The Jefferson Project at Lake George has published its latest annual report highlighting how its environmental data gathering and analytics have made Lake George “The Smartest Lake in the World” and are providing science-based insights into how best to protect the lake from water quality threats, according to FUND for Lake George officials.
The report can be downloaded at jeffersonproject.rpi.edu or ordered in print form by calling The FUND for Lake George at (518) 668-9700.
The Jefferson Project is a groundbreaking partnership between IBM Research, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and The FUND for Lake George. The Project has deployed more than 500 “smart sensors” in and around the lake to monitor physical, chemical and biological conditions that signal emerging threats and help track the progress of lake protection initiatives.
Homestyle Food Is Featured At XII Sporks, A New Restaurant In Lake George Village
By Jill Nagy
Homestyle food, made from scratch and priced to accommodate young families, is on the menu at XII Sporks, a new restaurant at 462 Canada St. in Lake George.
“XII” is the Roman numeral 12. It was chosen because there were originally 12 family members involved in the business. Some dropped out, but the name stuck. A spork is an eating utensil that combines the bowl of a spoon with the tines of a fork.
The restaurant opened on Oct. 12, the beginning of a slow season on Lake George, “a good time to open and learn,” according to Misty Feulner, one of the owners.
They plan to be open rear-round, every day but Wednesday.
“It’s our dream,” Feulner said, explaining that, “ever since I was little” she wanted to own and operate a restaurant.
Adirondack Trust, SUNY Empire State Foundation, Give Out 14 Scholarships
The SUNY Empire State College Foundation has announced 14 recipients of the 2019 Adirondack Trust Co. Scholarship, totaling $24,900 in awards.
The scholarships aim to expand educational opportunities for students in the greater Capital Region.
This year’s recipients include a disaster recovery specialist, a graphic designer, an aspiring mental health professional, an aspiring counselor, two teachers and one aspiring teacher, a human resource specialist, a restaurant manager, an aspiring photographer and an aspiring museum curator.
Adirondack Trust established the scholarship to provide need-based aid to undergraduate or graduate students who reside in Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Montgomery, Saratoga, Washington, Fulton, Schoharie, Greene or Columbia counties. The endowment is currently valued at more than $530,000.
“Thanks to the generosity of The Adirondack Trust Company, so many SUNY Empire State College students have been able to complete their degrees and, in turn, realize their dreams and achieve their personal, professional and academic goals,” said SUNY Empire President Jim Malatras. “The Adirondack Trust scholarship is just one of so many ways the bank supports the community and I am very grateful for the bank’s long-standing and generous support of our students.”
Education Programs, Community Partnerships Grew For SPAC As It Finishes 2019 In Black
The Saratoga Performing Arts Center’s 2019 season was marked by a record number of SPAC premieres, programming that extended beyond the traditional summer months, and significant growth in its educational and community outreach efforts, officials said an October board or directors meeting.
The summer season culminated with the re-imagined Saratoga Wine and Food Festival, which connected the community and cultural organizations in support of SPAC’s educational programming.
The festival “united cultural organizations, local businesses and our community in a celebration of art, music, nature and locally-sourced foods, serving as the perfect punctuation mark to our summer season,” said Elizabeth Sobol, SPAC president and CEO. “As we look ahead, we will continue to create meaningful experiences through innovative programming, educational outreach and new year-round offerings.”
At the fall board meeting, Sobol reported that the 2019 season, from an artistic standpoint, was one of SPAC’s most successful and innovative seasons. The summer featured a record number of SPAC premieres, which received critical acclaim from both national and regional press and audiences.
She said along with the artistic success, there were cancellations due to artist illnesses, dangerous heat that resulted in a cancellation of New York City Ballet’s matinee performance, and visa denials that prohibited YAMATO: The Drummers of Japan from touring, significantly impacted the bottom line.
“Nevertheless, due to strong fundraising support and ticket sales, SPAC is still projected to finish the fiscal year in the black,” she said.
Lake George Native Opens ‘The Worker’s Club,’ Co-Working Space In Saratoga
©2019 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Susan E. Campbell
Lake George native Monika LaPlante has opened a site in Saratoga Springs for people who need a work or meeting area, but don’t want the burden of their own office.
