Petal + Hive In Ballston Spa Offers Skin Care Products That Are Plant Based, All Natural

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By Jennifer Farnsworth

All natural, plant-based skin care, made in a lab, and tailored to a person’s skin care concerns, may sound like a luxury worthy of only celebrities. But cosmetic chemist Jillian Ehrenberg, owner of Petal + Hive in Ballston Spa, is changing that. 

As an entrepreneur who is passionate about quality skin care, Ehrenberg has brought her all-natural skin care, with herbal extracts in every bottle, to downtown Ballston Spa.

“Every jar contains a unique original formula that is both clean and eco-friendly,” said Ehrenberg.

Petal + Hive carries all things skin care including moisturizers, eye creams, serums, cleansers, lotions, toners, oils and more. All Petal + Hive products are made in the on-site lab. Ehrenberg also sells other brands of all natural products that she has diligently researched herself.

“I have done all the work for you. If it is sold here you know that it is a clean high quality product. I research every ingredient, the packaging, everything that you may be concerned about,” she said.

Although this is Ehernberg’s first storefront as a small business owner, she is not new to the industry. She first began in 2015, selling her skin care products at places like farmer’s markets and the former Clinton Street Mercantile, where she rented several shelves. She said people really took to her products and she soon realized she needed her own space.

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Business Briefs: December 2021

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The 35th Annual Stewart’s Holiday Match campaign kicked off on Thanksgiving Day and runs through Christmas Day at all shop locations. 

The program supports nonprofit organizations impacting children.

Last year, customers donated an incredible $895,000 to the program, doubling to more than $1.88 million with the Stewart’s match. The funds were able to support 1,715 local children’s organizations across the 32 counties where Stewart’s Shops are located, company officials said.

Local organizations impacting children are encouraged to apply for funding online at www.stewartsshops.com/holiday-match/holiday-match-overview. The deadline for submission is Jan. 31. All groups applying must be locally based, benefit children under 18, and be a qualified, charitable 501c3 organization. A listing of all the local organizations that received funds last season is available online.

Stewart’s Holiday Match is a 501c3 foundation; all donations are tax-deductible. Stewart’s gladly accepts funds from groups or businesses, but only matches individual donations.

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The Village of Ballston Spa is looking to update its Comprehensive Plan to best define the needs of this evolving community and articulate a vision that will guide decisions affecting physical development and redevelopment within the village.  

The Comprehensive Plan is expected to focus most significantly on effects of IT and climate change, buildings and village character,  non-conforming land uses, village infrastructure, quality of life and local and regional economics. 

A steering committee has been formed to work in conjunction with a professional planning consultant to identify and study several topics over the course of the next year in order to create a final plan for approval by the village board of trustees.  

The committee is currently looking for additional members from the Ballston Spa community who would be interested in contributing their knowledge, skills and ideas.  Meetings will be held twice a month, on the first and third Thursdays, at 7 p.m. at the Saratoga County Office building at 50 West High St.  All meetings are open to the public and are Zoom accessible. Interested persons can contact steering committee chairperson Karen Martell  at karenmartell27@gmail.com or the Village Office at 518 885-5711, villageclerk@villageofballstonspa.org.

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State Starts Construction Of $21 Million Affordable Housing Project In Ballston

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Construction has started on Dominic Hollow Apartments, a $21 million affordable and supporting housing development in the town of Ballston that will create 60 homes, including 30 reserved for adults in need of supportive services.

Dominic Hollow Apartments will be affordable to households earning at or below 60 percent of the Area Median Income. Thirty apartments will be reserved for adults who will receive on-site services provided by RISE Housing and Support Services. RISE is also the project’s developer with CSD Housing in a consulting role.  

“Saratoga County is one of the fastest-growing counties in New York, and the Dominic Hollow Apartments will help fulfill the rising need for affordable housing,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in announcing the start of the work. “As we continue to emerge from the pandemic, my administration will continue to prioritize investments that allow New Yorkers to find safe, secure, and sustainable housing so they can live healthy and successful lives in the communities they love.”

Services and rental subsidies for 18 supportive units will be funded by the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative and 12 supportive units will be funded by the state Office of Mental Health. OMH is providing $416,000 annually in operating expenses for the 18 ESSHI units, as well as $477,000 annually for the 12 supportive units.

