SBJ_a_0e_0326

SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL

Great Escape Included In $331 Million Sale Of Six Flags Theme Park Portfolio

BY PAUL POST

Great Escape, one of the area’s oldest tourist attractions and largest seasonal employers, is expected to maintain regular operations following its sale to Kansas City-based EPR Properties.

The $331 Million deal includes six other Six Flags theme parks in the U.S. and Canada.

Founded as Storytown USA by the late Charles R. Wood in 1954, the amusement center was renamed Great Escape in 1983. Thirteen years later, Wood sold it to Premier Parks, which later purchased Six Flags and adopted its name.

“This move allows Six Flags to concentrate on the parks that we believe offer the greatest opportunities for growth and long-term success,” company President and CEO John Reilly said. “Since joining the company, I have been clear that Six Flags’ earnings power has been under-realized. This transaction will simplify our portfolio, strengthen our balance sheet and position us to execute with

greater clarity and discipline.”

The transaction is expected to close by the end of the first quarter or the beginning of the second quarter.

Great Escape will maintain the Six Flags brand in 2026 and honor all season passes sold, including multi-park pass privileges at other parks within the Six Flags portfolio.

“From a regional tourism perspective, we are confident that the park will continue to operate successfully and remain a vital attraction for families visiting the Lake George area,” said Gina Mintzer, executive director of the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce. “The new ownership group already has a presence in New York’s attractions industry through Enchanted Forest Water Safari in Old Forge.”

“We believe this experience positions them well to operate the park with energy and enthusiasm,” she said. “Great Escape has long been a cornerstone of our region, and we

Continued On Page 9

Arrow Financial Plans Acquisition Of Adirondack Bancorp In $89 Million Deal

BY PAUL POST

Glens Falls-based Arrow Financial Corp. expects to double its geographic territory with the proposed $89.1 million acquisition of Utica-based Adirondack Bancorp, which has 19 branch offices from the Mohawk Valley north to the Canadian border.

“Part of our strategic plan is mergers and acquisitions,” Arrow President and CEO Dave DeMarco said. “To continue to provide shareholder value in our business, you have to grow. We’re celebrating our 175th year. The timing couldn’t be better to find a willing partner to join forces.”

“We’ve been actively looking for a bank or banks that fit our mold, a community-based bank that looks, feels and acts like we do,” he said.

Adirondack Bancorp serves the same types of communities as Arrow, which makes the deal a good one culturally, DeMarco said.

But with $4.5 billion in assets, Arrow is much bigger than Adirondack ($942 million in total assets) and offers a broader range of services including wealth management and insurance. Based on financial results as of Dec. 31, 2025, the combined company would have pro forma total assets of $5.4 billion, total deposits of $4.8 billion and total gross loans of $4.1 billion.

When completed, the merger would make Ar-

Twin Leaf Farms Expands Maple Operation As Demand For Syrup Continues To Grow

BY PAUL POST

Maple producers comprise a pretty tight-knit community, always willing to lend a helping hand.

Just ask Ryan Veitch, who started making syrup eight years ago at his family’s 191-year-old, eighth-generation Twin Leaf Farms at 200 Hyspot Road in Greenfield Center.

“In 2019 we added a parcel of land that had sugaring on it,” he said. “That’s when we jumped back into full-time farming here. The property had aging maple infrastructure on it and the owner wanted to sell. It was next to our property so we bought it to keep it green instead of someone building another housing development. That’s when we decided to revamp and modernize the maple operation.”

They did it with help from the Monica family, longtime owners of Maple Valley Farm in Corinth.

“They held our hand and helped us get set up the right way so we didn’t have to guess a million times,” said Ryan. “The first year or so they would truck all our sap up to their place and boil it. Over time we added our own equipment and made it inhouse.”

“We’re super fortunate that they were there to help us out in the beginning because I had never done any of this before,” he said. “It was a totally new thing. I did a lot of ‘YouTube university’ to figure out what we were doing. They helped us out big time.”

Ryan runs Twin Leaf Farms with his brother, Jake, who lives in the original family homestead, built in 1826.

From humble beginnings, they’re now tapping 2,000 trees with plans for significant expansion to keep up with fast-growing demand. “We’re at the point now where we have to expand because we’re running out,” Ryan said.

On the weekend of March 21-22, Twin Leaf Farms will host an open house pancake breakfast from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days, with live music. The $5 fare includes pancakes, syrup and a beverage served in take-home style containers. Limited seating is available.

“Last year we served 850 breakfasts,” he said. “It was unbelievable.”

In addition to maple season, the brothers have planted thousands of Christmas trees that will be ready for harvesting in a few years, along with property mainte -

nance for various clients.

Taking a cue from the Monicas, when setting up their maple operation they purchased a modern, wood-fired evaporator used to boil sap into syrup. Wood burning is more traditional compared with gasfired evaporators and Ryan believes it also enhances syrup’s flavor.

In addition, they use reverse osmosis technology, which removes most of the sap’s water content prior to boiling. This makes boiling much quicker and greatly reduces the amount of wood needed.

“We can boil 2,000 gallons of sap in just a few hours,” Ryan said.

Steam billowing from sugarhouses is a common sight throughout upstate New York and New England in March.

With more than 2,000 sugar makers statewide, New York is the nation’s secondleading producer behind only Vermont, and the industry generates an annual economic impact of about $141 million.

The industry in New York state is growing 7 percent annually, fueled by increased demand both domestically and globally from countries such as China and Japan. New York has produced more than 800,000 gallons of syrup in six of the past eight years, including a record-high 846,000 gallons in 2024.

Production has more than quadrupled since 2001 (193,000 gallons) thanks in part to state funding for marketing and research and legislation that has opened some state-owned land to sugaring.

Taste NY markets promoting maple are set up at key locations throughout the state this month, including the Adirondack Welcome Center between Northway Exits 17 and 18 northbound. Maple samples will be available there from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Thursday in March. The welcome center will also host a “From Sap to Syrup” event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, March 20.

Visitors may sample maple products, and there will be educational and interactive displays. Samples of maple lattes and locally made maple hot cocoa will be sold on-site.

Ideal sugaring conditions are warm days with temperatures in the 40s and 50s followed by cold nights down to about 25 degrees. This cycle creates pressure within trees that makes sap flow.

A deep snowpack such as this year’s helps cool things down at night.

Business / Personnel Briefs

Fenimore Asset Management has hired Carina Trudell as senior operations associate and Jim Haley, CFP®, as senior director, the fi rm said.

Trudell, a Voorheesville resident, has 25 years of investment industry experience and previously was vice president and head of corporate onboarding and experience at Goldman Sachs Ayco.

“We are very pleased to have Carina on the team,” said Liza Baran, Director of Shareholder Services & Operations. “As Fenimore continues to grow and evolve operationally, Carina will be integral to our strategic vision and adoption of new technologies to better serve investors.”

Haley, who is based in South Carolina, has nearly 30 years of experience and works with individuals, families, nonprofits and institutions. He previously served in management at Dividend Assets Capital.

Founded in 1974, Fenimore manages $5.06 billion in assets under management as of Dec. 31, 2025, through its Cobleskill and Albany offices.

Provided by Fenimore Asset Management; edited for style and length.

North Country Media Network, a multimedia podcast network based in Glens Falls, New York, has launched and is accepting applications for a limited “Founding Member” cohort, the company said.

Founder Ann Donnelly said the network provides studio or mobile recording options

and handles production, editing and publishing.

