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.

Also in time for this winter, at Gore’s main ski area all of the Northwoods Gondola cabins have been replaced with new eight-passenger cabins with ski racks that better accommodate modern, wider-diameter skis and snowboards.

“We continue our vision of a multi-faceted Gore Mountain that serves the local community and achieves sustainable goals while being an all-season travel destination that provides a positive impact on the entire region for decades to come,” Gore General Manager James Bayse said.

At Whiteface, key upgrades for 2024-25 include a new patio outside the Bear Den Learning Center. Complete with environmentally friendly in-ground heating, the patio gives guests a place to gather for dining, watching family members learn to ski and ride, and simply enjoy the mountain.

Also, new pipe and high efficiency tower snowmaking guns have been installed on the popular Mackenzie and Wilderness trails and on Upper Parkway. Plus, a new Snowmax injection system has been installed to further boost snowmaking capabilities across the mountain in warmer temperatures.

In addition, the Cloudsplitter Gondola received a new haul rope, installed early this summer. A haul rope is the extremely long and weighty steel cable that lifts gondola cabins up the mountain throughout the season.

Whiteface has also obtained a new winch-ready PistonBully 600 Snow Cat that will help the grooming crew that ensure even the steepest trails are in top shape each morning

Gore and Whiteface employ about 400 and 470 people, respectively, at peak season and are major contributors to ORDA’s overall economic impact, which totals more than $340 million while generating more than $25 million in state and local taxes.

“Recent improvements to the Olympic Authority’s ski facilities have contributed to the continued success of New York State’s tourism industry,” ORDA President and CEO Ashley Walden said. 

Gore and Whiteface had 251,236 and 216,086 skier visits during the 2022-23 winter season.

ORDA Director of Information Darcy Rowen Norfolk said, “We continually look to improve the skier experience. With climate change, we are not only working to provide exceptional experiences at our ski resorts, but we are doing it with thoughtful stewardship necessary to preserve this legacy far into the future for all to enjoy.”

The post Improvements At Gore And Whiteface Ski Areas Guarantee A Better Winter Experience appeared first on Glens Falls Business Journal.

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.

The Kingsbury plant opened in 1962, one of the first in the nation to be operated as a batch and drum plant, and was replaced by a larger facility in 1985. The new plant’s first big asphalt supply was for a major paving job on the Northway in Saratoga County, from Exit 13 in Malta to Exit 9 in Clifton Park.

Founded by William H. Peckham in his tiny White Plains apartment, the company survived major economic downturns from the Great Depression to the Great Recession of 2008, and has withstood constant challenges from large multi-national competitors.

“We’re very conscious about investing back into the business,” Murphy said. “Even in tough times you’ve got to put money back in to be sustainable. We’re very deliberate about that investment. And you’re always trying to watch costs and trying to generate the best quality service to customers. You just have to be competitive.”

From just 10 employees in 1934, Peckham Industries now has a 1,200-member work force. In 2019, the company moved to modern new headquarters in Brewster, Putnam County.

Steady growth through the decades has been fueled by the acquisition of both small, family-run firms and large facilities including this year’s purchase of Gorman Group’s liquid asphalt terminal in Rensselaer, the largest privately-held terminal of its kind on the East Coast. The purchase creates additional opportunities in the New York and New England market, by supplying liquid asphalt to both internal and external hot-mix asphalt plants and emulsion mills.

“Liquid asphalt is the binder we put into the aggregate to make the pavement,” Murphy explained. “When you see a road being paved and it’s very black, that’s the liquid asphalt, that’s the binder. It’s brought in by rail, truck or water and mostly comes from refineries in the Midwest, Gulf states and Canada.”

Peckham’s territory covers eastern New York, from Chestertown to New York City, and western New England. From 2020 to 2023 it expanded with the acquisition of asphalt plants and quarries in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Murphy, who has more than 30 years of construction industry experience, joined the company in 2021, a self-described “hired gun” to bridge the gap between former President and CEO John R. Peckham, now board chairman, and John’s youngest son, Gregory, the company’s general manager.

“I grew up in Ireland on a small farm and used to play in the quarries so it’s in my blood,” Murphy said. “I’m a mining engineer. I’m very passionate about the industry. There’s great people in it. We aren’t here just to earn a paycheck. We’re here to build America by doing what we do, providing infrastructure and resources.”

