AARP Study Urges Establishing Brain Health Screening As Part Of Aging Adult Check-Ups

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Brain health is influenced by many factors, including economic and social factors such as income and financial security, housing conditions, environment, and access to nutritious food and exercise. 

A new report from AARP and the Global Council on Brain Health (GCBH), “Building Better Brain Health for All People: GCBH Recommendations on Removing Barriers and Improving Opportunities Around the World,” takes these into account and offers recommendations for achieving greater brain health.

“If we want to improve brain health for all, we have to pay more attention to the needs of those at greatest risk of poor health and address social conditions that stand in the way,” said Sarah Lenz Lock, senior vice president of policy and brain health at AARP and Executive Director of the Global Council on Brain Health. “Cognitive decline is not inevitable, and everyone should have the opportunity to experience better brain health as they age.”

The report highlights the  Six Pillars of Brain Health that can support the ability of individuals to positively affect their brain health. The pillars include exercise, intellectual stimulation, sleep quality, stress management, social engagement, and nutrition.

Recommendations in the report for addressing barriers to brain health are informed by the latest scientific findings and by lived experience of people with cognitive issues. 

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Business Report: The Evolving Role Of AI In Digital Marketing

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Sara Mannix, president and CEO of Mannix Marketing.
Courtesy Mannix Marketing

By Sara Mannix

Artificial Intelligence is already being used daily in marketing agencies to conduct buyer persona research, data analysis, create designs and edit photography, and even build code. 

As of this early stage, we have decided that while AI has its strengths, it works best when complementing the skills of a proficient marketer. I share the viewpoint of my colleague Karl Sakas, who aptly stated, “Anyone can create average work with AI. But if you want above-average work, you’ll need humans using AI.”

In the future, I envision AI playing a central role in streamlining various tasks within a marketing agency. For instance, my personal AI assistant would notify me of scheduled calls, such as an upcoming appointment I have with Alessandra in Italy. It would conduct research on Alessandra, her business, and her industry, providing me with valuable information before the call. 

AI would enable real-time translation, voice mimicry, and visual alterations during the video call to ensure seamless communication. Once the call concludes, an email follow-up would be automatically generated, summarizing the meeting takeaways and next steps. These action items would also be added to my task management system and scheduled accordingly. Furthermore, I could delegate the task of writing a proposal to my AI assistant, which would send it on my behalf. Once engaged, the billing process would also be automated by AI.

In the creative department, the collaboration between the creative director and an AI designer would expedite the process of designing logos, taglines, branding colors, messaging pillars, and website concepts, all optimized to Google’s strictest standards. With the assistance of AI, the design process could be accomplished within hours as opposed to days. Subsequently, the website engineer would work alongside a coding assistant, utilizing AI to expedite the website development process, reducing it from months to hours.

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Digital Component Construction Provides For Faster, Greener Office Space Design

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Dorothy Rogers-Bullis is owner and president of drb Business Interiors in Saratoga Springs.

By Dorothy Rogers-Bullis

If you’re feeling some whiplash with your professional work style and setting, you’re likely not alone. We went from working a traditional five-day workweek in-person in the office, to working a hybrid schedule, to going fully remotely during the pandemic, to today when many companies are requiring that employees return to the office either full-time or for part of the week. It’s been a whirlwind few years.

With this return to the office, companies are looking for fast solutions to upgrade their existing office or outfit new commercial space. They recognize that employees who have grown accustomed to working from the comfort of home need an incentive to come back into the office, which can include updated work spaces.

In addition to that, with the tight labor market, top talent is in high demand. Companies need to put their best foot forward to entice these prospective employees to join their ranks. These human-centric factors, among others, are contributing to the rise of one of today’s hottest office trends: digital component construction. And one of the industry leaders in this popular trend by storm is Falkbuilt.

Digital component construction from Falkbuilt blends the speed of off-site component fabrication with the precision of digital design. Customize walls, doors, offices—whatever your creative vision is for your commercial space.

