By Jennifer Farnsworth
Geico’s new Central Avenue location in Albany came at the perfect time for insurance agent Rick Schrade.
The relocation may not seem like a major change, but Schrade said the new space has allowed him to open up in a safe way that is pandemic ready. The office reopened in late June.
“The new space has really given us the capability to create something that is safe for our employees and for our customers,” he said.
The agency moved in late spring. When the coronavirus pandemic hit they immediately got to work, making sure to meet health and safety precautions that were being asked of them, according to Schrade.
“We’re now fully open and ready for people to come in and shop for a policy that works for them,” he said.
In response to the coronavirus, Schrade said some of the safety precautions include contactless photo inspections, daily temperature checks for employees, frequent hand washing and disinfecting surfaces on a regular basis. The new lobby includes ceiling-to-floor plexiglass.
“We really invested into ensuring that the health and safety of our office was our top priority. The new 5,000 square foot location has really been a bright spot for us. The space allows us to be socially distant, have cubicles for our employees, and really be spaced out in a safe way,” said Schrade.
He said the pandemic has had a financial impact on not only his office, but insurance nationwide. While people are looking to find ways to save money within personal and family budgets, saving on insurance is something many people seem to overlook.
Horseshoe Inn Bar & Grill Plans Expansion, Buys More Property Adjacent To Premises
©2020 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Susan Elise Campbell
The Horseshoe Inn Bar & Grill at 9 Gridley St. in Saratoga Springs, near Saratoga Race Course, has long been a favorite place to be after track for drinks, meals, and entertainment outside.
Owner Daniel Drellos said recent changes, along with some plans in the works, will make the outdoor service larger and easier to get around—critical in the era of social distancing.
“We have always had a good following,” said Drellos, whose two business partners, Brandon Drellos and Charlie Hoertkorn, also co-own Caroline Street Pub with him. Even with the racetrack closed to spectators, “it can get congested at happy hour in the summer.”
The team has secured approval for plans to expand the entire bar area and to increase the size of the bar itself to 70 or 80 feet long “so that people can get around it and to it,” he said. “We will put in a new tent and new outdoor coolers and change the look of the bar.”
Sen. Schumer Urges Passage Of Bill To Help Tech Companies Like GlobalFoundries
Following his unveiling of the bipartisan American Foundries Act and his push to include major federal support for the U.S. microelectronics industry, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer stood with GlobalFoundries CEO Tom Caulfield in Malta, to call for swift passage of an act that would help tech companies.
The Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes the provisions from the Senator’s bill to continue U.S. leadership and revitalize innovation in the global microelectronics sector.
Schumer said the bipartisan legislation, among other things, will launch federal initiative into semiconductor manufacturing, including companies like GlobalFoundries, by providing new federal incentives to conduct advanced research and development of semiconductor technology, secure the supply chain, and ensure national and economic security by reducing reliance on foreign semiconductor manufacturing.
The amendment passed in the Senate 96-4 as part of the Senate-passed NDAA which now awaits final consideration and passage.
Schumer called it a major step forward in providing unprecedented support for the U.S. semiconductor industry and creating opportunities to bring hundreds of jobs to Saratoga County and Upstate New York.
Shaker Logistics Selects Sales Operations Firm
Relay Integrated Logistics & Solutions (RILS) has been selected to create a sales operations program for Shaker Logistics, a third-party logistics provider headquartered in Waterford.
“We are aggressively going after new growth and projecting a 20 percent increase in revenue from new customers in the next three years, as well as continued growth from our long-time partners,” said Jason Smith, CEO of Shaker Logistics. “Our new headquarters and warehouse space will drive new service offerings. We anticipate full retention of our workforce of 81 people and an expansion of hiring in roles like sales, warehousing, customer service, and drivers over the next several years.”
The Center for Economic Growth assisted in the collaboration.
State Gives Grants To Help Maintain Parks
The State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Department of Environmental Conservation, and the advocacy group Parks & Trails New York have awarded grants to support nonprofit organizations involved with stewardship of 29 state parks, historic sites and public lands.
