Category Archives: Business News

By Ann Donnelly

Kirche is a gift shop located in the former North Creek United Methodist Church and recently upgraded with the addition of a new state-of-the-art carillon, a set of bells in the bell tower that chimes three times each day and will play hymns and Christmas carols during the holiday season.

“It was an impulse purchase,” said owner Jennifer Zimmerman, originally from the New York City area. “I walked into the building, and without even realizing it, the words came out of my mouth to my realtor, ‘You know I am going to bid on this, and I am going to try hard to buy it.’”

Initially, Zimmerman had no idea of what to do with the property. She aimed to contribute to the local community, and when she reached out for ideas, “economic activity” was the overwhelming answer. 

“I have always had old houses, and I love antiques and vintage pieces, so there were suggestions to open a shop,” she said. But it would be too expensive to turn the former church into a viable property for any business. 

Around this time, Zimmerman finished her career as a Wall Street lawyer. She traveled the world for a while before returning to North Creek to live year-round. She sold her house in Westchester and used the former church to store the antiques and other pieces she’d collected over the years.

 “Then I needed insurance, a fire alarm, electricity, and a phone line for the fire alarm, etc., so the incremental cost to use the building as a shop was feasible. I had the place. I had the stuff. I had the background knowledge.”

Defiance & Independence, a two-day battle re-enactment that will highlight the 1777 siege of Ticonderoga, will be held at the fort on Saturday and Sunday, July 22-23. It will take place at 1 p.m. both days.

Featuring more than 300 historical reenactors, it is the largest battle reenactment of the year at Fort Ticonderoga. The battle at Ticonderoga was when the British Army attempted to capture the entire American force guarding this strategic position on Lake Champlain.

Admission to the reenactment event is included with the purchase of a general admission ticket. The second day admission is free.

The intense two-day battle re-enactment will portray the fighting and maneuvering which culminated in Gen. Arthur St. Clair’s evacuation of  Ticonderoga and British Gen. John Burgoyne’s frustration in failing to capture the American force, organizers said. 

All weekend, through special programs, Fort Ticonderoga brings to life the real stories of soldiers and civilians caught up in the six-day clash between British and American forces.

 A new Saturday evening program will recreate the moment Continental Army soldiers prepared to escape capture, even as their cannons continued to hold the British at bay. Pre-registration for the evening vignette is required, limited tickets available.

“The opportunity to follow the battle as American soldiers defended entrenched positions around Ticonderoga, before secretly escaping British encirclement is an immersive exciting tale you can’t experience anywhere else,” said Beth Hill, Fort Ticonderoga president and CEO. “Our guests will watch the battle unfold, meeting the diverse British force, from Native American to German allies, and discovering unsung moments of heroism, like the evacuation of the Continental Army hospital.

By Christine Graf

Yankee Marine Group was awarded a 10-year $250,000 tax incentive package for the company’s plan to build a $3 million boat storage facility in Lake George. 

The Warren and Washington IDA approved the financial assistance package in May.

The storage facility will be built on a 9-acre parcel of land located at 2217 Route 9N. The property is south of his marina and retail center on Lake Shore Drive in Diamond Point. 

Yankee Marine Group has already received approval from the town of Lake George Planning Board and the Adirondack Park Agency to construct up to three 11,000-square-foot buildings on the property. Each building will have storage capacity for 80 boats.

A second generation family owned business, Yankee Marine Group is owned by Andrew Brodie and his wife, Christina. Brodie worked as an engineer at GE Global Research before purchasing the business from his parents. 

“My parents started the business in 1972 when they bought the marina on Lake George in Diamond Point,” he said. “My brother and I bought them out and split the business up within the last two years.”

His brother, Jon Brodie, owns and operates Brodie’s Lakeside Marina as well as Little Harbor Boat Co. rentals on Lake George. Andrew Brodie and his wife operate Yankee

The Adirondack Wine & Food Festival returns to Lake George on Saturday and Sunday, June 24 and 25 at the Charles R. Wood Festival Commons in Lake George Village.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The festival will feature more than 120 New York wineries, distilleries, breweries, cideries, artisan food producers, food trucks, crafters, and more. The family-friendly event has drawn draws visitors from 36 states, according to organizers. 

Now in its seventh year, the festival anticipates some 7,800 attendees this year. The 2022 Festival had over 6,800 guests, with 81 percent saying they planned a trip to the Lake George area specifically to attend the festival, officials said. 

The festival is expected to generate 12,000-plus overnight stays in the area and produce an economic impact of just under $5 million on the region.

This year, the festival is expanding into the adjacent Betty Little Boulevard, launching a “Food Truck Alley,” with 15 food trucks and several local artisans and festival sponsors. 

“Last year, we sold out on Saturday with over 4,000 attendees. With this expansion, attendees will enjoy more space on the festival grounds with access to more vendors than ever. We are also providing free public access to Food Truck Alley for our guests who just want a bite to eat but may not be able to or wish to enter the ticketed festival grounds,” said Sasha Pardy, Adirondack Festival owner.