But these aren’t the low-quality, prefab materials you might be imagining. This is high-design and construction that is built to last. Falkbuilt uses sustainable and recycled materials, reinforced with steel, so it is strong yet less expensive to produce and assemble than a traditional sheetrock commercial interior. Falkbuilt materials also prioritize safety, featuring a one-hour fire rating.

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Business Report: Real-World Scenarios To Apply AI In Business

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Mark Shaw, president and CEO of Stored Technology Solutions Inc. (StoredTech).

By Mark Shaw

Oh look, another article on AI (artificial intelligence.)

Ok, I promise this won’t be one of those, “AI is here and it’s going to take your job, help you cheat on college papers, or end the world” kind of articles.

There is a lot going on with ChatGPT and its parent company OpenAI making such waves in the news. People are using AI to gather information faster, assist with writing better articles, and even creating art.

While all of this is amazing and it’s interesting to “play” with, what are some real-world scenarios that you can apply AI to use in your business? That is a great question. Far too many articles go for the big hype instead of the small and incremental successes you can have with AI.

Let’s talk about something that isn’t really being talked about when it comes to AI: customer delight. How do you use AI to delight your customers?

If you are a business and you have emails, ticketing systems, or any interaction with your clients electronically, you could be using AI several ways. For example, what if you could have AI review your emails, and if you have a client who appears to be unhappy or showing concerns, your computer would highlight and bring those emails to the forefront to be dealt with first? Would that be an advantage?

AI can be used to review “sentiment” which means, reviewing the use of language to make a determination if someone is upset, or using terms that might make them be at risk of leaving your company or services. This would let you see these emails first and respond quickly.

That isn’t the only way to increase the value to your clients. Imagine receiving an email from a client asking questions about your products or services that they are interested in, or maybe even a problem they are having. AI could do the research and document anything relevant about the clients request in a private note document, saving you the manual research and time. This allows you to get back to them faster with more accurate information.

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Longfellows Resort To Be Transformed Into Much Larger ‘Brookmere’ Destination Spot

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This is a rendering of what the new Brookmere resort will look like.
SpringCity Development

By Paul Post

One of the area’s leading contractors is diversifying into the Spa City’s hospitality industry with the acquisition of the former Longfellows , which will be rebranded as the Brookmere hotel, spa and restaurant.

 SpringCity Development, a subsidiary of Saratoga Springs-based Bonacio Construction, plans a $30 million overhaul of the property, which includes its $4.9 million purchase from business partners Steve Sullivan and David Powers. That occurred in January.

 Located at 500 Union Ave., near Saratoga Lake, Longfellows  had been a destination for dining, special events and large-group gatherings for many years.

 “It’s been a wonderful business for its entire history,” Bonacio spokesman Larry Novick said. “We’re looking to continue working with what draws people to the Saratoga region and the wonderful location the current property holds. A portion of the existing building will be demolished and replaced in order to accommodate a larger room count (from 50 to 88 hotel rooms). We’ll also be reconfiguring the restaurant and ballroom components.”

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Construction Of ‘White Pines’ Business Park In Stillwater Is Under Way In Luther Forest

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This is a rendering of White Pines Business Suites being constructed in the 62-acre Luther Forest Business Park in Stillwater. The site will feature 30 boutique suites. Courtesy Forest Ridge Development LLC

By Christine Graf

Construction is underway on the White Pines Business Suites in the Luther Forest Business Park in Stillwater. 

The suites are located in a 62-acre business park located on Shenandoah Drive, less than one mile from Global Foundries. The park is owned by Forest Ridge Development LLC.

White Pines Business Suites is the first of the seven proposed buildings at the business park where developers have received approval to build 750,000 square feet of customizable co-warehousing, distribution, manufacturing, and office space for small and medium-sized businesses.

The facility will feature 30 boutique suites, each measuring 30×50 feet. Each suite will also have a 14×14 foot overhead door. Franco Construction of Ballston Spa is the contractor for the project. 

“The units are 1,500 square feet, but we do have the flexibility that if someone needed 3,000 square feet, we could make that accommodation for them. So, we are flexible in terms of their size,” said Jeffrey Chouinard, principal at Forest Ridge Development.

