Jake Van Ness, Author at Glens Falls Business Journal

Jake Van Ness

2231 Articles

Park Theater In Downtown Glens Falls Put Tickets On Sale For Its 2022-23 Season

July 14, 2022

In September, the Park Theater in Glens Falls will present its series The Park Presents, featuring touring musicians from genres including folk, Americana, jazz, classical and more.

The Park Theater, 14 Park St., Glens Falls, has announced its 2022-23 event schedule, with tickets going on sale July 29.

Beginning in September, the theater will present its flagship series The Park Presents , featuring a lineup of national and international touring musicians from genres including folk, Americana, jazz, classical and more. Experience some of the best in music at the intimate, state-of-the-art theater.

Past performers have included The Gibson Brothers, Ariel Posen, The Villalobos Brothers and Damn Tall Buildings. This season will feature such highly-acclaimed artists as The Small Glories, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, The Suitcase Junket, The Wildmans and more.

“We can’t wait to welcome the community back to The Park Theater for our next season! Building on last year’s success, we will be showcasing some of the best and brightest rising performers on the national level, as well as in our own backyard,” said Executive Director, Chris Ristau.

“With a full slate of performances ranging from tribute acts and jazz to Americana and comedy, we’ve got something for everyone on the roster. We look forward to seeing you for another wonderful season of new and exciting entertainment.”

Bonacio Construction Continues Busy Schedule, Eyes Major Project in Glens Falls

July 14, 2022

Bonacio Construction Co. plans to renovate the former Sandy’s Clam Bar in Glens Falls.

By Paul Post

Bonacio Construction Co. in Saratoga Springs helped transform the Spa City with one large, multi-million-dollar project after another since its founding in 1988.

About a decade ago, the Saratoga Springs-based firm turned its attention to Glens Falls.

Now, in one of its most ambitious ventures ever, Bonacio hopes to rejuvenate South Street with a multi-phase project involving new construction and renovating existing structures such as the once-popular Sandy’s Clam Bar, Hot Shots tavern and a business incubator building behind Hot Shots at 36 Elm Street.

Elsewhere, Bonacio is still quite busy in Saratoga Springs, currently doing foundation and structural work for a new addition behind the former Rip Van Dam Hotel, connected to the adjacent Adelphi Hotel on Broadway, which was rebuilt four years ago for $28 million. The completed project will comprise one large resort with hotel rooms, studios and apartments.

In Glens Falls, “We saw a town that was once a jewel and had won the All-American City Award, but which like a lot of upstate New York communities had struggled through some down years,” said Larry Novik, company development director. “But it was clearly making a strong comeback. We saw a beautiful downtown with a really nice layout and a lot of quality, attractive buildings. We were just excited by what we were seeing.”

The company’s first project in Glens Falls was a new six-story retail, commercial and residential building at the intersection of Hudson Avenue and School Street, near the city’s new parking garage by Glens Falls Hospital.

RASP Inc., A Designer And Servicer Of Control Panels, Plans To Expand In Moreau

July 14, 2022

This is part of RASP Inc.’s 30-acre campus in Moreau. The company designs and builds control panels and is planning to add more warehouse and office space.
Courtesy RASP Inc.

By Jill nagy

RASP Inc., a company that designs and builds control panels, plans to add more warehouse and office space adjacent to its current buildings on a 30-acre campus in Moreau.

CEO Ron Richards said he sees the new construction as a plan for the future that will allow the company to hire additional people and seek more business.

RASP currently has 34 employees, including engineers and panel builders. Most of them are panel builders, who are often hard to find. Richards said they prefer to hire people with some experience in electronics but, when necessary, they will train new people. Engineers, on the other hand, seem readily available.

“We have been hiring throughout this year,” Richards said, but they are running out of space to put the new employees.

The company builds control systems for other companies. Richards said the names of their customers are confidential, but include chemical companies, packaging companies, and a stone quarry.

