By Andrea Harwood

Jen Bliss, co-owner of Hilton Family Farmstand in Brant Lake, has expanded her operations, adding a  building and an ecommerce website to the enterprise.

Bliss’ father started the farmstand over 25 years ago as a small family project intended to provide summer work for an old friend. He set up a six-foot table and a tent, and put some melons and corn from Schuylerville Farms alongside some of the Hilton family pickles. It grew from there.

“It’s evolved from one little tent to a bigger tent, to a refrigerator, to now two full stores,” said Bliss. “There are people who still come by here who remember buying our pickles out of the little cooler on the side of the road. Now we have a full-sized store.”

In the past, the farmstand sold mostly produce. Bliss’ father sold only local Upstate New York produce, meeting with the farmers in Menands and partnering with Hand Melon Farm in Schuylervillle.

Hudson Headwaters Health Network and Glens Falls Hospital have opened a new laboratory services facility at West Mountain Family Health. 

The renovated lab officially opened in September at 161 Carey Road in Queensbury.

Glens Falls Hospital operates three phlebotomy draw stations at the site, designed to provide efficient service for patients. The new, expanded lab’s hours are Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

According to Hudson Headwaters’ CEO Dr. Tucker Slingerland, the leadership team at Hudson Headwaters has developed partnerships with many health care organizations throughout the region to collaborate and develop creative ways to provide health care. 

“We consistently explore strategies to increase access and improve patient experiences. Our partnership with Glens Falls Hospital allows for increased hours of lab services, which results in greater convenience for our community members,” said Slingerland. “We are grateful for the opportunity to plan and complete this service with Glens Falls Hospital.”

Advokate LLC, a design, communications and marketing firm, has relocated to 333 Glen St. in Monument Square from 16C Exchange St. in Glens Falls. 

A ribbon-cutting and open house at Advokate’s was held Sept. 28 for the occasion, co-hosted by the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“We had been remote for two years and it felt like time to scale the office down, but then we found the perfect suite in the Traveler’s Building,” said Kate E. Austin, founder and CEO of Advokate. 

“The new office space is accessible by elevator, includes conference room availability, two private offices, and feels like a level-up to us,” she said. “With the size of our team now, it was time to structure the company for growth. And we realized that once we felt safer meeting in-person that we really preferred it over Zoom.”

By Christine Graf

Husband and wife Andrew and Kristen Holt are the new owners of the Glens Falls health food store Pure ‘n Simple.

The couple purchased the business  from longtime owners Paul and Bonnie Savard. It is located at 4 East Washington Street.

Pure ‘n Simple sells a broad range of vitamin and mineral supplements as well as bulk foods including nuts, fruits, grains, and flours. They also offer an assortment of other grocery items, many of which are vegan, dairy free, and gluten free. Although the store does not currently sell produce or meat, the new owners hope to carry these products in the future. 

Kristen is a native of Upstate New York, and the couple moved to the Glens Falls area seven years ago after spending the first four years of their married life living Kenya, Africa. 

While in Kenya, Andrew worked as the country director for an NGO (non-governmental organization) that operated schools, orphanages, and medical clinics. 

After moving to New York, he was the pastor of a church in Saratoga Springs for several years. He now works full-time for the U.S. Postal Service. Kristen was a stay-at-home mom to their four children before they bought Pure ‘n Simple. She is now the store’s only employee.