NCMN will accept one participating expert per industry for the cohort, offering category exclusivity, the release said.

Founding Members who commit to a sixmonth weekly podcast schedule under the Authority Pro package will receive top placement in network listings, preferred monthly pricing and waived start-up fees.

Professionals can inquire by emailing ann@northcountry.media.

Provided by North Country Media Network; edited for style and length.

The Saratoga Showcase of Homes will celebrate its 30th anniversary this fall with events scheduled for Oct. 3-4 and Oct. 10-11, according to the Saratoga Showcase of Homes Committee.

The four-day tour, held over two weekends, will feature new construction by regional, award-winning builders, the release said.

Proceeds from the 2026 event will benefit Rebuilding Together Saratoga County and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties. Last year, $66,000 was raised for the two organizations, and the Saratoga Builders Association has contributed nearly $1.7 million to local charities through the event.

Builders and sponsors interested in participating can contact Executive Director Barry Potoker at 518.366.0946 or bpotoker@saratogabuilders.org. More information is available at www.saratogashowcaseofhomes.com.

The Saratoga Builders Association, Inc. is a professional trade association whose membership includes builders, developers, remodelers, suppliers, subcontractors, fi nancial institutions, architects, engineers, realtors and attorneys in Saratoga County, according to the release.

Business for Good Foundation and the Social Enterprise and

announced a $25,000 partnership Thursday to expand trade skills programs in the Capital

The grant is part of $100,000 the foundation earmarked for workforce development during the first half of 2026.

The announcement followed a tour of SEAT’s Schenectady-based Construction Lab, where local leaders and media observed students gaining hands-on experience in high-demand trades.

“The old stigma surrounding trade-based careers is dead, and we have to stop pretending a fouryear degree is the only viable path to success. The reality is that while AI is rapidly disrupting officebased roles, it cannot replace the essential, handson work of a skilled HVAC technician,” said Maire Masterson, Executive Director of the Business for Good Foundation. “By investing in the “Build Up” program we are providing young people the opportunity and tools to secure high paying, high demand careers right here in the Capital Region.”

“Partnering with the Business for Good Foundation is a powerful validation of our mission to bridge the gap between untapped potential and industry need,” said Jennifer Lawrence, CEO of the

SEAT Center. “Their support allows us to deepen our trade training in fields that are resilient to economic and technological shifts, while the new digital home for Hattie’s Culinary Lab ensures our hospitality students have a platform that matches the high level of skill they bring to the Capital Region workforce.”

SEAT Center’s Build Up program offers employers access to graduates trained for trades such as those needed by National Grid and Crisafulli Brothers. The grant includes program funding and in-kind digital marketing support for Build Up and SEAT’s Culinary Lab program.

Business for Good Foundation was founded to help individuals, small businesses and communities thrive. It is based in New York’s Capital Region and focuses on economic access, housing affordability, community development and business growth. More information is at www.bfg.org.

The SEAT Center provides young people opportunities to gain work experience, academic credentials and leadership skills while providing services to the community. Media inquiries: media@bfg. org.

Provided by Business for Good Foundation; edited for style and length.

Mixed Breed Brewing Acquires Malta Brewery And Plans Van Patten Beer Garden

BY CAROL ANN CONOVER

Guy Bucey has never done anything small.

The founder of Inovabed — a 100,000-square-foot manufacturing operation in Brunswick with 85 employees and about 20,000 beds installed at Disney properties worldwide — Bucey is also the driving force behind Mixed Breed Brewing, a craft brewery that began as a therapeutic hobby after two combat deployments to Iraq and has quietly grown into one of the Capital Region’s most decorated small brewers.

Now, after seven years, a pandemic-era basement speakeasy and a successful run in Guilderland, Mixed Breed is making its most ambitious move yet: taking over the former Unified Brewing location in Malta and launching a full-scale beer garden at Van Patten Golf Course in Clifton Park.

“I’ve always wanted to get into an opportunity where I could make choices based off of it being the right choice or just being a good opportunity — versus backs up against the wall, kind of have to do it,” Bucey said. “This was just one of those nice first times where a really good opportunity presented itself.”

The Malta acquisition came through the craft brewing grapevine. Unified Brewing had quietly been winding down operations, and Bucey — who had partnered with the brewery on collaboration beers — moved quickly. With two new partners now in the fold — Lance Orcutt, owner of Executive Group, a custom millwork firm serving the hospitality industry, and real estate developer Zach Dorough — Mixed Breed closed the deal and is currently midrenovation at the former Unified space.

The 10,000-square-foot industrial park location will be overhauled from floor to ceiling. The taproom will be expanded and refined, the bar extended and the industrial aesthetic softened into something warmer. Brewing capacity is scaling from a five-barrel system to a seven-barrel system, complemented by a newly acquired 3.5-barrel pilot system and significantly expanded cold storage. A full kitchen is planned, with a menu anchored in pizza and pub fare. A full liquor license — something Mixed Breed operated without in Guilderland — is part of the new

blueprint.

One of the more distinctive additions is a large projection wall where the existing mural stands, aimed squarely at becoming the area’s destination for major sporting events. UFC pay-per-views, NFL Sundays with tailgating in the parking lot, the Masters and the upcoming FIFA World Cup are all part of the vision. Mixed Breed is already in early talks with the Buffalo Bills organization to become a designated Bills bar.

“There’s not a really good area to go watch UFC fights and things like that,” Bucey said. “We want to have a really awesome space that people can come hang out and do that.”

The Van Patten beer garden is slated to open in time for the 2025 golf season. The 27-hole public course already serves Mixed Breed’s lineup, and the new outdoor space will allow patrons to watch golfers on the 18th hole and first tee via on-course cameras. The two locations are designed to complement each other seasonally — Malta as the year-round indoor anchor and Van Patten as the summer destination.

The brewery’s name carries more weight than it might first suggest. “Mixed breed” was the nickname earned by Bucey’s squad during his deployment to Fallujah with the Marine Corps infantry — a unit drawn from different backgrounds, ethnicities and life circumstances that forged a tight bond under pressure.

“We were every color, every background — we were just an absolute mixed bag of people,” Bucey said. “One of our officers ended up coining us the mixed breed. He was always like, ‘Get the mixed breed squad in here.’ That’s where the name really comes from.”

The brewery’s mascot is Benny, his mastiffpit bull — a fitting embodiment of the name’s dual meaning.

The brewery’s beers have built a strong following on beer-rating platforms such as Untappd. According to the brewery, several of its IPA releases have reached the No. 1 spot among new beer drops on the platform, and its annual holiday stout — a high-gravity release ranging from 11% to 13% ABV and often brewed with ingredients such as cocoa nibs, roasted marshmallow, peanut butter and gra-

Arrow Financial Acquisition

Continued From Page 1

The deal, subject to regulatory approval, is expected to be finalized by the end of the second quarter. Under the terms of the agreement, Adirondack shareholders will receive a combination of stock and cash upon closing of the merger. Each outstanding share of Adirondack common stock will be converted into 1.8610 shares of Arrow common stock plus $18.72 in cash.

Based on the closing stock price of AROW common stock of $34.43 as of Feb. 25, 2026, the per-share implied consideration value is $82.79.

Arrow currently has 575 employees and 38 branches from Albany to Plattsburgh.

Adirondack Bank has 200 employees and offices in Oneida, Herkimer, Franklin, Clinton and Essex counties.