Officials said Dominic Hollow Apartments is designed to meet the energy efficiency requirements of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s Low-Rise New Construction program and EPA’s ENERGY STAR Certified Homes Program Version 3.1. Sustainable features will include Energy Star or equivalent heating and cooling equipment, appliances, and light fixtures; water-conserving plumbing fixtures; and low- or no-VOC paints, primers, adhesives, and sealants. 

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Four Projects In Saratoga County Get Funds From Regional Economic Development Unit

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New York state has awarded over $81 million through its Regional Economic Development Council initiative to support 97 priority projects across  the state. 

This year, $150 million in grant funds from Empire State Development was made available on a continuous and competitive basis to support the immediate needs of applicants. Additionally, projects within each region are eligible for a share of $75 million in Excelsior Jobs Program Tax Credits to help attract and grow business in their region.

In Saratoga County, four projects received funding.

“The pandemic toll touched every corner of the state and every sector of New York’s economy, and as a result we must ensure that our recovery does the same,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “As we move forward from the pandemic we are using the rolling grant process to build New York state back better by supporting shovel-ready projects with the potential to accelerate new investments and catalyze economic growth in every community.”

“Through a collaborative, bottom up, and regional approach to economic development, these projects were chosen for their innovation, impact on their communities and potential for positive change coming out of the pandemic,” said Lt.  Gov. Brian Benjamin. “Whether it is workforce development, tourism, green investments or domestic manufacturing, we are moving forward to foster a strong and prosperous economy in New York state.”

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Brookhaven Golf Pro Therrien Named A ‘Top 10 PGA Junior Captain’ By PGA.Com

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Anthony Therrien is the head golf professional at Brookhaven Golf Course.
Courtesy Brook Haven

Brookhaven Golf Course’s head golf professional Anthony Therrien has been named one of the “top ten PGA Jr. captains” by PGA.com. 

The website, which represents the national golf professional association of more than 29,000 golf professionals and the leading experts on the game of golf, identified Therrien in its article “Ten PGA Jr. League Captains Who Inspired a Decade of Dominance” on Nov. 3.

Brookhaven is located at 333 Alpine Meadows Road in Porter Corners.

Since Therrien joined the staff in 2019, the course has nearly doubled its revenue and increased the number of rounds played in a season by 8,000, according to Brook Haven officials.

“We are certainly extremely proud of Anthony’s work” said Greenfield Town Supervisor Daniel Pemrick. “The physical improvements and great programming are making Brookhaven Golf Course a destination for all ages.”

The article, written in celebration of the PGA Jr. League’s 10th anniversary, celebrated the “rock star coaches who are the lifeblood of the program” that involved more than 64,000 kids nationally this year. 

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Jack Hall Plumbing And Heating Hopes To Build Larger Facility In Town Of Moreau

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By Jill Nagy

Plans have been delayedfor the move of Jack Hall Plumbing and Heating from its present Glens Falls location to Route 9 in Moreau. 

Owner Ty Hall proposed to construct a new home for the business on land he owns near Northway Exit 17. The new space would be about five times the size of the present building and have room for a training classroom, storage area, offices, loading docks, an exercise center, an indoor truck wash and the operations center.

“We want to expand the company  and put some jobs out there,” Hall said. Business is “crazy right now” and they need more space.

While town officials appear to be happy to have the additional jobs and tax revenue, they are urging Hall to locate his facility near the Northway instead of the Route 9 corridor. In order to build where he wishes, Hall needs a rezoning to C-1, industrial use. 

For now, his eight-acre parcel is partly zoned for residential use and partly for light commercial, essentially office use.

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Office Of Parks, Recreation Funded Project That Improves Waterford Recreational Trail

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A state-funded project improved a 20-year-old trail section that runs north from Main Street (Route 32) in the village and town of Waterford, part of the Champlain Canalway Trail.
Courtesy Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

The state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Hudson River Valley Greenway announced that two projects were completed to improve a total of 4.2 miles of the Empire State Trail in the Capital District, to assure the trails remain accessible to bicyclists, walkers, and runners of all ages and abilities.

In Waterford, the state Hudson River Valley Greenway partnered with Saratoga County to rehabilitate a 1.2-mile section of the Empire State Trail. The project, which is part of the Champlain Canalway Trail, improved a 20-year-old trail section that runs north from Main Street (Route 32) in the village and town of Waterford. Saratoga County constructed the improvements. 

