Glens Falls Business Journal

West Mountain Opens 2019 Season With Additions, Plans More Changes In Future

December 12, 2019December 13, 2019

With 31 trails and five lifts, skiers and riders of all abilities come to West Mountain. Improvements include a new “Apex” triple chairlift on the Northwest side and 15 tower snow guns.
©2019 Saratoga Photographer.com

West Mountain ski center off of Northway Exit 18 has sprung into a new season with renovations and additions to offer skiers new options.
New chairlifts, expanded terrain, 100 percent snowmaking capabilities, learn-to-lessons, after-school programs, tubing, night skiing and an up-and-coming alpine racing program are all part of West Mountain, where Spencer Montgomery, co-owner and managing member, has developed a place for family fun.
With 31 trails and five lifts, skiers and riders of all abilities come to West Mountain. Improvements include a new “Apex” triple chairlift on the Northwest side, 15 tower snow guns that round out the completion of the snowmaking capabilities, and a five-acre Tree-Top Aerial Adventure Park.
In addition to the updates on the mountain, a brand new West Express Cafe will be open on the first floor of the main lodge this season offering more healthy food options. Skiers and riders also have the option of experiencing the mountain under the lights with night skiing.

Valmet Factory In Hudson Falls To Close Next Year; EDC Ready To Help Displaced Workers

December 12, 2019December 13, 2019

Valmet is proceeding with plans for a phased closure of foundry, machine shop and assembly operations at its production center in Hudson Falls.
The first phased closure will begin in March and continue until final customer orders are fulfilled in summer 2020.
Approximately 15 employees will transfer to a new product office in nearby Glens Falls, to continue to serve customers in North America for the dryer product line and after-sales.
The company said a total of 40 positions will end as a result of the closure.
“It’s disappointing,” said Ed Bartholomew, president and CEO of EDC Warren County. “But these decisions are made at a much higher level than Hudson Falls.”

Paul Dowen Will Receive The Juckett Award At ARCC Annual Dinner Event In March

December 12, 2019December 13, 2019

Paul L. Dowen, CPA and managing partner of Whittemore, Dowen and Ricciardelli LLP.
Courtesy Whittemore, Dowen and Ricciardelli LLP

The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) announced that the 31st annual J. Walter Juckett Community Service Award will be presented to Paul L. Dowen, CPA and managing partner of Whittemore, Dowen and Ricciardelli LLP in Queensbury.
The award will be presented at the ARCC annual dinner on Friday, March 6, at the Sagamore Resort, 110 Sagamore Road, Bolton Landing.
A cocktail hour runs 6-7 p.m., followed by dinner and a program 7-11 p.m.
Dowen grew up in Saratoga Springs and made his way up to the Glens Falls region in 1976, attending Adirondack Community College (now SUNY Adirondack). Upon his graduation from Castleton State College (now Castleton University) in 1980, he returned to Glens Falls and started his accounting career with the CPA firm of Silverstein and Loftus.
Dowen started his own firm in 1987 and has been in partnership with Phillip Whittemore, as well as other partners, since 1994. His long-standing partnership with Phillip Whittemore merged with Edwards, Williams, McManus & Ricciardelli to form Whittemore, Dowen & Ricciardelli in April of 2006.

Personnel Briefs

December 12, 2019December 13, 2019

Dana Drosdick recently joined Mannix Marketing, Inc. as a digital advertising project manager.
In her new role, she will assist the director of sales with contract processing, giveaway management, display advertising coordination, trade and sponsorship, and any other necessary projects.
Drosdick began her career at Mannix three summers ago as an intern, and she has been coming back ever since. A recent college graduate from Calvin University, she previously interned with Grandville Calvin Christian Schools, where she managed website updates, developed a consistent social media calendar, designed promotional materials, and created fundraising campaigns.
She also worked as Calvin University’s social media manager, where she managed a team of student employees and the University’s brand across Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

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The Double H Ranch announced the appointment of three new members of its board of directors, all local business people.
Joining the board are Russell Teplitzky, general manager of DeCrescente Distributing Co. in Mechanicville; Sheri Lyons of AYCO in Saratoga Springs and Collen Carter, chief marketing officer at Fingerpaint in Saratoga Springs.
Teplitzky earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing from Stockton State College. With 32 years of industry experience, he has played a key role in DeCrescente’s overall sales, strategic growth and engaging corporate culture.

April Fresh Cleaning Expands Services; Owner Eyes A Queensbury Office In Future

December 12, 2019December 13, 2019

April Weygand, owner of April Fresh Cleaning in Saratoga Springs, displays her new van-powered cleaning system that can be used on carpets, upholstery, tile and grout.
©2019 Saratoga Photographer.com

by Andrea Palmer
April Fresh Cleaning celebrated 20 years in business this year by expanding its services into carpet and floor cleaning, as well as mold, water, fire and smoke damage mitigation.
The company serves clients in Saratoga, Queensbury and Latham. The company is also seeking to open an office in Queensbury.
April Fresh Cleaning specializes in commercial janitorial services, commercial and residential floor cleaning and upholstery cleaning.
April Fresh Cleaning recently purchased a new Butler carpet cleaner. The van-powered system allows them to clean carpet, upholstery, tile and grout, and other stone flooring. They recently finished the certification classes for water, mold, fire and smoke remediation.