Family Owned Munter Enterprises Thrives For 50 Years In Region’s Construction Industry

July 14, 2022

From left, John Munter Jr., John Munter Sr. and Mike Munter of Munter Enterprises.
©2022 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Paul Post

Munter Enterprises Inc. has not only survived, but thrives in the area’s highly competitive construction industry by paying close attention to detail and staying fully engaged with customers

“The personal touch, I think, is what really sets us apart,” said John Munter Jr., who co-owns the firm with his brother, Mike. “And we have very talented crews for all the different aspects of a project.”

The Middle Grove-based firm, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, was founded in 1972 by John Munter Sr. and his wife, Rosemary. Their sons incorporated the firm purchased it in 1998.

“Dad started with GE at their Malta rocket engine development and test site then moved to their ICBM facility in Burlington, Vt., and back to the nuclear sub and large generator facilities in Schenectady,” John Jr. said. “That’s about when he decided to go into the construction business for himself. Mom was the bookkeeper. They started out doing a lot of work for industry and some homebuilding, all over the region from Lake George to Saratoga County.”

Moran-Derby Park Opens In Hudson Falls, Offers Improved Athletic Facilities

July 14, 2022

A crowd gathered in June at the grand opening of Morgan-Derby Park in Hudson Falls, the newly re-named, $1.8 million community athletic complex and festival space.
Courtesy Behan Communications

Just over three years ago, the Village of Hudson Falls unveiled plans for a major transformation and revitalization of Derby Park, a regionally iconic six-acre expanse of athletic fields where generations of children and families had gathered for recreational and social activities.

The community responded. The money was raised and in June the village held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the grand opening of Moran-Derby Park, the newly re-named, $1.8 million community athletic complex and festival space between Coleman Avenue and William Street.

The park was made possible by the generosity of people and organizations from across the region, most notably a $500,000 lead gift from longtime local sporting goods retailers and philanthropists Brien and Mike Moran in memory and honor of their late parents, Henry G. and Gladys Moran, village officials said.

Other major financial support included a $600,000 grant from the state Office of Park, Recreation & Historic Preservation, and generous donations from the Sandy Hill Foundation, Wheelabrator Technologies, and Boralex.

In 25 Years As Owner Of CLA SITE, Loyola Has Seen Industry Changes And Challenges

July 14, 2022

Peter Loyola, center, poses with the staff of his CLA SITE business at SPAC in front of new buildings his firm helped design. He has owned the business for 25 years.
©2022 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Jill Nagy

Landscape architects do far more than decide where to lay sod and plant flowers. Companies like the Saratoga Spring landscape architecture firm CLA SITE—which is celebrating 25 years in business—are far more complex.

Among its projects was the redesigned of the concession area at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, including siting the new buildings and redoing the stormwater management plan. The company is also working with Envision Architects to develop a new indoor/outdoor market complex in Glens Falls.

It is also redoing part of Albany’s Empire State Plaza to alleviate drainage and stormwater problems.

“Lawns are for entry level folks,” said Peter Loyola, the company’s founder and principal.

Today’s landscape architect combines aspects of civil engineering, architecture, and urban planning, as well as environmental permitting. The full name of the company reflects that pedigree: CLA Site Landscape Architecture, Engineering, and Planning PC.

Fans Of ‘X-Files’ Television Show Can Buy Collectibles At New Shop/Museum In Wilton

July 14, 2022

Jim Thornton is one of the owners of the X-Files Preservation Collection and Collectibles.
©2022 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Jill nagy

Fans of the television series “X-Files” can get their shot of nostalgia and mementos to take home at the X-Files Preservation Collection and Collectibles in Wilton.

The combination shop and museum opened on April 30 with visits from Chris Carter, creator of the drama series, and Keith Arbuthnot, an actor who played monsters on the show, as well as fans from around the world, according to Jim Thornton, one of the owners of the collection.

Visitors can view a collection of props and costumes actually used in filming episodes of the series, some of them contributed by Carter. Thornton and his wife and business partner, Kelly Anthony, began collecting X-Files memorabilia in the 1990s.

“I loved the show and thought: Wow, I’d like to own something from it,” Thornton recalled. By 2019, the couple had accumulated enough items to fill a moving truck and they drove it to X-Fest, an X-Files convention in Chicago.

Thornton thinks that someone who saw their display in Chicago must have contacted Carter and told him about it. Shortly afterward, Carter “found us” and donated a few things, he said. From there, “it progressed and grew bigger and bigger.”

