Category Archives: Business News

Led by a hearty group of employees, Pioneer made a major splash when the Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics New York (SONY) was held at Shepard Beach Park in Lake George on Saturday, November 23.

Representatives of Pioneer presented a ceremonial check for $20,500 to Special Olympics New York to support its important work in providing inclusive opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to experience the thrill of competing in authentic sports. Following the check presentation, 20 Pioneer employees joined participants in making the plunge into Lake George.

“We take seriously our responsibility to invest in improving lives throughout the Capital Region,” said Tom Amell, president and CEO of Pioneer. “The impactful work of Special Olympics New York, providing athletes with opportunities to grow, thrive, and reach their potential, was a natural fit for the Pioneer Charitable Foundation to support. I’m especially proud to witness the selflessness and generosity shown by Pioneer employees in caring for their neighbors, and humbled to be part of a team that is positively impacting the communities we serve.”

The Saratoga Builders Association has presented proceeds totaling $60,000 from the 2024 Saratoga Showcase of Homes to Rebuilding Together Saratoga County and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties. The association has announced that the total contribution to local charities from this area’s premiere new home tour event is now over $1.6 million.

The 2024 edition of the Saratoga Showcase of Homes had eight homes from seven builders on tour this year – Abele Homes, Bella Home Builders, Belmonte Builders (2), Kodiak Construction, Stephen James, Trojanski Builders and Witt Construction. Congratulations to Kodiak Construction for winning the People’s Choice Award for Executive Home and Bella Home Builders for winning the People’s Choice Award for Luxury Home. 

This year’s event attracted over 3,000 visitors to these beautiful new homes, which were on display over two weekends. In what has become an autumn tradition in the area, the Saratoga Builders Association is dedicated to this long running show being an integral part of the fabric in our fall season.

By Paul Post

Olympic Regional Development Authority has invested $17 million on capital upgrades at Gore and Whiteface mountains for the upcoming ski season.

Projects include replacing antiquated lifts, updating and maintaining existing lifts, improving snowmaking and electrical infrastructure, and modernizing buildings and lodges.

At Gore, workers broke ground last spring on a new 18,300-square-foot lodge at North Creek Ski Bowl, operated by ORDA adjacent to the main ski center but owned by the Town of Johnsburg. The new lodge, complete with a restaurant and two levels of outdoor patios, is scheduled for completion in 2025.

In addition, the Ski Bowl’s old Hudson chairlift has been replaced with a new detachable quad servicing all levels of ski trails.

These are the latest in a series of Ski Bowl upgrades ORDA has undertaken since December 2022. It has installed chairlifts, improved trails, upgraded snowmaking systems, modernized, and expanded the Joe Minder Lodge, and developed a professional Nordic center with certified racecourses.

By Paul Post

Peckham Industries has 17 hot-mix asphalt plants and 26 stone quarries in five states including a large operation on Vaughn Road in Kingsbury where crowds gathered recently to celebrate the fourth generation, family-owned company’s 100th anniversary.

“Not too many businesses make it to 100 years and less than three percent make it to the fourth generation,” said Damian Murphy, the firm’s president and chief executive officer. “It goes back to the values that have been there since the founder’s days. We talk about safety, integrity, dedication.”

“Be consistent,” he said. “Even though things are always changing, those values never change. People know that about our business, whether it’s our customers, communities or work force. They know they can trust us and that we’re here for the long term.

“The bigger story we like to talk about is the culture in our business,” Murphy said. “That’s what really differentiates us. One of the key phrases is, ‘Our word is our bond’.”

Recent large projects have run the gamut, such as paving a long stretch of the Northway from Schroon to North Hudson, and construction of large parking facilities in The Bronx and at UBS Arena where the NHL’s New York Islanders play.

By Susan Elise Campbell

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County has taken over management of the Taste NY shop at the Adirondacks Welcome Center in Glens Falls, according to Greg Stevens, assistant director of the extension.

For those unfamiliar with CCE, it is a subsidiary of Cornell University, the land grant university for New York. CCE translates Cornell’s world renowned, science-based research into knowledge through educational programs administered by independent associations in nearly every county in the state.

“We are about building vibrant communities through education,” said Stevens, who has a 26-year career with CCE. 

