By Paul Post

This year’s strong summer tourist season reinforces a new report showing growth in Warren County’s hospitality industry.

The state Division of Tourism says visitor spending rose 3.1% to $956.6 million in 2025 and that tourism, which accounts for 23.5% of all county employment, generated $60.1 million in local tax revenue (up 3.4%) and $57.1 million in state tax revenue (up 4.7%)

Likewise, lodging remained the county’s largest visitor spending category, increasing more than $14 million from $467 million in 2024 to $481.6 million in 2025.

The findings are included in the state’s annual Economic Impact of Visitors to New York study.

“I was encouraged, but not surprised that those numbers were as strong as they were,” said Jim Siplon, Warren County Economic Development Corporation president. “The strength of the Lake George market and its draw is historic. It indicates the strength of the area’s identity and all the players in it.”

But Siplon said year-round tourism promotion must continue throughout the county, not just in Lake George.

North Creek, for example, has become a summer outdoor recreation hub with Revolution Rail, tubing and rafting expeditions. A new zip coaster ride slated to open next year is expected to be a major draw.

These complement North Creek’s role as a major winter destination, with skiing and snowboarding at Gore Mountain.

Recent attempts to make Lake George a more year-round destination have had limited success. Costly Winter Dreams and Winter Realm attractions were short-lived, due in part to mild weather.

“The experience wasn’t what everyone had hoped for,” Siplon said. “This is the challenge of adding to something that’s traditional and has been in place for a long time. It’s going to take a few starts and stops in order to build on that and learn as we go. I don’t feel like that was a huge failure. We learned a lot about what it’s going to take in order to make Lake George winter tourism work. I hope that informs all our decisions as we look to expand the shoulder and off-seasons.”

He said the local hospitality industry must also ensure it has capacity for visitors drawn by new events and attractions, including an Ironman 70.3 Triathlon coming to Lake George next June under a three-year agreement.

The county has committed more than $600,000 in occupancy tax money to this half-triathlon (1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride, 13.1-mile run) and the Town of Lake George will provide $250,000 annually.

The event is expected to draw thousands of competitors, coaches and spectators and build on the area’s growing reputation for sports-related tourism.

The village of Lake George got a boost this summer with a new state-of-the-art performance stage at Shepard Park, which hosted well-known artists and entertainers.

Sunny skies helped the 10th annual Adirondack Wine & Food Festival, June 27-28, draw nearly 6,000 patrons who accounted for 8,621 room nights and a $3.7 million regional economic impact.

“We had one of our best sales weekends yet,” festival owner Sasha Pardy said. “That’s why we started this festival, to support small family-owned craft beverage producers like us by giving them a platform to sample their amazing products to customers they wouldn’t otherwise have access to,” Pardy added.

The weekend after Labor Day, the village was packed again for the Adirondack Nationals Car Show, which drew large crowds, including hundreds of out-of-state visitors.

“The 2026 summer season really demonstrated the strength and diversity of the Lake George Region’s visitor economy,” said Gina Mintzer, Lake George Chamber of Commerce executive director. “There isn’t just one Lake George visitor anymore. On any given week, we’re welcoming families on their annual vacations, wedding guests, athletes and their families, summer camp parents, event attendees, couples on a getaway and day visitors from throughout the Capital Region and Northeast.”

“The data shows a larger share of visitors in the destination this summer, a particularly strong New York market, solid hotel occupancy and significant growth in short-term vacation rentals,” she said. “Just as importantly, visitors are moving throughout Warren County — staying, dining, shopping, visiting attractions, attending events and enjoying our outdoor recreation. That’s the real story of tourism here: people may come for Lake George, an event or a particular experience, but their economic impact reaches businesses and communities throughout the region.”

The Adirondack Balloon Festival ushers in Warren County’s autumn tourist season, generating extra income for area hotels, restaurants and retail shops.

From Oct. 2-4, Warrensburg will host the World’s Largest Garage Sale, while multiple venues host Oktoberfest celebrations during fall foliage season.

The state study said tourism was more important to the Adirondack Region’s economy last year than that of any other region in the state. Tourism supported 18.7 percent of all employment in the Adirondacks in 2025, the highest share of any tourism region in New York state.

The post Lake George Summer Activity Underscores Growth In Warren County Tourism appeared first on Glens Falls Business Journal.