“With mining, we call it the ‘benefication’ of natural resources,” he said. “Using the earth’s resources in a good way by putting it into infrastructure, property or housing.”

The website www.zippia.com says Peckham had a peak revenue of $630 million in 2023. In-house work such as paving and construction services generates about 30 percent of the company’s business.

“We have probably 70 percent external customers who buy hot-mix asphalt, aggregate stone and concrete,” Murphy said.

Peckham’s plants supply numerous municipal highway departments with the asphalt needed to keep local roads and highways in good shape.

In 1959, Peckham Industries was created to manage the various family companies and operations the firm had acquired including Tri-County Stone Company, Glens Falls Blacktop Corp. and Kingsbury Asphalt Corp., which had all been purchased that same year.

During the recent 100th anniversary celebration, guests were treated to food and fun activities from punkin chunkin to tours of the 200-foot-deep quarry, showing various types of stone that have been excavated at different levels.

Peckham has held four other centennial events at various locations including one in New York City where all employees were invited to spend a weekend with their spouse. Guests were treated to a Friday night cruise around Manhattan, a complimentary hotel stay and a big corporate party at the Museum of Natural History.

The Kingsbury plant can load 72,000 pounds (36 tons) of asphalt in a trailer in less than 45 seconds and within 200 pounds.

Peckham Industries owns about 450 acres in Kingsbury, some of which is leased to local farmers and more is leased for a 15-megawatt solar field. In keeping with its commitment to environmental stewardship, the company supplied 40,000 tons of a special stone base, covered by porous pavement, to help keep stormwater runoff from reaching Lake George.

Like many employers, Peckham is somewhat challenged by the state’s and nation’s ongoing labor shortage.

“We’re trying to change the culture where it’s not just about males,” Murphy said. “We’re trying to include the female population, getting more women working in the industry, whether it’s in the quarries, out on a paver or working equipment. That’s a big population that traditionally hasn’t been in our industry. We’re trying to make it worthwhile for them to come to us as well.”

“Labor is certainly a challenge especially with the hours we work,” he said. “A lot of paving work is mandated now to do at night. At the plants, we start early in the morning. When you’re in season, from April to November, it’s go, go, go.”

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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.

“We are always looking for more programs to benefit the community and that align with our mission,” Stevens said. “This was an exciting opportunity to connect our farmers with the residents, tourists, and travelers coming up the Northway.”

It would be CCE of Saratoga’s responsibility to apply annually for the grant to fund the Taste NY store. Stevens said that in June the association had the grant to take on an existing staff of six who order product, maintain inventory, and keep the store’s shelves stocked.

Or rather, keep the six vending machines stocked. CCE is zoned on the Northway to have only vending machines, Stevens said.

“You might look at them and think, CCE is in the vending machine business?” he said. “In reality, we are bringing the farmers out to the community and educating them about the quality products our growers in Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties bring to the region.” 

The machines have a wide assortment of local food and beverage products. Some examples are local honey, seasonal salads, maple syrup, soft drinks, candy, and mainstays including Saratoga water, “I love NY” merchandise, and more. 

There could be hundreds of products that the on-site staff rotates in the vending machines, Stevens said. 

“There are so many amazing local farms and businesses in the region, which is why taking over this Taste NY area is such a good fit for us,” he said.

Meanwhile, staff is planning tastings and events throughout the three counties. Stevens said the Saratoga extension partners with Warren and Washington counties CCEs, assisting farm businesses in those areas who would like to get their products into the vending machines at Adiriondacks Welcome Center.

“We can assist with packaging and promotion to help them connect to the consumer,” he said. “We are a larger extension, we have the capacity, and we see this as an opportunity for the growth of CCE in the entire tri-county area.” 

Stevens said CCE of Saratoga weighed the pros and cons of taking on this program and liked what they saw on paper.

“But when we toured the facility, it was amazing. These products tell a story of small farmers trying to make it,” he said, “And as a cooperative, we know so many more farmers and producers we work with on a daily basis who we can bring to market and into the community.”

Stevens said the staff “has a passion for the facility” and they enjoy communicating to visitors the stories of the farmers, talking to them about the region, and answering questions about goings-on in the area, “almost like tour guides.” 

