Jake Van Ness, Author at Glens Falls Business Journal

Jake Van Ness

2231 Articles

Adirondack Thunder Will Play 72-Game Schedule; First Home Game Set For Nov. 11

July 14, 2022

The Adirondack Thunder will play 72 games for the 2022-23 ECHL season.
Courtesy Adirondack Thunder

The Adirondack Thunder, the ECHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils and Utica Comets, announced their schedule for the 2022-23 season at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls.

The first home game is Nov. 11.

The 72-game campaign features two trips to St. John’s, a trek to Norfolk, and a voyage down to Florida. This season will also showcase two out-of-division teams, Greenville and Atlanta, visiting Cool Insuring Arena.

The schedule is as follows:

October

Saturday, Oct. 22 at Worcester, DCU Center, 7:05 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 23 at Worcester, DCU Center, 3:05 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 29 vs. Worcester, Cool Insuring Arena, 7 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 30 vs. Worcester, Cool Insuring Arena, 3 p.m.

November

Friday, Nov. 4 at Trois-Rivières, Colisèe Vidèotron, 7 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 5 at Trois-Rivières, Colisèe Vidèotron, 3 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 11 vs. Worcester, Cool Insuring Arena, 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12 vs. Worcester, Cool Insuring Arena, 7 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 16 vs. Greenville, Cool Insuring Arena, 7 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 18 at Reading, Santander Arena, 7 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 23 vs. Newfoundland, Cool Insuring Arena, 7 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 25 vs. Newfoundland, Cool Insuring Arena, 7 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 26 vs. Reading, Cool Insuring Arena, 7 p.m.

Business Report: When Is It Too Late To Plan Your Estate?

July 14, 2022

Debra Verni, principal of the Herzog Law Firm in Saratoga Springs.

By Debra A. Verni, ESQ.

The answer to this age-old question is, it depends. It depends on what you consider estate planning. It is a safe bet that after you pass away it is too late to prepare a will to dispose of your worldly possessions, but an estate plan is not just a will.

A good estate plan consists of a will, a durable power of attorney, a health care proxy and a living will. When is the best time to create an estate plan? Any time after the age of 18. I know 18 sounds young to be worrying about an estate plan but 18 is a pivotal age. Most parents forget that when their children turn 18 their ability to get information or make health care decisions for their children ends.

Most kids at 18 are off to college. As a parent of a college student, especially one far away from home, you should have your child appoint you as their health care proxy so you can receive medical information and make medical decisions for them if they become hospitalized or need care. Additionally, your child should appoint you as their power of attorney so you can deal with financial aid and any other financial issues such as housing, paying bills etc.

So now that your kids are all set what about you? Do you have an estate plan? I always joke with clients and say that if you don’t have a will, you have a won’t. I won’t ever die, I won’t need to plan, everything will work out fine.

Business Report: Receiving Care At Home

July 14, 2022

Brian M. Johnson, director, business development, Advisors Insurance Brokers.

By Brian M. Johnson, MBA, CLTC

Long-Term Care, we often dread hearing the words. Our minds quickly go to an image of a nursing home. However, the good news is that many of us will never see the inside of a nursing home.

According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, the vast majority (80 percent) of elderly people receiving assistance, including many with several functional limitations, live in private homes in the community, not in institutions. Your home doesn’t instill the same doom and gloom that a nursing home might.

Still, in a recent study of adults over age 65, it was found that most respondents were more comfortable discussing and planning for their own death than their potential need for long-term care. That is probably why many Americans fail to address this single biggest risk they will face in retirement.

In our practice, we regularly address long-term care planning options. In doing so, we consistently coordinate planning with elder law and estate planning attorneys, geriatric care managers, accountants, and financial advisors. One of the biggest misconceptions we hear from consumers and advisors is that long-term care is covered by Medicare and Medicaid.

Many seniors are under the impression that their traditional health care programs will provide the desired services in the home such as meal preparation, grocery shopping, assistance with hygiene, dressing, grooming, 24-hour care, etc. Medicare, Medigap and most Medicare Advantage Plans are designed to cover hospital stays, doctor bills and some short-term skilled nursing. Unfortunately, they do not cover the cost of everyday assistance in your own home.

Travelodge By Wyndham Hotel In Lake George Sold; Stays Open For 2022 Season

July 14, 2022

The Travelodge Wyndham Hotel in Lake George is under new ownership.

