The New York State Association of Counties released an updated economic impact report in late July that says counties and New York City face a catastrophic $13.5 billion loss in revenue over two fiscal years because of COVID-19 circumstances that could lead to significant cuts to services and permanent layoffs, slowing the economic recovery and threatening gains made against the virus.
“This is terrible news for New York and the United States as the taxpayers of New York are major donors to the United States Treasury,” an organization statement said.
The group said a U.S. Senate plan from the Republicans fails to deliver aid to state and local governments.
Business Report: Downsizing Your Home For Retirement
By Jenna Burger
You and your spouse got married, bought a home, and raised three beautiful children. You’ve lived and loved your home for 30 years, but the kids have moved out and started their own families.
Now you’re living in the 2,500-square-foot home, half of which you don’t use other than the five times a year when “the kids” come to visit. The question arises, why do we have all this space when most of it rarely gets used? Does it make sense to downsize? What opportunities can come about if we let this large home go? What are the pros and cons of downsizing as we are planning on retirement?
There is a lot to consider with downsizing. Whether a house, townhome, or apartment, moving to a smaller space can have its challenges, but if planned well, the next chapter of your life can bring less maintenance and more fun. When relocating to a space that is a fraction of the size, there is a great likelihood that you’ll need to reduce the amount of furniture and decor that has been collected over the years.
Business Report: 2020 Will Not Be Forgotten
By David kopyc
In January of this year, I wrote an article about what I anticipated for the stock market in the year 2020. In that article, I mentioned a Black Swan Event and little did I know that it would come to fruition.
The pandemic has had a dramatic impact on investors, employers, employees, deficit spending and the possibility our lives may have changed forever. Words such as social distancing, masks, freedom, travel, congregations, concerts, etc., have all taken on a new meaning to all of us. We will all look back at this event in our lives with different thoughts, opinions, and memories, whether they be good or bad.
As I write this article, the NASDAQ has just hit an all time high, and the Dow and S&P 500 are a few points shy of reaching their all time high. I bring this up because so many individuals went to cash when the pandemic came roaring into our lives and the doom and gloom that was predicted has not come to Wall Street that so many of the Monday Morning Quarterbacks said would happen.
State Agencies Develop 5-Point Plan To Help Long Term Care Residents Access Services
©2020 Saratoga Photographer.com
The state Department of Health and state Office for the Aging have developed a five-point plan to help long term care residents and their families access services.
The plan would run through the Office of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program and would provide additional resources to residents and families appealing involuntary discharges, expand the ombudsman volunteer program, “reimagine” a multi-agency workgroup to enhance services and provide up to $1 million in funding for long term care facilities to purchase tablets, webcams, headphones, or other accessories to help residents stay connected with family during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.
“When our loved ones reside in a nursing home, regular communication concerning their care is vital to the advocacy of residents and the peace of mind for their family members,” said State Commissioner of Health Dr. Howard Zucker.
High-Tech Designs Improve Movement Flow For People In Apartments And Businesses
Courtesy Stewart’s Shops
By Lisa Balschunat
When Atrium Properties of Clifton Park was awarded two town contracts, the company began working on the projects by incorporating new design techniques and technology that creates an efficient transfer of information,said Jacqueline Phillips Murray, a member of the Plank Road Centre LLC.
Rob Holbrook, president of V&H Construction, of Fort Edward, which built the new Common Roots Brewing Co. in South Glens Falls, agrees that new digital design techniques provide a field crew at the site with real-time changes they can pull up on a tablet, instead of waiting for a hard copy blueprint change as in earlier years.
“The change can be emailed to the project manager and the information can be given quickly to the guys at the site,” he said. “They can blow up a drawing or sketch and see the details on a tablet or smart phone easily … that was not possible Fyears ago with just a print.”
FUND For Lake George Program To Help People Upgrade Septic Systems Around Lake
Courtesy FUND for Lake George
Expanding on its role in protecting Lake George from failing and aging septic and wastewater treatment systems, The FUND for Lake George unveiled a new basin-wide program dedicated to equipping and empowering property owners to ensure every private septic system in the basin is performing as needed to keep the Lake clean and healthy.
“One of the greatest threats to Lake George’s legendary water quality is the increasing levels of nutrients, especially phosphorus and nitrogen escaping from failing and aging septic systems and treatment plants,” said Eric Siy, executive director of The FUND for Lake George.
“The increased nutrients pose a risk for the development of harmful algal blooms (HABs) like those that have devastated lake ecologies and economies across New York state and the country.”
The Safe Septic System Program features:
• A no-interest/low-interest loan program for septic system replacements in the Lake George basin in partnership with Adirondack Trust Co. and Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co.;
• The SafeSepticSystems.org website, an online guide to help homeowners ensure their systems are not harming the Lake.
State Gives Grants To Help Maintain Parks
The State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Department of Environmental Conservation, and the advocacy group Parks & Trails New York have awarded grants to support nonprofit organizations involved with stewardship of 29 state parks, historic sites and public lands.
The grants—including five in the area—provided to partner organizations will help to improve the maintenance of these historic open spaces.
Girl Who Spent Summers In Silver Bay Makes Board Game With Real-Life Destinations
Andrea Harwood Palmer
By Andrea Harwood Palmer
Bryna Haldeman has spent summers in Silver Bay in the town of Hague in Warren County for as long as she can remember.
The 16-year old high school student created the Silver Bay game, a board game utilizing the real-life destinations of Silver Bay.
Haldeman thought of the idea with her grandfather, Bob Haldeman. They worked on the idea together over the years. Bob died not long ago.
“We thought it would be a really fun idea to create a game that would remind people about all the great things in Silver Bay. It’s a way for people, friends and family to enjoy time together,” said Haldeman. “We started writing our ideas on a piece of paper, and it grew from there.”
Big Boom Self Storage Near Exit 18 Has Space For Large Commercial Clients, Small Units
By Andrea Harwood Palmer
Jerry Nudi, a real estate investor and founder of Warren Electric, has purchased the storage units at 94 Big Boom Road, near Northway Exit 18 in Queensbury.
The business and property was purchased for $2.7 million, according to Nudi.
“I looked at it for a couple years,” said Nudi. “I just hadn’t decided to move forward until recently. I’m already in warehousing. I have a number of facilities that offer businesses space to operate, including warehouse space. This particular storage facility has additional larger commercial spaces.”
The property contains over 300 storage units of various sizes, spaces utilized by commercial industries. Adirondack Offroad, General Roofing Contractors, Vermont Bread Co. and Line X are some of the larger business tenants at the property.
To Keep A Business Secure, People Should Consider Shredding Certain Documents
By Rob shauger
Most businesses these days are very aware of security threats and have policies in place to keep themselves protected. However, even with these policies in place, there are many seemingly-innocent documents that are often forgotten about that can leave your business open to security breaches.
Here are five documents you should be shredding, but probably aren’t:
1. Junk mail. While junk mail seems harmless, enough personal data is usually included for identity thieves to use against you. For example, names and addresses are inserted into pre-approved credit card applications. It would be all too easy for a person to send in these applications and use them for their own personal gain.
2. Photos. Photos of employees, customers, and suppliers may seem harmless, but thieves can use these photos to make up an identity. Combine this with any other personal information they may have collected from your business, and you could be in trouble. Keep your employees and customers safe by shredding these photos instead of tossing them into the garbage.
3. Hiring information. When people apply for jobs a hard copy of their resume and other documents containing personal information is often left behind. This information would be all too easy for identity thieves to take advantage of. Keep these applications in a locked location and shred when no longer needed.