New York and New Jersey launched COVID-19 exposure notification mobile apps in their respective states that officials claim will serve as crucial tools to supplement the effort to trace and contact individuals subject to a COVID exposure.
The apps, COVID Alert NY and COVID Alert NJ, notify users of potential COVID-19 exposure while maintaining user privacy and security.
The states join Pennsylvania and Delaware in creating a regional COVID Alert app network that operates across state lines to stop the spread of COVID-19. Connecticut has also will launch the Exposure Notification System in the coming weeks.
The free mobile apps-available to anyone 18 or older who lives, works, or attends college in New York or New Jersey-are available for download from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
“We have a very exciting announcement that has taken a lot of work and it’s really creative and smart and I think it can make a big difference. This is a technology-based contact tracing app. Testing is only as good as your contact tracing,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “Testing is to identify a person, so you can isolate and quarantine that person and then find the connections from that person, and that’s contact tracing. We have about 15,000 people statewide who do contact tracing, they call them disease detectives. But we’ve been looking for a technology-based solution. And today, we are announcing an app that you can download for free from the app store called COVID Alert NY.
New Building On Beekman Street Designed To Fit Into Arts District And Still Be Modern
©2020 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Christine Graf
Twelve years ago, Susan Davis completed the design of a two-story mixed-use building at 65 Beekman St. in Saratoga Springs. Davis, a principal architect at SD Atelier Architecture LLC, was hired by the woman who owned the vacant 5,200-square-foot property at the time.
SD Atelier Architecture, in Saratoga Springs, is owned by Davis and her husband, fellow architect Don Davis. During their 25 years of working in Saratoga, they have designed numerous residential and commercial properties both locally and in the Adirondacks. Current projects include Elk Lake Lodge, a historic hunting and fishing lodge in North Hudson, and Schroon Lake Community Church, a historic church that was destroyed by fire in early 2019.
F.H. Alexander Constructs Striking Building In Schenectady For New Alltown Fresh Group
©2020 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Jill Nagy
Alltown Fresh on Erie Boulevard in Schenectady is a cross between a farmers’ market and a convenience store housed in a striking gabled building. Its builder, Frank H. Alessandrini, owner of F.H. Alexander Inc., of Schacticoke, was so pleased with the result that they chose it for their September advertising campaign.
“It’s a great looking store,” said Alessandrini, who said the project was the first of its kind in New York state.
The 4,800-square-foot market focuses on creating an elevated, farm stand-like experience by providing a menu of healthy options such as made-to-order all-day breakfast, fresh salads, smoothies, sandwiches, bowls, and more, the company said.
“It was a great job,” said Kevin Doyle, director of the project management office for Global Partners LP, the company that owns Alltown Fresh. “We are very happy and pleased with the work they did for us.”
“You walk in and it’s ‘Wow,’” said Martha Sullivan, a marketing person with Global Partners.
Governmental Data Says Employment Is Slow In Nonresidential Construction Sector
Construction employment increased nationally by 26,000 jobs in September to a total of 7,245,000, but the gains were concentrated in housing, while employment in the infrastructure and nonresidential building construction sector remained little changed, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released Oct. 2.
Association officials said the pandemic was prompting strong demand for new housing as more Americans work from home, while undermining private-sector development of office, retail and other types of projects and forcing many local and state governments to cut construction budgets.
“Construction is becoming steadily more split between a robust residential component and generally stagnant private nonresidential and public construction activity,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, noting that in the three months since June, residential construction employment has increased nearly 3 percent while nonresidential employment has slipped 0.2 percent. “As project cancellations mount, so too will job losses on the nonresidential side unless the federal government provides funding for infrastructure and relief for contractors.”
Program To Cut Pollution At Commercial High Rise And Multi-Family Properties
The state has launched a $50 million initiative to transform existing commercial high-rise buildings and multifamily buildings to substantially reduce the carbon footprint of these structures.
The challenge will advance low-carbon retrofit approaches resulting in heating and cooling solutions that will increase the comfort, sustainability, and energy performance of the state’s existing high-rise buildings, a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, state officials said.
Buildings currently account for 45 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from fuel combustion and electric generation, officials said.
“New York is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and developing renewable energy resources that will grow our economy and advance our nation-leading plan to fight climate change,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “The Empire Building Challenge leverages public-private partnerships with leading industry experts and helps New York to continue its rich legacy of environmental stewardship in order to protect our natural resources for future generations.”
Through a comprehensive retrofitting process, infrastructure in existing buildings will be replaced with more energy efficient heating and cooling technologies and solutions, spurring new jobs and significant economic activity. According to a 2019 analysis by Urban Green Council, if all buildings choose efficiency to meet their carbon goals, the retrofit market opportunity in New York City could be over $20 billion by 2030 while creating over 100,000 jobs by 2030.