A new stonedust surface, safety fencing, and improved trail entrances were installed to facilitate public use. The Hudson River Valley Greenway provided a $275,000 grant to Saratoga County to fund the project, which began in September. 

The Waterford trail is built on the towpath of the original Champlain Canal, which operated from 1823 to 1918, until the modern canal was relocated to the Hudson River.

“Improvements to these historic trail corridors provide a great new place for cycling, running, walking and cross-country skiing in Albany and Saratoga counties,” State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said. “New York xtate continues to lead the way in enhancing our parks and trails and connecting more people to outdoor recreation.”

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Company Says Investors Can Use Low-Cost, Risk-Managed Fund Options To Meet Goals

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LifeGoal Investments staff rings the closing bell on the New York Stock Exchange.
Courtesy LifeGoal Investments

LifeGoal Investments, a company launched earlier in the year in Saratoga Springs, is offering new tools  it says can make investing more accessible.

Brothers Brett and Taylor Sohns had Wall Street experience when they moved to Saratoga Springs along with family, and decided to focus on making investing easier for do-it-yourself investors. They founded LifeGoal Investments to help people achieve financial goals with easy-to-understand investment products.

On Sept. 9, they officially launched LifeGoal Investments.

Their flagship product, the LifeGoal Homeowner Investment ETF (HOM), intends to help individuals responsibly invest and save for a future down payment on a home. The company in September the launched what thay call “the first ever, patent-pending homeowner, children and vacation investment funds.” The goal-based, risk-managed fund options comes as families and individuals are searching for options amid inflation in the housing market, company officials said.

“Those who want to invest in the stock market, but may not have the time to invest in multiple securities, now have new patent-pending, goal-based choices with a focus on some of the biggest needs and wants: children, vacation and homeownership,” said a company news release.

 According to the company, they use a patent-pending investing process intended to help control volatility and manage risk, while also attempting to keep pace with the underlying inflation of the home prices. To help offset any increase in the costs of housing, the ETF will have modest exposure to stocks in areas like home improvement retailers, construction equipment companies, home builders and lumber companies.

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New Stewart’s Shop Opens In Rexford, One Of 18 The Company Opened During 2021

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This new shop at 923 Riverview Road replaces an older shop at the same location.
Courtesy Stewart’s Shops

Stewart’s Shops has opened a new store in Rexford.

The new shop replaces an older shop at  the same location, 923 Riverview Road. The new facility is larger than the building it replaced and will soon include a carwash, company officials said

The shop is much larger both inside and out. There is more parking and more outdoor seating options, as well as a new gasoline island.  

The extra room on the inside of the shop creates space for expanded food to-go options, a beer cave, and  extra seating, officials said.

The company said 18 shops were open in 2021, 12 being replacement shops and six were formerly Blueox locations. 

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Business Report: Give Yourself ‘Paychecks’ For Retirement

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Robert Snell, financial adviser with Edward Jones Financial in Saratoga Springs.

By rob Snell

During your working years, you’ve probably met the costs of living through your salary. But once you retire, where will the money come from? Is there a way to give yourself a “paycheck” for retirement?

There is indeed—but you’ll have to do a good job of managing your available income sources. Here are some moves that can help:

• Accept dividends and interest payments. Instead of automatically reinvesting all your dividends and interest payments into your portfolio—which is an excellent strategy for building wealth—you might want to begin receiving these payments as part of your income. Keep in mind, though, that companies can lower or discontinue dividends at any time. However, it’s also true that some companies have consistently paid, and even increased, dividends over many years, and even decades.

• Choose an appropriate withdrawal rate. Once you’re retired, you’ll likely need to begin withdrawing from your investment accounts. But you’ll need to avoid taking out too much early in your retirement. You don’t want to risk outliving your portfolio. For many people in their mid-60s, a 4 percent annual withdrawal rate is a good starting point, but everyone’s situation is different, and your ideal rate will depend on several factors: your age, the size of your portfolio, other sources of income, and so on. Once you turn 72, you’ll be required to take at least a minimum amount from your traditional IRA and 401(k), but you can choose to withdraw more, if necessary.

• Maximize your Social Security. You have significant control over the amounts you’ll receive from Social Security. You can begin taking these payments at age 62, but they will be much larger if you wait until your full retirement age, which will likely be between 66 and 67. (You will receive the maximum amount if you wait until you reach 70.) 

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