In January 2025, Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co. and Saratoga National Bank and Trust Co. officially unified and rebranded as Arrow Bank. The merger combined the two Arrow Financial Corp. subsidiaries to streamline operations.

But it also gave the company a new identity, making it easier to enter new markets. “The new brand has been very well received,” DeMarco said. “This will continue that evolution of a growing bank. We want to get this one under our belt, close it, assimilate people and move forward with serving customers in their communities. At the same time we could continue to look for opportunities that make sense financially and culturally align with the way we do business.”

The Central New York market is especially attractive because of major economic development projects taking place there.

Last April, Chobani broke ground on a $1.2 billion plant in Oneida County that’s expected to cre-

ham cracker — regularly ranks among the site’s most popular seasonal releases. Mixed Breed also credits itself with helping revive cream ale in the Capital Region. Its “Holy Ale” has become an entry point for new craft beer drinkers. “Nobody had been doing it in the area,” Bucey said. “It’s like training

ate more than 1,000 new jobs. In addition, Micron is building a $100 billion, 1,400-acre “megafab” near Syracuse. This semiconductor facility is the largest private investment in New York history and will create 50,000 total jobs (9,000 direct) with construction of four facilities lasting until 2041. Adirondack Bank branches will be rebranded to Arrow in the coming months.

“Much like we’ve done with our own company, we’ll be taking a look at branch optimization,” DeMarco said. “There might be a branch or two close to each other that we can consolidate into one.”

“The front customer-facing staff will all be retained,” he said. “In these types of mergers and acquisitions there is duplication of effort. So there will be some back room, support-type roles that will be eliminated. We’re evaluating what people do and we may have roles here at Arrow they could fill. We’ll be doing all we can to keep as many positions as possible.”

Rocco F. Arcuri Sr., Adirondack president and CEO, will stay with Arrow as regional president and will join the Arrow board of directors. “Aligning our two community banks will create a more robust organization equipped for the future while benefiting our customers who will have the local support they expect with access to more products, services and locations,” he said.

Unlike some much larger banks with a specialized customer base, Arrow strives to “meet all the financial needs that a community has,” DeMarco said. “We take care of individuals, small businesses, nonprofits and municipalities, and we try to support communities philanthropically and with volunteerism. That’s what makes us different. Adirondack Bank is just the same. It’s a perfect fit.”

wheel beer — your introduction to craft beer, to show you that you don’t just have to drink Bud Heavies for the rest of your life.”

The Malta brewery is expected to open around May. Mixed Breed Brewing can be found on Facebook and at vanpattengolf. com.

FTC Targets Fake Online Reviews

BY JEFFREY B. SHAPIRO

For many local businesses, Google reviews function as a public trust score that can influence whether a customer chooses one company over another. Because online reviews play such a significant role in consumer decision-making, regulators have increasingly focused on preventing review manipulation.

Publication Date: April 9, 2026

Publication Date: May 7, 2026

9 Broad St. Glens Falls, NY 12803 (518) 581-0600 • Fax: (518) 430-3020 • www.saratogabusinessjournal.com

Editorial: rodbacon@saratogabusinessjournal.com

Advertising: HarryW@saratogabusinessjournal.com Press Releases: pressreleases@saratogabusinessjournal.com

Publisher & Editor Harry Weinhagen

Editor Emeritus Rod Bacon

Sales and Customer Service Harry Weinhagen Mary Longley

Production Manager Graphic Precision

Contributing Writers Susan Campbell Lee Coleman Carol Ann Conover Ann Donnelly Paul Post

Saratoga Business Journal is published monthly, the second week of each month, by Weinhagen Associates, LLC and mailed to business and professional people in Saratoga County.

Saratoga Business Journal is independently owned and is a registered tradename of Weinhagen Associates, LLC, 9 Broad St. #7, Glens Falls, NY 12801 (518) 581-0600. Saratoga Business Journal is a registered tradename in New York.

Saratoga Business Journal has been founded to promote business in Saratoga County and to provide a forum that will increase the awareness of issues and activities that are of interest to the business community. Subscription price is $25.00 per year. Third class postage paid at Glens Falls, New York.

In response to widespread abuse, the Federal Trade Commission’s Rule on the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials (16 CFR Part 465) took effect Oct. 21, 2024. The rule gives the FTC a new enforcement tool: the ability to seek civil penalties for knowing violations.

This column outlines the rule’s primary prohibitions and offers practical compliance steps for businesses.

What Does the Rule Cover?

The rule targets specific review-manipulation practices across platforms, including Google Business Profiles, Yelp, industry directories, retailer sites and social media. It focuses on fake or false reviews or testimonials, improper incentives, insider reviews without disclosure, review suppression, review hijacking (repurposing reviews) and fake indicators of influence such as followers, likes and views.

The rule prohibits creating, selling, buying or disseminating reviews or testimonials that are fake or false, including reviews from people who did not have the claimed experience. This can include fabricated Google reviews, AI-generated reviews presented as genuine consumer experiences or reviews from individuals who never used the product or service.

One important nuance of the rule is that it does not appear to ban incentives for reviews across the board. Instead, 16 CFR § 465.4 prohibits providing “compensation or other incentives” in exchange for, or conditioned (expressly or by implication) on, a review that expresses a particular sentiment (positive or negative). As a result, offering a discount only if a customer leaves a positive Google review is likely prohibited.

The rule text does not separately define “incentives,” but it uses the broad phrase “compensation or other incentives.” The FTC explains that § 465.4 targets incentivized reviews only when the incentive is tied to a required sentiment. Any attempt to implement a review incentive program should be reviewed by an attorney.

The rule also restricts certain insider reviews and testimonials that fail to clearly disclose material connections. This can arise when a business asks staff to “help our rating” or when friends and family are encouraged to post reviews without disclosing the relationship.

The rule also targets practices that suppress negative reviews, including conduct that misrepresents that displayed reviews reflect most or all reviews when negative reviews are being filtered out. It also addresses suppression through unjustified legal threats or similar tactics.

Repurposing reviews from one product or

service to another can also be deceptive, particularly where the product or service is materially different. This most often arises with multilocation businesses, rebranded offerings or situations where reviews are migrated to a different service page in a way that changes what the review appears to reference.

The rule also targets the sale or purchase of fake indicators of social media influence, such as followers, likes and views, when used for commercial purposes. While this may sound limited to social media, it can also affect local businesses that promote themselves using influencer endorsements or engagement metrics.

What Are the Consequences of Noncompliance?

The FTC has emphasized that the rule allows the agency to seek civil penalties for knowing violations. FTC enforcement materials warn that penalties can be substantial and may accumulate quickly on a per-violation basis.

Practical Compliance Steps

To reduce risk, keep review practices simple: ask customers for honest feedback, not just positive reviews; avoid discounts or perks tied to a five-star rating; and establish a clear rule that employees, owners and family members should not post reviews (or must disclose the relationship if they do).

If you use a marketing vendor, confirm that the vendor is not buying, filtering or fabricating reviews. When a negative review appears, respond professionally and try to resolve the issue rather than silence it.

Jeffrey B. Shapiro is an attorney in the Capital Region who helps businesses navigate legal compliance and reduce regulatory risk. He provides practical, day-to-day guidance so business owners can stay focused on running and growing their companies.

Witt Construction Has Broken Ground On Conservation Subdivision Phyllian’s Bluff

BY ROD BACON

After an 11-year planning, engineering and permitting process, site work is underway on Phyllian’s Bluff, a 31-lot development being built by Witt Construction.