Freedom Boat Club Plans To Add Hospitality Room To Its Facility On Lake George

December 12, 2019December 13, 2019

Matt and Rebecca O’Hara, owners of Freedom Boat Club in Lake George, want to construct a private hospitality room inside an existing building at Queen Boat Co., formerly Dunham’s Bay Resort.
Courtesy Freedom Boat Club

By Christine Graf
Matt and Rebecca O’Hara, owners of Freedom Boat Club in Lake George, are seeking final approval to construct a private hospitality room for their members at the Queen Boat Co. (formerly the Dunham’s Bay Boat Co.) their marina on Lake George.
The O’Haras opened their boat club franchise after relocating to the area in 2016. In October of last year, they purchased what was Dunham’s Bay Boat Co. Their proposed hospitality room will be located in an existing building within marina.
Matt O’Hara said the proposed hospitality room would provide members with a place to socialize when they aren’t out on the lake. He also envisions the space being used to conduct trainings and safe-boating classes. Food and alcohol will not be served in the hospitality room.

Former Dango’s Building In South Glens Falls May Be Developed With New Apartments

December 12, 2019December 13, 2019

The former Dango’s Dugout in South Glens Falls will be converted to all apartments.

By Rachel Phillips
After over a year of vacancy, the building that was once Dango’s Dugout in South Glens Falls is under new ownership.
The building at 43 Main St. was purchased by James Atherton of Atherton Painting and Renovations. He said he put in an offer in the spring, and it was finally accepted in September. Pending approval from the Village of South Glens Falls, he plans to gut the restaurant and convert the building into apartments.
In addition to the restaurant portion, the building contained nine apartments. Atherton has already gutted and renovated the units, including painting, and adding new carpeting and floors, he said. Each unit has one bedroom and one bathroom.
Atherton also intends to repaint the exterior and fix the sidewalks and blacktop.

Report: Jefferson Project At Lake George Continues Its Efforts To Ensure Water Quality

December 12, 2019December 13, 2019

The Jefferson Project at Lake George has published its latest annual report highlighting how its environmental data gathering and analytics have made Lake George “The Smartest Lake in the World” and are providing science-based insights into how best to protect the lake from water quality threats, according to FUND for Lake George officials.
The report can be downloaded at jeffersonproject.rpi.edu or ordered in print form by calling The FUND for Lake George at (518) 668-9700.
The Jefferson Project is a groundbreaking partnership between IBM Research, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and The FUND for Lake George. The Project has deployed more than 500 “smart sensors” in and around the lake to monitor physical, chemical and biological conditions that signal emerging threats and help track the progress of lake protection initiatives.

Homestyle Food Is Featured At XII Sporks, A New Restaurant In Lake George Village

December 12, 2019December 13, 2019

Some of the staff at XII Sporks, all family members, stand in front of the new Lake George eatery. The restaurant plans to be open year round, every day but Wednesdays.

By Jill Nagy
Homestyle food, made from scratch and priced to accommodate young families, is on the menu at XII Sporks, a new restaurant at 462 Canada St. in Lake George.
“XII” is the Roman numeral 12. It was chosen because there were originally 12 family members involved in the business. Some dropped out, but the name stuck. A spork is an eating utensil that combines the bowl of a spoon with the tines of a fork.
The restaurant opened on Oct. 12, the beginning of a slow season on Lake George, “a good time to open and learn,” according to Misty Feulner, one of the owners.
They plan to be open rear-round, every day but Wednesday.
“It’s our dream,” Feulner said, explaining that, “ever since I was little” she wanted to own and operate a restaurant.

Adirondack Trust, SUNY Empire State Foundation, Give Out 14 Scholarships

December 12, 2019December 13, 2019

The SUNY Empire State College Foundation has announced 14 recipients of the 2019 Adirondack Trust Co. Scholarship, totaling $24,900 in awards.
The scholarships aim to expand educational opportunities for students in the greater Capital Region.
This year’s recipients include a disaster recovery specialist, a graphic designer, an aspiring mental health professional, an aspiring counselor, two teachers and one aspiring teacher, a human resource specialist, a restaurant manager, an aspiring photographer and an aspiring museum curator.
Adirondack Trust established the scholarship to provide need-based aid to undergraduate or graduate students who reside in Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Montgomery, Saratoga, Washington, Fulton, Schoharie, Greene or Columbia counties. The endowment is currently valued at more than $530,000.
“Thanks to the generosity of The Adirondack Trust Company, so many SUNY Empire State College students have been able to complete their degrees and, in turn, realize their dreams and achieve their personal, professional and academic goals,” said SUNY Empire President Jim Malatras. “The Adirondack Trust scholarship is just one of so many ways the bank supports the community and I am very grateful for the bank’s long-standing and generous support of our students.”