“And now we are getting these individuals out into the communities doing tastings and events,” Stevens said.

The contract to manage Taste NY ends next May 31 and the extension will have to reapply for grant money.

“Our expectation is very clear. We are all about agricultural economic development, education, and building strong communities,” said Stevens. “Through Taste NY and Adirondacks Welcome Center, we have another avenue to fulfill our mission.”

“It’s a special place,” he said. “It’s hard not to leave there with a passion for how we, through vending machines, are able to connect small farmers to not only our counties but also to people around the state, the country, and up to Canada.”

Get a taste of what New York’s farmers and producers have to offer at the Adirondacks Welcome Center, northbound between Exits 17 and 18 of the Northway.

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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.

“It is a tremendous honor to congratulate George Ferone on receiving the 36th Annual J. Walter Juckett Community Service Award, a well-deserved recognition of his extraordinary dedication and long-time service to our community,” said Marc Yrsha, current ARCC Board Chair and Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Banking Officer, Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company. “His countless hours of service and unwavering commitment to the health and vitality of this community have made a profound impact, and we thank him for all he has done.”

The J. Walter Juckett Award, named in honor of the longtime chairman of the Sandy Hill Corporation, was created 36 years ago to recognize and honor a deserving member of the community who has selflessly gone above and beyond by contributing time and energy to help others. To see a list of past honorees, please visit the Chamber’s website: www.adirondackchamber.org/j.-walter-juckett-community-service-award.

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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. 

According to Brownell, she made the decision for Just One More Chapter to focus on the romance genre because it is the most popular and most profitable of all genres. Sales of romance novels rake in an estimated $1 billion a year. 

“Romance is one of the top-selling genres in the publishing world. It accounts for over forty percent of sales. So, I thought why not bring a romance bookstore to our little Hallmark town, which is what we are. I just wanted to add a little bit more love to our town because everybody could use a little bit more love.”

In addition to romance novels, Just One More Chapter features books written by local authors. The store also has a free library cart, one where people can donate their used books for others to enjoy.

“It’s a free little library,” Brownell explained, saying that she also has a small free library cart of children’s books. 

When Just One More Chapter opened its doors in mid-October, Brownell was shocked by the support she received from the local community.  On the day of their grand opening, people were lined up, the line stretching all the way down the street to the public library. 

“I truly was not expecting that,” said Brownell. “The town has been so welcoming, and ever since opening day, we’ve been very busy. My shelves are actually kind of empty because  we’ve sold out of a good quarter of our books. I have a $3,000 book order coming in today.”

Brownell handpicked each one of the 800 romance titles that fill her shelves, and she plans to include even more titles in the future. 

“I’ve read many of the books, and a lot of them are on my list of books that I want to read,” she said.

Brownell will be hosting events at her store and will also be participating in the Boozy Book Fair at the Adirondack Winery in November. 

“I am throwing an Onyx Storm midnight release party on January twentieth from ten p.m. to twelve-thirty a.m. I will also be doing author signings and throwing book club events, but right now I’m just taking things one step at a time so that I don’t get overwhelmed,” she said, noting that she is the store’s only employee.

Although Brownell is optimistic that Just One More Chapter will be a success, she said she will consider the experience a win regardless of outcome. 

“Even if it doesn’t work out. I will get to go home with a whole bunch more books,” she said.

Just One More Chapter is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m to 2 pm.. For more information, visit www.justonemorechapter.com

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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.

In the past, shoppers of the lumber products had to walk through a warehouse and up to the second floor of their building to see samples. That location remains open as a place for overstock and a small flooring showroom has been set up on the main floor of the new location.

“Customers are surprised walking in for sporting gear and seeing some flooring,” said Ovitt. “The showroom is the primary thing that has changed and makes the new store look different from the old.”

Ovitt purchased virtually everything that was left in the store when it closed its doors. There is hunting and camping equipment and seasonal clothing such as flannels and sweatshirts. She said she is using the same vendors and suppliers as Nemec’s and adding new items.

“The general store is evolving,” she said. “I didn’t have a store before when this opportunity arose and I wanted to continue what was established here.”

Ovitt worked in retail before founding Green River Lumber, which at one time was the name of a flooring supplier long out of business. She said her husband had the name trademarked in 2013.