O’Connor Construction, of Glens Falls, is approximately one-third of the way to completion of earth work, road construction, underground utilities, and sewer installation.

According to President Pat O’Connor, the company is installing two roads that end in culde-sacs. They will also install a sewer line along NY-9P that will tie into the development’s sewer system via County Route 71. Finally, they will pave all roadways.

An important aspect of the earth work is the installation of storm drainage, on which the company is currently working. To prevent storm runoff from polluting Saratoga Lake, each homesite will have what is referred to as a rain garden or depression area that will filter the water back into the soil, preventing it from running downhill. In addition, the roads will have an elaborate system of independent catch basins that allow water to flow into other catch basins so it can slowly filter into the ground.

O’Connor Construction started this work in September and estimates it will be completed this summer.

Despite the fact that there is a lot of site work left to do, Witt has started the foundation for the first home.

It is being built for a retired doctor and his wife from Albany. The almost 5,000-square-foot house will have a ground-level primary living space with a finished lower level. The exterior will feature cedar shakes with natural stone accents that will be created by Jerome Pollock, owner of Creative Stone Designs, LLC, of Argyle.

Inside there will be reclaimed beams, wideplank white oak flooring, and high-end amenities that include Thermidor appliances and Rohl kitchen and bath fixtures. These will be supplied by either Marcella’s Appliance Center in Schenectady or Earl B. Feiden Appliance in Albany.

The living areas and master bedroom suite will be on the main level. On the lower level there will be two guest bedrooms with en suites, bar and wine areas, and a gym with a sauna.

“The house has a really nice floor plan,” said Witt. “It has a contemporary European feel to it.”

He noted that they plan to enter it in the Saratoga Builders Association’s Showcase of Homes in September.

While Witt is happy to work with architects, as a design-build firm most of the design work is done in-house.

“I sketch pretty much all of our homes,” he said. “We’ve built over five hundred homes and I’ve designed ninety-five percent of them.”

Witt anticipates a five-year build-out for the project. Currently, the homes are priced at approximately $2 million.

Phyllian’s Bluff is a conservation subdivision on 111 acres east of Saratoga Lake, 60 percent of which is designated open space in perpetuity. Witt said it is farm and wooded land, and the homes will be set back off the roadways.

Sixty-one acres were sold to Walt and Michelle Borisenok, owners of Old Tavern Farm, a private boutique thoroughbred-breeding operation established in 2016. Part of the property houses a winery and distillery, operated by their daughter, Nicole Borisenok, and her husband, Michael Krasodomski.

Working with Moreau Associates, of Saratoga Springs, the family has brought several historic buildings, both on the farm and elsewhere in the county, back to life.

According to Nicole, their first project was a complete restoration of the original 1800s farmhouse, which was literally falling apart. Over a two-year period they lifted it off its foundation and rebuilt it using materials consistent with the era.

They also restored a timber-frame barn that was originally used to store grain. Today, Michael uses it to store whiskey barrels for his distillery, where he produces vodka and a variety of whiskeys using New York State grains.

Nicole has 3,500 vines planted locally, 1,500 of which are on the farm. The family also owns acreage in Washington State, where the growing season is longer, and the fruit is shipped to her for vinting.

There is also a cut flower farm where over 50,000 seeds are sown each year for retail sale. Flower arranging is also available.

To learn more about Phyllian’s Bluff go to wittconstruction.com.

For more information about the farm operation go to oldtavernfarms.com.

J. Reid Menswear Continues To Provide Quality Clothing From

BY

ROD BACON

New Location In Glens Falls

A haberdashery that has kept men looking their best for over 60 years has a new location.

J. Reid Menswear is now at 174 Glen Street in Glens Falls, two doors away from where they’ve served customers for the past five years.

“It’s important that I stay on Glen Street,” said owner Jeffrey Ives. “This store is a small business that specializes in serving the community.”

Ives purchased the multi-story building, formerly the local office of Albany-based Aeon Nexus Corporation, for $750,000. He worked with Leslie D’Angelico and Zane Smith at Arrow Financial Corporation on the small business loan. His real estate agent was Christine McKee of Hunt Real Estate ERA. Improvements were done by Argyle-based StraightUp Concrete & Renovations, owned by Jack Ash.

The menswear company was founded in 1965 by Seymour Segan as Jonathan Reid, named after his son. The store was first located in Queensbury’s Northway Plaza. In 1975, he opened a store in Saratoga Springs’ Pyramid Mall and later moved the original store to the Aviation Mall. Throughout the 1980s and ‘90s he expanded to 12 stores in New York, Vermont and Massachusetts. Segan retired in 1994 and turned the business over to his son, who downsized it to focus on the Glens Falls and Saratoga Springs markets.

“Within six months of starting work I knew I was going to buy it,” said Ives, who joined the company in 2000. “I didn’t know when and I didn’t know how, but I knew I was going to. So I started keeping a log of everything that worked and everything that didn’t. I did that for fifteen years so the day I bought it I was ready.”

In August 2015, he purchased the business for $160,000. He first closed the Saratoga Springs store, saying he had built up a strong following among men who wanted his expertise when it came to dressing for success.

“I was essentially competing against myself,” he said. “People in Saratoga were coming to Glens Falls looking for me.”

While he has five employees, Ives does all the buying for the store. He carries men’s suits and accessories with labels like Maxman, Manzini Uomo, Mantoni, London Fog and Florsheim, and stays abreast of changing fashion trends. Over the years he has added chinos, jeans and sweaters for customers wanting a more casual look. Suits cost between $295 and $795. Shirts and ties run around $50 and shoes around $140.

Ives takes pride in the fact that customers get personal attention, and he has trained his staff to emulate his approach to customer service.

“Some of my customers don’t know exactly what they’re looking for so we collaborate and I make suggestions based on what he needs the clothing for, the price, and quality of the garments,” he said.

While he and his staff custom fit purchases, master tailor Karen Hamel, who has been with the company for 40 years, does all alterations

on-site. The store also offers tuxedo rentals through Tuxedo By Sarno, of Scranton, Pennsylvania.

“I probably rent 2,500 tuxes a year,” Ives said. He also has them for sale through one of the companies from which he gets his suits.

For years, J. Reid Menswear was the official clothier of Siena University’s men’s basketball coaching staff. When head coach Jamion Christian took a job at Bryant University in Rhode Island, he continued to patronize the shop.

“I drive to Rhode Island and suit up his staff,” Ives said.

Ives believes in giving back to the community that has supported him through the years. He donates to the Adirondack Thunder, the Charles R. Wood Theater, the Adirondack Theater Festival and The Open Door Mission. He is positive about the future of Glens Falls.

“I think the city has experienced a great revitalization over the past several years,” he said. “There is a commitment to bringing businesses back to downtown.”

As for the future, he has no immediate plans to grow beyond his Glen Street store but hasn’t ruled anything out.

“I think there are opportunities south of Glens Falls, and I might explore them later,” he said.

Ives, who grew up in Fort Edward, earned a degree in psychology from Siena University and later a graduate degree from The College of St. Joseph in Rutland, Vermont. In addition to operating the menswear shop he collaborates with the New York State Department of Corrections doing psychological evaluations of inmates.

For further information about how J. Reid Menswear can help you dress for success, log on to jreidmenswear.com.