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Group Is Building A Facility For Pickleball Courts That Will Have Lessons, Leagues

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This is the logo for the Legacy Pickleball Club, which is building courts in Ballston Spa.
Courtesy Legacy Sports Holdings

By Christine Graf

New York-based Legacy Sports Holdings has announced plans to open an indoor and outdoor pickleball facility in Ballston Spa. 

Located at 4 McCrea Hill Road, Legacy Pickleball Club will be situated on four acres of property that the company purchased for $2.7 million. The site includes a 20,000-square-foot warehouse, one previously occupied by Mullin Moving and Storage. 

The warehouse will house eight  indoor pickleball courts, a locker room, a lounge area with a bar that serves beer and wine, and a pro shop. Legacy Pickleball Club will have both indoor and outdoor courts.

The location was chosen after plans to construct Legacy Pickleball Club on Route 9, across from the Malta Drive-In, were abandoned. The facility would have been located adjacent to  townhouses that are being built by builder Anthony Caruso. 

Michael Xirinachs, Legacy Pickleball Club general manager, said there was also some concern about being located so close to a residential neighborhood.  In some parts of the country, homeowners are lodging complaints about noise generated by early-morning pickleball players. 

“The group didn’t want to spend $4 million, build it, and end up in litigation with the duplex owners. So, we made the executive decision to forgo that piece of land and look for another location,”he said.

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Saratoga Showcase Of Homes Tour Scheduled For Two Weekends In October

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The 2023 Saratoga Showcase of Homes tour is planned for two weekends this fall.

Celebrating 27 years, the 2023 Saratoga Showcase of Homes Committee announced the event  will be presented Oct. 7-8 and Oct. 14-15.

The tour of new homes will feature a lineup of homes from some of the top builders in the region.

Sponsors and award-winning builders committed to this year’s event include Belmonte Builders, Degraff Bloom Custom Builders, Kodiak Construction, R & M Homes, the BDC Group, Whitbeck Construction and Witt Construction. 

There are seven builders and nine  locations. New to the tour this year will be two homes in Lake George.

In addition, the group’s commitment to workforce development will continue with a student  exhibition and a BOCES tiny house on display at the Degraff-Bloom showcase home.

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Meet The Chef: Rafferty Handles All Duties At Inn At Saratoga

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Mike Rafferty is the executive chef at the Inn at Saratoga in Saratoga Springcs.
©2023 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Paul Post

 Mike Rafferty’s culinary heroes include the likes of Julia Childs, Gordon Ramsay and Wolfgang Puck.

 These are some of the celebrity chefs who inspired his career as a young kid, growing up in the Saratoga Springs restaurant scene. But a legendary BOCES culinary instructor who trained countless local students, stands out above all others.

 “My favorite was Chef George Hoffis,” Rafferty said. “He was a great guy. He taught me everything. I started working when I was 14 so by the time he got hold of me I knew a little something. He knew I was interested so he took me under his wing and guided me through this crazy business.”

 The lessons Rafferty, now 55, learned as a Saratoga Spring High School student are still paying dividends in his current position as head chef at the Inn at Saratoga, the Spa City’s oldest continuously operating lodging house, built in 1843, which takes guests back to a charming bygone era.

 “I’m hands-on,” he said. “I’m working the line on a constant basis, plus doing all the administering, managing staff, creating menus, ordering, inventory and I do all the banquets. I’m not a paper chef as they like to say.”

 The key to running a successful kitchen is simple: “Getting everything organized and having a very clean work environment,” Rafferty said.

 He stays up with the latest trends by watching cooking shows on television and poring through magazines such as Bon Appetit. 

“And I’ve been doing this so long that sometimes I bring back recipes from 20 years ago,” Rafferty said. “I am totally 100 percent responsible for the menu. We change it three times per year—fall and winter, spring and summer and a special one for track season, the busiest time of year. Our beef brisket is very popular. The recipe is from the owner’s (Robert Israel) great-grandmother. We cook it Jewish style. That’s very popular. Our lamb dish is taking off now, too. It’s served with roasted sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and Kalamata olives. And our stuffed sole, stuffed with crab meat served over risotto is also a top seller.”

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