Saratoga Performing Arts Center is again offering its popular Holiday Collection—customizable gifts for classical music lovers, jazz fans and aspiring ballerinas, alike.

The 2018 Holiday Collection includes the Trustco Bank Classical Season Flex Pass, which features a lawn seat for all performances of New York City Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra and the opportunity to upgrade to the best available amphitheater seat for $5 for any performance, up to five times ($165 through Dec. 31); gift certificates,  which can be redeemed for tickets to any SPAC performance, Live Nation show or the Saratoga Wine & Food Festival; the flex ticket option for the Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival ($56 through Dec. 31); holiday gift subscriptions to Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center at SPAC and SPAC memberships.

For those who prefer to purchase tickets in person, SPAC will open the Hall of Springs Box Office (108 Avenue of the Pines) on Saturday, Dec. 15. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The regular Holiday Collection discount will apply with a one-day-only discount for purchases of the Trustco Bank Classical Season Flex Pass (available for $150, in person only) and no processing fees or facility fees.

Audiences can also enjoy hot chocolate and holiday cheer while making their purchase.

By Scott D. Shimick

As part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Congress added Sections 1400Z-1 and 1400Z-2 to the Internal Revenue Code, creating the Qualified Opportunity Zone tax benefits. Owing in part to confusion over the provisions, the Qualified Opportunity Zone tax benefits have not been as widely publicized and discussed as most of the other provisions of the TCJA.

However, the IRS has recently issued proposed regulations and a Revenue Ruling that have brought clarity and interest to the Qualified Opportunity Zones.

Qualified opportunity zone benefits.

Congress’s purpose in creating the Qualified Opportunity Zone tax incentives was to promote private sector investment in economically distressed communities. Investors in the opportunity zones are eligible for the deferral of capital gains and possible reductions in total tax liability.

Investors in a Qualified Opportunity Zone Fund (QOZ Fund) can defer an unlimited amount of their capital gains. This deferral allows the investor to push back the recognition of capital gains to the earlier of (1) Dec. 31, 2026 and (2) the sale or exchange of the QOZ Fund investment.

By Christine Graf

For the second year in a row, Nancy Turner is the chairperson of Glens Falls Collaborative Hometown Holidays celebration that will kick off on Friday, Nov. 30 in the downtown area. 

“The turnout was excellent last year^. I think everybody really enjoyed themselves,” said Turner. “But this year, there will be so much more.”

Turner and her husband, Bill, are the owners of the Bell House Inn, located at 153 Bay St. in Glens Falls. For 12 years prior to relocating to Glens Falls to be closer to family, they were the proprietors of the Altamont Old Stone House Inn in Altamont.

This year, 12 downtown businesses will participate in a window display competition. The displays, in holiday or winter themes, will be unveiled on Thanksgiving Day. They will stay in place until Jan. 1.  People can go online to vote for their favorite window at glensfallscollaborative.com. 

 The two-day Hometown Holiday event will kick off at 5 p.m. that Friday in City Park, with the annual tree lighting. DJ Mark DuBray will be playing music. The Glens Falls Symphony Children’s Choir will also sing Christmas carols. After Santa arrives, he and the mayor will light the city’s Christmas tree. 

By Christine Graf

Finch Paper LLC in Glens Falls is considering a $5 million expansion of its wood yard. The upgrade would allow Finch, one of the largest privately owned pulp and paper companies in the United States, to process 16-foot logs.

It would position the company to purchase more pulpwood from area loggers.

Company Chief Financial Officer Alexander Rotolo said the capital project is in the planning stages. 

“Hundreds of companies rely on Finch and make decisions based on Finch,” he said.  “If they think we are going to 16-foot wood in the next six months, they may make decisions to do things like change equipment.”