Jake Van Ness, Author at Glens Falls Business Journal

Jake Van Ness

2458 Articles

Amanda’s House At Glens Falls Hospital Will Benefit From Family Run And Walk Events

May 21, 2024

The Glens Falls Hospital Foundation has announced the return of the Aloha 5k and 1 Mile Fun Walk, on Saturday, June 15. The event benefits Amanda’s House at Glens Falls Hospital. The race check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. with the race taking place at 9 a.m. at Haviland’s Cove in Glens Falls.

This fun and family-friendly race starts at Haviland’s Cove Park and runs along the historic Feeder Canal. Fun family activities will be available such as music, kids’ activities, a photo booth, food truck, ice cream booth and more.

The Aloha 5k supports Amanda’s House – A home away from home for patients and families who have traveled a long distance to Glens Falls Hospital. Patients receiving cancer treatments, family members from out of state who have a family member that has suffered an injury or health event are all welcome to stay at Amanda’s House at no cost.

Amanda’s House opened in 2002 as an independent organization. Glens Falls Hospital took over in 2014 to make certain services were always available to the community. The home is named in memory of Amanda Cafaro. Her life is honored by the volunteers, hospital staff, businesses, and community supporters who work together to keep the home operating.

WellNow Urgent Care Opens A Facility In Queensbury Offering Quality Medical Services

May 21, 2024

With locations nationwide, WellNow Urgent Care has opened a facility in Queensbury to serve the local population.

By Susan Elise Campbell

WellNow Urgent Care is one of the fastest-growing providers of urgent medical care, telehealth and occupational medicine services in the United States. With a new location that opened April 10 at 920 Lake George Road in Queensbury, medical care and diagnostic services are now available seven days a week to patients in the North Country, said Beth Pagan, WellNow’s director of market operations for eastern New York.

“WellNow provides a wide array of diagnostics, including X-rays, EKGs, complete metabolic panels, and much more,” said Pagan.

There are nearly 80 WellNow locations in the state and 200 in the country offering urgent, not emergency, care.

“Our centers offer more services than the average primary care physician so that patients can be treated right away without having to go to a traditional emergency room, where they might face long wait times and an expensive bill,” she said.

Saratoga Springs Rowing Duo Among Those Tapped To Compete In The Summer Games

May 21, 2024

Rowers Kristi Wagner (left) and Sofia Vitas display the Bronze medals they won at the 2023 World Rowing Championships. They hope to better their record at the Summer Games this July.

Saratoga Springs rower and Regatta Director for the Saratoga Rowing Association, Kristi Wagner, has been announced as one of the first 21 members selected to go to the Summer Games in Paris this July, by US Rowing.

Wagner plans the Head of the Fish, among other high school races for SRA, with her doubles partner Sofia Vitas.

Together, Wagner and Vitas won the Bronze medal at the 2023 World Rowing Championships. The two women were part of the first round of rowers selected by the US Rowing Team to compete at the Olympics.

Together they will be looking to return to the medal podium in the women’s double sculls in Paris. Now a five-time national team member, Wagner will be racing at her second Olympic Games, having finished fifth in the event in Tokyo. Also a five-time national team member, Vitas will be making her Olympic debut in Paris.

In addition to being a full-time athlete and Regatta Director, Wagner is also a podcast host. For the past year, she’s been taking listeners behind the scenes of her journey to qualify to make the Olympic games in her show “The Other 3 Years.”

A Licensed Medical Aesthetician Opens The Skin Renaissance Studio In Fort Edward

May 21, 2024

Shelley Riopelle has the training and expertise to significantly improve her clients’ well being at the Skin Renaissance Studio in Fort Edward.

By Jill Nagy

Shelley Riopelle opened a new skin care facility in February in Fort Edward. Called the Skin Renaissance Studio, it is located at 1461 Route 9.

Riopelle has been providing skin care treatments for 28 years, including 10 years in Saratoga and, most recently, at a day spa she owned in South Glens Falls for two-and-a-half years.

She describes her new location as “warm and welcoming” and in a great location with easy access and ample parking.

The emphasis at Skin Renaissance Studio is on skincare. “I’m very passionate about skincare; it’s what I love to do,” Riopelle said. She offers a wide range of skin care services, particularly facial treatments. Licensed as a medical aesthetician, her services run the gamut from eyebrow shaping to full body waxing. Services also include light therapy treatments, dermaplaning, chemical peels and more. She specializes in treatments for rosacea, sun damaged pigmented skin, and anti-aging treatments.

The Five-Year Apprenticeship Program Through Local Union 773 Trains Plumbers And Pipefitters

May 21, 2024

A wide range of skills are taught to apprentices at the headquarters of Local 773 of the United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters in Queensbury.

By Paul Post

Nearly three dozen area contractors turn to Local 773 whenever they land a big job and need to bring on highly-qualified plumbers, steamfitters, pipefitters and HVAC technicians.

The 500-member, Queensbury-based union supplies skilled workers for a wide variety of projects from GlobalFoundries in Malta to recently-completed refrigeration upgrades at Lake Placid’s Olympic facilities.

A five-year apprenticeship includes hands-on work plus September to April classes, each year, at Local 773’s headquarters and training facility at 37 Luzerne Road.