One of the things she enjoyed doing in her retail days was making displays. Today when entering the general store, there is a table out front that Ovitt decorates seasonally with candies and different items that may appeal to a variety of shoppers.

“I always liked doing the displays,” she said. “It comes natural to me.”

But also, “once upon a time, a lifetime ago,” Ovitt dreamed of opening a trading post, a concept which is not unlike the atmosphere in her general store today, she said.

Closing on the business and getting her bearings in a brand new kind of venture has been a  whirlwind for the entrepreneur. 

“I’ve been too busy for a grand opening,” she said. 

Watch for a public event to celebrate the new Green River Lumber General Store in downtown Warrensburg, and learn more on Facebook.

The post Green River General Store Replaces The Iconic Nemec’s Sports Shop In Warrensburg appeared first on Glens Falls Business Journal.

By Paul Post

Warren County officials say a sales tax increase is inevitable as the state keeps passing costly programs on to local government.

Medicaid, juvenile detention and mental health services are among the fiscal burdens contributing to a $4 million gap in the county’s proposed $207.1 million 2025 budget that’s $14.3 million higher than this year’s spending plan.

A public hearing is scheduled for November 15.

“Costs are going up, we’re going to have to find revenue somewhere either now or in the future,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Kevin Geraghty, of Warrensburg. “We do get aid from New York State, but they always seem to find a way to shift costs to us each year.”

Budget Officer and Stony Creek Supervisor Frank E. Thomas said a 1 percent sales tax hike from 7 percent to 8 percent would raise an estimated $12 million, enabling the county to cover rising costs for at least several years. The county would keep approximately half this amount with the rest distributed to towns and the City of Glens Falls.

“Do it now or do it later,” said Thomas, regarding a higher sales tax. “Sooner or later we’re going to have to.”

Geraghty, Thomas, county Administrator John Taflan and tourism Director Heather Bagshaw discussed a variety of issues during a recent “Warren County Outlook” seminar with dozens of local business leaders on hand at Crandall Public Library.

Warren, Washington and Saratoga are the state’s only counties with a 7 percent sales tax. Every other county is at 8 percent or higher.

But January 1, 2027 is the earliest a higher rate could take effect. Even if the county adopts such a plan next year, both houses of the state Legislature and governor would also have to approve it, which wouldn’t occur till 2026.

“It does quite frankly make a lot of sense and I think it will be something we ultimately have to do,” Taflan said. “But we are probably in a hold pattern. I suspect there’s a good chance we will not move until Saratoga and Washington counties also want to do that.”

While acknowledging the need for a higher sales tax, Geraghty said, “The only way I would ever vote for (it) is if we lowered the property tax in the county.”

“With all the visitors we get in, maybe we should get them to share some of the burden (with higher sales tax),” Geraghty said. “I believe it would be doable.”

Tourism is one of the county’s main economic engines especially during the busy Lake George summer season.

The overall property tax levy increased by 6.1 percent under the proposed budget. However, a $1.1 billion countywide increase in property values sees the countywide tax rate decrease by two cents to $3.262 per $1,000 in assessed value.

Rates in each municipality vary based on equalization rate.

Thomas said sales tax, which had increased about 5 percent annually for several years, only rose 2 percent in 2024, which he attributed to overall economic conditions. “With inflation I think people are buying what they need more than what they want to buy,” he said. “I think that’s probably the cause.”

Inflation has also impacted county operations across the board, from higher food prices for county jail inmates to expensive highway paving projects related to high oil costs.

“And an increase in salaries kind of blows each budget apart,” Thomas said. “Everyone wants a pay raise. As you increase the pay, that inflates the budget. It goes around and around and gets harder and harder.”

Retirement benefit and health insurance costs have gone up 14 percent and 9 percent, respectively, and severe storm damage cost the county $5 million during the past year.

Thomas said state-imposed mandates are especially problematic, with various requirements affecting many departments from law enforcement to public works.

For example, there are court-ordered psychiatric exams and treatment for a defendant or accused person that the court determines isn’t competent for trial.

“They’re sent to a state-run facility to gain competence so they can go on trial, but the state decides when the time is up and we pay the bill,” Thomas said.

Such costs, which previously didn’t exceed $50,000, are now almost $2 million, he said. “New York State used to pay half; not any more,” he said.