By Paul Post

WCKM-FM Morning Club co-hosts Dan Miner and Pete Cloutier have been named to the New York State Broadcasters Association’s Hall of Fame. Previous inductees include Walter Cronkite, Barbara Walters and Al Roker.

Induction ceremonies are scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Rainbow Room, 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York.

“I still can’t put my head around it,” Miner said. “I don’t think it’s going to hit me until we’re up on stage. It’s just really blowing my mind right now, when you look at the people who are going in.”

“And the people who already are,” Cloutier said.

“The thing I’m really proud of is that we’re representing small-market radio,” Miner said. “Big stations have a huge impact, but do they have the same impact that we do in a small market? I don’t think so. It’s about taking care of people on a one-one-one level. That’s what we do.”

Miner, 61, a Whitehall High School alum, and the 81-year-old Cloutier, of Glens Falls, have worked together on the air for 29 years. Both had extensive broadcast backgrounds before joining forces.

Miner remembers their first meeting, when they set ground rules for The Morning Club.

“We got together in a room and I said, ‘We’re going to be stuck together. This is what we’re going to do. We’re going to have fun, we aren’t going to preach, we’re going to have a good time and rag on each other’,” he said. “Are you in?”

“Yeah!” Cloutier said. “And we aren’t going to touch politics.”

WCKM’s signal covers a population of about 160,000 from Saratoga Springs to North Hudson (Exit 30) and Great Sacandaga Lake to Rutland, Vermont.

“We’re in people’s ears,” Cloutier said. “If they’re looking for a new car, a lawn tractor or a great place to eat it gives us an opportunity to put things in their head.”

The hosts discuss contests for restaurant gift cards and promote charitable events such as Operation Santa Claus from 6 to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday. Some listeners set their morning routines by recurring show elements.

“We try to keep the same elements at the same time,” Miner said. “They know they should be out of the shower by the time we’re doing ‘Dirty Deeds.’ If not, they know they’re already running late.”

The pair’s age difference and backgrounds are reflected in their on-air roles, with Cloutier the more energetic of the two.

“You’d think he’d be the wise old one and I’d be the wise-cracker,” Miner said, smiling. “We actually did the reverse.”

Cloutier attributes his energy to racing go-karts and “hanging out with this guy (Miner).” At 78, he earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records by donning a Glens Falls Greenjackets uniform and becoming the oldest person ever to play in an official football game.

Both men start their days about 2 a.m. Miner is Regional Radio Group’s station manager, responsible for the Queensbury-based company’s four stations.

“I’m here at 3:25 (a.m.) and put together all the weather, sports and show prep stuff,” he said. “On top of that, I do all the social media every day, Facebook and Instagram, so people have an idea what we have coming up. Being on the air is the easy part of the day.”

The Morning Club requires advance preparation for each show.

“It can’t all be ad lib,” Miner said. “It’s tough to be witty every time you turn on a microphone. It’s a lot of work.”

Cloutier is the station’s senior account executive for ads and promotions.

“A lot of clients that I work with were folks that were in high school with me and are now business owners,” he said. “In another life I owned two photography studios in Hudson Falls and Glens Falls, so I did a lot of yearbook photography. That’s how I got to meet a lot of people, too.”

In the early 1960s, while still in high school, Cloutier and a few friends started an unlicensed radio station that caught the FCC’s attention.

“When you’re 17 it’s pretty scary,” he said. “The fine was $100,000 and a year in federal prison if we even attempted to do anything like that again.”

In 1966, Cloutier’s career began with “Saturday Night a Go-Go” on WWSC-AM. That year, he also brought a pop show with Gary Lewis & the Playboys to the old Rialto Theater in Glens Falls. He later promoted other concerts, including “Summer Jam,” which he and Miner co-produced for almost three decades.

In addition to radio work, Miner is the Adirondack Thunder’s well-known public address announcer, is in the Adirondack Hockey Hall of Fame and is host and owner of the podcast Talkin’ Smack.

“Anything we can do to help out or make a difference,” Cloutier said.

“It’s who we are,” Miner said.

For more information about this year’s inductees, go to https://www.nysbroadcasters.org/hall-of-fame.

Provided by NYS Hall of Fame CKM; edited for style and length.