The grants—including five in the area—provided to partner organizations will help to improve the maintenance of these historic open spaces.
The grants “will help bolster efforts to keep New York’s open spaces beautiful and pristine at a time when more New Yorkers than ever are turning to nature for refuge and relaxation,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “New York is thankful for this dedicated group of volunteers, which provide invaluable support to our park system by devoting their time to help make improvements that all of us can enjoy.”
The program grants are funded through the state Environmental Protection Fund .
Grants in the area went to:
‘Bound By Fate Brewing’ In Schuylerville Features A Taproom With Small Food Menu
©2020 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Susan Elise Campbell
Bound By Fate Brewing is a story of three generations and a business coming together in Schuylerville.
Co-founders Pam Pradachith-Demler and her husband Brett Demler had started in the craft beer industry in California, which had exploded after the Farm Brewery Bill was passed there. They imagined the brewery they would someday start themselves would have a unique business model of two-barrel production, brewing styles from around the world and dependence on local ingredients.
“My husband had been gathering beer names, recipes and design labels for 10 years,” she said.
Along with Brett’s two brothers, Evan and Ryan Demler, the partners incorporated in January of 2019. But Pradachith-Demler said it took a year to find the location that suited all their requirements, from their residence to their taproom, and head east “with no huge financial backing but our savings and some loans and gifts from family members.”
Exhibit Of Famous Pinball Machines Is Ongoing At Universal Preservation Hall
Jim Gilbert
Universal Preservation Hall opened the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame exhibit Part of the Machine: Rock & Pinball on July 26 for a two-month run.
The interactive exhibit showcases rock-themed, playable pinball machines and combines them with merchandise and artifacts to explore the artistic portrayal of artists and bands.
Part of the Machine: Rock & Pinball is presented at UPH by Adirondack Trust Co. UPH, a partner in the Proctors Collaborative, is selling tickets for 90-minute blocks throughout the run.
Tickets will be available for admittance at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. each day and hours are extended to include 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. admittance on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
The event concludes on Saturday, Sept. 26. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students and are available at universalpreservationhall.org.
High-Tech Designs Improve Movement Flow For People In Apartments And Businesses
By Lisa Balschunat
When Atrium Properties of Clifton Park was awarded two town contracts, the company began working on the projects by incorporating new design techniques and technology that creates an efficient transfer of information,said Jacqueline Phillips Murray, a member of the Plank Road Centre LLC.
Rob Holbrook, president of V&H Construction, of Fort Edward, which built the new Common Roots Brewing Co. in South Glens Falls, agrees that new digital design techniques provide a field crew at the site with real-time changes they can pull up on a tablet, instead of waiting for a hard copy blueprint change as in earlier years.
“The change can be emailed to the project manager and the information can be given quickly to the guys at the site,” he said. “They can blow up a drawing or sketch and see the details on a tablet or smart phone easily … that was not possible years ago with just a print.”
Rochester Company Buys Former State Farm Building In Malta, Starts To Lease Space
©2020 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Christine Graf
Rochester-based Flaum Management Co. Inc has purchased the former State Farm Operations Center located off Northway Exit 12 in Saratoga County.
The building sat empty for approximately two years before being auctioned off in March by Ten-X Commercial, an online real estate platform.
The two-story, 124,171-square-foot building was purchased by John Senese, owner of Calco Construction in Farmington, Con., for $1.36 million, according to the Flaum.
After purchasing the property, Senese sold it to Flaum Management Co. for $2 million.
Ballston Spa Mayor Says Opening Street For Outdoor Dining Space Has Been Successful
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By Andrea Harwood Palmer
The Village of Ballston Spa has closed down a main commercial street during the coronavirus pandemic to make more space for outdoor dining for restaurants.
A section of Front Street is closed to vehicles from 4-10 p.m. those specified days every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
“The Village of Ballston Spa is open for business,” said Mayor Larry Woolbright.
“It’s been going great. People are coming out. The restaurants are doing good business. People really appreciate being able to get out again. We have a nice 15-foot-wide pedestrian path blocked off down the middle of the street so everyone has plenty of space to get where they’re going,” he said.