For the 14th consecutive year, faculty and staff at Skidmore College are joining together through the College’s Skidmore Cares program to assist those in need in Saratoga County.
Since the community service program was begun in 2006 by Skidmore President Philip A. Glotzbach and Marie Glotzbach, the Skidmore community has donated more than $108,000 in monetary gifts, more than 26,000 food items and nearly 12,000 school supplies to nonprofit agencies throughout Saratoga County.
On Wednesday, approximately 125 Skidmore faculty and staff members attended a kickoff luncheon on campus to mark the beginning of the donation effort.
“What Skidmore Cares is all about is an opportunity for the Skidmore community to come together and to have a moment of good fellowship and for all of us to give – and give back – to the larger community,” Glotzbach said. “It’s a time of gathering. It’s a time of celebration of the season. And we are very happy to combine that with this opportunity for giving.”
Representatives from several Saratoga-based community service agencies attended the luncheon.
Organization Formed To Help Businesses Align With Charities Compatible To Their Mission
©2019 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Susan E. Campbell
A new internet-based service will soon bring together Capital District businesses with nonprofits whose missions align with a company’s goals for charitable giving.
Called Knitt LLC, founder Lisa Munter believes her organization will provide “a mindful and time efficient way to connect” donors and donor organizations. Its success, and future compensation, will depend on the “knitted” relationships among businesses and nonprofit organizations who did not have a prior relationship, Munter said.
Munter is an avid volunteer and wife of a businessman whose company, Munter Enterprises, is “inundated with requests for donations.”
Stewart’s Shops Partners With Rose & Kiernan To Help Nonprofits Save On Expenses
Stewart’s Shops and Rose & Kiernan have partnered to help nonprofits save money on gasoline and their operational expenses.
Rose & Kiernan, a market leader in providing insurance and risk management service to non-profits, and Stewart’s Shops, which has a long history of helping nonprofits with financial backing and guidance, have partnered to assist these community organizations in saving money on travel and other business-related expenses.
Officials said the partnership is designed to help nonprofit organizations, many of whom often have limited budgets, put more of their financial resources to use serving people and causes vitally important to our communities.
Mountain Media Expanded Data Center Assures Protection In Power Failures, Disasters
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Mountain Media, a website development firm, has expanded to provide fully redundant data centers with near-instantaneous connections and automatic switchover services.
According to the company, the expansion assures clients’ ecommerce and other mission-critical applications remain accessible in power failures or other disasters.
The firm, which recently moved its offices to 1252 Saratoga Road, Ballston Spa, from Saratoga Springs, took in a capital partner to assist in developing the data center. Working with Kincaid Network Solutions, Mountain Media now offers what it calls “one of the best-connected and most-scalable web hosting environments on the Eastern Seaboard.”
“We have a long history of working collaboratively with Kincaid Network Solutions and its founder, Bob Priest,” said Mountain Media President and CEO James Curley. “We’re pleased to work with Kincaid as we move our hosting capabilities to the next level for mid-tier ecommerce and business application websites.”
Adirondack Trust App Allows Customers To Get Discounts At Various Local Businesses
By Christine Graf
Adirondack Trust Co. has launched a free smartphone app that provides consumers with the opportunity to receive discounts and other perks at participating local businesses.
The app, called Beyond Savings, uses customized software developed by a third party provider.
According to Adirondack Trust Executive Vice President Charles Wait, it was Robert Ward who first came to him with the idea for the app. Ward is vice president-marketing manager at the bank.
“I knew we needed a rewards program, and Rob came to me with the idea,” said Wait. “It was very easy to say ‘yes’ to. It uses technology to provide local shopping rewards. If I go to one of the vendors on our list—Forno Bistro for example—and I have the app on my phone, I can get a discount. So that benefits not only the user but also the merchants who are our customers. It’s a nice partnership.”
Business Report: Passwords Are A Necessary Evil
By Vicki A. Marking
Here’s a quick test. What do these seemingly random alphanumerical groupings have in common?
1. 123456
2. password
3. 123456789
4. 12345678
5. 12345
6. 111111
7. 1234567
8. sunshine
9. qwerty
10. iloveyou
‘The Worker’s Club’ Offers Shared Office Space For People Who Don’t Need Their Own
©2019 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Susan E. Campbell
Anyone who needs work or meeting area but doesn’t want the burden of their own office can rent shared space at The Worker’s Club for a day, a year, or anything in between.
This business is owned by Monika LaPlante, who has produced a modern, comfortable environment in Suite 4 of the historic building at 3 Franklin St. in Saratoga Springs, two blocks off Broadway.
“I am from Lake George, where many families owned businesses,“ she said. “I was surrounded my whole life so it was in my head to start my own.“
Business Briefs: December 2019
The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce will hold its first Southern Saratoga County Holiday Breakfast 7:30-9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at the Vista at Van Patten Golf Club in Clifton Park.
The breakfast will include a panel discussion featuring Kevin Hedley, Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce 2020 incoming board chairman, and board member Tara Anne Pleat. They will discuss their vision for Chamber goals and initiatives for 2020 and beyond.
The breakfast is open to the public and additional information/registration link can be found at Saratoga.org.
New 39,000-Square-Foot Hannaford Store Opens In Ballston Spa With Many Amenities
Courtesy Hannaford Supermarkets
Hannaford Supermarkets opened its new Ballston Spa store in November at 3 Via Rossi Way.
The new 39,000 square-foot store features a full-service kitchen department, offering an expanded selection of hot foods and meal solutions, as well as hand-crafted sandwiches and salads made on-site daily. There is also an in-store café, which will also serve as a community gathering space.
The new store also offers Hannaford-To-Go, a service that allows customers to order groceries online and then pick them up at the store. Additionally, the store has a drive-thru pharmacy.
The store will employ approximately 125 full- and part-time associates.
Saratoga Casino Hotel Foundation Awards Grants To 24 Area Nonprofit Organizations
Courtesy Saratoga Casino Hotel Foundation
The Saratoga Casino Hotel Foundation, Inc. recently awarded over $28,000 to 24 different nonprofit organizations. The ceremony took place in Fortunes Restaurant at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
The Foundation distributes these grants annually to recognize and support organizations that benefit residents of Saratoga County. Organizations whose initiatives that support youth, senior citizens, recreation, arts and community benefit are given priority.
Since its inception in 2004, the foundation has awarded over $425,000 to more than 175 nonprofit groups in Saratoga County.