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The nominees will be honored and award recipients announced during the ARCC Business Awards Breakfast on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, at The Queensbury Hotel in Glens Falls, N.Y.. Registration is open at www.adirondackchamber.org/events.

“Recognizing the achievements of our members is one of the highlights of the year,” said Tricia Rogers President & CEO of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce. “These nominees exemplify the innovation, collaboration, and community spirit that drive our region forward. We invite the community to join us as we celebrate their accomplishments and the positive contributions they make every day.”

The businesses and organizations were nominated by their peers and will be interviewed and scored by a committee of volunteer ARCC members.

Large Business of the Year nominees are The Queensbury Hotel and Stark Tech.

Professional Business of the Year nominees are CEFO Advisors, Every Penny Bookkeeping Services, Saratoga Pure Water Systems, and Capital CFO+.

Steven M. Sutton Small Business of the Year nominees are OrbitalFire Cybersecurity, McCann’s Pharmacy, Adirondack Moving Company, ADKtechs, Queensbury Cigar & Pipe, The Log Jam Restaurant, and Five Towers Media.

Rookie Business of the Year nominees are ADK Karting, Bandstand Brew Works, and Downtown Dogs Spa & Boutique.

Large Nonprofit Organization nominees are Glens Falls Hospital, Healthy Alliance, Hudson Headwaters Health Network PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), and Crandall Public Library.

Small Nonprofit Organization nominees are World Awareness Children’s Museum, Veterans and Community Housing Coalition (VCHC), The Chapman Museum, Comfort Food Community, Tri-County United Way, Glens Falls Collaborative, Adirondack Economic Development Corporation, Glens Falls Area Youth Center, Creative Jam Foundation, and the Glens Falls Senior Center.

Community Champion nominees are White Glove Service, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks, and Advokate, LLC.

Provided by Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce; edited for style and length.

The post Adirondack Regional Chamber Recognizes 2026 Business Awards Nominees For October appeared first on Glens Falls Business Journal.

By Paul Post

Section H, Row 10, Seat 2.

That’s where Tadd Sipowicz was sitting with teenage buddies the last time an Adirondack pro hockey team, the Red Wings, won a league championship.

“It’s been a long time, we’re due,” the 49-year-old Hudson Falls High School graduate said. “The expectation is to win. That’s the goal.”

He’s doing everything possible to help players, coaches and front-office staff make such dreams become reality as Adirondack Thunder team president and Harding Mazzotti Arena president and general manager.

Sipowicz took over on an interim basis following the surprise departure of Jeff Mead from those positions, only weeks before training camp opens on Oct. 3.

Sipowicz, who’s been with the team 11 years, also will continue in his role as chief revenue officer.

He said he anticipates continued strong fan and business community support, despite Mead’s somewhat puzzling exodus.

The Adirondack Civic Center Coalition, which manages the city-owned arena, issued a brief statement saying Mead “is no longer employed,” without further explanation. He was named ECHL Executive of the Year in 2024 and in November was named chairman of the league’s Board of Governors.

“I’m not going to speculate on why it happened,” Sipowicz said. “It was a (Coalition) board decision.  From the feedback on my end from corporate partners, I think people believe it’s in good hands. So far it’s been tremendous support.”

“Season tickets are ahead of last year and we’re trending higher in sponsorships, too,” he said. “Everything is up.”

The Thunder set a new franchise record with 20 sellout crowds last year and averaged 4,539 fans per game, the highest average attendance in team history. They finished third in the ECHL’s North Division to reach the playoffs, but were eliminated in the first round.

Coach Sylvain Cloutier has signed bigger, heavier defensemen such as the 6-foot-7 Steve MacLean and 6-foot-3 Brendan Dowler, adding more physicality to a lineup that already has Daniel Amesbury, the league’s toughest enforcer.

All-Star Brennan McManus (31 goals, 36 assists) will lead an offense that includes the surprise return of veteran Shane Harper, 37, a highly popular fan favorite who’s coming out of retirement. “Bringing a player of Shane’s caliber back into our room is a massive lift for our group,” Cloutier said. “Even after some time away from the game, his leadership, hockey intelligence, and veteran presence remain unmatched. Shane knows what it takes to compete and win at this level, and we’re excited to have that experience back in our locker room.”

