KeyBank has named Tam­ika Otis its corporate responsibility officer and community relations manager for the Capital Region and Central New York markets.

Otis has more than 15 years of leadership and program management experience and will oversee KeyBank’s broad community engagement strategy. 

Officials said this includes Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) compliance and execution of KeyBank’s National Community Benefits Plan in the Capital Region. Since 2017, KeyBank has invested more than $666 million in Albany and the surrounding region through this plan, supporting small business and home lending in low- and-moderate income communities, affordable housing and community development projects, and philanthropic efforts targeted toward education, workforce development, and safe, vital neighborhoods.

Discover Saratoga will present Saratoga Chowder Fest ‘N Tour the week of Saturday, March 19, through Saturday, March 26.

The main event will be the traditional Chowderfest celebration 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  on Saturday, March 26. This event is coordinated by Discover Saratoga and presented by Saranac and White Claw.

During the preceding week, chowder lovers will have the ability to dine-in or purchase pints and quarts to-go at participating locations.

 “While we’re eager for a full return to normalcy, health and safety remain our top priority,” said Discover Saratoga President Darryl Leggieri. “For this reason, we’ve decided to make Saratoga Chowder Fest ‘N Tour a week-long event. This will allow those who may not be comfortable with crowds the opportunity to enjoy chowder all week long.”

The events on March 26 will include live entertainment and family-friendly activities throughout downtown Saratoga Springs. Event goers can try $2 (4 ounce) samples of chowder and vote for their favorite.

“We encourage visitors to come to Saratoga Springs and make a weekend out of it with special hotel rates offered at participating locations,” said Leggieri. “People travel from all over the region for the taste of chowder done right, and to experience the excitement of Saratoga.”

Saratoga National Historical Park will begin a $6 million multi-year project to rehabilitate the interpretive battlefield experience. The work is being funded through the Great American Outdoors Act.  

Park officials said the project focuses on improving accessibility and interpretation of the Saratoga Battlefield. The work includes rehabilitating the parking areas and pathways at all tour stops to address deferred maintenance, improve accessibility, and replace aging waysides exhibits to enhance the interpretation experience of the battlefield.    

This month, the Tour Road will be closed during the week to all traffic, including vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles. It will be available on weekends for pedestrian and bicycle use only. 

From April 9 through May 27, the Tour Road will be open on weekends only for use by vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians. The south entrance parking area will be used as a construction staging area and closed for the duration of the project. The closures are in place for the safety of park visitors and to allow for the work to be completed faster, officials said.  

Modern, outdoor exhibits constructed of durable steel, aluminum, and bronze will replace existing waysides that are well beyond their intended design life. In addition to being more cost-effective by requiring less routine maintenance, the new exhibits will include replica objects and convey updated information about the battles, the landscape, multiple perspectives, and the roles of lesser-known participants to better connect visitors with the meaning and importance of the site. The design layouts are geared for easier reading; using added color contrast, appropriate fonts and font size, tactile bronze relief maps, braille, and installation heights that are beneficial for all visitors.  

The current Tour Road experience is more than 50 years old, officials said. Despite massive efforts by park staff to maintain the aging infrastructure of the road and tour stops, a significant maintenance backlog has developed. 

Local principal broker and owner of EXIT Realty Empire Associates Jennifer Vucetic is  the New York State Association of Realtors (NYSAR) president for 2022.

She was formally installed Feb. 7 by 2021 National Association of Realtor’s President Charlie Oppler as part of the organizations mid-winter business meetings. 

The celebration was held at the Crowne Plaza- Desmond Hotel in Albany.

Vucetic is a 2012 graduate of NYSAR’s Leadership Academy and a 2020 graduate of NAR’s Leadership Academy. She was named Realtor of the year in 2016 by the Greater Capital Association of Realtors, has served as local NS  NYS Women’s Council of Realtors president and regional vice president for the National Women’s Council of Realtors. 

Vucetic is also an 2019 Realtors Political Action Committee (RPAC) Hall of Fame inductee, 2020 recipient of the Lawernce B. Caldwell RPAC Service Award and currently Region 2 RPAC trustee. She also has several professional real estate designations.

“Jennifer is a valuable member of our team and we offer our warmest congratulations on this appointment,” said Amanda LaForte, office administrator and Realtor of EXIT Realty Empire Associates. 

By Jill Nagy

Florist Samantha Nass—known as Sam—is enjoying the change from an appointment-only studio to a storefront in downtown Saratoga Springs. 

She opened Samantha Nass Floral Design at 61 Lawrence St. at the end of January.

She said she considered Valentine’s Day as “a test” for the new venture and, “Now that we’re through Valentine’s Day, spring is knocking on our door.”  

So are a lot of people who walk by and walk in. “A lot of people have been very curious about us,” she said and she is pleased to have them come in and look around. 

So far, Nass said, business is “going great . . .  a steady flow . . .  nothing crazy yet.” 

Potted plants, terrariums, and terra cotta planters are selling especially well. She also offers “lots of beautiful orchids” as well as a variety of cut flowers. At last count, she had 46 terrariums planted and ready to go.

Nass’ previous business concentrated on weddings and other special events. It was housed in the old Elks Club building, a building “with an old kind of Victorian Saratoga feel,” she said. It worked well as an appointment-only enterprise, but did not lend itself to a retail business.  

The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) rolled out a series of milestones and bold initiatives to help transform the area into a regional mobility integrator during a State of CDTA event on March 3.

Foremost among them is a plan to make electric cars available for rent.

The event recognized what CDTA called “the momentum of 2021 and how CDTA is entering 2022 stronger and more resilient from the challenges of the pandemic.”

“CDTA emerged out of the pandemic with renewed momentum as we look to the future,” CDTA board chairman Jayme Lahut said. “I am proud of the milestones recognized today and bold plans for the future as we work with community partners to support the region’s economic development.”

CDTA revealed the latest offering of their mobility program, DRIVE, an electric vehicle car sharing program. DRIVE is a network of zero-emission vehicles available to qualified drivers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

Officials said car share, in tandem with CDPHP Cycle!, FLEX On Demand and SCOOT, continues CDTA mission to transform mobility in the region. 

“It is amazing to witness the impact and growth we have had on the region in just the past few years,” said CDTA Chief Executive Officer Carm Basile. “Our Bus Rapid Transit lines span nearly 40 miles, we have a network of electric vehicles, which now includes car share and we are expanding our footprint into Montgomery County to provide even more connections to the Capital Region.