Glens Falls Business Journal

Bone Broth Made By Pastor Is A Speciality At The Dix Avenue Diner In Queensbury

December 13, 2022

From left, Shelly Holcomb, Gretchen Stranahan, Pastor Randy Gross, Abbie Stranahan and Katie Russell of Dix Avenue Diner pose inside the Queensbury eatery.
Courtesy Dix Avenue Diner

By Jill nagy

Bone broth is the specialty of the house at the Dix Avenue Diner in Queensbury.

The diner, at 487 Dix Ave., shares space with the New Beginnings Community Church. The church’s pastor, Randy Gross, also operates the diner and brews the bone broth.

Gross boils meat bones—chicken, turkey, beef, or pork—with a mixture of spices until it reaches a jelly-like consistency. The result, he said, is a product low in calories, high in protein, and packed with vitamins and minerals.

He described the spices as anti-inflammatory and said that they gain added potency from cooking in the hot fat. They include turmeric, cardamon, ginger, garlic and cumin.

The Indian influence is not coincidental. Gross said part of his inspiration came from the experience of a doctor whose digestive tract changed when he lived in India for a time and the changes resulted in improved health.

Customers can eat the hot broth in the diner or take it home by the bottle.

Knitt LLC Helps Companies Analyze Charitable Giving, Helps Nonprofits Prosper

December 13, 2022December 13, 2022

Lisa Munter, right, operates Knitt LLC, and Catherine Hover of the Palette Community.

By Susan Elise Campbell

Knitt LLC, a subscription-based service that connects donor businesses with a specific mission and appropriate nonprofit organizations, formally hit the philanthropic world at the end of October.

The soft launch follows two years of development, three months of beta testing, and a short time building up the funds for founder Lisa Munter to kick off the service regionally.

The service helps plan, make and track charitable donations.

“While the platform is designed to be scaled worldwide, we in the Capital District, Saratoga and the Adirondacks are the first on this journey because this is the area where we live, work and play,” said Munter. “Knitt is a different way to handle philanthropy and it is going to take some time to grow it.”

Munter said “when you launch a service into the world there are a lot of questions about what the infant business is going to be.”

Habitat For Humanity Changes Its Model To Build Condominium Units In Queensbury

December 13, 2022

By Andrea Harwood

Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren & Washington Counties is working hard to expand the traditional one- and two-family homes model they’ve been utilizing for years.

Its new project is called Fairfield, a 25-unit, mixed-income development project intended to do that.

The property is located on Baybridge, off of Bay Road near SUNY Adirondack in Queensbury, at Fairfield Properties.

“Habitat for Humanity is thrilled to start moving beyond our standard operating model of single family residences. We want to support as many humans as possible. To do that, we need to think beyond one or two homes a year,” said executive director Adam Feldman.

The condo project is intended to create more home-buying opportunities to more low- to moderate-income families in the area. Standard condominium models of separate ownership of individual units and joint ownership of common areas, such as stairways and yard spaces ,will be followed. Owners receive a deed in the same fashion as purchasing a single-family property.

This is not the first time a Habitat for Humanity affiliate has executed a project like this. Habitat for Humanity Sarasota in Florida successfully created a 72-unit mixed-income condominium development intended for home ownership in 2002.

The development of the Fairfield property will create owner-occupied units between $175,000 and $350,000, all varying in floor plan and square footage. Roughly 30 percent of the units will be sold to low- to moderate-income Habitat for Humanity partner families.

The mixed-income housing model is specifically designed to create a living environment of diversity and inclusion. Studies reveal that the model raises the standard of living for all inhabitants of the community, said Feldman.

Business Report: Hiring A Grant Writer

December 13, 2022

Sabrina Houser is the owner of Capital CFO+ in Saratoga Springs.

By Sabrina Houser

Many nonprofits rely heavily on securing grants to fund the programs and initiatives that serve our communities. Grant writing services for nonprofit organizations are often handled by staff that have many other responsibilities as well.

One strategy for success that is often overlooked or dismissed as too expensive is to contract with a grant writer or grant consultant. A grant writing consultant can work with existing staff to maximize the chances of success.

A nonprofit grant consultant reviews the organization’s mission and finds grants that fit the mission. An outsourced grant consultant will also work with staff to make current grant applications align with funding requirements. A consultant can review, edit, and make suggestions to increase the chances of submitting a successful grant application.