By Andrea Harwood

Muhammad Bilal, a Whitehall food wholesaler and restaurant supplier, recently purchased the Travelodge by Wyndham Hotel in Lake George.

The hotel is currently operational with a bar and restaurant, and has 104 rooms. The property sits on just under 10 acres of land in the heart of Lake George, and was purchased for $1.175 million in May.

In additional to owning and operating Green Mountain Food Services in Whitehall, Bilal currently owns an Econolodge in Rutland, Vt. He said the robust tourism in Lake George made purchasing the Travelodge an attractive proposition.

“Lake George itself is a pretty famous spot for its tourism summers. And the hotel has the best location, with the mountain view and the lake view,” said Bilal.

The Travelodge is located at 2011 Route 9 in Lake George.

He plans to keep the hotel open and operating through the 2022 season, and complete renovations during the slower off-season. “We will open up even better next year,” said Bilal.

The property also comes with a bar/restaurant but he does not plan to open them this year because he has not been able to find employees.

“We don’t have any help, so we’re not going to run the restaurant this year. Hopefully, if we have the right staff, we’ll have a good opening for next year,” said Bilal.

Many Improvements Planned At Adirondack Camping Village By New Ownership Group

June 17, 2022

Interior of one of nine rental cabins on site. More units are planned in the future.
Courtesy Lake George Camping Village

By Christine Graf

The 67-acre Adirondack Camping Village in Lake George has been purchased for $4.5 million by Athena Real Estate, a company based in Orlando, Fla., and founded by Siena College graduate Richard O’Brien.

Located less than two miles from the Village of Lake George, the family-friendly campground, features RV sites, camping cabins, and single tent campsites.

It now operates under the name Lake George Camping Village.

Athena Real Estate is a private real estate investment firm that invests in manufactured home communities, RV parks and resorts, and self-storage facilities. Prior to founding Athena in 2004, O’Brien, a CPA, was CFO for a multi-billion-dollar real estate investment trust. He also worked in the commercial real estate division of GE Capital Corp., and it was there that he developed an interest in real estate investment.

Adirondack Wine & Food Festival Returns To Lake George After 2-Year Pandemic Hiatus

June 17, 2022June 17, 2022

The Adirondack Wine & Food Festival is June 25 & 26 at the Lake George Festival Commons. Courtesy Adirondack Wine & Food Festival

Following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Adirondack Wine & Food Festival will return to Lake George on Saturday and Sunday, June 25 and 26.

The event will feature more than 120 of New York wineries, distilleries, breweries, cideries, artisan food producers, food trucks and more at the Lake George Festival Commons at Charles R. Wood Park in Lake George Village.

Organizers of the family friendly event said over 7,700 attendees are expected this year.

“Two years ago, we didn’t know when we’d be able to hold this festival again,” said Sasha Pardy, who founded the festival in 2014. “We are 100 percent committed to bringing our guests the experience they have come to know and love over the years: sampling the state’s best craft beverage and food products with beautiful Lake George as their backdrop.”

The last Adirondack Wine & Food Festival was held in June 2019. Over 6,700 guests attended, with 73 percent of attendees saying they planned a trip to the Lake George area specifically to attend the festival.

Tickets for this year’s festival are selling at a record pace. “This tells us our event has been missed and we look forward to giving our attendees an experience they’ll never forget,” Pardy said.

She said the 2022 festival is expected to generate 4,745 overnight stays in the area and produce a $3.6 million economic impact on the region.

“As the Adirondack Wine & Food Festival returns from their pandemic hiatus, the event is attracting even more new and different visitors,” said Gina Mintzer, executive director of the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce. “The event producers have been very strategic in their growth plans that enhance the Lake George vacation brand of unique experiences. Because of their efforts, the festival continues as a substantial economic engine for the region adding tremendous impact to the area.”

For a third time, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks (BBBS) will return as the festival beneficiary. A portion of every ticket sold is donated to the organization that provides mentorship, tutoring and experiences to youth in Warren, Washington, and northern Saratoga counties. BBBS raised $15,000 at the 2019 festival.

Lake Association Gets $300,000 Grant To Share Its Water Protection Model With Others

June 17, 2022

The Lake George Association has been awarded a $300,000 grant from the William Randolph Hearst Foundation to share its model for success with freshwater researchers and communities around the world.

