Glens Falls Business Journal

FUND For Lake George Program To Help People Upgrade Septic Systems Around Lake

August 14, 2020August 14, 2020

A worker pumps out a septic system in the Lake George area.
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

August 14, 2020August 14, 2020

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

August 14, 2020August 14, 2020

Bryna Haldeman developed a board game using the real-life destinations of Silver Bay.
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

August 14, 2020August 14, 2020

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

August 14, 2020August 14, 2020

Rob Shauger is director of sales and development at ConfiData. Courtesy ConfiData

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.

Business Report: Why You Are Mired In Dysfunction Junction?

August 14, 2020August 14, 2020

Michael Cruz is president of Lighthouse Advisors LLC in Queensbury.

By Michael Cruz
The first reason is that you simply do not trust each other. In his breakthrough work, “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team”, Patrick Lencioni wrote that the absence of trust is the biggest reason teams do not work well together. This is because we are not often trained to be vulnerable and to trust the people we work with. This means that everything else we try to do is built on a weak foundation.
The second dysfunction is fear of conflict. Again, we were taught in kindergarten that it is most important for everyone to get along. Even if that means holding back on contrary views. If we don’t trust each other, we cannot have intelligent debate about options to solving problems. This hurts the team because we do not bring our best ideas to the table.

New York State Cooperating With Others To Ramp Up Electrification Of Trucks, Buses

August 14, 2020August 14, 2020

New York state, along with 14 states and the District of Columbia, plans to develop an action plan to ramp up electrification of buses and trucks.
In a joint memorandum of understanding issued in July, the state committed to work collaboratively to accelerate the market for electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, including large pickup trucks and vans, delivery trucks, box trucks, school and transit buses and long-haul delivery trucks.
The goal of the MOU is to ensure that 100 percent of all new medium- and heavy-duty vehicle sales be zero emission vehicles by 2050 with an interim target of 30 percent zero-emission vehicle sales in these categories of vehicles by 2030. The announcement supports the state’s nation-leading targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

Rasp Inc. In Moreau Eyes Expansion Of Its Warehouse Space At Plant On Route 9

August 14, 2020August 14, 2020

By Jennifer Farnsworth
RASP Inc. is expanding their manufacturing space at the company’s 27,000-square-foot plant off Route 9 in Moreau.
The company has selected the JAG Group to design and construct the project. According to Ronald Richards, CEO of Rasp, the expansion comes in response to high demand from manufacturers.
Richards said the company is hoping to break ground at the end of August. The expansion has been scaled back. The company is now looking at a budget of between $150,000 and $200,000 for the project.
He said there are three reasons for the expansion; employee safety, the immediate need for more manufacturing space and a strong year in sales.

SUNY Adirondack To Offer Google IT Support Professional Certificate This Fall

August 14, 2020August 14, 2020

SUNY Adirondack will offer a five-course certificate program developed by Google which includes an innovative curriculum designed to prepare attendees for an entry-level role in IT support.
Courtesy SUNY Adirondack

People interested in a career in IT can register for the Google IT support professional certificate program available for the first time at SUNY Adirondack this fall.
The five-course certificate program developed by Google includes an innovative curriculum designed to prepare attendees for an entry-level role in IT support and for additional industry certifications, college officials said. A job in IT can mean in-person or remote help desk work in a small business or at a global company like Google.
No lT experience is needed. Participants should have an interest in the IT field and a willingness to do the work necessary to succeed.

Italian Restaurant, ‘Saluti,’ Opens On Canada Street In Lake George After COVID Delay

August 14, 2020August 14, 2020

Jimmy Hartwyk is the co-owner of Saluti, a new Italian restaurant at 25 Canada St. in Lake George. After a delay caused by the coronavirus, it opened Memorial Day weekend.
Courtesy Saluti

By Jill Nagy
Saluti, a new Italian restaurant at 25 Canada St. in Lake George, got off to a rocky start. They opened in February but had to close down in March because of the COVID pandemic. Then they re-opened after Memorial Day.
According to co-owner Jimmy Hartwyk, the biggest problem now is staffing because of the federal government cut-off of the usual stream of temporary workers from overseas.
But, “Things are going really well for us,” Hartwyk said, “I am pleasantly surprised.”
“It is not the year we thought we would have,” he added.
Requirements for social distancing limit capacity and, in general, “throws a wrench into our business plan.” For example, they are not yet serving lunch. On the plus side, “Our landlord has been very gracious” and, so far, “we are very lucky,” he said.