A report in November from AARP shows that 26 percent of Americans aged 55-plus have been victims of identity fraud, according to the organization.
However, more are taking additional precautions to prevent losses of personal information, as 29 percent have placed credit freezes on their credit bureau information following an identity theft incident. More than half have enrolled in identity protection or credit monitoring services, the report said.
The report, “Identity Fraud in Three Acts,” was developed by Javelin Strategy & Research and sponsored by AARP.
“Older Americans are leading more digitally infused lives, with two-thirds using online banking weekly, so it’s encouraging to see that many are taking proactive steps to protect their identity following a data breach,” said Kathy Stokes, director of AARP Fraud Prevention Programs. “Passwords still represent a security threat, however; using repeated passwords across multiple online accounts makes it easy for criminals to crack one of them so that all of your accounts, including financial accounts, become accessible.”
According to the report, consumers 55-plus want to bank using stronger security authentication. Roughly 90 percent state a desire to use more fingerprint scanning, and 80 percent view facial recognition capabilities as trustworthy forms of technology for financial transactions and private business matters.
The report also said identity fraud victims age 65-plus do not necessarily change how they shop, bank or pay following a fraudulent event, with 70 percent exhibiting reluctance to change familiar habits.
“Criminals are regularly targeting Americans aged 55-plus through a combination of sophisticated scams via computer malware and also through more traditional low-tech channels via telephone and U.S. mail,” said the report’s author, John Buzzard, lead analyst, fraud and security at Javelin. “The combination of high-tech and low-tech strategies unfortunately gives the upper hand to the criminal — not the consumer.”
The report offers several tips on protecting against identity fraud, including:
• Hang up on strangers, and independently verify everything.
Business Briefs: December 2020
The Park Theater, 14 Park St., Glens Falls, will host the second event in its Dinner & A Movie series on Dec. 16 with a showing of the Christmas classic film “It’s A Wonderful Life.”
It will include a special three-course prix fixe menu presented by executive chef Matthew J. Delos, featuring a selection holiday dishes, all made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Guests will be able to choose from a selection of entrées including rosemary roasted prime rib of beef, roasted breast of turkey and butternut squash ravioli. All meals will be served with a mixed baby green salad, as well as cranberry bread pudding for dessert.
Upon the purchase of a ticket, guests will receive a follow-up email prompting them to select meal choices for their party.
The doors open at 5 p.m. and dinner service will begin at 5:30 p.m. The film will begin at 6:30 p.m.
The Park Theater has a state-of-the-art fresh air ventilation system with MERV 13 filters for the indoor space and is closely following all state and CDC health and safety guidelines.
‘Festival Of Lights’ At Charles R. Wood Park Has Displays Crafted By Local Businesses
Charles R. Wood Park will be the site of a new holiday event called the Holiday Festival of Lights.
It will be a recurring event weekends through Dec. 20.
The Holiday Festival of Lights includes over 20 light displays that have been crafted by local businesses and organizations. It has been organized by Events To a T, a local event planning business.
“The interest and generosity of our region never ceases to amaze me,” said Letizia Mastrantoni, Events To a T owner. “Within minutes of releasing the information of this event, several businesses replied with an enthusiastic ‘yes.’”
Attendees are required to purchase a ticket to this outdoor, walk-through event. Each ticket gives access to the event for a 40-minute session. Tickets are $5 with proceeds benefiting local charitable organizations such as Operation Santa Claus, WAIT House and 11th Hour Rescue.
Tickets can be purchased on Eventstoat.net, Facebook/Eventstoat123 or on eventbrite.com under Holiday Festival of Lights.
The event will run every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until Dec. 20 with sessions starting at 4 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Gore Mountain Has Health And Safety Guidelines in Place As 2020-21 Season Starts
Courtesy Gore Mountain
by Andrea Harwood Palmer
Gore Mountain opened recently with procedures in place to satisfy health and safety guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have several health and safety protocols in place to keep our guests and employees safe throughout the season,” said Stephanie Backes, Gore Mountain marketing director.
“Most importantly, we have face masks or coverings required at all times,” she said. “When you’re in the base area, on the lift, inside the lodge, wherever it may be. Guests can take their mask off when they’re actively skiing or when they’re seated, eating and drinking. “
“We’re also strongly encouraging our guests to be ready when they leave their vehicle, to minimize the amount of items they have to store in the base area, and to minimize the amount of time they need to spend inside.”
Like other skiing locations, Gore Mountain has a 50 percent capacity limit. In the dining areras, there are grab-and-go options this year.
Donohue & Higgins Candy & Tobacco Co. Will Move Into Former JUST Water Building
By Jennifer Farnsworth
For the past 43 years, the Glens Falls company Donohue & Higgins Candy & Tobacco Co. has been a supplier of all things candy, operating at Maple Street since 1985.