“What an incredible honor and opportunity,” said LGA board chairman Jeff Killeen. “For the William Randolph Hearst Foundation to recognize the tremendous advancements we are making in freshwater protection at Lake George and how our model can benefit water bodies around the world is both deeply humbling and incredibly energizing.”

LGA president Eric Siy said the LGA, supported by the science and technology of The Jefferson Project and the highly targeted research and analysis of the Lake George Waterkeeper, “has created a culture of commitment among regional public officials, businesses, and property owners toward Lake Protection that is delivering breakthrough results in water quality.

“With the generous and visionary help of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, we are now poised to share our success with others and play an even more meaningful role in protecting the world’s most important natural resource, our finite fresh water supply.”

Over a multi-year period, the LGA will utilize the Hearst grant to:

• Expand the research being undertaken by The Jefferson Project environmental research collaboration at Lake George, Chautauqua Lake, and Skaneateles Lake to better understand the causes of harmful algal blooms (HABs), the reasons why some HABs become toxic, and the best ways to prevent them, and share that knowledge world-wide.

• Create world-class educational resources and events for scientists, researchers and freshwater advocates, focused on the world’s most significant freshwater threats and how they are being successfully addressed at Lake George.

Not Enough Emphasis In Schools About Building Trades Careers Is Industry Problem

June 17, 2022

Workers install playground equipment at Abraham Wing Elementary School.
Paul Post

By Paul Post

Unlike the Marines, area builders need a whole lot more than “A Few Good Men.”

A severe nationwide labor shortage is being felt locally, too, as understaffed firms can’t keep up with customer demand.

Several factors have contributed to the labor shortage. First and foremost, many skilled workers have aged out of the industry and there hasn’t been enough emphasis put on showing kids the careers this field has to offer, builders say.

At Glens Falls-based VMJR Companies, laborer, carpenter and mason apprentice jobs start out at $16.98, $19.46 and $23.33 per hour, respectively. The worker can obtain journeyman status within five years, which pays $30.86, $35.40 and $38.69 per hour, respectively, plus supplemental benefits for each position.

“We have a core group of 35 field employees and are having a difficult time hiring skilled masons and carpenters,” president and CEO Victor Macri said. “Plus, for office operations we could use two more project managers and project engineers and another administrative assistant. We’ve been searching for over a year to fill these positions.”

Personnel Briefs: June 2022

June 17, 2022

Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co. has hired Karney Manning as branch manager of the Chestertown office.

In his new role, Manning will oversee daily operations, provide quality customer service and develop banking relationships to help customers reach their financial goals.

He brings five years of banking experience to the position.

Manning is a member of the Sons of The American Legion and currently serves as chaplain. He is also the former president of the Saint Rose Chapter of the American Marketing Association.

Manning has a bachelor’s degree from the College of Saint Rose and is from Silver Bay, N.Y.

***

Arrow Financial Corp. recently promoted three senior leaders to the position of executive vice president of its two subsidiary banks, Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co. and Saratoga National Bank and Trust Co.

Michael Jacobs was promoted to executive vice president and chief information officer, Christine Snow was promoted to executive vice president and director of customer experience and Marc Yrsha was promoted to executive vice president and director of relationship banking.

Magnet Transport Group Provides Cargo, Freight Services Through All North America

June 17, 2022

Drew Trombley, left, and his stepfather, entrepreneur Mark Miller, have formed Magnet Transport Group for businesses seeking to move their product around the region and across North America.
Courtesy Behan Communication

As an entrepreneur and part-time truck driver, Mark Miller observed a trucking industry trend that he saw creating an unnecessarily heavy workload for Capital Region businesses. He saw a promising opportunity for his next business venture.

More and more businesses were turning to freight brokers and “load boards,” online marketplaces where companies could search for carriers to ship their products.

“Why would they go through all that when they could just call a local trucking company and work directly with the owners?” said Miller.

Enter Magnet Transport Group, the Kingsbury-based business started by Miller and his stepson Drew Trombley to provide cargo and freight solutions to businesses seeking to move their product around the region and across North America.

Magnet offers FTL (full truckload) and LTL (less- than-truckload) service, as well as flatbed, step-deck, and hotshot deliveries. They have expertise in carrying over-sized loads, both long and wide.