The Worker’s Club has space that can be rented for a day, a year, or anything in between. At 3 Franklin St., the business has a modern, comfortable environment in Suite 4 of the historic building, two blocks off Broadway.
“I am from Lake George, where many families owned businesses,“ she said. “I was surrounded my whole life so it was in my head to start my own.“
With a degree in environmental science and two masters degrees, LaPlante has had a position in New York City as an assistant data manager for an environmental non-profit group. Three years ago she moved back to the area and continued to work from home.
“A nonprofit builds up community, but I found I was not connected to tech people in this area,” she said.
Starting a business where she could establish such a community was the solution for both her business and personal goals.
‘Birch Bark Eatery’ Vegan Restaurant, Moves To Larger Space On Ridge Street, Glens Falls
By Jill Nagy
“Our food is so good, it doesn’t matter if you’re vegan,” said Tania Sharlow, owner of Birch Bark Eatery, a vegan restaurant that, after just a year in business, recently moved to a new and larger location at 21 Ridge St. in Glens Falls.
The new location is five times as big as the previous site on Route 9 in Queensbury, giving Sharlow and her crew more work space and room to seat up to 60 people. She also expanded her workforce from four to 10 people.
The new location was formerly home to Cornerstone Pizza Café.
The site did not require much renovation, mainly painting and some upgrading in the kitchen, she said.
She now offers an expanded menu, including pizza.
Lake George Chamber Of Commerce Hands Out Three Tourism Awards At Annual Dinner
Courtesy Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce
The Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce honored two major events with its Supporting Tourism Around the Region (STAR) Awards recently: The Adirondack Wine & Food Festival and the World’s Largest Garage Sale.
John Strong, executive director of the Lake George Arts Project, was also honored with the Sapphire Award for his contributions to cultural tourism that span nearly four decades.
The Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce Events Committee established the STAR Award in 2006 to recognize excellence in travel and tourism.
The committee established the Sapphire Award in 2017 on the Chamber’s Sapphire Anniversary—its 65th year—to recognize a “gem” in the community whose efforts directly benefit the hospitality industry.
Report Says Hotel Occupancy In Warren County Was Strong Through Summer Season
Andrea Palmer
A report on hotel occupancy in Warren County says that despite a weaker June, Warren County has seen strong year-to-date and summer performance, with July occupancy at 73 percent and August occupancy at 80 percent.
Hannah Smith, senior consultant with STR, presented “The State of the Warren County Hotel Industry”recently at the Lake Luzerne Town Hall.
Founded in 1985, STR provides premium data benchmarking, analytics and marketplace insights for global hospitality sectors.
Demolition Of Buildings On South Street Mark The Start Of Revitalization Project
Buildings have been demolished on South Street in preparation for a major revitalization project in Glens Falls that is being called The Market.
A ceremony marking the demolition was held Oct. 28, attended by officials including state Sen. Senator Betty Little, Glens Falls Mayor Dan Hall, and EDC Warren County President Ed Bartholomew.
Three buildings in Glens Falls demolished for the construction of The Market, a 10,000-square-foot, one-story glass-and-brick building to be used for the year-round farmers market and community events, were the former Juicin’ Jar at 49 South St., the former OTB building at 51-57 South St. and the former Daily Double at 59-63 South St.
The cost of the project is estimated at $2.5-$3 million. Requests for qualifications from interested developers will go out either late this year or early next year, city officials said.
It is the centerpiece project of the city’s $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative.
The former Hot Shots building at 45 South St. and incubator space at 36 Elm St. will be renovated by private developers.
Adirondack Regional Chamber Of Commerce Will Occupy New Office Space On Dec. 1
Courtesy FitzGerald Morris Baker Firth, PC
By Susan E. Campbell
The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce will relocate from 136 Glen St., its home since 2009, to 68 Warren St. on Dec. 1.
The new, larger headquarters offers some amenities that translate to benefits for staff, members and visitors alike. These include a large conference room, more parking and an elevator to the second-floor offices.
“First of all, we have been extremely happy with our landlords at Glen Street,” said ARCC President and CEO Michael Bittel. “Peter and Suzanne Hoffman have been wonderful supporters of the Chamber and we thank them for that.”
The new landlords at the former Genpak LLC building are Fitzgerald Morris Baker Firth PC, law partners who purchased the structure and moved their practice there last year.