Women In Business

Habitat For Humanity Expands Efforts To Address Regional Housing Shortage

BY ANN DONNELLY

When Sharon Horton took over as executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties in June 2025, she brought extensive nonprofit experience and a deeply personal understanding of the power of homeownership. Today, she is leading the organization through a critical period of expansion to address a severe regional housing shortage.

The need for affordable housing in the area is dire. According to Horton, “Warren County’s overall housing vacancy rate is 3.6%, and the rental vacancy rate is an exceptionally low 0.4%, well below the 5% threshold that signals a housing shortage. Nearly 47% of renter households in the county are cost-burdened, and affordable rentals priced at levels accessible to minimum-wage workers are almost nonexistent.”

“The Warren County Housing Needs Study identifies significant gaps for households earning 0–50% and 50–80% AMI, particularly those seeking affordable starter homes and ownership opportunities below $300,000,” Horton shared. “These shortages are especially acute in communities outside Queensbury and Glens Falls. Also in Hudson Falls in Washington County. The combination of near-zero vacancy, long waiting lists, rapid absorption, and rising costs demonstrates a clear and urgent unmet need for affordable homeownership opportunities in our region.”

To address the crisis, Horton is leaning into Habitat’s core purpose, “to bring people together to build communities, homes, and hope.”

Her path to Habitat was shaped by personal adversity and a strong desire to serve. Horton began her career as a general manager in the hospitality industry before transitioning into nonprofit work with the American Cancer Society in Florida, the American Heart Association in New York and later serving as statewide executive director for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

“Although I loved my role and I loved the people I interacted with ... I almost felt like it was too close,” Horton said. She sought a role with “boots on the ground, more grassroots digging into the people,” which led her to Habitat.

Horton understands the families she serves because she has been in their shoes. As a former single mother of three, she remembers the life-changing experience of buying her first home.

“I knew how I felt after that happened, the feeling of sitting in my home that I worked

hard to build, to get to that stage in my life and feeling empowered,” Horton said. “That investment in yourself and your family, the legacy that you leave for your children, I know how that feels. So, that really is a passion for me.”

Habitat serves hardworking families making between 50% and 80% of the area’s median income. Participants must demonstrate financial readiness, have a clear housing need and invest “sweat equity” hours into building homes or working at the local ReStore.

Under Horton’s leadership, the affiliate is evolving its construction strategies to address rising costs and weather delays. The organization is shifting toward modular homes that arrive with the shell complete and airtight, allowing volunteers to focus on finishing work such as painting, landscaping and installing hardware. This year, the organization is building three homes — one in Warrensburg and two in Hudson Falls.

One of the Hudson Falls projects will be a “Women Build,” an initiative Horton is particularly passionate about that reflects her desire to help women in need.

“I just always felt a calling to serve,” Horton said. “They passed along that gift of service to me, and I just feel like I need to pay it forward. It just fills my soul.”

For more information on Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties, visit glensfallshabitat. org.

Sales Director Builds Business Through Community Ties At Saratoga Casino Hotel

BY ANN DONNELLY

Colleen Carlson’s career at Saratoga Casino Hotel began long before the property added a luxury hotel, a premier steakhouse or a busy casino floor. At 15, Carlson sold race programs at the harness track where her mother also worked. Today, as director of sales, she oversees a thriving corporate and events business built on the property’s decades of expansion.

"I have a long history here," Carlson said. "I started here when I was 15 years old, selling programs. I moved up the line and worked in the press box, doing all sorts of interesting things. It's like home to me being here."

The property’s evolution has reshaped Carlson’s sales portfolio. Years ago, the on-site restaurant Fortune’s regularly hosted 350 guests for lunch and dinner. Today it operates exclusively as a private-event space, reflecting the venue’s broader focus on large-scale hospitality.

"Through the whole changeover of getting a hotel, casino, it's been a great ride," Carlson said. "When we got the hotel, it made it more interesting. It really ramped up everything."

Carlson now oversees multiple event spaces across the Saratoga Casino Hotel campus, including conference rooms, a ballroom, Morton’s The Steakhouse and the Vapor nightclub. A standout venue is The Lodge at Nelson and Crescent avenues, featuring a dark green exterior and Adirondack-style woodwork. A large tent installed on a stamped-concrete slab outside The Lodge allows the property to host larger weddings and galas.

"I do love the galas, and we use Vapor for special events too," Carlson said, noting regular events like the Saratoga Builders Association showcase and the AIM Services Gala. "Vapor is a really driving factor in business."

The range of spaces attracts corporate conferences, CSEA groups and holiday parties from across New York, including Westchester, Long Island and Buffalo. Even the property’s expansive parking lot occasionally becomes event space, such as when a Porsche club held a gathering at the resort.

Despite the steady demand, Carlson relies on an unconventional sales strategy. Rather than aggressive cold-calling, she builds relationships through deep community involvement and nonprofit work with organizations such as Jake’s Help From Heaven, Saratoga Sponsor a Scholar and the Saratoga Hospital Foundation. In 2025, the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce honored Carlson with the Joseph Dalton Community Service Award.

"I find for me, I don't really go out seeking business, which doesn't make sense in a way for my role, but I'm involved in a lot of non-profit organizations," Carlson said. "I have to tell you, I have

joined committees, I attend the events, and a lot of times they end up being here because they know me."

Carlson said the company’s philanthropic culture reinforces that approach. Each Giving Tuesday, Saratoga Casino Hotel donates $120,000 to local organizations, distributing $10,000 to 12 nonprofits.

"It's really enriched my life, and it's brought us business. It's a nice pairing," she said. "Going to events and joining with non-profit organizations really opens up a world where I don't go out asking for business. It kind of just organically happens. It is working."

The strategy, combined with the property’s amenities and banquet team, continues to drive strong demand and repeat bookings. Carlson is currently covering her own responsibilities while filling in for a sales manager on maternity leave.

"My head's gonna pop off. I am so busy," Carlson said about her overflowing email inbox. "Right now, I’m in the thick of getting conferences ready for spring. I think it's just because we have a really full package here. We have a lot of repeat business. We have a great banquet team, and we, honest to God, have incredible food. So they keep coming back for that."

Whether coordinating a corporate retreat or booking entertainment for a gala, Carlson credits her longevity to genuine enthusiasm for the work.

"I guess you just need to enjoy it to be doing it," Carlson said. "I love what I do."

For more information on Saratoga Casino Hotel, visit saratogacasino.com.

Saratoga Wellness Studio HEAL To Offer Infrared Sauna And Cold Plunge Therapy

BY SUSAN ELISE CAMPBELL

Nicole Lanse, founder and operator of HEAL at 433 Broadway in Saratoga Springs, has turned a passion for therapeutic saunas and cold-water plunging into a new career. The business opened in the second week of March.

Last fall, Lanse relocated from the Finger Lakes to Saratoga after her husband accepted a job promotion in Albany. Along with their three children, the couple had been enjoying infrared sauna treatments in their prior community since 2019.

In 2023 Lanse started researching where she might be able to sauna and cold plunge at the same facility and learned that wellness facilities tend to offer one, but not both, types of therapies.

“I thought, I’m just going to create that,” she said. “It seems natural to dive in and do this.”

With a move to the Capital Region in view, she foresaw a career opportunity to make what had been very beneficial to the health of her family available to a broad market.

The science of infrared light as a therapy has proven to aid muscle recovery from sports or other injuries, provide cardiovascular support, relieve stress and reduce inflammation by speeding healing. Traditional saunas involve intense heat and steam, while light therapy heats a person from the inside out, according to Lanse.