Sipowicz said he’s extremely grateful for a solid front-office staff that’s had very little turnover in recent years, quite unusual at the minor league level in any professional sport.

“We’ve built a great culture over the past few years,” he said. “A lot of people talk about family, this truly is. We’re a close-knit group. I told the rest of the staff, I may have gotten this title, but we’re doing this all together.”

“We all know our roles, what we’re good at, what our strengths are, what our weaknesses are,” he said. “We’re fortunate that we all pick each other up across the board.”

Adirondack is the smallest market in the 30-team league, which stretches from Portland, Maine to Lake Tahoe, California. The Thunder compete in the eight-team North Division, which has a new franchise, the Trenton Ironhawks, for the upcoming season.

In 2024, Adirondack captured North Division and Eastern Conference regular-season titles, but was eliminated from playoff action by the powerhouse Florida Everblades, which has won four of the last five Kelly Cup championships.

The Everblades are owned by billionaire David Hoffman, who also owns the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins. All ECHL teams must adhere to a salary cap, but Hoffman attracts top players by offering perks such as individual apartments and more frequent air travel, which many teams can’t afford.

Florida also has no state income tax and a warm, sunny climate.

But Thunder players enjoy the Glens Falls community’s hometown atmosphere, which is especially important to rookies, out on their own as first-year pros. The Thunder pay for player housing and try to make accommodations as comfortable as possible.

Players often comment about being recognized by well-wishers when they’re around town, which certainly doesn’t happen in the league’s biggest cities.

Sipowicz brings considerable business experience to his new jobs, having owned a kitchen cabinet design business that he sold to “go all in on hockey.”

He joined the Thunder in 2016 and was previously director of business development.

He also owned the Junior Thunder, a developmental team for older teens, which played three years in Glens Falls, before devoting his full attention to the ECHL Thunder.

“I love it, this is my passion,” Sipowicz said. “That’s the great thing; our whole staff is passionate about this. We all watch the road games. At some teams, it’s just a job. With our staff, we get together and watch the games. Everybody cares.”

The Thunder’s first preseason contest is set for 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, in Glens Falls against the Trois-Rivieres Lions. The regular season home opener is Saturday, Oct. 17, against Trenton.

Only three midweek games are on the schedule and two of those are on Thanksgiving Eve and New Year’s Eve. Every other home game is on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, which should boost attendance considerably.

Numerous promotions are planned, including a new Patriot Night in February, when players will wear Revolutionary War-themed jerseys, joined by reenactors in the stands. And a three-game Rivalry Series with Trois-Rivieres will feature special U.S.- and Canada-themed jerseys.

“The overarching thing that keeps coming up is we want to win,” he said. “I think we’ve got the opportunity to do something special here this season.”

The post Sipowicz Assumes Arena Management Role As Thunder Prepare For Season appeared first on Glens Falls Business Journal.

More than 130 beverage and food vendors participated. Survey results showed 91% of attendees planned their trip or selected travel dates for the event. Seventy-eight percent shopped at stores or visited attractions, and 62% ate or drank at a local bar or restaurant.

Surveys showed 47% of attendees were under 40 and 55% had household incomes of at least $100,000. The festival has raised more than $117,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks and Soroptimist International of the Adirondacks.

Provided by Adirondack Festivals LLC; edited for style and length.

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Glens Falls Symphony has appointed Tara Hutchins to its board as part of its five-year strategic plan focused on education, fiscal sustainability, audience development and human capital. The symphony’s multiyear education plan will continue through the 2026-27 season.

Tara D. Hutchins is a Private Wealth Financial Consultant and Assistant Vice President at Wells Fargo Advisors in Albany, New York. She previously worked in public relations and the nonprofit sector and holds FINRA Series 7, 63 and 66 registrations.

Hutchins assists high-net-worth clients with investment, estate planning, wealth transfer, retirement and business exit strategies. She is a native of Indian Lake, New York, lives in Saratoga Springs and serves on the Board of Directors of Kelly’s Angels, Inc., and North Country Ministry.

Provided by Glens Falls Symphony; edited for style and length.

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The Lake George Association has released its 2025 Annual Report, reflecting on 140 years of protecting Lake George’s water quality and clarity and outlining a vision for freshwater conservation.

