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Fort Hudson Nursing Center Receives Grant To Increase Training Capacity In Its Facilities
Fort Hudson Nursing Center will receive $800,000 through a New York State grant to increase training capacity in healthcare facilities. This highly competitive program was open to all nursing homes, hospitals, and diagnostic and treatment centers in New York. Only a small percentage of applications were approved for a portion of the $22.5 million available statewide over a two-year period.
Fort Hudson’s successful grant application provides two opportunities for furthering health careers during 2024 and 2025. The first provides funding for current Fort Hudson certified nursing assistants to pursue their nursing degree. In addition to covering tuition and fees, selected students will have a reduced work schedule during the program with supplemental financial support
The second program will provide paid training for new certified nursing assistants just entering the field. Fort Hudson has offered free training and currently offers several classes throughout the year. This grant extends the training opportunities to evening programs, with all trainees paid during the training period. In addition, there is substantial investment in post-training mentor oversight and support for both certified nursing assistants and licensed practical nurses as they begin their new careers
Amanda Waite, Nursing Center Administrator, stated “Fort Hudson is committed to supporting its talented workforce and creating opportunities for those who wish to pursue advancement. Our goal is to open doors for those who might otherwise be unable to take this step and be a partner in their future success at Fort Hudson.
Significant Upgrades To Glens Falls Hospital Means Improved Health Care For Residents
By Susan Elise Campbell
Looking into the year ahead, Glens Falls Hospital is expanding or introducing several services designed to help improve the experience of being a patient in, or a visitor to, the hospital, according to President and CEO Paul Scimeca.
“We are very proud of the care we provide,” said Scimeca. “We are a safety net for a very large service area, which covers 6,000 square miles of the Adirondacks.”
Many patients funneling down to Glens Falls Hospital from this large region need care for age-related medical conditions, reflecting the demographics of the general population.
Others have behavioral issues to address and few places to go. To benefit this segment of the community, Scimeca said the hospital is in the process of relocating its Behavioral Health Crisis Unit so that it can be expanded from seven beds to 13.
The Conkling Center Celebrates 125 Years Of Supporting 55+ Community Members
By Ann Donnelly
The Conkling Center, which offers senior-directed programs and services for community members 55+, is preparing for its 125th anniversary celebrations in 2024. The organization started as The Glens Falls Home and was incorporated in 1899 to provide residential services for aging women. In 1999, the adult home closed. The Glens Falls Home partnered with The Eddy, the residential division of Northeast Health (currently the Continuing Care division of St. Peter’s Health Partners), and founded the Glen at Hiland Meadows in the Town of Queensbury. The Glens Falls Home relocated the remaining residents to lovely new quarters at the Terrace in the Glen complex.
After the Glen at Hiland Meadows opened in the early 2000’s, The Glens Falls Home began operating and providing senior directed programs and services, including On-The-Go Transportation that started up on November 1, 2012. In 2014, the board decided to change the name to The Conkling Center in honor of Mary Conkling, who contri buted her family home for the original Glens Falls Home.
“Our mission is to enhance the quality of life of seniors in the community directly and indirectly by providing services, programs, and opportunities to meet their ever-changing needs,” says Executive Director Joan K. Tarantino.
Building On Past Successes, LARAC Anticipates Strong Support For Its Arts Programs
Courtesy LARAC
By Ann Donnelly
2023 was an eventful year for the Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council, more commonly known as LARAC, whose mission is to enrich the quality of life in Warren, Washington, and Northern Saratoga Counties by supporting arts and culture through promoting, developing, sponsoring, networking, coordinating, and providing arts activities and services. The organization undertook a revamp of its branding and the development of a more user-friendly website and had significant additions to its offerings.
In June 2023, LARAC held its 52nd annual Arts Festival, featuring local, regional, and national artists offering various products such as jewelry, home goods, food items, fine art, textiles, etc., and live entertainment by local musicians. The 2023 show included 165 artists, compared to the five to ten artists participating in the first festival in 1972. That year, Executive Director Phil Casabona says, “A group of people passionate about the community and understood the importance of art and the number of artists in the area founded the organization.”
LARAC introduced a new arts festival for local artists under 40 in August 2023. According to Casabona,
Hoffman Car Wash Seeing New Competition As Other Companies Establish Sites In The Region
By Paul Post
The area’s oldest, most well-known car wash company is suddenly facing stiff competition from a Georgia-based firm that’s entered the market as part of a campaign to double in size, with 500 locations in nearly two dozen states by the end of 2025.