“The temperatures don’t need to be high to get the benefit of infrared light,” she said.

The Sunlighten brand sauna Lanse purchased for her studio has patented low-EMF technology that combines all four therapeutic wavelengths, each beneficial for targeting a specific condition. Low and near-infrared wavelengths are beneficial for skin conditions and scarring, while mid- and far-level ranges relax joints and muscles and subdue inflammation, she said.

“We have programmed our saunas with all four wavelengths simultaneously for maxi-

mum benefit and so that customers do not have to worry about operating controls,” said Lanse. “The interesting thing about full spectrum light therapy is that there is no less benefit to the user than if there were only one wavelength, for example, the mid range for sore muscles.”

Lanse said her target market is very diverse because “everybody has some level of inflammation.” She believes people of all ages and genders can gain “whole-body recovery and mental clarity” by experiencing the infrared sauna, cold plunge or both.

Cold plunge therapy has its history in ancient cultures as Scandinavians, Russians and others learned that as coldness caused blood vessels to narrow, swelling and soreness were reduced.

“We chose Plunge brand’s immersion tubs because they are contoured and very comfortable,” Lanse said. “The design, shape, and depth allow you to sit or lie down as you choose.”

She said getting cold water to the back of the neck where the vagus nerve is “a tremendous reset, and is both invigorating and mentally clarifying.”

Some people will cold plunge for a few seconds following their sauna, others for several minutes. Some will plunge at the end of their session, others will go from sauna to plunge several times during sessions in their own private space.

“There is definitely a sweet spot with contrast therapy, but you will get equal benefit whether you have chronic pain or a sports injury, or are just seeking general wellness,” she said.

HEAL has five private rooms, each with a Sunlighten sauna that can fit up to three people. Two of the private spaces are “contrast rooms” that also have a Plunge cold-water immersion tub. There is no physical contact with HEAL staff.

“After a sauna session everyone gets a cold washcloth to wipe down,” she said. “I researched sauna companies near and far, and this is something I always enjoyed after my sessions.”

Elody Restaurant Opens On Phila Street In Saratoga Springs After Malta Move

BY SUSAN ELISE CAMPBELL

Elody Restaurant has opened at 54 Phila Street just off Broadway in Saratoga Springs. The owners, Patti and Larry Weaver, closed their Malta restaurant, 13 North, and brought with them their chefs, their staff, and their reputation for “all-American fare and every kind of steak you can imagine.”

“Saratoga is the spot to be,” said Patti Weaver. “A great corner unit with a lot of windows came up for lease in the building and I’m surprised there wasn’t a lot of activity on it.”

The Weavers have been in the restaurant business since retirement. Larry was in the military and Patti was a civilian in the military. They first opened a small pub in Ballston Spa and then their restaurant, 13 North.

The building they leased on Route 9 was in need of repairs that were “getting too costly” to continue there, Weaver said. The logistics of moving the restaurant was challenging because they had to deplete their food and liquor supplies and start from scratch with new ingredients. But she said that Elody is “the final leg” in their restaurant career.

The official re-opening was on December 31, 2025, the day the Weavers’ granddaughter Elody was born.

The atmosphere at Elody is “elegant yet comfortable,” whereas the prior restaurant was “rustic.” The unit had housed another restaurant and the only renovations the couple had to do were cosmetic, she said.

“We have new chairs, new lighting, new countertops, and fresh paint,” said Weaver.

In honor of the opening, there is a new dish on the menu: Seafood Piccata with lemon caper sauce.

The traditional menu was carried over because it was a successful one that customers enjoyed, Weaver said. It is extensive, varied, and always homemade. The Chicken Stack is the most popular choice: two panko-coated fried chicken pieces with tomato, spinach and mozzarella in between, vodka cream sauce on top, and served with angel hair pasta.

Many of the entrées are inspired by Italian family recipes, such as her grandmother’s meatballs and

marinara sauce, as well as American comfort food classics like turkey dinner and sharable appetizers like pork belly fried rice, calamari, and much more. Every week the chefs transform fresh cod into a special seafood entrée. But the steak menu may be what the restaurant will continue to be best known for.

“All steaks are hand-cut and mildly seasoned, and customers can choose from six different homemade steak sauces with bold flavors,” said Weaver. All recipes are crafted by hand with local ingredients, Weaver said.

Entrées include a choice of two side dishes and Parker House-style rolls that she bakes daily. Weaver also prepares up to seven different homemade desserts and one will be a cheesecake. She has cheesecake recipes for 100 different flavor profiles, she said.

Weaver said their restaurant has a “family atmosphere” because, like the clientele, staff feels at home there. One cook, Riley Hall, joined as a dishwasher 11 years go at age 16 and was trained by Weaver to “work every station.”

Brandon Stevenson had some prior restaurant experience, she said. He and Hall lead the kitchen as a team “and don’t even want titles like head chef,” she said.

“Once they come in, they’re my kids,” she said.

A feature that makes Elody stand out is its two bars. One is for cocktails and the other for desserts, where customers can see their sweet courses plated.

“This is a bigger restaurant than before, so even though our entire staff has come with us, we are looking to hire one more for the kitchen and one for the bar,” she said. “Then we will need another round of part-timers for track season.”

The Weavers expect more of a seasonal spike than ever before, thanks to the new downtown location.

The restaurant is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday and hosts happy hour Tuesday through Friday from 4:00 til 5:30. Learn more at elodyonphila.com and on Facebook.

Economic Development Corporations

SEDC Spurs Major Capital Investment And Thousands Of New Jobs In Region

BY PAUL POST

Saratoga Economic Development Corp. continued to play a huge role in facilitating major capital investment, leading to thousands of new jobs throughout the area during the past year.

One of the most notable achievements is Regeneron pharmaceutical company’s $2 billion plan to transform the former 1 million-squarefoot Quad/Graphics facility in Grande Industrial Park into a large manufacturing site.

Plans call for 1,000 full-time jobs and 500 temporary construction jobs over the next five years.

Other capital projects include, but are not limited to:

· The $48.5 million Coca-Cola investment in Halfmoon, retaining 127 full-time jobs while creating 11 new jobs and 95 temporary construction jobs.

· The $166 million 146 Marketplace investment in Halfmoon, the largest mixed-use project of 2025, calling for a blend of commercial, retail and residential uses with the potential for 385 professional, skilled and semiskilled new full-time jobs and 250 temporary construction jobs.

· In Wilton, the $52 million Wilton Commons mixed-use project is one of two health care facilities enabled in the last 18 months that will address the unmet health care needs of residents in northern Saratoga, southern Warren, Washington, eastern Montgomery and Fulton counties. It is also creating 127 residential units that address much-needed workforce housing.

· In addition, substantial investments in distribution, logistics, warehousing and workforce housing projects have been made in Clifton Park and Stillwater.

“SEDC is focused on a number of economic sectors for new capital investment,” said Greg Connors, the entity’s president.

These fields include, but are not limited to, 21st-century advanced manufacturing, advanced manufacturing supply chain, life sciences, agriculture and equine, light industrial, distribution/logistics/warehousing, and more traditional manufacturing, commercial and

health care, as well as arts, tourism and recreation.

“The locations are throughout Saratoga County where the necessary infrastructure such as water, wastewater, energy and transportation exists or is easily extended and provided,” Connors said. “Saratoga County is a great place to live, work, play and make one’s next capital investment. We are open to informing, educating, and enabling all forms of investment opportunities.”