But the company has purchased the former JUST Water facility at 31 Broad St. in Glens Falls, a space that gives them an additional 4,500 square feet.
JUST Water has moved into a new facility at 276 Dix Ave. in Queensbury.
April Higgins, Donohue & Higgins vice president, said the building does not need any major renovations or reconstruction. Currently the company is operating out of two smaller warehouse spaces.
“We are consolidating two separate warehouse spaces into one space. We will not be doing any major renovations,” said Higgins. “In the warehouse we just need to set up racks for our product.”
West Mountain Prepares To Open Dec. 12 With Health And Safety Guidelines In Place
The West Mountain winter season is set to begin Saturday, Dec. 12, weather permitting, with rules in place to adhere to CDC and state guidelines to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19.
Winter activities include day and night skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing and lessons.
While ski area opening day is Dec. 12, the tubing park opens Saturday, Dec. 19.
During non-holiday periods, West Mountain will be open Monday, 3-9 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The tubing park will be open Friday’s 4-9 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
During holiday periods, Dec. 19 to Jan. 3, Jan. 16-18, and Feb. 13-21, West Mountain will be open for skiing and snowboarding Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The tubing park will be open Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Lake George Convention And Visitors Bureau Markets ‘Meet Safely Now And Save’ Program
Courtesy LGRCVB
As the nation and the meetings industry continue to grapple with the effects of COVID-19, the Lake George Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau (LGRCVB) has pivoted its marketing efforts to develop an incentive program called Meet Safely Now and Save.
Officials said the goal of the program is to help generate bookings for new traditional and hybrid meeting business as well as benefit the meetings and local hotel industries.
“With so many meetings getting cancelled or re-booked, and budgets getting slashed, we wanted to provide an opportunity that was beneficial to both the meeting planner and the hotel properties by offsetting some of the audio visual costs that might be incurred when trying to create hybrid meetings,” said Kristen Hanifin, CSEE, Lake George Regional CVB special event and convention sales director, who devised the program.
Colorful Banners, Sidewalk Markers Appear As Arts District Of Glens Falls Takes Shape
Courtesy Arts District of Glens Falls
The Arts District of Glens Falls is beginning to roll out physical markers as well as colorful banners and numerous sidewalk markers featuring the Arts District logo.
In addition, branded bicycle racks are also in production and will be installed at key arts institutions to facilitate bike traffic from the nearby Warren County and Feeder Canal trails, officials said.
Arts District organizers said the markers are only the beginning of the overall plan for public art in Glens Falls.
As part of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, spearheaded by the late Ed Bartholomew of EDC Warren County, artwork ranging from painted electrical boxes to large-scale murals and sculptures are slated to begin production this fall and into 2021.
“This will create an Arts Trail within the Arts District accessible to both pedestrian and vehicular traffic highlighting downtown, Warren Street and neighborhood arts organizations,” the group said in a news release.
Personnel Briefs: November 2020
Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co. announced the promotion of Kristi Manning to branch manager/officer of its Northway Exit 18 branch in Stewart’s Plaza.
The bank also announced the appointment of John VanNatten as regional market leader for the Adirondack Region.
In her role as branch manager, Manning will oversee branch operations and develop banking relationships with business and personal customers.
She started with the bank in June 2003 as a travelling teller, and was promoted in July 2019 to assistant branch manager of the Broad Street branch.
Manning currently serves as treasurer for the South Queensbury Volunteer Fire Co. and Auxiliary. Originally from the South Glens Falls area, she currently lives in Hudson Falls.
VanNatten will oversee the Essex and Clinton county market areas for the bank. The position interacts with all lines of business in the region including retail branches and the business development teams.
Black Sheep Quilts Customized Designs Can Be Unique Gifts Of Art For Any Time, Season
By Susan Elise Campbell
Black Sheep Quilts LLC founder Adam Hoffman, turned a passion for fabric art into the business of crafting custom quilts for gifts and occasions of all kinds.
Hoffman grew up in Pennsylvania Dutch country, where one could be accustomed to seeing quilts hanging out on the line and where people go to purchase hand-made items, he said.
His great grandmother was a quilter, but he didn’t put needle to cloth until 2020 making patchwork corduroys for himself. He enjoyed making baby quilts and bedding as gifts. But it was the popularity of his original t-shirt designs that people took interest in. He wore some of the designs while tending bar and people started to inquire about them.
“My shirt was a conversation starter and that is good for a bartender,” he said.
Hoffman began to make shirts with logos, faces of band members, and other custom designs for clients. Then New York non-essential businesses went on pause because of the pandemic and Hoffman’s career as a bartender came to an end.