Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) announced that Marc Monahan, vice president and regional executive of NBT Bank, has been appointed as chairman of its board of directors.

“The ARCC has been blessed to have a long history of amazing board of director chairs,” said ARCC President/CEO Michael Bittel.

He said Monahan “continues this tradition. Marc’s business knowledge and passion for our community will help lead us for the next two years. Many thanks to Eric Gilbert as our past chair and for his service to our region’s business community.”

“Working with the Chamber has been a gratifying experience and I am looking forward to my role as chair,” said Monahan. “We currently have an engaged board and executive team ready for the challenges that lie ahead. I am eager to continue work side by side with Michael Bittel and his team Tricia, Amanda and Cheryl. Given the current economic challenges we all face ahead, rest assured that we will do everything in our power to support the local business community and our members.”

Monahan is NBT vice president and regional executive for the bank’s Glens Falls-Saratoga market. He joined NBT in 2010 as a member of the retail team and currently overseas the commercial team as part of the North Country.

By Andrea Harwood Palmer

Argyle Cheese Farmer, the cheese manufacturing business on the farm of David and Marge Randles, has opened a storefront location at 2358 Burgoyne Ave. in Hudson Falls.

The Randles cheese farm location in Argyle is on a 225-acre family farmstead dating back to the 1860s. The storefront in Hudson Falls gives the owners another outlet where people can find and purchase their popular products.

Their products can be found in many area stores and they also appear at farmers market events in the region.

The storefront held its grand soft opening at the end of April. In addition to cheese, milk and yogurt products, homemade doughnuts, strudels, buttermilk rolls, fresh bread, coffee and small gifts such as branded travel mugs and tea cups are available for purchase.

Three longtime community leaders have  joined the Glens Falls Hospital Foundation board of trustees.

Dr. Jordan Blackwood, Terry Celadon, RN, and Michael Mihaly, AFIM, are the new members.

Blackwood is a board-certified cardiovascular disease specialist at Glens Falls Hospital’s Adirondack Cardiology in Queensbury. He has overseen the congestive heart failure clinic, while also serving as director of cardiovascular rehabilitation. He previously served at Danbury (Connecticut) Hospital and St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital. He earned his undergraduate and medical training at Emory University and Morehouse School of Medicine, respectively.

Celadon, of Queensbury, assistant director at the Joyce Stock Snuggery, is an area native who has had a decades-long relationship with Glens Falls Hospital. She began her career as a graduate nurse and over nearly 20 years, advanced to staff and leadership roles at what would later be known as the Joyce Stock Snuggery.

By Andrea Harwood Palmer

Rachel Dutra, owner of Rachel’s Café and Spice Co., has shifted her business model to keep her business open during the COVID-19 crisis. Many other restaurants in the region have done the same.

The café continues to operate, offering full meals, soup, baked goods and an ala cart menu.

“We did a lot of brainstorming on how to stay relevant. Since people were at home, we focused on things people would be eating at home. I started with quarts of soup that were fresh, freezable and re-heatable. I had no idea what I was about to unleash on myself,” she said.

“The response was phenomenal. People buy 12 or 14 quarts of soup. They keep some and gift some. We produce over 50 gallons of soup a week right now,” said Dutra.

The cafe, at 240 Warren St., Glens Falls, also offers “take and bake” meals.

“It’s something people can take and finish at home. The meal is prepared in the restaurant and is almost complete upon pickup,” said Dutra.

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.

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.

* * *

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.

BY ANDREA PALMER

The hotel previously known as the Copperfield Inn Resort in North Creek has sold for $1 million.

The sale was completed Dec. 6. The Inn will be renamed the Phoenix Inn Resort and will undergo renovations.

Diana Esplaza purchased the property from Copperfield Inn LLC as the inn’s managing partner, Michael Ellis, transitions into retirement, according to Mitch Muroff of Muroff Daigle Hospitality Group which handled the sale.

Esplaza is originally from Columbia, with 25 years in the catering industry. She currently operates a catering hall in New York City.

Muroff represented the seller, Copperfield Resort LLC, and secured the buyer.

Said Muroff of Esplaza, “She has been in the food and beverage business for a long time, operating her own catering businesses in New York City for years. She’s been looking to get into a hotel for about a year now.”

by Andrea Palmer

A new beauty salon has opened at 125 Main St. in South Glens Falls.

Danielle Kresge began taking clients in August and had a soft opening on Sept. 7.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do my whole life, since I was a kid,” said Kresge. “My aunt had a salon and I grew up around that environment. I always had a fascination with hair. I went to beauty school right after high school, and have been doing it ever since.”

Kresge has been in the industry for nine years, most recently working at a salon in Saratoga Springs.

“I knew I wanted to do my own thing and create my own environment, where clients could feel relaxed. I wanted to create a space where I could give each client individual attention and care,” said Kresge. “I want a calm and relaxing atmosphere.”

Kresge moved to the area in 2018 from Florida, to be close to family. She is originally from Scranton, Pa., and currently lives in Glens Falls.

The Warren County Historical Society has officially opened a museum with a new display, “Warren County 360: Celebrating Place and People,” at its headquarters, 50 Gurney Lane, Queensbury.
The exhibit, a product of two years of research and design, depicts the evolution of Warren County through the lens of cultural geography, showing how the natural resources of the region led to the development of its economy and society.
The display was made possible through the financial support of the Warren County Board of Supervisors, the Town of Queensbury, the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership, the Touba Family Foundation, NBT Bank, Hank’s Quality Flooring, Steve Bascom of Edward Jones, and several members of the society’s board of trustees.
An exhibit of Warren County postal history from 1813 to 1920, curated by Trustee Stephen Matte of Queensbury, is on display in an adjoining gallery.