Category Archives: Business News

Siblings Operate ‘Toga Threads,’ Making Clothing That Reflects Their Love Of Saratoga

December 6, 2018December 7, 2018

Conor and Cara Maloney run Toga Threads, a business that designs and manufactures clothing.
©2018 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Christine Graf

Brother and sister Conor and Cara Maloney set out in 2016 to design and manufacture clothing that reflects their love for Saratoga. They got the idea while vacationing in Cape Cod.

“We saw a company that had a very similar community feel,” said Cara Maloney. “They came up with a design that really reflected Cape Cod.”

Conor, a 27-year-old SUNY Oneonta graduate and physical therapist at Albany Chiropractic and Physical Therapy, designed the Toga Threads logo. The horse-inspired logo pays homage to Saratoga’s horse racing history.

“My brother was gifted with artistic design ability,” said Maloney.

Twenty-three-year-old Cara, a Siena graduate, is a development specialist at Special Olympics New York. She also waitresses at Charlton Tavern in Ballston Lake. The restaurant has been in the Maloney family for 70 years and is operated by her parents.

$63,000 From ‘Showcase Of Homes’ Donated By Builders Association To Local Charities

December 6, 2018December 7, 2018

Representatives from Rebuilding Together Saratoga County and Habitat for Humanity recently received honorary checks representing donations from the Saratoga Builders Association.
Courtesy Showcase of Homes

The Saratoga Builders Association recently presented proceeds totaling $63,000 from the 2018 Saratoga Showcase of Homes to Rebuilding Together Saratoga County and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties.

The Saratoga Builders Association has now contributed nearly $1.2 million to the local charities from this home-tour event.

The 2018 edition of the Saratoga Showcase of Homes, just concluding its 23rd year, featured 12 award-winning builders presenting 13 homes. This year’s tour had approximately 3,800 visitors touring the new homes on display over three weekends.

Association officials said it is dedicated to the long-running show being an integral part of the fabric in our fall season.

58-Year-Old Menges & Curtis Apothecary In Saratoga Springs Has New Ownership

December 6, 2018December 7, 2018

Jennifer and Scott Lamb took over ownership of Menges & Curtis Apothecary at 472 Broadway, Saratoga Springs. It is the longest continually operating enterprise in the city.
©2018 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Susan E. Campbell

In a community that has health, history and horses in its motto, Menges & Curtis Apothecary has promoted all three ideals for nearly 158 years. This iconic business at 472 Broadway is the longest continually operating enterprise in Saratoga Springs and new owners Jennifer and Scott Lamb are committed to carrying on its traditions while ushering in some new ones.

Pharmacy is a second education for Jennifer Lamb. She graduated in 2012 with the goal of getting into the non-traditional area of compounding medications for humans and animals. While this specialty is gaining popularity, she said training is needed beyond a chemistry background and what university offers.

“After graduation I had to reach out to independents to teach me, like an apprentice,” said Lamb. “In order to go into veterinary pharmacy you have to learn to compound, because there are far fewer commercial medications for animals as people. And dosages vary if you are compounding for a mouse or a horse or an elephant.”

Her mentor was George Doherty of Fallon Wellness Pharmacy. His sudden passing came around the time that Michael Lenz, who partnered with Peter Fallon, wanted to sell the compounding pharmacy that his father had purchased in the late 1950s, originally named Menges & Curtis.

Teakwood Builders Moves Into New Space On Church Street, Adds A Cabinetry Company

December 6, 2018December 7, 2018

Jim Sasko, owner and president of Teakwood Builders, stands in front of his company’s new offices and showroom at 75 Church St. in Saratoga Springs.
©2018 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Jill Nagy

Teakwood Builders is now moved into its headquarters, a former 1940s service station at 75 Church St.

The building, which took 10 months to renovate, serves as office and showroom for the construction and renovation company.

The building maintains its boxy shape and style but has been transformed into an “industrial chic” building, providing 3,100 square feet of office and showroom space.

“We had great fun playing off that style,“ said owner and president Jim Sasko. “There was something really appealing about this box-style building and its history as a garage. Converting this older structure into a contemporary post-modern showpiece gave us the opportunity to show off our creativity and construction abilities, and we are proud of how it turned out.”

The facility also provides space to display its new sister company, Housewright Cabinetry.

Callanan Industries Opens New Plant In Ballston Spa, Expanding Services In New York

December 6, 2018December 7, 2018

Callanan Industries opened this asphalt plant in Ballston Spa’s Curtis Industrial Park. Operating as Dolomite Products, a sister company of Callanan, during the summer.
Courtesy Callanan Industries

By Jill Nagy

In its first inroad into Saratoga County, Callanan Industries has opened an asphalt plant in Ballston Spa’s Curtis Industrial Park. Operating as Dolomite Products, a sistercompany of Callanan, the plant can produce 220 tons, about 10 dump trucks worth, of asphalt an hour, the company said.

The plant, opened in late summer, is currently shuttered for the winter. A ribbon-cutting and open house is planned for he spring.

“We want to get involved in the community,” said Dan Broomhall, vice president for operations.

Callanan’s expansion into Ballston Spa is in response to increased business in the area, he said.

Callanan operates throughout northern New York state.