The report describes how science, collaboration and advocacy have guided the organization since its founding in 1885. In 2025, the LGA marked its 140th anniversary and developed its 2026-2030 Strategic Plan. The plan emphasizes using science to understand emerging threats, developing solutions with partners, advocating for policy and engaging communities.

Initiatives highlighted include the 10th anniversary of the Lake George Road Salt Reduction Initiative; work to reduce chloride pollution; aquatic invasive species prevention, research and management; wastewater infrastructure improvements and stormwater mitigation projects; and monitoring through the Jefferson Project.

The report is available at https://lakegeorgeassociation.org/annual-report.

Provided by Lake George Association; edited for style and length.

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The Northway/I-87 overpass at Exit 23 will be dedicated to the late NYS Environmental Conservation Officer Stephen L. Raymond after NY Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation honoring him.

Hochul approved legislation July 31 to name the overpass in the Town of Lake George the “ECO Stephen L. Raymond Memorial Bridge.”

Raymond died April 17, 2017, at age 67 after battling cancers linked to his duties following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. A Thurman resident and U.S. Navy veteran, he worked for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Division of Law Enforcement for 26 years.

The Warren County Board of Supervisors and Town of Lake George supported the memorial. NY State Sen. Dan Stec and NY State Assemblyman Matt Simpson sponsored the legislation.

Provided by Warren County; edited for style and length.

The post Business Briefs: September 2026 appeared first on Glens Falls Business Journal.

By Paul Post

Romeo Auto Group is undertaking a more than $7 million investment on Quaker Road in Queensbury, which includes upgrading its Auto Outlet to a Toyota-certified pre-owned vehicle dealership and acquiring the adjacent Garden Time property.

“Our first order of business is to build a reconditioning facility on the back of the Garden Time property,” co-owner Mike Romeo said. “When a vehicle comes in on trade and we have to service it, clean it and take pictures of it to get ready for the front line.”

Romeo’s market presence has greatly expanded in recent years with the December 2024 acquisition of Whiteman Chevrolet on Dix Avenue in Glens Falls, in addition to Ford and Subaru dealerships in Saratoga Springs in March 2025.

It also owns a full-fledged Toyota dealership on Broad Street in Glens Falls and Carriage Traders in South Glens Falls, where Romeo’s father, Len, and his partner, Jim Zappone, started the business in 1982.

“We’re definitely in a growth mode,” Mike said.

But he said there are no plans to move any current dealership or start a new one at the Garden Time nursery property fronting Quaker Road.

“There’s a lot of rumors flying around, but for the foreseeable future we’re not building any dealerships over there,” he said. “Nobody believes that, but it’s the truth. We bought it because it’s great real estate on a busy road in Queensbury. Eventually I’m sure we’ll do something there, but not for the foreseeable future.”

Acquisition of two Quaker Road properties totaling 14 acres cost $4.25 million alone. Romeo bought its Auto Outlet site, which it had been leasing, from James Barrett for $1.75 million. Garden Time’s property went for $2.5 million.

In addition, Romeo will spend up to $3.5 million converting its Auto Outlet into a Toyota-certified pre-owned business and building the new vehicle reconditioning facility. Both projects are scheduled for completion in 2027.

Garden Time is expected to cease operations on Quaker Road this fall or winter.

But its owners have already begun clearing land on Route 9 in Moreau, just south of Exit 17, for a new venture called Garden World LLC. Plans call for a business similar to their current Garden Time Outdoor Structures at Exit 16 in Wilton.

Garden Time’s owner discussed the proposal at the Moreau Town Planning Board’s August meeting. According to meeting minutes, he said the site has two zones, one commercial and one residential, and they’re working with the town to have it rezoned.

“They want to put their garden sheds on display, (an) office building and equipment storage building,” minutes say.

There will be no greenhouses or sale of plants and flowers. It is strictly for outdoor product displays and sales.

A public hearing is scheduled for Sept. 21.

Garden Time, one of the area’s most popular nursery centers, was founded in 1975. Its closure is part of a nationwide green industry trend that’s seeing family-owned, independent nurseries sell their high-value property to other types of businesses.

Quaker Road is one of Warren County’s busiest commercial corridors, with numerous auto dealerships and related firms such as tire stores and a Hoffman Car Wash. Retail outlets and medical groups are actively competing for remaining sites, including the well-known Heidelberg Restaurant property, listed with Coldwell Banker Prime Properties for $550,000.

