Freedom Boat Club Lake George has partnered with the Children’s Museum at Saratoga on a new boating and fishing exhibit.
The Saratoga Lake – Let’s Go Boating exhibit will be an interactive, kid-friendly, and colorfully immersive exhibit. It is designed to help young children utilize play as a means to enhance their social and emotional development, as well as learn how to communicate, observe and problem solve with one another as they navigate their way through the exhibit, officials said.
The Saratoga Lake exhibit joins long-time museum favorites like the theater, trolley, firetruck, diner, grocery store and bandstand, as well as another brand new exhibit, the barn.
NBT Bank Starts Student Loan Repayment Program For All Full-Time Employees
Student loan debt is a challenge gripping the nation with $1.5 trillion in debt, transcending all generations, with statistics showing that nearly one-third of borrowers are over the age of 40.
In response to this troubling trend, NBT Bank has launched its own Student Loan Repayment Program for its full-time employees to help them reduce the outstanding balance on qualifying student loans.
The program is part of the company’s financial wellness initiatives.
Business Briefs: March 2020
The 18th annual Pizza, Wings & Baskets of Things, a fundraiser for the Wait House, will be held 6-9 p.m. Friday March 27, at Cool Insuring Arena, Glens Falls.
Tickets include pizza, wings, beer/soft drinks, and dessert. Attendees can purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win over 100 prizes.
All proceeds will benefit WAIT House in Glens Falls, a 501(\)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to help, support, and house homeless youth in our community.
Stewart’s Shops Buys Gasoline Distribution Business, Eyes More Future Diversification
©2020 Saratoga Photographer.com
Stewart’s Shops has acquired an area gasoline and diesel distribution business that will allow it to distribute gasoline from Sunoco, Citgo and Mobil to dealers located in some of its coverage area in upstate New York.
The local company acquired the distributorship from Polsniello Fuels, a 68-year-old third-generation company in Rensselaer.
Stewart’s said it plans to continue working with dealers who previously did business with Polsinello, and is considering a remodel for some of the acquired gas stations.
“As we continue to grow our business, this acquisition gives us the opportunity to diversify by expanding deeper into the fuel wholesale business,” said Stewart’s Shops President Gary Dake in a news release.
Polsinello now will focus on its lubricant and motor oil supply business. Lou Polsinello, company vice president, said in a release that the business will continue to deal in lubricants and motor oil distribution, and that dropping out of the gasoline retail business will help them to grow in those other areas.
“Finding the right partner to entrust our legacy and customers was our highest priority,” Polsinello said.
Rock Hill Bakehouse & Cafe Moves To New Space At The Shirt Factory In Glens Falls
By Jennifer Farnsworth
Rock Hill Bakehouse & Cafe in Glens Falls is enjoying its new location in what is known as the “green roof building” of The Shirt Factory.
Owner Matt Funiciello said the new space has allowed them to expand their vegan menu, including what he is most excited about: pizza.
“People are telling us it is the best pizza in town, and we are just so excited about that type of feedback,” he said. “This space has pizza ovens, giving us more of an entree option for our customers. Our patrons who have followed us up the Northway to our new space know they love our soups and sandwiches. But when they come in we ask them, ‘have you tried the pizza?’”
Herlihy Estate Bestows Endowment Of $2.2 Million Each To Local Hospital, Library
Courtesy Glens Falls Hospital
Glens Falls Hospital officials said the executor of the estate of lifelong Glens Falls resident John E. Herlihy has informed them that he has bestowed a “significant endowment” to th hospiyal and to Crandall Public Library.
Mr. Herlihy, who died in July 2019, bequeathed each non-profit organization with approximately $2.2 million from his estate, officials said.
“We are truly humbled by Mr. Herlihy’s thoughtfulness,” said Kate Herlihy Schwenker, chair of the Glens Falls Hospital Foundation board of trustees. “We will honor his legacy by ensuring that the hospital uses these funds to continue increasing the community’s access to high-quality care.”
“Mr. Herlihy was an important part of this community for so many years,” said Barbara Caimano, president of the Crandall Public Library board of trustees. “As the library begins a new strategic planning process this year, his incredible generosity will impact how we, together with our stakeholders, can continue to best serve the library community.”
Eric Gilbert Is Serving The Last Year Of Two-Year Term As ARCC Board Chairman
The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) announced that Eric Gilbert, is serving the last year of his two-year term as chair of the board of directors of the organization in 2020.
Gilbert has been a member of the board since 2013.
The ARCC also recognized Tim Jansen, of Wel-Dun Air & Water Systems, as the immediate past chair of the board.
“Our community is so blessed to have volunteer leaders like Eric Gilbert and Tim Jansen. Tim has put his heart and soul into the ARCC. Eric has certainly carried on his legacy,” said ARCC President/CEO Michael Bittel.
The Chamber announced five new board members in 2020, including:
• Damian D’Angelico, Director of Sales & Marketing, at Fitzgerald Bros. He began his career in the beverage distribution industry in a warehouse role, then moved onto a route driver role. He joined Fitzgerald Bros. in 1994 as a salesman and moved into a management role years later.
Sensations Play Gym In Fort Edward Provides A Safe Environment For Kids To Have Fun
Courtesy Sensation Play Gym
By Jill Nagy
Sensations Play Gym in Fort Edward offers children a safe place to play and exercise all of their senses, according to the owner and operator Gayle Pliscofsky.
The facility opened shortly before Christmas in a former billiard hall at 49 Broadway.
Pliscofsky is an occupational therapist with 30 years of experience, much of it working with children. She now works in early intervention and preschool services for children with special needs.
While the environment at her new center is “very therapeutic,” she said it is “appropriate for children of all abilities.”
JUST Water Expands Its Product Line, Now Operates Out Of A Facility In Queensbury
By Susan E. Campbell
JUST Goods is a brand that been growing rapidly over the past few years. As a result, it is expanding its spring water product line—JUST Water, its signature packaged water product that has been experiencing strong growth locally—and moving it into a new facility at 276 Dix Ave. in Queensbury, according to spokesperson Kara Rubin, vice president of brand development.
The company has been bottling JUST Water at the plant at 31 Broad St. in Glens Falls since 1995, site of the former Alphonse Church. But that facility is on the market now.
Glens Falls Business Person Opens Shop In Saratoga Springs To Make, Sell Doughnuts
Andrea Harwood Palmer
By Andrea Harwood Palmer
After gaining a strong following in the Adirondack Region, Darling Doughnuts is opening a new location at 441 Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs. Doors will open in March.
Owner Natascha Mansman entered the food scene in 2018. Previously operating out of the Temple Bethel kitchen in Glens Falls, she began eyeing a larger, more practical location.
“It was always my dream to be able to open a brick and mortar location for Darling Doughnuts, but I knew that on my own it would be very difficult to make that happen,” said Mansman.