Month: July 2016

Markets At Round Lake Will Gather Crafters, Artisan Food Makers Aug. 13-14 In Village

July 7, 2016November 8, 2017

This is the logo of Markets at Round Lake, an event in August at various places in the village, featuring people selling food, beverages, arts and crafts and books.

Courtesy Markets at Round Lake

The Markets at Round Lake announced that Death Wish Coffee Co. will be a major sponsor for its inaugural two-day indie craft and artisanal food and drink marketplace in August.

The event marks a major change for what used to be an arts and crafts festival, organizers said.

The Markets at Round Lake will run Aug. 13-14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. It will feature four distinct, highly curated markets: an indie maker market, a progressive craft market, a used books market and artisanal food and drink market.

It will benefit Round Lake Libraries.

The Markets at Round Lake will take place throughout the center of the historic Village of Round Lake. Victorian cottages with gingerbread trim separated by open green spaces will provide the backdrop to what is being called “the shopping experience of the summer,” organizers said.

After hosting a more traditional arts and craft festival for over 30 years, the Woman’s Round Lake Improvement Society, presenters of the inaugural Markets at Round Lake, decided it was time for a major change.

County Gets $1M-Plus From New Casino Fees

July 7, 2016November 8, 2017

New York state announced that 22 counties, including Saratoga and Washington counties, and three municipalities across upstate New York are receiving $30.2 million in license fees paid by newly licensed destination resort casinos.

Saratoga County will receive $1,240,780, while Washington County will receive $357,170, officials said.

“This funding will help counties and local governments provide essential services to their residents as well as work to reduce their tax burden,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo. “These destination resorts will help drive more tourism and economic development dollars upstate and, with these payments, local governments are already seeing the benefits of these projects.”

The county payouts are one portion of the $151 million in commercial casino license fees that are being distributed across upstate using the same formula for casino gaming revenue laid out in the Upstate New York Gaming and Economic Development Act of 2013.

'Taste Of Malta' Event Is Scheduled For July 19

July 7, 2016November 8, 2017

The Malta Business & Professional Association continues to plan its eighth annual Taste of Malta to be held on Tuesday, July 19.

It will run 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Hudson Valley Community College’s TEC-SMART, 345 Hermes Road, Malta.

While the final restaurant list isn’t complete, attendees can expect to sample items from Campagna Restaurant, Jimmy’s Pizza & Pasta, Dock Brown’s Lakeside Tavern, Dunning Street Station, Lake Ridge, Panza’s Restaurant, Leah’s Cakery and more. As in the past, there will once again be a cash bar offering wine, beer and soda to attendees.

Other activities include the “dinner for a year raffle” which includes gift certificates from 12 local eateries being awarded to one lucky winner.

The gift basket raffle table will return. Walt Adams will emcee this year’s event.

Business Report: It Is Not Just About Your Legacy

July 7, 2016November 8, 2017

Debra Verni, principal of the Herzog Law Firm in Saratoga Springs.

Courtesy Herzog Law

By Debra Verni, Esq.

For many people, mapping out an estate game plan is something they intend to think about later. But often, later never comes.

The reasons for not dealing with estate planning now may include not wanting to confront your mortality or create family conflict. Or perhaps you don’t want to discuss money with your heirs or give your wealth to certain family members you do not trust. For many, estate planning is simply viewed as something only “elderly people” need to do.

Despite all the reasons some people come up with to avoid estate planning, there are many benefits that make it worth the time, effort and money. Among other things, an estate plan allows you to:

1) Name someone to administer your finances and make medical decisions if you become incapacitated.

2) Name a guardian for your minor children.

Business Report: Why Use A Travel Agent?

July 7, 2016November 8, 2017

Tony Mariotti, travel planner with Bucketlist Vacation Planners in Saratoga Springs.Â

Courtesy Bucketlist Vacation Planners

By Tony Mariotti

In recent years, savvy travelers have relied on computer technology to plan and book expensive getaways.Â Â

Most do not realize that it does not cost more (and may actually be less expensive) to use the personal service of a travel agent.Â Â Â Â Agents are privy to information that is not always the same as what is published online or in print.Â

They are constantly learning about the resorts and destinations they represent and often are given incentives to offer clients incentives such as upgrades or last-minute special pricing. It is typically more cost effective to use an agent.

Most peopleÂ do not realize that an agent can sometimes get complimentary rooms when they are travelling as part of a group. Whether it be a large multi generation family getaway, a wedding or a reunion, when there are groups there are typically incentives to be had. These incentives depend on the resort or cruise line as well as the travel season.Â

When planning such a large investment, a traveler wants a positive experience and memories that will last a life time. It makes perfect sense to have a professional travel consultant that is going to put effort and time into learning what each specific client wants, likes and desires in a trip.

I often ask potential clients that are considering booking online,Â “Who are they going to call when something unexpected happens such as a hurricane?”A travel agent is watching out for their client and will be available for last minute changes or needs.

Travel alerts and travel warnings are issued by various government agencies.Â These range from security related information to health related notifications.Â Recently there has been a lot of news and warnings issued by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) about the mosquito-borne Zika virus.Â The research and news regarding this continues to change and evolve.Â

Business Report: Don't Keep Family In Dark About Plans

July 7, 2016November 8, 2017

Rob Snell, financial advisor, Edward Jones Financial in Saratoga Springs.