In addition to Saratoga and Warren counties, Romeo Auto Group has six more dealerships in the Kingston area, overseen by Mike’s brother, Joseph. The company employs more than 700 people.

Mike said the current Auto Outlet on Quaker Road will look like a Toyota store with a large Toyota sign out front when the site’s conversion is done. It will have several dozen Toyota vehicles for sale in addition to a range of other vehicles, from heavy-duty pickup trucks to entry-level cars.

“We hope to have it renovated by late spring,” he said.

The post Romeo Plans Reconditioning Facility, Auto Outlet Conversion In Queensbury appeared first on Glens Falls Business Journal.

By Carol Ann Conover

Retail on Lake George has always run on a clock set by the tourist season: busy in July and August, quiet the rest of the year. Basecamp, the Adirondack lifestyle store that opened last month on Main Street, is betting it can outlast that rhythm.

“We’re pushing for year-round,” said John LaSalandra, who co-founded the store with longtime friend Joe Russell. “We’re following the Sagamore’s schedule — it’s important for their guests to have a place to go to eat and shop. Not everyone’s open, and really having a sense of life on the streets and Main Street is important. We’re going to work really hard at that.”

That bet aligns with where the region’s tourism numbers are heading. Warren County visitor spending reached nearly $957 million in 2025, up 3.1% from the previous year, according to the New York State Division of Tourism’s annual economic impact report. The Lake George Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau reported that 45% of that spending last year came during the shoulder season rather than the traditional summer peak, with low-season short-term rental revenue up nearly 18% and hotel occupancy climbing to roughly 54%. The bureau has said it intends to keep pushing for more year-round visitation — precisely the traffic Basecamp is positioning itself to capture.

The strategy is built around four brands under one roof rather than a single storefront identity: Basecamp, focused on outdoor and comfort apparel; RELAX, built around leisure and slowing down; Bolton Bigfoot, leaning into Adirondack folklore; and Greetings from Lake George, its postcard and fragrance line. LaSalandra said the combination is meant to give both overnight visitors and year-round locals a reason to return, rather than treating the shop as a one-time souvenir stop.

An online store at basecampmercantile.com is central to that plan. It lets the business retain customers who can’t get to Main Street once the season turns — a built-in strategy for a market where much of the customer base leaves town by Labor Day.

“It’s important because during the offseason, or when people aren’t here, or they want to get ready before they come up, our products will be available,” LaSalandra said.

LaSalandra’s other business gives that customer pipeline a head start. He is also founder and CEO of Luxury Lake George, which manages short-term vacation rentals in Bolton Landing, and a co-founder of LakeGeorgeVacay. “We deliver a great product and great memories to our guests. But we also deliver to the whole community,” LaSalandra said in a recent profile of the rental business. Russell and LaSalandra are also pursuing a project at the historic Green Harbour property on Lake George, part of a broader pattern of local investment beyond the storefront.

Inside Basecamp, that hospitality instinct shows up as much as the merchandise does. Guests can pick up a free Greetings from Lake George postcard, write a note and have the store mail it at no charge — a touch LaSalandra said has drawn repeat visits on its own. Select green products generate a $1 donation per sale to local conservation and nonprofit groups, and staff have tucked handwritten notes of encouragement into apparel throughout the store.

“I think people are thirsty for it today, especially in today’s environment,” LaSalandra said.

The store is also leaning on its Adirondack identity to build a longer-term local following. Beginning next month, Basecamp plans to launch Calling All Artists, inviting local artists to reinterpret oversized Bigfoot cutouts, built by an artisan in Chestertown, for display around Bolton Landing and potentially around Warren County before an end-of-season charitable auction. A related Bolton Bigfoot Experience will send the store’s mascot to community events and fundraisers.

“It’s through the arts that we’re able to have dialogue with everybody,” LaSalandra said. “We need this dialogue, whether it’s to preserve the lake or whatever we want to discuss. I think through the arts we’re able to do that.”

Just a few weeks after opening, LaSalandra said the store was already reordering sold-out inventory. “We’re kind of shocked by that, actually,” he said. “We have repeat customers and locals, and they’re so happy to see a store filled and not empty.”

Whether that early momentum holds through a Lake George winter will be the real test of the strategy — one LaSalandra said the store is prepared to make on Main Street and online all year long.

