Glens Falls Business Journal

‘With Grace Mental Health Counseling’ Wants To Remove Stigma Of Seeking Such Services

April 18, 2023

Nicole Edwards, right, is co-founder and co-owner with Diane Webb of With Grace Mental Health Counseling, which has two Saratoga County offices and recently expanded in Queensbury.
Courtesy With Grace Mental Health

By Susan Elise Campbell

With Grace Mental Health Counseling PLLC has been growing and operating at capacity at their Saratoga Springs and Clifton Park locations since 2018. The business recently opened a third location in Queensbury, increasing access to quality mental health care in the North Country.

“We consistently heard feedback that the community in and around Queensbury would benefit from more providers to support the expansion of the area,” said Nicole Edwards, LMHC, who is co-founder and co-owner with Diane Webb, LMHC.

Edwards specializes in couples and family counseling and Webb in trauma, “which is why we are well-matched. We do different things and have a well-rounded staff of therapists,” she said.

All three locations are purposefully located close to clinics, and the Queensbury location at Fowler Square is across the street from Adirondack Community College.

“We are easy to find at 719 Bay Road,” she said. “Students can walk over to Suite 2101 and receive services.”

State Pharmacy Benefit Program Intended To Improve Access To Prescription Drugs

April 18, 2023

New York state has launched a new pharmacy benefit program intended to improve prescription drug access and coverage for the eight million New Yorkers enrolled in Medicaid statewide.

Officials said the NYRx, program will enable Medicaid recipients to access more prescription medications with fewer restrictions, reduce confusion over the brand-name and generic drugs covered by the program, and create the largest pharmacy network in New York state.

“The transition to NYRx today is in the best interest of those New Yorkers relying on Medicaid for affordable prescription medication,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “In addition to expanding coverage and access through this program, we are also committing hundreds of millions of additional Medicaid dollars to reinvest in critical providers, including Ryan White programs and Federally Qualified Health Centers, to ensure this change is seamless and has positive impacts across our state.”

Under the NYRx model, New York state’s Medicaid program will pay pharmacy costs directly, eliminating the need for managed care organizations to administer this benefit through pharmacy benefit managers. The new process creates transparency in reimbursements to pharmacies, leverages the state’s purchasing power to negotiate with drug manufacturers, and streamlines administration for practitioners.

NYRx also improves coverage for Medicaid recipients by opening access to a statewide network of more than 5,000 pharmacies. In addition, the change establishes one comprehensive list of the brand-name and generic medications covered under the program, including all FDA-approved medications, which will broaden prescription drugs coverage for Medicaid recipients.

EXIT Realty Continues To Expand, Now Has Three Real Estate Offices In The Region

April 18, 2023

Jennifer Vucetic is principal broker and owner of EXIT Realty.
Courtesy EXIT Realty Empire Associates

By Jill Nagy

EXIT Realty now has a Glens Falls office in addition to its Clifton Park and Hudson offices.

The real estate group held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Glens Falls office in February. But actually, the office had been open since June 2021. The event was delayed by the COVID pandemic.

The Glens Falls branch is part of the regional franchise, EXIT Realty Empire Associates. The group’s headquarters is in Clifton Par.

Jennifer Vucetic, principal broker and owner, said the company was doing so much business in the Lake George area, out of its Clifton Park office, they decided to open the new office at 1 Lawrence St.

Empire Associates celebrate its fifth anniversary this summer. Vucetic has been in the real estate business since 2005.

Currently, there are 12 agents in the Glens Falls office. The core of the group is a team of agents headed by Bill Moon, who is also director of the board of the local Big Brothers and Sisters organization. The office occupies the first floor of a former pediatrics office.

The connection with Big Brothers and Sisters reflects the community service participation that is part of the DNA of both the national EXIT Realty International organization and the local franchise. A portion of every transaction fee received by the parent company is applied to its charitable fund, $7 million, to date, according to the company.

Developer To Transform Two Lake George Properties Into A New Resort Experience

April 18, 2023

Robert Gregor stands on the beach in Lake George. He bought the Lake Haven Motel and the adjacent Motel Montreal and plans to transform the property into a single destination spot.

By Susan Elise Campbell

Hotelier Robert Gregor has plans to transform two properties adjacent to one another on Lake Avenue and Canada Street so that year-round guests can enjoy the amenities of an Airbnb with the classic services of a hotel in one rental experience.