Mannix: Small Businesses Can Benefit From Email Marketing, Social Media Promotions

July 14, 2022

Sara Mannix, president and CEO of Mannix Marketing digital marketing agency in Glens Falls, offers a variety of advice for businesses to have effective online marketing.

By Andrea Harwood

Trends in small business online marketing are leaning toward social media and Google Ad services. But an often forgotten tool is email marketing.

“One of the most overlooked but simplest thing any business can do is email marketing on a regular basis,” said Sara Mannix, president and CEO of Mannix Marketing digital marketing agency in Glens Falls. She has been in business since 1996.

“I think people are afraid to email too frequently. But if you’re doing a good job collecting emails and getting to know who your customers and target market are and reaching them with relevant information, it’s incredibly cost effective.”

People are aware of what social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram can do for a business, she said. Often overlooked is the social media platform TikTok, a short-form video hosting service and social media platform. For the right person going after the right customer, particularly the younger demographic, the platform is a good avenue for exposure.

New York State Names Colin Ahern As Its First-Ever Head Of Cybersecurity

July 14, 2022

Colin Ahern has been appointed as the state’s first-ever chief cyber officer.

A leading expert in cybersecurity, cyber resilience, and intelligence, Ahern will lead cross-agency efforts to protect New York state from increasingly prevalent and sophisticated cyber threats—working to ensure the security and cyber resilience of the State’s information assets and critical infrastructure and integrity of the state’s information assets.

“New York State is taking an aggressive, nation-leading approach to transforming our cybersecurity infrastructure to combat emerging threats and fortify our information assets,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “I am thrilled to appoint Colin Ahern as New York state’s first ever chief cyber officer. In an era of increasingly advanced cyber threats, Colin’s proven expertise and experience in the military, the private sector, and government will be critical to identifying cyber risks, enhancing our defense systems, preventing attacks, and ensuring that New Yorkers and our institutions remain protected.”

Ahern will oversee all cyber threat assessment, mitigation, and response efforts—working with executive management at every state agency to manage cyber risks and prevent attacks. Ahern will also lead the recently-announced Joint Security Operations Center—a nation-leading, first-of-its-kind hub for cyber threat detection and incident response. Formed by Governor Hochul in February, JSOC will be critical to cyber threat information sharing—effectively linking New York state, New York City, local and regional governments, critical infrastructure stakeholders, and federal partners.

“I am honored to have this opportunity to serve New Yorkers and work with Gov. Hochul and her team to continue to build and enhance our statewide cybersecurity infrastructure,” Ahern said. “This administration is committed to leading the nation on cybersecurity, and I am so excited to join the front lines of that effort.”

Public Service Commission Unveils First Statewide Map Of Broadband Infrastructure

July 14, 2022

The state Public Service Commission released a first-of-its-kind, interactive broadband map to provide the most detailed depiction of broadband infrastructure in New York to date.

The map, along with an accompanying report, is the result of months of field assessments conducted by the commission in the state’s most remote areas, covering more than 80,000 miles. In order to collect accurate data, the commission collaborated with 60 internet service providers and surveyed tens of thousands of New York consumers.

“High-speed internet is more essential than ever to access the basic services and information that we use in our daily lives,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “With this mapping in hand, we can see where to direct state and federal broadband funding to connect unserved and underserved areas. This address-specific tool is one we can wield to provide a more accurate depiction of connectivity needs in areas that have been disconnected for far too long.”

Prior to the map’s creation, New York, like most states, relied in part on federal data that only required broadband providers to deliver service to one address in a census block to designate the entire area as served. Officials said by collecting address-level data, New York is now able to depict what locations are served, underserved, and unserved in a more granular way, which will aid in allocating state and federal funding.

To support local efforts to expand affordable and reliable broadband, ConnectALL, housed within Empire State Development, will establish and administer grant programs at the state and federal level to provide funding to plan, engineer, and construct accessible broadband infrastructure. ESD will be the statewide lead for connectivity and coordinating with other state agencies, municipalities and a diverse array of stakeholders in every corner of New York.