Family-owned Hoffman Car Wash, founded in 1965, currently has 30 centers including a new one on Route 9 near Exit 17 in Moreau and plans to add more sites in Glens Falls, Halfmoon and Bennington, Vermont, this year.
Each new site costs about $7 million to develop including property purchase.
But Tidal Wave Auto Spa recently opened a new facility on Quaker Road, Queensbury, a short distance from a Hoffman Car Wash. And in July 2022 it launched a South Glens Falls site and plans to add another one on Route 9 in Queensbury, where Uno Pizzeria & Grill is currently located.
Founded in 1999 in Thomaston, Ga., Tidal Wave plans to add 19 new sites in New York state including five now under construction at Colonie Center, Poughkeepsie, New Hartford near Utica, Auburn and Niagara Falls.
Comprehensive Strategic Promotional Planning Could Boost the Economy of Washington Co.
By Paul Post
Washington County has a great deal of untapped tourism potential that could boost the local economy with more comprehensive, strategic promotional planning.
That’s what officials told local business and civic leaders during a presentation hosted by the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce at Sandy Hill Arts Center’s fifth-floor event space in Hudson Falls.
“Tourism may look a little different for us, but it exists and it’s definitely impacting the county,” said Laura Oswald, county director of economic development, planning and tourism. But a recently-obtained grant will fund a separate, new full-time tourism director’s position that’s expected to be filled in the coming weeks.
Washington County doesn’t have a world-class race track, performing arts center, theme park or popular summer resort town like Saratoga and Warren counties. There isn’t a single hotel and there are less than 100 motel units.
Area Ski Resorts Tout Significant Improvements To Attract Slope-Bound Vacationers To Region
By Paul Post
Co-owners Spencer and Sara Montgomery, and financial backers, have spent nearly $20 million on capital upgrades since purchasing West Mountain 10 years ago.
In preparation for this winter they’ve added a $500,000 Winch Cat to the large fleet of grooming machines and covered base lodge floors with safe, clean carpeting.
But the biggest investment is in personnel with a new food and beverage director, rental shop manager, snow sports person, full-time ski tuner and a larger, more skilled snowmaking crew.
“It feels like we’re getting some really good professional people in here,” Spencer Montgomery said. “Hiring has been really tough the past three years. Now we’ve got a good overnight snowmaking crew. Really robust, hardworking guys. That makes all the difference because nights are when you get all your production. Someone always has to be watching the pumps, pressure and guns.”
“Hiring and mild weather were very challenging last year,” he said. “We got through it and this year feels good. We’re looking forward to an awesome season.”
The Queensbury resort plans a Dec. 16 opening to get all the kinks out and be ready for Christmas week.
Warren and Washington Counties Have Plans to Develop Industrial Park Near Canal Lock 8
By Paul Post
Armed with nearly $5.7 million in state and federal funds, Warren and Washington counties plan to develop an industrial park near Champlain Canal Lock 8 in Fort Edward.
General Electric Company used the 82-acre site as a dewatering facility for its massive Hudson River PCB dredging project.
When work was done, the property now called Canalside Energy Park was taken over by the Counties of Warren and Washington Industrial Development Agency.
In November, the IDA was awarded $4,739,000 from the Fast NY Program that will be used to install sewer and upgrade water service in an effort to attract new industry. Another $950,000 in congressional member funding has been obtained from U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer and U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik.
The Stewart’s Holiday Match Program Runs Through Christmas Day at All Area Locations
The 37th annual Stewart’s Holiday Match Campaign kicked off on Thanksgiving Day and runs through Christmas Day at all shop locations. The program supports nonprofit organizations benefiting children. To date, the program has raised over $36 million for children’s charities.
Last year, customers donated over $1 million to the program, doubling to more than $2 million with the Stewart’s match. The funds were able to support 1,939 local children’s organizations across the 32 counties where Stewart’s Shops are located.
“Sharing is a central focus of everything we do at Stewart’s. Holiday Match takes those efforts to another level by supporting children in the communities that we serve,” said Stewart’s Shops Director of Corporate Philanthropy Jennifer Frame.
Local organizations benefiting children are encouraged to apply for funding online beginning Thanksgiving Day. The deadline for submission is January 31, 2024. All groups applying must be locally based, benefit children, and be a qualified charitable 501c3 organization.