Stevens oversees the 4-H Youth Development Program and the Family and Consumer Science Program for the Saratoga extension. There is a third area, Agriculture, which Stevens said is how land grant universities were established.

Taste NY was launched by New York’s Department of Agriculture and Markets to highlight the quality, diversity, and economic impact of food and beverages grown, produced, or processed in the state, says the department’s web site. Its events, promotions, and stores are seen state-wide.

A Taste NY store has been operating in the Adirondacks Welcome Center located between Northway Exits 17 and 18 with oversight by the Lake George Visitors Center. The Department of Agriculture and Markets approached CCE to see if the Saratoga association would be interested in taking over.

The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) has announced that the 36th Annual J. Walter Juckett Community Service Award will be presented to George A. Ferone. He will be presented with the award at the ARCC Annual Dinner on the evening of March 7, 2025 at The Sagamore Resort.

Ferone had a long-standing career at Tribune Media Services, Inc. where he completed a tenure of just over 44 years. Upon his retirement he was a highly respected member of their executive team and regarded as a leadership role model in the business community. One of his major contributions was working with local municipalities to build a 40,000-square-foot facility on Media Drive in Glens Falls, which led to keeping 400 jobs locally. His commitment to the local workforce included service on the Saratoga/Warren/Washington Counties Workforce Investment Board, and the Job Discovery Promotion & Planning Committees.

“Mr. Ferone gave so much to our community and we are so grateful for his service,” said ARCC President & CEO Tricia Rogers. “His dedication to his career, coupled with his many years of community service, clearly demonstrate his love for our community.”

Ferone’s commitment to the health of the region is evident in his board and committee service for Glens Falls Hospital, the Glens Falls Hospital Foundation, and Albany Med Health Systems. Having served Glens Falls Hospital for close to 20 years, his continued dedication to the well-being of local communities goes above and beyond. His extensive service also includes serving as a board member for the Tri-County United Way, Adirondack Civic Center Coalition, Prospect Child and Family Center, and the Adirondack Hockey Coalition, to name a few. Additionally, he served 14 years on the ARCC board, including two terms as chairman, and even serving as interim president for a time.

By Christine Graf

There’s a new business in downtown Glens Falls, one that will appeal to lovers of romance novels. 

Just One More Chapter, a book store focusing primarily on the romance genre, opened it’s doors in mid-October. Located at 14 Ridge Street, the 1,400-square-foot shop is owned by Ashley Brownell.  

Before opening her own store, Brownell was a successful food blogger, her blog devoted to Instant Pot recipes. She started the blog as a way to earn income after becoming a stay-at-home mom. The blog garnered a devoted following, providing Brownell with a steady stream of income.

“I did that for over ten years,” she said. “I sold my website about two years ago and was looking for a new passion project. I decided to open a bookstore because reading helped me get through some times in my life that I really struggled with.”

When Brownell saw a for rent sign in the window of 14 Ridge Street, she knew it was the perfect place to open a bookstore.

“I’ve lived here for fifteen years, so I knew that the foot traffic here is fantastic,” she said. “If a bookstore is going to survive anywhere, it would be right here.”

Brownell’s husband, Mike Saville, transformed the space, building book shelves and installing new flooring as well as a reclaimed wood wall. Saville, the owner of Stone Saver Plus, a counter top company in South Glens Falls, also built a granite bench for the store. 

By Susan Elise Campbell

This past July, the iconic Nemec’s Sports Shop became Green River Lumber General Store. Karen Ovitt, owner of Green River Lumber, said she took advantage of the opportunity to purchase the business that had graced Main Street in Warrensburg for 52 years.

“The community depended on Nemec’s for animal feed, propane, hunting licenses, bait and lures, and more,” said Ovitt. “We are going to fill their legacy by offering these staples, which are hard to find elsewhere, and regularly introduce new things for the locals and tourists who visit us.”

The new store does not sell guns and ammunition as before, she said. But it has added items to decorate the home and yard as well as gifts.

The location at 4036 Main Street is only about a mile away from Ovitt’s original location, where she housed a retail business, Green River Lumber, and its inventory of sustainable reclaimed plywood, redwood, and quality hardwood flooring under the Superior Flooring brand.