“In SEDC’s view, the Capital Region has a robust cross-section of both traditional and what some may consider non-traditional capital investment opportunities,” he said.

SEDC, of course, played a major role in GlobalFoundries’ decision to locate in Saratoga County, and it is heavily involved with the company’s ongoing expansion plans, including another $12 billion chip manufacturing plant that would create 1,000 full-time jobs

Continued On Page

Lake George Protection Efforts Could Spark New North Country Industries

BY PAUL POST

Eurasian milfoil, a harmful aquatic invasive species, might have a new use as compost or an ingredient in fertilizer.

Trucks could be modified with a device that works with brine and rock salt to reduce the amount of salt on highways that impacts lakes and streams.

These are just two examples of potential business opportunities that would support ongoing efforts to protect the North Country’s natural resources.

“We should launch companies here that know how to do those things,” said Jim Siplon, president of the Warren County Economic Development Corporation. “You’ll never site an Amazon distribution center in the Adirondack Park. What we have to do is, beyond tourism, what are things we can invest in that will bring economic value and be aligned with the values of the park. Launching industry around protecting natural resources and having it based here is one of those things.”

The EDC is collaborating with other entities such as RPI, the Darrin Fresh Water Institute and

the Lake George Association to develop ideas that could be presented to the state for economic development.

At present, there are 16 different clusters, such as financial services, green energy and chip manufacturing, that the state has identified for investment and to attract companies to launch and conduct business in those fields.

“I want to add natural resources to that portfolio,” Siplon said.

The immediate goal for 2026 is to define specific investable business ideas that would be presented to the state for support.

This could be in the form of grants, tax breaks or direct efforts by the state to attract new firms to the North Country.

“One of the most important things to remember is that economic development isn’t year to year,” Siplon said. “It requires ongoing support and consistency for a long time. For example, the Downtown Revitalization Initiative in Glens Falls took 10 years to come to fruition.”

“But that $10 million, through the challenges of COVID-19 and mayoral changes, has led to

Continued On Page 10

Washington County Pursues Economic Growth After Loss Of Major Employer

BY PAUL POST

Washington County officials are pursuing several efforts to strengthen the local economy, from industrial development to tourism initiatives tied to America 250.

But the county faces one overriding challenge.

“The loss of our single largest employer, Great Meadow prison, continues to impact the local economy,” said Laura Oswald, county director of economic development. “We are currently working on several initiatives that aim to foster the growth of private-sector industries to mitigate the loss of 659 public-sector jobs as well as working with the state to find possible solutions for redevelopment of the site.”

“The governor has proposed a constitutional amendment that would facilitate redevelopment of prisons within Forest Preserve communities, but unfortunately Great Meadow is not among those proposed for inclusion, which severely limits redevelopment options.”

County officials recently secured approval from Empire State Development to establish a land bank.

A land bank allows the county to acquire, manage and return distressed, county-owned or donated properties to productive use, reducing blight, stabilizing property values and creating opportunities for housing and community development.

The program would not apply to Great Meadow but could help revitalize other sites throughout the county.

“A land bank allows us to turn challenges into opportunities and position our county for sustainable growth,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Robert Henke of Argyle.

The county also launched a new economic development website that centralizes key business and workforce resources. The site gives small-business owners and entrepreneurs access to support services and resources while connecting job seekers and employers with workforce programs, training partners and job opportunities.

It also features short videos highlighting local employers.

Another major development opportunity is Canalside Energy Park, the site of a former PCB dewatering facility off Route 196 in Fort Edward. The property, owned by the Warren-Washington Industrial Development Agency, has undergone major infrastructure upgrades with additional improvements planned to prepare it for a large-scale industrial user.

Approvals to enhance the site’s water connection are expected this spring, with construction anticipated this summer and fall. Early engineering work has also be-

Courtesy Washington County

gun on a new natural gas connection with National Grid.

“As infrastructure planning advances, Canalside Energy Park is becoming one of the region’s most promising opportunities for large-scale investment and job creation,” said Chuck Barton, the IDA’s chief executive officer. “With strong state and federal support and excellent regional partnerships, we are positioning the site to attract a major company to Fort Edward and Washington County.”

The IDA has retained Berkshire Hathaway Blake Commercial Realty to market the site to potential users.

Tourism also holds significant untapped economic potential in Washington County, and officials are working to expand that sector.

“In addition to continuing to promote our shops and restaurants, we are making efforts to increase tourism by marketing our numerous short-term rental options that include traditional bed and breakfasts, glamping sites, farm stays and more,” Oswald said. “Between the hundreds of short-term rentals and various agritourism experiences, we are perfectly positioned to accommodate today’s traveler who values authentic experiences and sustainable travel. In turn, these overnight guests will support the shops and restaurants.”

The county is also supporting the Washington County 250th Commemoration Committee as the nation prepares to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. Several events have already taken place, with more planned.

The committee hosted events throughout 2025, including Living History Weekend, and Washington County participated in the Henry Knox Noble Train of Artillery

Great Escape

Continued From Page 1

expect it will continue to deliver the highquality guest experiences visitors enjoy.”

When it fi rst opened, Storytown primarily catered to young children with themed attractions such as Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland and Mother Goose. Ghost Town and Sheriff “Windy” Bill McKay entertained generations of families.

As it evolved, the center added a large wave pool, water park and six roller coasters including the Bobcat, a wooden coaster introduced two years ago.

Great Escape employs about 1,500 people each summer in addition to year-round staff. The sale includes Great Escape Lodge and Indoor Water Park.

“The current staff includes many longtime employees with deep roots and a strong commitment to the property’s legacy,” Mintzer said. “In this economic climate, many companies acquire businesses specifically for the talent involved. Knowing the market is essential and the team being acquired is just as important as the brand.”

Founded in 1997, EPR Properties is a real

SEDC

Continued From Page 8

and thousands of construction jobs when work begins.

The project is supported financially by the federal CHIPS and Science Act as well as state Green CHIPS legislation.

“Their decision when that expansion will take place remains consistent with their public

estate investment trust that operates amusement parks, movie theaters and ski resorts in the U.S. and Canada.

The other Six Flags parks it purchased are Schlitterbahn Galveston, Six Flags St. Louis, Michigan’s Adventure, Valleyfair in Minnesota, World of Fun in Kansas City and La Ronde in Montreal.

Charlotte, N.C.-based Six Flags will continue to operate another 34 parks in 23 locations throughout North America. It also manages an amusement park in Saudi Arabia.

The company has made a concerted effort to streamline operations following its 2024 merger with Cedar Fair L.P.

“Six Flags Great Escape significantly contributes to our local economy, employing a large seasonal workforce of both local residents and international students,” Mintzer said. “Each year, the park hires hundreds of employees across operations, food service and entertainment, particularly during the peak summer season and Fright Fest.”

“We look forward to continuing our collaborative work with the park’s leadership to ensure it remains a strong contributor to tourism, employment and the overall visitor experience in the Lake George region,” she said.

statements on this topic to date,” Connors said. “It is important to note that GlobalFoundries U.S. continues to make substantial investment in their Fab 8 corporate headquarters in Saratoga County. The relocation of their packaging operations from Dresden, Germany, to Saratoga County and the new investments to upgrade their sophisticated tooling have been ongoing over the last 18 months. So their investment in Saratoga County and the Capital Region has been a continuous work in progress.”

the Adirondack Thunder’s annual Stick it to Cancer weekend, which raised a record $60,016 for Randy’s Fund at Glens Falls Hospital.