Gregor is a litigation attorney who splits his work week between home in Lake George and a firm in Ithaca. About 11 years ago he started purchasing motels in the community where he is raising his family.

The two properties are Lake Haven Motel and Motel Montreal, which Gregor describes as “mom and pop motels that have been good to me,” but which are “tired and typical.”

Lake Haven and Motel Montreal will be razed so that Gregor can create a single vacation resort out of the properties and their combined 1.58 acres.

The first round of sketch plans will be presented to the local planning board and Gregor is prepared this spring to make his case for helping Lake George grow as a year-round destination with the construction of this project.

“I’m optimistic we have the right infrastructure to keep the drive for a year-round tourism industry going,” he said.

Gregor said it has been “a strong winter exceeding projections by about 25 percent” for his Sundowner Motel on Canada Street that he purchased in 2016.

Business Report: Immovable Object Vs. Unstoppable Force

April 18, 2023

Steven Luttman, broker/owner of SJ Lincoln Realty, host of The Expected Returns podcast.

By Steven Luttman

April 2, 1989 marked a formative day in the childhood of many within a certain age demographic. Following the dissolution of their tag team, Hulk Hogan battled Randy Savage for the world title in what was billed as “The Mega-Powers Explode.”

Two icons of the sport engaged in battle, the former relying on brute strength and power while the latter found success with finesse and quickness. It was impossible to imagine either succumbing to the other. Three-plus decades later and this impasse parallels today’s conflict between buyers and affordability within the residential real estate market.

On one side of the housing equation, you have interest rates. Last March the Federal Reserve announced what would go on to be the first of several increases to their Fed Funds rate. Since then, the velocity in which the cost of borrowing money has risen hasn’t been seen since the early 1980s.

Many homeowners fortunately saw the writing on the wall, and locked in attractive mortgage payments before the escalation fully got underway. Goldman Sachs now estimates nearly three-quarters of all borrowers have interest rates below 4 percent, and 99 percent possess one below six.

While this was financially prudent, the corresponding friction it would go on to cause is significant. When considering moving up, downsizing or simply eyeing a change, one of the first factors a homeowner must come to terms with is the idea of trading in a 3 percent mortgage in exchange for the prevailing rates of today which are double that.

Lake George Association Makes DeFeo The Manager Of Education For Action Programs

April 18, 2023

Jaimi DeFeo is LGA manager of its new education for action programs.

The Lake George Association has appointed environmental educator Jaimi DeFeo as manager of its new education for action programs.

This program is dedicated to helping property owners throughout the Lake George watershed, as well as members of the regional business community and the public, understand the environmental challenges facing Lake George and how to participate in lake protection.

DeFeo will manage the LGA’s Lake Protector outreach and engagement programs, reaching key constituencies, including property owners and the public, and featuring the popular Floating Classroom. She will also oversee development of new outreach and engagement programs and coordinate volunteer participation in the LGA’s community science programs and events. LGA community scientists participate in a variety of programs to monitor water quality, invasive species, harmful and concerning algae growth, and local wildlife populations.

“Building an informed, empowered and action-focused constituency of Lake Protectors of all ages and from all walks of life is essential to the long-term protection of this priceless environmental, economic, and recreational resource,” said LGA President Eric Siy. “From her experience as a college professor to developing environmental education programs for elementary, middle, and high school students, Jaimi is the perfect person to engage, educate and inspire others to act as needed to protect Lake George.”

“I came to love Lake George over many years visiting here, and my appreciation for all the Lake means to our regional community from the ecological, economic, and recreational perspectives has only grown since moving here seven years ago,” DeFeo said.

Realtors Group Says Lack of Inventory A Factor In Low Number Of Closed Sales

April 18, 2023

With a continued lack of inventory and Interest rates starting to rise once again, closed sales dropped to their lowest point in nearly a decade, according to the housing report released in late March by the New York State Association of Realtors.

Closed sales plummeted 34.3 percent, from 9,351 sales in February 2022 to only 6,147 units in February of 2023. This marks the lowest number of closed sales in month-over-month comparisons since February 2014 when there were just 5,700 units sold, according to the report.

New listings were down as well, from 11,760 listings in February 2022 to 9,905 in

February 2023 representing a 15.8 percent decline. Pending sales also fell 8.1 percent from 9,350 homes last year to 8,593 sales pending in February 2023.

