New York state has designated  $230 million in awards to nine upstate airports for revitalization projects that reimagine and further modernize airports across upstate New York. 

Among the allocations will be $27 million  to the Saratoga County Airport for the construction of a new, state-of-the-art, energy-efficient terminal building with modern amenities that provide a first-class user experience and design elements that reflect the character of the region. 

This funding comes from the Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition, a competitive solicitation which aims to promote, revitalize and accelerate investments in upstate commercial passenger service airports, helping to create airports for the 21st century. 

According to state officials, the new building’s first floor will provide two spacious passenger waiting areas, a multi-media conference room, and a café and ice cream counter that will open onto a courtyard with outdoor access. 

Saratoga Casino Holdings LLC—owner of both Saratoga Casino Hotel in Saratoga Springs, and Saratoga Casino Black Hawk in Black Hawk, Colo.—has acquired Magnolia Bluffs Casino Hotel in Natchez, Miss.

And a subsidiary company pf Saratoga Casino Holdings, Magnolia Buffs Casino LLC, has been issued a gaming license by the Mississippi Gaming Commission to operate the casino.

The closing date to complete the acquisition was Oct. 3.

“We are excited to add Magnolia Bluffs Casino Hotel team members to the Saratoga family,” said Sam Gerrity, Saratoga Casino Holdings chief executive officer. “The acquisition of Magnolia Bluffs Casino Hotel will expand our portfolio of gaming assets and further diversify our business.”

Officials said Tim Morrissey, current General Manager of Saratoga Casino Black Hawk, was named general manager of Magnolia Bluffs Casino Hotel. Morrissey has over 12 years of gaming experience in the destination casino resort industry and brings knowledge in overall operations, database analysis and casino marketing to the position.

Maura Tuffey was named nursing director of two medical-surgical floors at Saratoga Hospital, including the hospital’s orthopedic and bariatric (weight-loss) surgery units.

 The Saratoga Springs resident has nearly a decade of nursing experience in roles of increasing responsibility. Most recently, she served as a nurse operations manager at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, where she oversaw operations, fiscal management, quality of care, and clinical outcomes on a number of nursing units.

 Tuffey also mentored new nursing graduates, charge nurses and other nurse managers; played a key role in developing the hospital’s approach to caring for COVID-19 patients; and strengthened patient safety protocols. 

She has been recognized with the Josie King Award for patient safety and the DAISY Nurse Leadership Award.

 “Maura’s leadership, experience, and emphasis on patient-centered care make her an ideal fit for our team,” said Toni Bishop-McWain, vice president and chief nursing officer at Saratoga Hospital. “Coming from another Magnet hospital, she also shares our commitment to nursing excellence and empowerment, exceptional care and patient satisfaction.”

 A member of the Albany Med Health System, Saratoga Hospital was the first facility in the Capital Region to attain Magnet recognition, which is the highest national honor for professional nursing practice.

Dennis & Co. Auto Group of Pearl River in downstate Rockland County has acquired Zappone Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM at 1780 Route 9 in Clifton Park from owner Jim Zappone. 

The transaction was finalized in August  and is the 11th dealership owned and operated by Dennis & Co. Auto Group. It is the second auto dealership bought by the group in the Albany region in 15 months

“We are excited to welcome the successful Zappone team into our family of dealerships,” said Brian Dennis, Dennis & Co. CEO and founder. “We are committed to growing our team of great employees and customers and are proud to grow our presence in upstate New York.”

“The acquisition of the new Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram store enriches our presence in the community and gives customers more choices for quality vehicles. We treat people the way we want to be treated, and we are committed to providing our customers with the best service and care,” he said.

The newly acquired dealership operates as Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Clifton Park.

By Jill Nagy

Cudney’s Launderers and Dry Cleaners, in business in Saratoga County for 70 years, has advanced its technology to provide a new service for customers.

Customers can call track their finished dry cleaning on a computer screen at Cudney stores and a conveyor will automatically deliver it. The robot-like machine allows the company to offer 24/7 service.The machine also accepts dirty laundry for processing.

Cudney’s had a similar kiosk facility for 10 years but this one has been up and running for a little over month. Owner Joyce Ure describes it as “almost like an ATM for your clothing.”

Some people prefer to deal with a person, Ure admits, and, she adds, “We love that, too.”  

Hours when attendants are present vary among the four Cudney’s locations in Saratoga Springs, Hampstead, and Wilton. Addresses and hours are on the its website, cudneys.com. The telephone number is 518-584-9427.

By Paul Post

John Haller never eases into anything.

Fresh out of RPI, he co-founded MapInfo, a tech-based company that quickly grew to 1,000 employees, went public and is now a division of Pitney-Bowes. Then he launched SportsSignUp, an online firm designed to help groups create, grow and manage youth sports programs. It was purchased by Time Inc. and is now called Sports Illustrated Play.

But upon moving to Saratoga Springs, Haller purchased a grand old Victorian home on Union Avenue, and while helping out with renovations he discovered a brand new passion for woodworking.

Leaving software development behind, he’s made an 180-degree about face by jumping into a more blue collar, hands-on type venture called Saratoga Joinery.  Plans call for converting the former Saratoga Children’s Museum at 69 Caroline St., which he purchased for $2 million, into a full-scale community woodworking shop for people to gather, learn about this activity and work on projects of their own.

Much like tech development, Haller said woodworking involves great deal of creative problem solving, just the kind of challenge he enjoys tackling.

“In the end, with software, you have something that works, a program,” he said. “What’s cool with woodworking is that you have something you can actually show people they can understand, like a piece of furniture, something you built. You get to use your hands, feel things, smell things. I find that really super.”

by Jill Nagy

Unified Beerworks at 7 Old Stonebreak Road in Malta has added a kitchen featuring Mexican and South American-inspired dishes. Co-owner Erika Anderson describes the menu as “high-end gourmet tacos” and burritos. 

The kitchen opened with little fanfare in late May and business grew  slowly. 

“It took a little bit for people to know we were out here,” Anderson said. It also gave the owners and chef Michele Hunter a chance to work out the details.

Anderson and her husband and co-owner, Jeff Gannon, began Unified Beerworks as a taproom and tasting room in 2018. Beer is brewed on site. 

According to their website, Gannon prefers hazy New England-style IPAs and and stouts. Anderson is more into “fruity sours and funky saisons.” Brewing began as a hobby and turned into a passion. She was a computer science major with a minor in art and he studied biology.