JUST Goods, Inc., which owns JUST Water in Glens Falls, announced that Ira Laufer is the company’s CEO.

Laufer joins the company with 17 years of experience leading better-for-you and specialty CPG brands including Red’s Natural Foods and Vitalicious. He took over the job on May 1.

The company said he will lead the next phase of growth and expansion for JUST Water, JUST Goods’ sustainable line of 100 percent spring water in an innovative, grab-and-go bottle made from plant-based, renewable resources.

His main focus will be to further leverage the JUST brand, execute entry into additional categories as well as create line extensions in the beverage category, said the company.

“We’re excited to have Ira join our journey,” said Jaden Smith, one of JUST’s key investors. “He has the experience and shares the vision we have to do good for the planet.”

Hilltop Construction hosted its 40th anniversary open house at the Queensbury Hotel on March 23 to benefit the Tri-County United Way.

Tom Albrecht Sr. and his family, along with friends and supporters of both Hilltop Construction and the Tri-County United Way, donated $10,000 to the agency.

The donation marks Hilltop Construction as the Rooftop sponsor of the fundraising event Over the Edge, which will be held June 17 on the roof of the Queensbury Hotel.

Officials said the event allows participants a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to rappel down the side of the iconic Queensbury Hotel using a special rope. All proceeds raised will directly impact those in need in Warren, Washington and Northern Saratoga counties.

The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) was awarded a $40,000 grant from the 2017 Conservation Partnership Program, administered by the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Land Trust Alliance.

The LGLC was one of 58 nonprofit land trusts across New York State to receive grants, totaling $1.8 million.

The grant funds will be used toward the cost of protecting a 72-acre beaver pond in Putnam, purchased by the LGLC in 2016. The property’s extensive wetlands are crucial for protecting the water quality of Lake George as well as provide high quality habitat for wildlife and migratory avian species.

Officials said the grants will further regional economic development goals by strengthening partnerships with local and state governments and advancing locally supported efforts to protect working farms, enhance public access and recreation opportunities, and conserve private lands prioritized in the state’s Open Space Conservation Plan and state wildlife action plan. Land trusts will also apply grant funds to prepare for national accreditation, supporting New York land trust commitments to rigorous national standards for nonprofit governance and organizational excellence.

Officials said the land is also part of the LGLC’s overall plan to expand the existing trail system to connect the Gull Bay Preserve and Last Great Shoreline to the Anthony’s Nose Preserve and beyond.

“We are once again grateful to the Land Trust Alliance and the DEC for supporting our efforts to protect Lake George through the Conservation Partnership Program,” said LGLC Executive Director Jamie Brown. “Protecting ponds and wetlands such as these in Putnam are crucial to keeping the renowned waters of Lake George clean and beautiful.”

Brown said the program has provided critical funds for many land trusts statewide, enabling the protection of important farm lands, forests and water resources throughout the state.

By Dan Burke

If you’re questioning why you’d want to help Keep Hockey Here, think about your community. More than $10 million directly attributed to the Glens Falls Civic Center is spent annually in our region.

Over 150,000 people visited the Glens Falls Civic Center in the 2015-16 season with nearly half of that total coming from Adirondack Thunder hockey games. Factor in the 15 percent growth in Thunder attendance during the 2016-17 season and that number rises even higher.

The Keep Hockey Here campaign helps to ensure that impact never leaves our community. When the Adirondack Civic Center Coalition agreed to purchase the hockey team in February, they took a pledge to their local community—a pledge to continue the strides that they’ve made improving the Glens Falls Civic Center over the past two seasons. Keeping the Thunder here for as long as the community wants them is the next stride.

Owning the Adirondack Thunder allows us to control our own destiny, and focus on the long-term success of hockey and the Civic Center. Since the Adirondack Red Wings left in 1999, the community has not had a long-term commitment from a professional hockey organization.

We’re proud to unveil a Raise The Rink fundraiser on June 2 as a marquee fundraising event to help us in our efforts to Keep Hockey Here. The fundraiser, to be held in Heritage Hall at the Glens Falls Civic Center, will feature silent auctions, raffles, live music, food and entertainment for a fun night out in support of the local community.

The silent auction will include a number of authentic jerseys signed by NHL superstars including Henrik Lundqvist, Patrick Kane, Jaromir Jagr, Alex Ovechkin and more, as well as a team-signed jersey from the 2012 Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings. Additional silent auction items will include a patio set from Telescope Furniture and a weekend getaway in Boston. More items will be added at the event approaches.

By Liz Witbeck

Kingsbury National Golf Club is open for the season and is gearing up to be a destination golf club in the Adirondacks.

The golf course was previously named Kingswood, and under different management.

In October, the course was purchased by Deric Buck for $1.75 million. Buck formerly owned Bay Meadows Golf Club in Queensbury.

Kingsbury National Golf Club is located at 111 County Route 41, in Hudson Falls. It is an 18-hole, links-style course. It includes a new restaurant.

When the property came up for sale, Buck knew that he had to purchase it.

“This place is absolutely gorgeous,” said Luaces. “There are rolling hills. We have nine ponds on the property. You can see the Green Mountains.” He referred to the golf course as being “in the middle of paradise.”

The course stretches 7,100 yards and plays  to a par of 72.

Buck hired Adam Luaces as general manager of Kingsbury National Golf Club. He is a native of Glens Falls. He worked in New York City, with a background in logistics.

Buck and his team worked for months to bring the golf course up to superior standards.

New York state has launched Round VII of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative, officially kicking off the annual competition for more than $800 million in state economic development resources.

The Consolidated Funding Application opened to applicants on May 1, enabling businesses, municipalities, nonprofits and members of the public to begin applying, through a single application, for assistance from dozens of state programs for projects that create jobs and help to revitalize communities.

“The Regional Economic Development Councils have successfully brought local communities together like never before, spurring economic growth from the ground up and creating jobs across New York,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “With the seventh round of the REDC awards, the state will continue its partnership with local governments and community leaders—making smart investments in our cities, towns and villages to give the Regional Councils the tools needed to build their communities for years to come.”

Through six rounds of the REDC competition, the Capital Region REDC, which includes Saratoga and Warren counties, has delivered $436.9 million for 608 projects, officials said.    

Round VII of the REDC initiative will award more than $800 million in state resources across all 10 regions, including up to $225 million in performance-based grants and tax credits from Empire State Development, and approximately $575 million from two dozen state agency programs.

The governor said the REDC process has transformed New York state government’s approach to economic development, creating a statewide framework for bottom-up economic growth and streamlining the application process for state funding. Since 2011, the first year of the initiative, over $4.6 billion has been awarded to more than 5,200 projects that are projected to create and retain more than 210,000 jobs statewide.