By Christine Graf

ALDI has plans to open its newest Capital Region grocery store at 708 Upper Glen St. in Queensbury.

The building is owned by Nigro Companies of Albany and was previously leased by Toys R Us.

All of the toy retailer’s leases were auctioned off after the company entered bankruptcy court. ALDI was the winning bidder for the Queensbury location.

Renovations on the building began in the spring and should be completed by fall, company officials said.

Once completed, the store will have approximately 12,000 square feet of retail space and either four or five aisles, the company said. It will also feature open ceilings, natural lighting, and environmentally friendly building materials.

All of their stores are fairly consistent when it comes to layout and design.

By Jill Nagy

Flomatic, a manufacturer of valves for water, wastewater, and irrigation systems, recently opened a 19,000-square-foot addition to its plant at 15 Pruyns Island in Glens Falls.

The project includes a new epoxy-coating system, a tank for testing valves, and new warehouse and display space.

The opening was celebrated with an open House on June 21, attended by more than 120 guests, the company said. The total cost of the project, which took a year to complete, was $3.3 million, of which $660,000 was funded by a grant from the New York state’s Regional Economic Development Council, according to company President and CEO Bo Andersson.

As a result of the addition, the company has added three new positions and expects to create 12-15 new jobs in the next three years.

The Adirondack Civic Center Coalition has formally entered into a new five-year lease with the City of Glens Falls to operate Cool Insuring Arena.

The lease officially begins Jan. 1, 2020 and will be effective until Dec. 31, 2024.

“We’ve seen tremendous progress over the past five years, and we look forward to the progress we will see over the next five,” said  Dan Burke, president of the Adirondack Civic Center Coalition board of directors. “We are not where we are without the support of our community, the Warren County Board of Supervisors, the City of Glens Falls, former Mayor Jack Diamond, current Mayor Dan Hall, Sen. Betty Little, Assemblyman Dan Stec, our partners, and the great Adirondack Thunder hockey fans.”

“I am excited about the future of the Cool Insuring Arena. The arena plays a vital role in our community. It enhances the quality of life in the tri-county area and serves as an economic engine for the region,” said Hall. “The arena is in good hands. I think others at the county level and in neighboring communi.ties see that too. This agreement is proof of that. There’s a willingness to share the funding challenges in keeping the venue viable and moving forward and those funding challenges no longer fall uniquely on the backs of city taxpayers.”

He said the Coalition is taking the arena in a positive direction “and I believe they are the people who are best qualified to move the arena forward. They have a vision and have the drive to bring that vision to fruition. I’m looking forward to the next several years as the Coalition works with the community to help the Cool Insuring Arena achieve its full potential.”

Daniel J. Burke, recently retired from NBT Bank where he served as president of the North County Region, will receive the annual Henry Crandall Award at the Crandall Public Library annual gala on Sept. 27 at the Queensbury Hotel, 88 Ridge Road, Glens Falls.

Each year, the award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated the values and legacy of Library founder Henry Crandall (1821-1913), including generosity, perseverance, loyalty, compassion, civic pride, and philanthropy.

Recipients have affected the improvement of the community and demonstrated a commitment to Crandall Public Library.

In addition to his role as president of the Adirondack Civic Center Coalition, Burke serves as president of the Glens Falls Business Improvement District and president of the Greater Glens Falls Amateur Athletic Championship Association.

He is a member of Plattsburgh State College Council and Chair of the Adirondack Health Institute. In 2012, he received the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce J. Walter Juckett Award for outstanding community service.

“Dan has been a tremendous supporter of the library and has demonstrated a profound dedication to the betterment of our local community,” said library director Kathy Naftaly.

“He has shown his commitment by donating his time and talent to multiple nonprofits over the years and actively participates in organizations such as Glens Falls Business Improvement District. We’re honored to recognize Dan for his many significant contributions.”

by Andrea Palmer

The Bog restaurant has re-opened its doors in Cambridge, under new ownership.

Mark Harwood purchased the bar and restaurant in November of 2018, after the passing of previous owner Patrick “Pat” Guidon. The well-known local establishment had been in operation for nearly four decades.

Davin Saari is continuing as bar manager for the establishment. Saari has been with the restaurant for years.

Harwood had been a customer of the establishment for years.

“I bought an airplane from the Cambridge airport about 14 years ago, and I just needed a place to go have a burger and a beer after I flew,” said Harwood, who lives in Argyle. “I went to Cambridge, where I found the restaurant.”

At the time, the restaurant was called Foggy Notions, with the nickname The Bog.

“It was the meeting place in town, where people gathered to get together. Kind of the hub of the town,” said Harwood.

By Jill Nagy

Critical as it is for a recovering addict to remain clean and sober, there is more to sorting out their life. Recovery coach Maribeth Batsford of Adirondack Recovery Care LLC, helps them find the missing pieces and put together the puzzle.

Batsford, a certified recovery coach, partners with recovering addicts and helps them develop strategies and plans for their future. That may include career plans, education options, or strategies to recover custody of their children. She coordinates aspects of a client’s treatment and makes referrals for support groups, treatment, or other types of wholistic services.

“It’s a conversation,” she said.

She sits with the client and together they try to identify recovery goals and create a plan. She emphasized that she does not try to diagnose but rather, to provide motivation for clients “move forward with their lives.”

The Adirondack Thunder has announced the schedule for the 2019-20 season.

Spanning 72 regular season games, the Thunder will take on 12 different opponents, and face three teams that they have yet to see in their four previous seasons as a member of the ECHL.

The upcoming 2019-20 season marks the first time the Thunder will go head-to-head with the Indy Fuel, Allen Americans and Jacksonville IceMen. Adirondack will also travel to play against two Central Division teams, the Toledo Walleye and Wheeling Nailers, while 64 of 72 games will be played within the North Division.

The 2019-20 preseason games are Friday, Oct. 4, at Reading; and Saturday, Oct. 5 vs. Reading at home.

The regular season schedule includes: Friday, Oct. 11 at Maine; Saturday, Oct. 12 at Worcester; Monday, Oct. 14 at Brampton; Saturday, Oct. 19 vs. Worcester; Wednesday, Oct. 23 vs. Maine; Friday, Oct. 25th vs. Worcester; Wednesday, Oct. 30 at Brampton.