Courtesy Edward Jones Financial

By Rob Snell

You might work diligently at building a financial road map for your retirement years and a comprehensive estate plan. But you can’t just create these strategies, you also have to communicate them.

Specifically, you need to inform your spouse and your grown children what you have in mind for the future, because the more they know, the fewer the surprises that await them down the road.

Let’s start with your spouse. Ideally, of course, you and your spouse should have already communicated about your respective ideas for retirement and have come to an agreement on the big issues, such as when you both plan to retire, where you’ll live during retirement, and what you want to do as retirees (volunteer, travel, work part time and so on).

But what you both might have let slip through the cracks are the important specifics related to financing your retirement. You’ll need to answer several questions, including these:

â€¢ When will you each start taking Social Security?

â€¢ Are there strategies for maximizing both of your Social Security payments?

'Organize Senior Moves Saratoga' Helps Older People Organize, Make Moving An Easier Task

July 7, 2016November 8, 2017

By Jill Nagy

Seniors faced with the prospect of moving out of their home can find help at Organize Senior Moves Saratoga, a new service in Saratoga Springs.

The company, a franchise of a national company, is owned by Lori Tracey, an interior designer and business owner.

“We take the stress out of moving,” Tracey said.

The company’s staff can help sort through accumulated belongings and arrange sales, auctions, donations, and other means of disposal, she said. Then, they can sort, pack, arrange the move, and unpack.

By the end of the day, “art is hung, beds are made, everything is put away in the kitchen cabinets,” she said.

The company is not made up of real estate representatives, but work with them and can help prepare a home for sale, including “staging” the home–furnishing and decorating it to make it more appealing to potential buyers.

South Glens Falls School District Embarks On $58M Capital Projects Approved By Voters

July 7, 2016November 8, 2017

This rendering depicts what the facade of South Glens Falls High School will look like when renovations are complete. The district began capital projects earlier this summer.

Courtesy South Glens Falls School District

Construction of the South Glens Falls Central School District’s $57.8 million capital project began this summer and continues through 2020.

The project, which voters approved in December, includes an eight-classroom science addition at the high school, as well as six classrooms at Ballard Elementary School to accommodate the growing student population, district officials said.

Also included in the project are expanded library media centers at Ballard and Tanglewood and upgrades to the high school auditorium. Officials said the project will also address building maintenance needs such as roofing, windows, doors and flooring across all six school buildings. A combined transportation and operations/maintenance facility will be constructed on the site of the lower bus garage.

A two-story addition onto the high school will create eight science classrooms, four on each floor. Two of the four will have a flexible floor plan with movable furniture. Built-in cabinets will line the perimeter, and the corner will have a room with sun exposure for greenhouse projects.

Plans For Mechanicville Apartment Complex Scaled Down, Available To Mixed Incomes

July 7, 2016November 8, 2017

An official for NRP Group LLC, a company planning a large apartment complex in Mechanicville, said they will look somewhat like these buildings the company has in the Pittsburgh area.

Courtesy NRP Group LLC

By Jill Nagy

Plans for a 300-unit luxury apartment development in Mechanicville have morphed into a slightly smaller project aimed at people with a range of incomes. In the process, Logistics One, the original developer, has contracted to sell the development rights to NRP Group LLC.

“Building apartments is not really our thing,” said Bill McNeary, president of Logistics One, a Saratoga Springs company in the trucking and warehousing business. McNeary first planed and proposed the project.

For NRP, a national company headquartered in Cleveland, on the other hand, apartments are very much their thing. They build some 3,000 of them a year, according to Chris Dirr, vice president for development in the company’s Buffalo office.

NRP recently completed a two-phase townhouse development in the town of Moreau–Sisson Reserve 1 and 2. Dirr said one of the company’s developments in suburban Pittsburgh, called Ascent 430, has the “look and feel” of the proposed Mechanicville development.

The project is planned for a riverfront property at the junction of Route 4 and Route 32, a 10-acre site previously occupied by a Logistics One warehouse building. The address is 230 North Main St. Dirr described it as within walking distance of Mechanicville’s downtown core.

“We want residents to use city facilities,” he said.

New Condominiums On Excelsior Avenue Are Among Projects Of Bonacio Construction

July 7, 2016November 8, 2017

Bonacio Construction is involved in two condominium projects on Excelsior Avenue.

Courtesy Bonacio Construction

By Maureen Werther

Bonacio Construction has several construction projects underway or going through the approval process, in and around Saratoga Springs.

An apartment complex at 130 Excelsior Ave. in Saratoga Springs is well under way and should be available for occupancy sometime in mid-September or early October, according to Kate Jarosh, business development manager for the company.

She said the project includes 65 one- and two-bedroom units, with an additional 2,700 square feet of mixed use and commercial space.

“We will be offering that space to retail and professional tenants so we can provide services and amenities for this new and exciting community,” said Jarosh.

She touted the convenient location of the new apartment complex, noting its proximity to both the Northway and the downtown shopping and dining area, as well as being walking distance to the Spring Run cycling and walking trail and to nearby Fresh Market grocery store and other businesses in that complex.

The apartments range in size from just under 900 square feet for one-bedroom units and approximately 1,100 square feet for the two bedrooms. All units occupy the first floor and offer ample parking.

Jarosh said that it is a “beautiful property, one that you really need to see to believe.” She said included in the rent are internet/cable, washers and dryers, stainless steel kitchen appliances, and upgraded countertops. There is also a common room and a gym located on the property.