“It’s an earn and learn program,” Business Manager Mike Jarvis said. “When an apprentice comes in they sign up with the union, work during the day for a contractor and go to school at night three times per week.”

Applications are accepted one day each month. When enough applications come in, the union sets up an aptitude test. Candidates are also interviewed by an eight-person Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee, comprised of four union members and four contractors, who review the job-seeker’s employment history, attitude and work ethic. Points are given for related college and past military experience.

Modular Building Techniques Make Homes More Affordable In Face Of Housing Shortages

May 21, 2024

Cecil Provost, owner of Saratoga Modular Homes, displays the large variety of materials available to clients opting for this type of construction.

By Christine Graf

In the Capital Region real estate market and beyond, a shortage of inventory has made it difficult for buyers to find reasonably priced homes. The Center for American Progress, an independent policy institute, believes modular homes may be the answer to the American housing crisis. According to a report issued by the institute in February 2024, “Modular building, if brought to scale, has the potential to reduce construction costs and make building new homes more affordable, especially in areas experiencing severe affordable housing shortages.”

Modular homes are often confused with mobile homes, but the two are distinctly different. While modular home components are fabricated in factories, the homes themselves are assembled on-site and attached to permanent foundations.

When it comes to the construction process, there is virtually no difference between a modular home and a site-built home. Both are built with the same materials and are subject to the same regulations.

Solar Energy Industries Assoc Figures Released

May 21, 2024

The United States has officially exceeded five million solar installations, marking a significant achievement in the nation’s clean energy transition. This milestone comes just eight years after the U.S. reached one million installations in 2016 — a milestone that took 40 years to achieve following the first grid-connected solar installation in 1973.

According to data released by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie, over half of all U.S. solar installations have come online since the start of 2020 and over 25 percent have come online since the Inflation Reduction Act became law just 20 months ago. These systems are installed on homes, businesses, and in large ground-mounted arrays across the country.

“Solar is scaling by the millions because it consistently delivers on its promise to lower electricity costs, boost community resilience, and create economic opportunities,” said SEIA president and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper.

Despite state policy changes, market trends continue to suggest significant growth in states across the country. SEIA forecasts that solar installations in the U.S. will double to 10 million by 2030 and triple to 15 million by 2034.

The residential sector accounts for 97 percent of all solar installations in the U.S. This sector has set annual installation records for five consecutive years and 10 of the last 12 years. Residential solar is growing at a historic rate because it is a proven investment for homeowners looking to take control of their energy costs.

Southern Adirondack Child Care Network Relocates To Provide Expanded Services

May 21, 2024

A ribbon cutting hosted by the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce was held recently to celebrate the relocation of Southern Adirondack Child Care Network to a larger space.

By Rod Bacon

Due to a need for more space, Southern Adirondack Child Care Network recently relocated to 16 Pearl Street in Glens Falls. The move was celebrated on April 24 with a ribbon cutting hosted by the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce and well attended by community stakeholders, current and former staff, and board members.

“We moved for a variety of reasons,” said Lynn Sickles, executive director of SACCN. “We were a bit crowded in our old location and the opportunity presented itself to move to a larger space.”

Sickles noted that the organization now has a training room that can be used for the education of child care providers.

Founded in 1992, the network has leased space for many years from Community, Work & Independence (CWI), first at 88 Broad Street and later at 37 Everts Avenue in Glens Falls.

SAIL Partners With BRIDGES To Provide Alternative Care Program For The Disabled

May 21, 2024

Southern Adirondack Independent Living has launched the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPA), a collaborative initiative with BRIDGES, an independent living center situated in Rockland County, New York.

This program is specifically crafted to empower consumers, allowing them to take charge of their own care and oversee their personal assistant.

CDPA represents a paradigm shift, offering a less restrictive level of care as an alternative to the conventional home health care model. Through a strategic partnership with BRIDGES, SAIL is committed to delivering both technical and practical support to individuals living with disabilities or chronic conditions, empowering them to tailor their care based on their unique plans.

In this innovative approach, each individual assumes the role of the employer for their personal assistant. The program is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and older adults who require personal assistance at home.

Queensbury-Based PA Medical Supply Opens A Satellite Location In The Wilton Mall

May 21, 2024

By Christine Graf

PA Medical Supply of Queensbury has opened a second location in the Wilton Mall next to JC Penney. Both stores carry an extensive selection of home medical equipment and soft good orthotics, boasting the largest showrooms and most extensive product selections in the area.

Established in 1995, PA Medical Supply was purchased by Lake George native Michael Gipson in July 2022. Prior to purchasing the business from John Bisceglia, Gipson spent more than a decade working in medical equipment sales.

“I have been in the durable medical equipment industry for about 12 years,” he said. “I started out on the manufacturer side, selling throughout New York state. I worked for one of the largest durable medical equipment manufacturers in the world.”

After working his way up to regional manager for the Northeast, Gipson was promoted to vice president of sales for the company’s pediatric rehab division, a job that required extensive travel.

“I was traveling all over the country almost weekly, and my kids were getting to the age where school and sports were starting. I wanted to be able to stay closer to home,” he said. “I always knew I wanted to own my own business one day, and it got to the point where it was time to make a change.”