Grant management for nonprofits requires skill, time, and experience. Every grant comes with funder expectations for reporting, tracking of expenditures and program outcomes. Restrictions may also be placed on what the funds may be expended on. Tracking and reporting expenditures, properly allocating funds to allowed expenses, as well as measuring and evaluating program outcomes fall under the purview of grant management.

One of the critical functions of a nonprofit grant consultant is in strategizing funding support for specific initiatives and programs. A grant consultant’s experience with Federal, State, and private or corporate foundations can be an invaluable asset to a nonprofit that is struggling to secure grant funding or would like to increase their grant success rate.

SAIL Organization Moves Its Saratoga County Branch To Space At The Wilton Mall

December 13, 2022

By Jill Nagy

Southern Adirondack Independent Living (SAIL), which originated in Glens Falls and has a Queensbury office, has relocated its Saratoga County office to the Wilton Mall.

The new Wilton location replaces offices in Ballston Spa where the organization was located for 15 years. The agency also has offices in Saratoga, Queensbury and Plattsburgh.

“People with disabilities are figuring out their next step,” said Tyler Whitney, deputy executive director. “A lot of people don’t know what they need when they come here.”

The organization assists with housing, arranging in-home medical and nursing services, finding appropriate health insurance, free medical equipment loans, preparing Medicare and Medicaid applications, connecting with other community services, and other services that can help people with disabilities achieve the greatest level of independence possible. Primarily a source of advice and counseling, SAIL does not provide direct services but, Whitney said, they work closely with the providers that do.

The organization serves a 15-county swathe of upstate New York. “We begin in Columbia/Greene and work our way up,” Whitney said. It is a nonprofit organization, supported by state and federal grants and donations.

Whitney said the new office is “accessible and innovative,” centrally located in the heart of Saratoga County. Availability of public transportation was a big piece of the decision to relocate to Wilton, she added. The new location provides 4,500 square feet of space. It received a “top to bottom renovation” between the time SAIL decided in mid-summer to move and their actual relocation in early October.

Small Businesses Must Be Aware Of Ransomware And Problems It Can Cause

December 13, 2022

Craig Stephenson, senior cybersecurity analyst at Tech II Business Services.
Courtesy Tech II

By Christine Graf

In 2021, an estimated 37 percent businesses were the target of ransomware—a type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid.

The price tag for these worldwide attacks was a staggering $20 billion. The dollar amount is expected to reach $265 billion by 2031, experts say.

In order to combat ransomware and other cybersecurity attacks, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has partnered with members of the private sector. Through a program called InfraGard, they work together to protect the country’s critical infrastructure.

Craig Stephenson, senior cybersecurity analyst at Tech II Business Services in Saratoga Springs, is a member of InfraGard. Tech II provides managed information technology services to small and medium sized businesses.

According to Stephenson, cyberattacks represent a clear and present danger to all companies regardless of size.

“We are being inundated on a daily basis by bad actors from around the world. They are trying to steal the intellectual property from businesses or trying to get money from them. The FBI put together an unclassified video, and it’s an eye opener on how China is specifically and systematically trying to attack the United States in regards to stealing intellectual property.”

When it comes to ransomware, Stephenson said what he calls the “human firewall” is to blame for most attacks.

$50 Million Available In NYS For Firms Developing Cyber Safety Programs

December 13, 2022

New York state has opened applications for $50 million to strengthen safety and security measures at nonprofit, community-based organizations at risk of hate crimes or attacks because of their ideology, beliefs, or mission.

The funding is the greatest amount ever available through the program, state officials said. Nonprofit organizations that have previously received grants may now apply for new security projects, and for the first time, cybersecurity projects will be considered for funding.

The state also announced $46 million in federal funding for 240 nonprofit organizations across the state facing an increased risk of terrorist attack. This critical funding will assist in strengthening the security of their facilities, as well as enhance overall preparedness.

“Hate has no place in New York, and we will continue to support organizations that are most vulnerable to vicious and violent attacks,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “With this new round of unprecedented funding, these at-risk facilities will be able to fund safety precautions, including cybersecurity projects, to protect vulnerable people from those who would lash out against them due to their ideology, belief or mission.”

Officials said the announcement came as hate and bias incidents persist throughout New York and federal authorities have warned of security threats in neighboring states targeting faith-based institutions. Hate crimes adversely and disproportionately affect entire communities, not just the intended targets.