The post Four Brands Anchor Basecamp’s Push for Year-Round Lake George Shoppers appeared first on Glens Falls Business Journal.

Botelho Law, PLLC announced that Jessica R. Botelho has been named a Fellow of The New York Bar Foundation.

Fellows are nominated by peers and recognized for distinguished achievement, dedication to the legal profession, commitment to the organized bar and service to the public. “Being a Fellow of The New York Bar Foundation is an honor,” said Chair of the Fellows, James R. Barnes. “Fellows represent one percent of the New York State Bar Association membership. Being nominated and elected is a notable achievement.”

“I am honored to be elected a Fellow of The New York Bar Foundation,” Botelho said. “My practice has always been centered on helping individuals and families plan for the future and navigate some of life’s most difficult transitions. I also believe strongly that attorneys have an important role to play in serving both the legal profession and the communities in which we practice, so this recognition is especially meaningful to me.”

Botelho is the founder and owner of Botelho Law, PLLC, a Glens Falls-area law firm concentrating in estate planning and elder law. The firm assists individuals and families with wills and trusts, powers of attorney and health care directives, asset protection and long-term care planning, Medicaid planning and applications, and probate and estate administration. Botelho’s practice focuses on helping clients protect what they have worked for, preparing for incapacity, choosing the right people to act on their behalf, and creating plans that reflect their families and goals.

Botelho serves as Co-Chair of the Ethics Committee of the New York State Bar Association’s Elder Law and Special Needs Section. She is also a Vice President of The Conkling Center, a member of the Distribution Committee of the Glens Falls Foundation, and Treasurer of WWAARC. Botelho is also involved with the ARCC Women’s Business Council.

Botelho lives in Queensbury with her husband and two children. Outside of her law practice and community involvement, she enjoys hiking, canoeing and camping with her family.

As a Fellow, Botelho joins attorneys from across New York who support The New York Bar Foundation’s mission of expanding access to justice and providing legal services to people in need throughout New York State.

Provided by Botelho Law, PLLC; edited for style and length.

The post The New York Bar Foundation Elects Jessica R. Botelho As Fellow From Glens Falls appeared first on Glens Falls Business Journal.

By Rose Miller

Benefits have become a very important issue for current and potential employees. In recent years, surveys show the workforce places greater importance on benefits than even wages. Although administering benefits and explaining all the details is usually the job of human resources, managers need to know basic information about employee benefits for a variety of important reasons. First, a small employer may not have an HR department, and employees will look to the person who just handed them that large packet of confusing information. That person should be prepared to answer complex questions. Sometimes, the human resources department is not part of the benefits plan purchasing process, resulting in large gaps in knowledge regarding plan documents and details.

Job candidates, during a job interview, are likely to inquire about benefits, and the hiring manager will want to be able to provide decent answers (or at least the correct answers!). Benefits are a selling point when interviewing job applicants. If the hiring manager is able to promote the organization’s benefits package well, it can help attract high-quality employees to the company. When new employees come on board, they will undoubtedly have even more questions about benefits, and they may also need help with the enrollment paperwork. Academic institutions and nonprofits often lead with generous benefits because their wages may not be as competitive as those in private-sector industries.

The tricky part is how employers balance the cost of insurance programs with the desire to attract the best talent. I’m dating myself when I tell you that “once upon a time” employers paid the entire cost of premiums. Premiums began to escalate by double digits in the early 1990s. As a cost-containment strategy, employers began sharing premium costs with employees.

The most common strategy began with a 75/25 split, with the employer paying the larger portion. Then the trend became the employer picking up individual coverage and employees paying any additional cost for selecting higher-premium options. With the Affordable Care Act (ACA), some companies developed a flat amount that the employer contributes toward any option selected. For example, all employees receive $200 per month toward any plan option selected.

Another past trend scaled an employee’s premium share downward as the employee climbed the corporate ladder. Becoming a partner, for example, may mean the organization picks up the entire cost of health insurance. However, a provision in the ACA mandates that a company satisfy annual testing that compares the premiums paid by lower-income employees with those paid by the highest-paid employees. Many companies have been able to stay competitive by offering a variety of benefit options, some with high deductibles that are complemented by either a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) or health savings account (HSA).