Similarly, the only juvenile detention facility is in Westchester County, which “takes two deputies down and back to them bring back to court,” Thomas said. “It gets very expensive, very quick.”

Regarding highway projects, the state now requires much larger “climate-resilient” culverts. “They’ve gone to an extreme,” he said. “You’ve got to study the wetlands and do all kinds of engineering. It’s added all kinds of unnecessary expense. A culvert that might have cost $800,000 to $1 million is now $2 million.”

Thomas said the county saved $100,000 by combining its Civil Service and Human Resources departments under the new budget and that more consolidation might be forthcoming. “In 2025 the county will begin hauling waste for the towns, a 50 percent reduction in cost to towns. Overall it’s not the best budget in the world, but it is what it is.”

Pressing issues such as rural broadband and cell phone service, expanded public transportation and affordable housing for middle-income workers such as teachers, first responders and healthcare employees were also discussed. But officials said there appears to be no near-term solution for any of them.

“I was at a meeting in Lake Placid where the governor’s representatives told us everyone would have broadband the next year,” Geraghty said. “That was in 2016. It’s still not solved. During the pandemic kids in outlying towns had to sit in town hall parking lots to use their computers.”

Taflan said more than 1,300 sites have been identified where broadband is needed, but not available. “We can apply for grants to see if we can get assistance from the state for some of those areas, but connecting all of this county is going to be a very difficult challenge to get to 100 percent,” he said. “We need support from the broadband service providers, but they aren’t going to spend $40 million to $60 million to connect the rest of our folks.”

Similar profit-driven fiscal challenges are preventing more complete cell phone service, officials said.

Geraghty said many people in northern towns need rides to work in Glens Falls, now served by Capital District Transportation Authority, but there are no immediate plans to expand such service.

Housing for essential middle-income workers is a serious issue as many jobs don’t pay enough for people to buy homes in the $250,000 to $300,000 price range. Most new-home construction is a great deal more as the cost of building materials has gone up and contractors need to make a profit.

Recent studies have addressed the situation, but the issue is quite complex and would require a commitment from builders and government alike to make housing both affordable and financially possible.

The post Warren County Officials Attempt To Address Increasing Fiscal Issues At Recent Seminar appeared first on Glens Falls Business Journal.

Christopher R. Dowd, president and CEO of Ballston Spa National Bank (BSNB), has announced that Amber Hensley has been named assistant vice president/business development officer.

In this role, Hensley will be responsible for developing and cultivating relationships with business banking customers across the Capital Region. She will play a pivotal role in expanding commercial banking opportunities, retaining existing business, and driving growth in the bank’s market share through the acquisition of new customers. Hensley will also leverage her experience to identify cross-sell opportunities for BSNB’s full suite of business services, including cash management, loan, deposit, investment, and insurance products.

Hensley joined BSNB following a successful tenure at Pioneer Bank in Albany, where she served as a business banking relationship manager. Prior to that, she also managed Pioneer’s headquarters branch, overseeing sales performance and business growth initiatives. Now on board with BSNB and joining the bank’s new business development team, she will be located at the bank’s Guilderland location, 

“Amber grew up in the Capital Region and her expertise in business banking and her proven track record of building strong relationships with customers make her an invaluable asset to our team,” said David Omicinski, vice president of commercial banking. “Her deep understanding of the industry, combined with her dedication to our local businesses that are the backbone of our economy will be instrumental in furthering BSNB’s mission to serve businesses in our community.”

“Ballston Spa National Bank’s rich history and community-centric focus align with my philosophy that banking is more than conducting transactions,” said Hensley. “It’s an opportunity to partner with our customers in their own space, understand and embrace their unique challenges, and create a customized program to enable their success, whether that’s providing an equipment loan, a commercial line of credit, an expansion loan or other business service.” 

Hensley holds a degree in business from Sage College of Albany and is a graduate of Niskayuna High School. She is a former board member of St. Catherine’s Center for Children and is a current volunteer at the Crossroads Center for Children.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, their two dogs and exploring the beautiful Capital Region on the back of a Harley-Davidson.

The post Amber Hensley Is Named Assistant Vice President Of Business Development At BSNB appeared first on Glens Falls Business Journal.