While the number of hate crimes reported to police in the state represents a small fraction of total crime, these incidents traumatize and instill fear in the greater community. New York state tracks these incidents separately from other crimes so trends can be monitored, and steps can be taken to prevent them from occurring in the first place, officials said.

Local Company’s Technology Allows People To Make Digital Purchases Using Ring Finger

December 13, 2022

The Quontic Pay Ring is a payment technology that allows customers wearing the ring to conveniently wave their hand near a contactless terminal to make retail purchases.
Courtesy of BankWise

BankWise Technology, a Saratoga Springs developer of advanced custom programming for banks, announced that it has provided the system development, integration, and support for the nation’s first wearable payment ring launched by the award-winning digital bank Quontic.

The Quontic Pay Ring is an innovative payment technology that allows Quontic customers wearing the ring to conveniently wave their hand near a contactless terminal to make retail purchases. Officials said the process is like tapping a credit or debit card and can be used worldwide at any payment terminal that accepts contactless payments.

The launch of this product required significant development effort to integrate the systems, streamline the operational processes and implement the safeguards necessary to both deliver the rings and to ensure their usefulness once deployed, according to BankWise. It provided the code and systems to manage key components of the product including customer authentication, ring ordering, sizing and fulfillment, ring activation, inventory management, integration with the bank’s core system, and customer communication updates via email or SMS on the pay ring’s order status.

“We are honored to be part of Quontic’s newest and very innovative product launch and for it to be the first of its kind in the U.S.,” said Sergei Morgoslepov, co-president and chief technology officer of BankWise. “We were brought into this complex project to help design, implement, and manage a middleware solution that allows Quontic to offer this payment device to their customers.

SUNY Adirondack, SUNY Plattsburg Starting Computer Security Degree Program

December 13, 2022

SUNY Adirondack and SUNY Plattsburgh have an agreement to create a bachelor’s degree program in computer security at the college’s shared Queensbury campus.

The completion program will begin in the fall 2023 semester, offering a two-year study option for graduates of SUNY Adirondack’s associate degree programs in information technology: cybersecurity and information technology: information security, or transfer students with a similar background.

“We are eager to welcome students into our new bachelor degree completion program in computer security, one of the only computer security majors among the SUNY comprehensive colleges,” said Emma Bartscherer, director of SUNY Plattsburgh’s branch campus at SUNY Adirondack. “With the added benefit of a concentration in threat analysis, students will graduate with a competitive advantage and many career prospects.”

“True to our motto, ‘You don’t have to leave to go far,’ SUNY Plattsburgh’s branch campus serves students in the region as the only four-year school with a presence in Warren County, Bartscherer said.

Computer security is the latest 2+2 agreement between SUNY Adirondack and SUNY Plattsburgh. The two colleges also offer joint in-person degree programs in psychology and criminal justice, and online in business administration and RN to B.S. in nursing.

“SUNY Adirondack is excited to team with SUNY Plattsburgh to offer our IT graduates a chance to further their studies in this high-demand field,” said Kristine D. Duffy, Ed.D., president of SUNY Adirondack. “We know there is great need for experts in cybersecurity, in our region and beyond, so it’s critical those interested have access to a high-quality, affordable education to protect against online threats, attacks and breaches.”

Business Report: Begin Estate Planning ASAP

December 13, 2022

Eric Scaringe, is a principal at UHY Advisors, Inc.

By Eric Scaringe

Recently, the office of the Illinois state treasurer was tasked with handling one of the most bizarre and complicated unclaimed estate cases ever recorded in U.S. history.

Chicago resident Joseph Stancak passed away in 2016, secretly leaving behind $11 million in his estate. Fast forward to October 2022, 119 of Stancak’s relatives have now received a portion of his wealth more than five years later.

With no siblings, children of his own, or nephews and nieces, his lineage had to be traced by going all the way back to his parents before coming back to these relatives who are located in multiple states and even countries. That is a life-changing amount of money, and there is not much information on how he accumulated the wealth, but there is an important lesson to be learned here.

The best time to begin estate planning is as soon as possible. It basically starts with going through “what if” scenarios, some financial housekeeping and then bringing in professionals to finalize the process.

The biggest error you can make is thinking that estate planning is only for those worth tens of millions of dollars and doesn’t apply to your family. Anyone with assets owned in their own names may be subjecting their heirs to a long and expensive probate court process to simply inherit their assets.