Veterans & Community Housing Coalition’s Annual Ball Honors Several Area Veterans

December 6, 2018December 7, 2018

The Veterans & Community Housing Coalition (VCHC) recently hosted its third annual Veterans Ball at the Hall of Springs with over 300 attendees turning out in support of its mission to serve local veterans and their families with affordable housing and support services while they transition to independent living.

A memorable highlight of the evening was a special tribute to area World War II veterans who were each presented with quilts made by the Sunday Sewing Sisters. The list of Honored WWII veterans included:

Allan Atwell, U.S. Army 1943 to 1945; Edward F. Deyoe, U.S. Army 1943 to 1945; Charles “Chuck” Dunham, U.S. Navy 1943 to 1945; Samuel “Sid” Gordon, U.S. Army 1946 to 1948; John “Jack” Harrigan, U.S. Army 1943 to 1945; “EJ” Knapik, U.S. Navy 1945 to 1947; Cpl. Henry Rowland, U.S. Army 1944 to 1946, and Dennis Treanor, U.S. Army 1946-1947.

There was also a tribute to local veterans who served in different branches and conflicts. That list of honored veterans included: Gene Ratigliano, U.S. 1965-1991; Joe Pennell, U.S. Army 1982-1986; David Kieserman, U.S. Air Force 1960-1966; Dave Lockhart, U.S. Army 1981-1984; Bob Dyer, U.S. Army 1962-1968, and Heather Martin U.S. Air Force 2001-2005.

The Mercantile Kitchen And Bar Offers Breakfast All Day Long On Broadway

December 6, 2018December 7, 2018

The Mercantile Kitchen and Bar is a new restaurant at 430 Broadway in Saratoga Springs. The restaurant was formerly the Cantina, which earlier in the year moved to 408 Broadway.
©2018 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Susan E. Campbell

The Mercantile Kitchen and Bar is a new restaurant that co-owner and managing partner Chris Luriea hopes will “fill a gap” among the eateries on Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs.

“The Merc” offers “a fun diner menu” from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at night. It serves breakfast all day, and boasts “a bar that can make any drink,” Luriea said.

It is in the space that was once Cantina restaurant and for years operated as Professor Moriarity’s. The business opened Nov. 9.

The idea of a modern diner had been percolating in Luriea’s mind for many years when he got a call in June from Jeff Ames, owner of the restaurant Cantina, which relocated a few doors down on Broadway and where Luriea had been bar manager for about six years.

Ames indicated he was making some changes at his restaurant and presented the prospect of collaborating on something new. Cantina was relocating from 430 Broadway to number 408.

Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership Launches New Computer Training Program

December 6, 2018December 7, 2018

The Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership announced a partnership to launch a computer programming education and training program in Saratoga County it is calling the first of its kind.

Recruitment is now underway for the Front-End Web Development course, to be held Jan. 29 through April 18, at the SUNY Adirondack Wilton Center, 696 Route 9 in Wilton.

The course will teach technical skills such as HTML/CSS and JavaScript, which form the foundation of the modern web. Students also learn the basics of user interface (UI) design and work in teams to build projects for community organizations to get real-world experience.

Presented by Albany Can Code, the course will run two evenings per week, three hours per session. Meanwhile, the group will work closely with the Saratoga Partnership, which will assist in recruiting students and connecting graduates with potential employers in need of computer programmers – filling a critical need among Saratoga County businesses while providing a pathway for students to pursue exciting career opportunities, officials said.

Saratoga Springs CPA Firm Acquired As UHY Advisors, UHY LLP Expands In Northeast

December 6, 2018December 7, 2018

UHY Advisors and UHY LLP are expanding their portfolio in the Northeast region with the acquisition of the professional services firm Flynn, Walker, Diggin CPA, PC, in Saratoga Springs.

The firm began operating under the UHY banner effective Nov. 8.

“We are pleased to welcome the highly experienced team at Flynn, Walker, Diggin to the UHY network,” said Michael Mahoney, CEO of UHY Advisors NY Inc. “Their addition will further strengthen our presence in the capital region and help us advise clients in the local marketplace. The acquisition is also testament to UHY’s organic growth in the Northeast which allows us to bring UHY’s signature brand of service to businesses and organizations in the area while maintaining local community ties.”

Teal, Becker & Chiaramonte CPAs Creates Alliance With Ferraro, Amodio & Zarecki

December 6, 2018December 7, 2018

Teal, Becker & Chiaramonte CPAs, PC, an accounting and advisory firm, and Ferraro, Amodio & Zarecki CPAs, a boutique forensic accounting firm at 18 Division St., Saratoga Springs, have announced a strategic alliance designed to provide their respective Capital Region clients and contacts with expanded service offerings.

TBC and FAZ will remain independent organizations as they pursue a set of agreed upon objectives to ensure a successful relationship, firm officials said.

“We are excited to join forces with FAZ to bring premier forensic accounting and fraud prevention services to our clients, COIs and referral sources,” TBC Managing Partner Jim Drislane said. “For decades, the FAZ team members have served as valued consultants and forensic experts for attorneys, insurance companies, corporate clients, not-for-profits and governmental entities. They have built a strong reputation specializing in forensics. Working with a well-established player like FAZ will only enhance our ability to serve clients.”