“We received grant proposals for $87,395 worth of projects with specific funding requests of $67,975 from the GCF. We’re able to support $42,975 of these requests and, coupled with our grants made in previous years, we have now made a total of 22 grants totaling $241,119 since starting in 2022”, said Michael Freed, chair of the GCF Advisory Board. “These three latest grants are consistent with our goals of funding projects that address community development, education, art and culture, environment, and health and social needs of the greater Granville community. We continue to be inspired by the passion of these nonprofit organizations to help the Granville community and we’re honored to try and assist however we can.”

“The Distribution Committee of the Glens Falls Foundation has received, reviewed and fully supports the recommendation of the GCF Advisory Board to approve these grants and we look forward to the positive impact these, and future grants, will have on the Granville community,” said Laura Vamvalis, business administrator of the Glens Falls Foundation.

The grants awarded are as follows:

* Granville Engine and Hose Co.; $25,000 to support their purchase of a special washer and dryer for personal protective equipment (PPE). Firefighters are exposed to numerous cancer-causing contaminants from fires, hazmat situations and other chemicals. Greater awareness of the long-term hazards, including cancer, of wearing dirty and contaminated PPE has created greater urgency for regular cleaning of PPE gear.

* North Granville Hose Co. Inc.; $10,000 to purchase a new hydraulic RAM add-on for their Jaws of Life. The RAM tool is designed to create additional space where push points are more distant, such as with heavy machinery, buses and large SUVs. The new RAM also offers the ability to push bigger holes from further away, enabling volunteers to work quickly in even the trickiest extrications.

* Haynes House of Hope; $7,975 to provide a safe ramp for handicap accessibility for residents and visitors to come and go safely, as well as funds to remove and replace the front entrance stairs.

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The Lake George Battlefield Park Visitor Center completed its third season of operation with a record number of visitors, a series of improvements both inside the center and throughout the park, and plans for further program enhancements under the coordination of the Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance.

Alliance President John DiNuzzo reported that the total 2024 VC attendance of 3,492 represents a 45 percent climb over last year’s figure of 2,409. Fresh additions, which elevated the visitor experience this season, include two adjacent resin park orientation signs that interpret the role of the Battlefield Park during the French and Indian War and the American Revolution, at the VC’s entrance. The signs were funded by the Lake George Park Commission and installed by the State Department of Environmental Conservation. DEC also constructed a new paved walkway which connects the VC to the network of walkways in Battlefield Park.

According to Russell Bellico, a former Battlefield Park Alliance trustee who remains active on its curation committee, French and Indian War exhibits in the VC were expanded by the addition of two circa 1758 13-inch diameter mortar bombs, which had been raised offshore from the park during the 1960s. A scale model of a colonial military bateau was completed and displayed, helping to explain the case of original bateau artifacts from Lake George. The model was built by Paul S. Andriscin from a kit donated by Joseph W. Zarzynski.

Most recently, a beautiful live edge waterfall entry table/desk was built and given to the VC by artisan wood worker Al Rider of Hague. The table was constructed of black walnut wood donated by Northern Hardwoods of Lake George.

As the Battlefield Park prepares, under the leadership of the Town of Lake George, for the 2026 reinterment of 44 Continental soldiers and support personnel who perished there in 1776, DEC and the Alliance have been working closely to make needed improvements to walkways and to begin refurbishing the site’s iconic statues. 

“I can’t say enough about how beneficial our collaboration with DEC has been this year in giving this historic site the kind of attention it deserves,” said DiNuzzo. “With the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026 on the horizon, along with the soldiers’ reinterment and the existing remnants in the park from two crucial 18th century wars, Lake George Battlefield Park is poised to be a major national heritage destination for years to come.”

Alliance Trustee Bruce Venter, author of the award-winning history volume “The Battle of Hubbardton,” concurs on DEC’s consciousness of local historical landmarks. 

“I am very encouraged that DEC has indicated we should see historical signs on Diamond Island next year to celebrate the heroic efforts of Col. John Brown and his men in their attempt to destroy Burgoyne’s supply line,” he said.

The 250th anniversary of the Battle of Diamond Island will be in 2027.

From November through April, groups interested in touring the VC may contact the Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance at info@lakegeorgebattlefield.org to learn when off-season access might be feasible.

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