The Adirondack Thunder, an ECHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils and Utica Comets, raised a record $60,016 during its annual Stick it to Cancer weekend Feb. 27-28 at Harding Mazzotti Arena.

The total surpassed the $37,323 raised in 2025 by more than 60%.

Proceeds from the weekend’s games against the Maine Mariners and the Trois-Rivières Lions benefited Randy’s Patient Assistance Fund at Glens Falls Hospital’s C.R. Wood Cancer Center, which helps cover treatment needs for cancer patients.

“We could not be more thrilled with the outcome of this year’s Stick it to Cancer weekend to support Randy’s Fund at Glens Falls Hospital,”

said Adirondack Thunder President Jeff Mead.

“We thank the local community for showing up in a big way to benefit an invaluable cause during one of our most anticipated events of the year.”

Fans could paint the ice after Friday’s game with a $10 donation, and the team wore special Stick it to Cancer jerseys that were auctioned after Saturday’s contest. A 50/50 raffle was also held during both games to benefit Randy’s Fund.

The Thunder return home Wednesday, March 18 to host the Mariners at 7 p.m. at Harding Mazzotti Arena. Tickets are available at ECHLThunder.com or 518-480-3355.

Provided by Adirondack Thunder; edited for style and length.

Continued From Page 8

another $50 million investment that’s had a dramatic effect; hundreds of new housing units and an entire new commercial corridor. The place has become a better version of itself. That same kind of activity is what’s happening in North Creek.”

A new wastewater treatment facility, scheduled for completion this year, has made $40 million worth of investment possible in North Creek.

This includes a $25 million new ski bowl, a $10 million overhaul of the former Phoenix Hotel, and several smaller projects.

A New Jersey property developer is pursuing plans for a schnaps micro-distillery.

Eventually, a zip coaster thrill ride will be built near the new ski bowl, attracting thousands of summertime visitors to North Creek, complementing the winter ski season.

The treatment plant has been made possible in part with occupancy tax from the county.

“It’s already generated the kind of leverage and return that shows it to be a wise investment,” Siplon said. “Any time we can put a million or $2 million to work and generate $40 million in outside investment, it’s always a good decision. All of these things were dependent on having a wastewater system. It couldn’t have happened without it.”

Elsewhere in Warren County, plans are moving forward for West Mountain’s proposed $200 million ski-and-stay village in Queensbury.

The project, called Woods at West Mountain, would be located near the Northwest Base Lodge.

Plans call for a 60- to 80-room hotel and conference center, 64 condominiums, 32 two-unit duplexes and 52 custom single-family homes surrounding a new high-speed chairlift in a village-type setting with a full-service ski store, athletic club, coffee shop, grocery market and restaurant.

That effort, combined with work going on in North Creek and downtown Glens Falls, represents more than $300 million in economic development, and many other smaller projects are

taking shape throughout the county as well.

“It’s a staggering amount of money and it came together because we stayed the course,” Siplon said. “We provide the continuity that helps us get to those difficult places that require years and years of ongoing effort.”

The local economy has three main sectors — tourism and hospitality, health care led by Glens Falls Hospital and Hudson Headwaters, and a third group comprised of various categories from retail and light manufacturing to professional services.

“We focus very much on the emerging areas of growth, people who are able to do what they do anywhere and choose to do it here,” Siplon said. “They’re not necessarily remote workers. They’re people who provide critical services like financial or creative services. And they want to live in a place where they can balance work and other things, and this is a really attractive place.”

The concept of protecting natural resources to provide economic as well as environmental benefit fits perfectly with this strategy.

“Lake George is probably the single greatest economic asset we have,” Siplon said. “It’s the thing that we’re known for. It’s got worldwide identity. Tourism is the thing its best known for, but it affects all sectors.”

“Lake George is viewed as one of the most pristine water bodies in the world,” he said. “It’s a great example of what happens when a community commits itself to protecting a resource like that. But the knowledge base that’s gone into it has never been converted into more enterprise and more business.”

Efforts to control harmful algal blooms, invasive species, stormwater and the impact of septic systems; these are things that not only affect Lake George, but every community that has freshwater resources, Siplon said.

“We should be trying to take the knowledge and experience we have and turn that into successful business that can help not only here, but other places,” he said. “Ninety two percent of Warren County is in the Adirondack Park and a large portion of Washington County, too. North of us, Essex and Hamilton counties are entirely within the park. This is not just about us. It’s about the entire northern New York economy.”

Economic Growth

Continued From Page 9

reenactment in December.

For 2026, organizers are planning a History Festival at the Washington County Fairgrounds on July 11-12. The free immersive event will offer educational and family-friendly activities including living history demonstrations, displays, music, wagon rides and food vendors.

Whitehall will also host a Naval Heritage Weekend on Oct. 2-3 as part of the America 250 celebration. The event will highlight the community’s shipbuilding legacy and Benedict Arnold’s fleet, connecting visitors to the origins of the U.S. Navy and Whitehall’s role in maritime history.

It will feature tours, nationally recognized speakers, family programming and community celebrations.

Looking beyond 2026, Oswald said Washington County has growth opportunities across several sectors. “Agriculture remains a cornerstone, with room to expand value-added products,” she said.

“Manufacturing and advanced production remain our largest industry sector and continue to thrive, particularly in metal fabrication, paper, mineral and wood products. Healthcare and wellness services are growing to meet community needs, including the recent opening of Hudson Headwaters in Salem.”

Retail also remains a key part of the local economy, supported by a strong network of small businesses.

“The manufacturing, retail and healthcare industries currently account for close to 60 percent of all jobs in the county,” Oswald said. “Additionally, entrepreneurial enterprises are gaining traction, providing opportunities for innovative startups and service-oriented companies. The new Economic Development web pages provide resources for all of these sectors.”

More information is available at https:// washingtoncounty.fun/doing-business/.

Maple

Continued From Page 1

“If we had bare ground and 60 degrees I’d really be worried,” said Tim Monica, a fifth-generation producer of Maple Valley Farm in Corinth.

Business has been so good the past few years that he plans to acquire two new sugarbushes this summer and more than double his operation from 2,600 taps to

nearly 6,000 taps. “After COVID, everybody’s been going back to more natural things, anything they can get from a local producer,” he said.

In addition to on-farm sales, Maple Valley syrup is found at outlets such as King’s Dairy in Northumberland, Smith’s Orchard Bake Shop in Charlton and Saratoga Winery in Saratoga Springs, whose chef uses maple for a variety of dishes. Monica also takes product to Saratoga County Fair and farmers markets in Glens Falls, Saratoga Springs and Chestertown.

Monica runs Maple Valley Farm with his daughter, Abigail, and his brother, Scott. He learned the business from his late father, Don, who began making syrup as a young boy with buckets hung from trees, working at night to boil sap with light from kerosene lamps.

Many area producers are holding open house events the last two weekends in March.

“New York continues to be a top maple producer in the U.S. and our producers continue to make some of the finest, most

innovative maple products in the country that contribute greatly to our economy,” state Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball said. “I encourage New Yorkers to find a nearby, local producer hosting during Maple Weekends and join in this timeless tradition. This is truly one of the best times of year, as we gather with our communities across the state to support our maple producers.”

For a complete listing and more information about Maple Open House events, visit https://www.mapleweekend.com/.