Camarro’s Huge Chocolate Fudge Business, Aided Recently By ‘Good Morning America’
Courtesy Sundaes Best
By Susan Elise Campbell
Katie Camarro says she has “the sweetest job in the world.”
She and husband Jeff Shinaman founded and co-own Sundaes Best, a brand of hot fudge sauces and other natural ingredient chocolate products that came right out of the family kitchen.
Camarro is a third generation Saratogian who spent most of her career with Toy Works in Washington County’s Middle Falls. As national sales manager she “loved the job” but knew she was “grossly underpaid,” she said.
This was 25 years ago, a challenging time because her father was ill and in the hospital. He sensed something was wrong when she visited him, and in one of their last conversations together he advised her, “think about doing something on your own.”
Stein Works Her Way From Cake Decorator To Owner Of Her Own Bakery Business
By Christine Graf
Leah’s Cakery, located in the historic West Side General Store building at 3 Curry Street in Round Lake, opened in 2013.
Owner Leah Stein worked as a cake decorator for the Bread Basket in Saratoga Springs before owning her own shop. Prior to that, Stein worked as a park ranger and environmental educator.
When Stein made the decision to change professions, she enrolled in the culinary program at Schenectady County Community College (SCCC). The Lake George native comes from what she describes as a “culinary inspired” family, and she fell in love with baking as a young girl. It was while making custom cakes as a side job while working in environmental science that she decided to pursue baking full time.
“I grew up in a tourist town with tons of entrepreneurs around me,” she said. “A lot of people had their own businesses, and it was always something that was in the back of mind as an attainable goal.”
Marijo English Opens First Indoor Park In Saratoga Springs For People To Walk Dogs
©2020 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Lisa Balschunat
A 19-year concert event merchandiser from California, who has lived in Saratoga Springs since 2016, is now the owner of the first indoor dog park in the city.
Marijo English wanted to give pet owners a much-needed alternative to rainy, snowy or sub-zero walks for their canine pets. The building also provides an opportunities for training, grooming and year-round socialization.
English, owner of Chow Bella, 50 West Ave. in Saratoga Springs, created the business out of necessity for her pet beagle and convenience for herself. She was looking to do something new.
“I was tired of the high stress and traveling. I moved to Saratoga four years ago. I looked into franchises, but none of them are social places,” she said.
Welcome Relief Massage Therapy Relocates, Moves From Malta To Space In Ballston Spa
By Christine Graf
Welcome Relief Massage Therapy recently relocated from Malta to 160 Milton Ave. in Ballston Spa.
The business specializes in various types of therapeutic massage including traditional, deep tissue, Swedish, hot stone, couples, and pregnancy. Welcome Relief also offers neuromuscular therapy, a type of soft tissues massage that treats underlying causes of chronic pain, and reflexology, the application of pressure to areas of the feet.
Owner Jennifer Narkiewicz is a graduate of the Center for Natural Wellness School of Massage Therapy in Albany. The Buffalo native and longtime Malta resident pursued a career in massage therapy in 2007. Prior to that, she worked for about 20 years as an administrative assistant.
“I got into massage therapy because I really wanted to help people,” she said. “Massage therapy can profoundly impact people and make them feel better. I really like being able to take people from a pain point and get them to where they are functioning and feeling better. Some people are able to wean themselves off of medication because they are no longer in pain. It’s very rewarding.”
Business Briefs: October 2020
The Adirondack Trust Co. has again secured a 5-Star rating from BauerFinancial, a bank rating firm.
A five-star rating indicates that the bank excels in areas of capital adequacy, profitability, asset quality and much more. Earning and maintaining this top rating for 57 consecutive quarters puts Adirondack Trust in the most prestigious bracket as an exceptional performance bank.
BauerFinancial, Inc., based in Coral Gables, Fla., has been reporting on and analyzing the performance of U.S. banks and credit unions since 1983. No institution can pay for or opt-out of a BauerFinancial rating.
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The Academy for Lifelong Learning is the recipient of a $3,500 grant from the Stewart’s/Dake Family for COVID-19 relief support. The funds are being used to convert in-person educational classes and social activities to virtual offerings through Zoom.
Twenty classes, most by Zoom, are currently being offered during the Academy’s fall semester and continue through early November. A first-ever winter term is also being planned to start Jan. 11 with registration in November. A spring term will begin in early April. Annual membership through June 30, 2021 is $65. Eight-week classes are offered at $50 and four-week classes are $25.