Arrow Financial Corp.—the parent company of Saratoga National Bank and Glens Falls National Bank—announced that David S. DeMarco is the president and chief executive officer of the company.

DeMarco was chief banking officer and senior executive vice president at the company.

He replaces Thomas J. Murphy, who in May  terminated his employment as president and CEO with Arrow.

The changes were made May 12.

DeMarco, who has been with the company for 35 years, continues to serve as president and chief executive officer of Arrow subsidiary Saratoga National Bank and Trust Co.

DeMarco joined the company in 1987 as a commercial lender and since that time has served in positions of increasing responsibility with the organization. He was named president and CEO of Saratoga National Bank in 2012.

“We are very pleased that Dave has agreed to serve as president and CEO of Arrow and Glens Falls National Bank. Dave has dedicated his career to the company, understands community banking and he is well-known throughout our organization and the communities we serve,” said William L. Owens, chairman of the Arrow board.

“It is an honor to be asked to serve as president and CEO of Arrow,” DeMarco said. “I look forward to working closely with our team to continue to serve our customers and advance our strategic and financial goals.”

Patricia Hartle has been appointed economic development coordinator for EDC Warren County. 

“Tricia is a wonderful addition to our EDC team,” EDC President Jim Siplon said. 

“Her remarkable economic development experience and professional network add depth to our group and her vibrant, positive approach have already made us better,” the EDC president said.

Hartle has experience in both the state government and economic development sectors. 

“One of the greatest highlights of my career was being instrumental in the creation of the consolidated funding application in New York state, as well as creating several economic incentive programs over my years,” Hartle said.

“My goal in this role is to advance the mission that we have concerted and coordinated efforts county wide, as well as regionally, to effectively assist businesses in advancing their goals,” she said.

Through her extensive experience working at the State Capitol and the Empire State Development Corp.’s START-UP NY program, Hartle brings a wealth of intimate knowledge and skills surrounding economic growth and sustainability to the Warren County community and the region.

In her free time, Hartle enjoys quality family time on Long Lake in the Adirondacks with her children, grandchildren and extended family.

By Jill Nagy

After an 18-month hiatus, Tom and Gretchen Morganstern’s Adirondack Aromatherapy is back in business at a new location. They recently opened a boutique in Aviation Mall in Queensbury. 

The shop was previously in the Shirt Factory in Glens Falls. 

Like so many other businesses, they closed down during the pandemic and, except for a kiosk at the mall last holiday season, they did business online from their home until two months ago.

Adirondack Aromatherapy sells natural aromatic oils sourced from some 40 countries. Most aromatics are not native to the Adirondack region, Gretchen explained, and if they do grow there, they have a very short growing season. One exception is roses. She makes rosewater when the roses bloom in her garden.

The shop features an “aroma bar,” an array of bottles of essential oils. Customers can sniff and choose what they like or have Morganstern  mix an elixir for them. They can then diffuse the aroma in many ways: as spray, soap, roll-on, perfume, etc. 

She said she works exclusively with natural scents and claims that the right scent can heal the mind, body, and spirit. 

All Abilities Productions, an all-inclusive theatrical company, is a new business across from Peter Harris in Aviation Mall, Queensbury. 

All Abilities Productions works with other nonprofit organizations to provide educational programs, such as all-inclusive dance programs, playwriting classes, improv acting classes, art therapy and more. 

The company will also offer concerts and theatrical productions for people to showcase their talents.

Andy O’Rourke, owner of All Abilities Productions, said he started the company so that people like himself would have the opportunity to do something they enjoy without restrictions. O’Rourke had a stroke in-utero and was born with cerebral palsy. 

He found his passion for theater and the creative arts while in high school. As he pursued his passion after high school, he found that the theatrical arts in this area were not typically all-inclusive, he said. That propelled him to create All Abilities Productions in 2022. 

All Abilities Productions was created to foster growth for people of all abilities on stage and off stage. The company’s motto states, “where inclusivity and creativity meet.” Its mission is to form a community that includes and accepts people from all walks of life regardless of disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, and age.

The Bowling Proprietors Association of America (BPAA) has named Doug Bohannon of Queensbury its 2023 National Proprietor of the Year.  

Bohannon, along with his wife Alison, own Kingpin’s Alley Family Fun Center in South Glens Falls along with Kingpin’s Alley in Latham.  

Bohannon is a native of Glens Falls and is a 1985 graduate of Glens Falls High School. He has been in the bowling business for the past 25 years.  

In 2013 Doug and Alison purchased their first bowling center in South Glens Falls. Over the past 10 years, the center has been transformed from a traditional bowling alley into a modern family fun center.

Bohannon credits his success primarily to his previous employer, Bowl New England, from which both of his centers were purchased.  

“Having worked for one of the industry leaders for 13 years prepared me for what owning my own center would be like”, Bohannon said.  “The knowledge and insight that I gained during my time with Bowl New England has been invaluable in growing a successful business.”