In Warren County, data showed that new listings equal from January through March 22 (totaling 59), but closed sales were down 25.5 percent. The median sales price of $247,500 was up about 7.6 percent. The inventory of homes for sale was down about 1 percent.

Numbers for Washington County were not listed.

AHLA: Hotel-Generated Tax Revenue Expected To Reach New Heights This Year

April 18, 2023

Hotel-generated state and local tax revenue will reach new heights nationally ($46.71 billion) and in states across the nation this year, according to state-by-state projections released in March by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and Oxford Economics.

Average U.S. hotel occupancy is projected to reach 63.8 percent in 2023—just shy of 2019’s level of 65.9 percent. Staffing is expected to remain a challenge for many U.S. hotels in 2023, as the industry continues to grow its workforce back to pre-pandemic levels.

“Hotels are making significant strides toward recovery, supporting millions of good-paying jobs and generating billions in state and local tax revenue in communities across the nation,” said AHLA President and CEO Chip Rogers. “To continue growing, we need to hire more people. Fortunately, there’s never been a better time to be a hotel employee, with wages, benefits, flexibility and upward mobility better than ever before.”

Hotels across the country are on a hiring spree because they’re looking to fill many of the jobs lost during the pandemic, AHLA said. As of December 2022, national average hotel wages were at historic highs of over $23/hour and hotel benefits and flexibility are better than ever. Nearly 100,000 hotel jobs are currently open across the nation, according to Indeed.

To help hotels fill open jobs and raise awareness of the hotel industry’s 200-plus career pathways, the AHLA Foundation’s “A Place to Stay” multi-channel advertising campaign is now active in 14 cities, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York, Orlando, Phoenix, San Diego, and Tampa.

Construction At Double H Ranch To Include New Residential Lodge And Adaptive Playground

April 18, 2023

This is a rendering of the new residential lodge that will be built at the Double H Ranch, part of $5.5 million in capital projects planned at the site.
Courtesy Double H Ranch

The Double H Ranch in Lake Luzerne is embarking on a $5.5 million capital campaign project to support four areas—a new residential lodge, an new adaptive playground, and expansion of the outdoor pavilion expansion and Camp-A-Theater.

Backed unanimously by its board of directors, the Double H Ranch has secured $5 million of its goal.

It will be the ranch’s second capital campaign. It is led by Lisa and Robert Moser, who launched the campaign with a $1.5 million leadership gift.

“Double H Ranch wouldn’t be possible without the support of our community. We are grateful for the individuals, foundations, businesses, and organizations that have provided generous funding in the initial stage of our campaign. We are inspired by the progress we have made and look forward to meeting our campaign goal in 2023 with the help from our community,” said the Mosers.

Neil Golub, co-chair of the campaign, provided a $1 million challenge, matching gifts made by board members and early stakeholders.

“For those of us who have had the privilege of leading the Double H groundbreaking for new facilities, it has always been a source of enormous pride,” said Golub. “Every new facility ensures our longevity. Knowing that our kids will be attending a special place for mind, soul, and body gives us a very warm feeling.”

Inflation, Better Broadband Service Voiced As Concerns Of Legislators At ARCC Luncheon

March 21, 2023

Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner addresses the crowd at the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce Lunch With Legislators gathering on Feb. 25 at the Queensbury Hotel in Glens Falls .
Paul Post

By Paul Post

Government and employer-driven workforce development programs are critical to overcoming a nationwide labor shortage problem that’s reaching crisis proportions locally as well.

That’s what elected officials told more than 200 people at the recent Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce Lunch With Legislators gathering on Feb. 25 at the Queensbury Hotel in Glens Falls .

“There’s not a single employer I’ve visited in my district who’s said this isn’t an issue for them,” said state Sen. Dan Stec.

U.S. Rep. Elisa Stefanik said, “Every small business I go to, every manufacturer, every hospital, they tell me one of their top concerns is attracting labor.”

They discussed a variety of business-related issues with state Sen. Jake Ashby and Assembly members Carrie Woerner and Matt Simpson. Woerner and Simpson’s districts encompass northern Saratoga County.

During the pandemic, many people discovered they had enough financial resources to retire and opt out of the workforce, Woerner said. “And a lot of people have chosen to stop working for somebody else and start their own business,” she said. “Business starts have skyrocketed the past couple of years (23,745 this January versus 16,862 in January 2019).”