In smaller businesses, a strategy may be to drop company health insurance altogether and send employees to state health care exchanges. These small businesses add a new, flat taxable amount to the employee’s base wages to help pay for the premiums. Even a small business can remain competitive by offering other benefits such as discounts, memberships or flexible work arrangements.

Offering benefits is still a way for a company to differentiate itself from, or keep up with, its competition. Evidence points to employees placing greater value than ever on company benefits. Employers who do not review their entire benefits package for competitive advantage are missing the mark.

The cost of benefits has become so important that the cost of continuing benefits has been negotiated in termination agreements. Rather than a number of weeks’ salary as severance, terminated employees are negotiating a number of months of payments toward COBRA continuation of benefits.

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By Ann Donnelly

Saratoga Federal Credit Union is accelerating its expansion beyond Saratoga County, following up on the soft opening of its Gloversville branch with plans for further regional growth.

CEO Don Denofio said the credit union, which in 2025 expanded into Fulton, Montgomery, Warren and Washington counties, is taking a targeted approach to physical branches and other growth strategies.

The credit union quietly opened its Gloversville branch a few weeks ago, with a formal grand opening set for Sept. 24. For Denofio, selecting Gloversville in Fulton County over wealthier markets came down to serving an underserved community.

“We took a look at the four counties we added and took a look at things like housing values, demographics, the income levels, the potential for mortgage activity,” Denofio said. “And the philosophy of being able to help people in a banking desert, so to speak. When it came down to it, I think maybe the board sat back and said, ‘Why would we go there instead of here?’ Because look at Warren County and it’s thriving. And that’s one of the reasons I decided not to go there first”.

Gloversville presents key opportunities for home improvement loans, home equity lines and mortgage refinancing. While residents face high debt loads, home values in Gloversville climbed 30% over two years.

“People are coming in the door feeling as though they’ve got a second chance and it feels great,” Denofio said. “We’ve made some exceptions on loans over the past couple of weeks. We’ve had people just walk in and they got things that they didn’t think they could get anywhere else”.

To establish the branch, Saratoga Federal entered into a lease for a two-lot site featuring a former bank and an adjoining drive-thru ATM facility that had remained vacant for five years. The landlord acquired the property for $300,000, substantially less than the estimated $1.5 million cost to construct a new facility from the ground up. To facilitate the reopening, municipal officials across Gloversville and Johnstown carried out expedited building inspections.

Saratoga Federal hired an all-local, five-person staff. “We put together a team that belongs to the town,” Denofio said. Fulton County native Taran O’Brien handles community outreach, while branch manager Misty, who lives one mile away, previously managed a local KeyBank branch.

Unlike commercial banks that rely on automated scoring systems, Saratoga Federal “looks at different things to underwrite, and that’s that’s where the key is,” says Denofio. He cites a case in which the credit union approved a 5.75% auto loan for a borrower with no credit score. While this may seem risky, delinquencies across the $60 million-asset credit union total just $45,000 across five loans.

Regarding Warren and Washington counties, Denofio explained that Saratoga Federal has not opened standalone physical branches there because shared branch networks, ATMs and digital banking serve members effectively. Denofio notes that shared branching provides a physical presence without building costs, especially with many residents commuting toward Saratoga daily.

Instead of building new branches in those counties, Saratoga Federal may consider mergers with smaller credit unions.

Looking ahead, Denofio revealed that “South Glens Falls is the potential future location that we would be looking at because it really has the criteria that took us to Gloversville.” The Saratoga County village, adjacent to Warren and Washington counties, serves as a key community for residents working and enjoying leisure time in Glens Falls and Saratoga Springs, with easy access to the entire tri-county area.

“Another reason I looked at South Glens Falls is because it’s again a competition thing,” Denofio said. “If you go into Queensbury, be prepared to fight. “We avoid competition at all costs because we have a market that no one else wants,” Denofio said.

He has explored storefronts in South Glens Falls along Route 9, noting that any site must accommodate drive-thru service.

In conclusion, Denofio noted that credit unions under $50 million in assets struggle to compete against multibillion-dollar institutions, making it critical to think outside the box.

“You can’t go head-to-head with them, so you shouldn’t try,” Denofio said. “That’s why we look at it differently”.

More information on Saratoga Federal Credit Union is available at saratogafcu.org.

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