Month: February 2018

By Liz Witbeck

Shmaltz Brewing Co. in Clifton Park is expanding this year, with plans in the works to establish an official tasting room in Troy, as well as create new beer brands.

Jeremy Cowan started the company in San Francisco. In 1996, he was driving around in his grandmother’s car in Northern California, delivering cases of beer. The company has come a long way since then. Cowan moved to New York City and established the Clifton Park brewery in 2013.

“Our goal is to make high-end beers that are fun, based on a concept, and that don’t fit into traditional beer styles,” said Cowan.

Shmaltz Brewing is best known for its He’brew beer, the line first created by Cowan. Today, He’brew is sold in 35 states across the country, in 5,000 retail locations, according to the company.

The company is known for its beer names, inspired by Jewish themes, as well as unique flavors. Customers can choose from the Hop Manna IPA; the Messiah nut brown ale; the Jewbelation anniversary ale; a Pastrami Pilsner, brewed with kosher salt, cracked pepper, natural horseradish and mustard seed; and Chanukah golden ale, brewed with cocoa nibs.

The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 100th anniversary in January  by announcing the creation of the Joseph Dalton Community Service Award and by presenting this first-ever award to Steve “Sully” Sullivan, the owner of the Olde Bryan Inn and Longfellows Inn & Conference Center.

The event was attended by 950 people.

Joe Dalton was the president of the Chamber for 40-years, from 1970 to 2010. The Chamber, during Dalton’s tenure, was instrumental in creating and implementing the City of Saratoga Springs’ Plan of Action that has revitalized downtown Saratoga Springs, officials said.

Dalton worked closely with Ed Lewi Associates and NYRA to rebuild interest and hike attendance numbers at Saratoga Race Course. The Chamber also played key roles in the creation of the Saratoga Economic Development Corp., the Luther Forest Tech Park and the Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau. The Chamber also offered a free weekend respite to first-responders and their families after 9/11.

Sullivan first came to Saratoga Springs from Boston in 1974 to attend Skidmore College. To get himself through college, he waited tables at Lillian’s restaurant, tended bar at Harold J’s, and washed dishes at other restaurants. After college during a visit back to the city, he was hired to wait tables at the Olde Bryan Inn, rising to partner in 1981.

The Saratoga Home & Lifestyle Show, the Saratoga Springs Rotary Club’s largest annual fundraiser since 1973, will take place March 2-4 at the Saratoga Springs City Center.

Admission is free of charge, courtesy of the show’s major sponsor, Adirondack Trust Co.

The Rotary Club will be accepting voluntary cash and coin donations to benefit Franklin Community Center, a local non-profit organization.

The show will be open Friday, March 2, 5-9 p.m.; Saturday, March 3, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The home show, now in its 45th year, features 120 regional exhibitors showcasing a wide range of home improvement services, décor and furnishings, energy-saving products, outdoor living and landscaping, family recreation, and lifestyle products and services, as well as prizes.

On the center’s second floor, a fine arts and crafts event showcases artisans such painters, photographers, wood crafters, jewelers, and a winery, all with items for sale. Also on display will be artwork from Saratoga Springs High School students.

The new chairman of the Chamber of Southern Saratoga County board of directors says the organization is moving forward with initiatives to train local entrepreneurs, spur business growth, energize area events, connect local businesses, and support regional development.

Chris Meyer, an attorney with Whiteman, Osterman & Hanna, succeeds Jenifer Marten as board chairman.

“The Chamber board is committed to continuing its long history of serving our members and making sure member needs come first,” said Meyer. “Our Chamber’s strength remains its ability to connect members in innovative ways, and to support our community through hands on contributions.”

In 2017, working with the Saratoga Community Development Foundation, the Chamber assisted the city of Mechanicville in building a new gazebo in Tallmadge Park. Chamber volunteers kept Historic Lock 19 in Vischer Ferry ready for tourists and developed a downtown map for Schuylerville businesses.

The Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership announced that Kevin M. Hedley, MS, CPA, PFS, founder and partner of Hedley & Co. Certified Public Accountants, will serve as its new board of directors chairman.

Other board officers are Brendan Chudy, director of the legal department at GlobalFoundries, as vice chairman; and Rita Cox, founder of Cox Marketing Solutions, secretary. Arthur Johnson, supervisor of the town of Wilton, will continue to serve as treasurer.

A private-sector business owner for nearly two decades in Clifton Park, Hedley has served on the Saratoga Partnership board since the agency was created in 2014. As chairman, he succeeds Jack Lawler, supervisor of the town of Waterford, who remains a board member.

In his new role, he will be working collaboratively with economic development groups throughout the county to build an environment to attract jobs, companies and investment, and enhancing the quality of life in Saratoga County.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s fiscal year 2019 budget includes a proposal to create a license for farm meaderies, a new license similar to those already available to farm wineries, breweries, distilleries and cideries.

Mead, commonly referred to as “honey wine” is an alcoholic beverage that is created by fermenting honey with water, which can be infused with fruits, spices, herbs and flowers.

“New York is the number one producer of honey in the Northeast, and by increasing opportunities for farms to produce mead, our thriving craft beverage manufacturing sector will continue to grow,” Cuomo said. “The creation of the farm meadery license will help strengthen these two great New York industries, and further add to our tourism economy, fueling growth in every corner of this great state.”

The farm meadery license will authorize the establishment and licensure of farm meaderies for the manufacture and sale of mead made from New York state produced honey. The provision also allows farm meaderies to produce “braggot,” a malt beverage made from honey, in addition to malt, hops, fruits, spices, herbs and other agricultural products.

In order to obtain a farm meadery license, the mead or braggot must be made exclusively from honey produced in New York state and no more than 250,000 gallons may be produced annually. Farm meaderies will be allowed to sell by the glass, offer tastings of, and sell to go not only mead and braggot, but also any state farm-produced beer, wine, cider and spirits.

SUNY Empire State College’s location at 113 West Ave., Saratoga Springs, has been designated as an official national testing center for The Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) and DSST Standardized Exams.

U.S. Navy Commander Judd Krier, commanding officer of the Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit (NPTU) in Ballston Spa, and Merodie A. Hancock, president of SUNY Empire, cut a ceremonial ribbon to mark the occasion.

Krier said that staff at NTPU researched how to provide better opportunities for the sailors to take DANTES and DSST exams and contacted SUNY Empire State College’s Office of Veteran and Military Education, which led to the college’s designation as a national testing center.

SUNY Empire State College already accepts college credit for successful completion of DANTES and DSST Standardized Exams.

However, sailors stationed at NPTU had to travel outside the area to take these exams, which, Krier said, presents a significant challenge.