives of families across our region. Now, more than ever, we are working to ensure that the SRYMCA continues to serve as a bedrock of the community where people of all ages and backgrounds come together for connection and movement. I’m excited to lead our incredible team of dedicated employees and execute on our mission to grow our reach even further.” 

D’Antonio’s YMCA career extends well beyond Saratoga. She previously held roles with the Capital District YMCA and the Alliance of New York State YMCAs, where she directed the statewide healthy living portfolio. Her expertise spans operations, childcare, fundraising, facilities, membership, and health and wellness — giving her a comprehensive perspective on how to strengthen the Y’s impact in the communities it serves.