SEPTEMBER 2014
It’s Almost Election ‘14 Tkaczyk, Amedore Face Off Again It’s been a quiet election cycle so far, but that’s all about to change as the calendar passes Labor Day. The Chamber will help usher in Campaign ’14 with a meet-thecandidates breakfast highlighting the rematch between Democratic Sen. Cecilia Tkaczyk and former Republican Assemblyman George Amedore. The Sept. 23 breakfast, sponsored by the HealthAlliance Foundation, is scheduled for 7:30-9 a.m. at the Garden Plaza Hotel in Kingston. Democrat Gay Lee, a Newburgh city councilwoman who is opposing longtime state Sen. William Larkin, RNew Windsor, is also expected to attend the breakfast. Larkin has a conflict and will not attend. The rematch between Tkaczyk and Amedore in the 46th Senate District is expected to be one of the most watched races of the year. The two faced off in 2012 with Tkaczyk prevailing by 18 votes. Tkaczyk, of Duanesburg in Schenectady County, is a former president of the Duanesburg school board. She also was a legislative analyst for the state Senate and an
expert in housing policy before her election to the Senate. Tkaczyk’s campaign website touted her first-term efforts in the Senate to oppose tax increases, new fees and toll hikes. As a former school board president, Tkaczyk also discussed her efforts to ensure rural and small city school districts “receive the state funding and mandate relief we need to alleviate the burden on local property owners.” Tkaczyk’s campaign website also listed her work to help upstate farms; equality for women, especially pay; and her push for increased penalties for elected officials who violate the public’s trust. Amedore, of Rotterdam in Schenectady County, was elected to the Assembly in 2007 and is vice president of Amedore Homes, a second-generation family business. He is concerned about New York’s business climate. “New York State is clearly heading in the wrong direction,” Amedore said. “We have the highest taxes in the nation and too many regulations that discourage economic growth and new business opportunities. I’m running
Cecilia Tkaczyk
George Amedore Gay Lee
for the Senate to be a strong voice for Upstate families and businesses that are struggling to get by, while dealing with higher costs on everything from utility bills to health care.” Amedore said a strong partnership between government and the private sector will lead to commonsense solutions to create new jobs and encourage economic growth. “We need to reform our educational system and instill higher standards in the classroom—with input from teachers, parents and administrators—to give our students the tools they need to be successful,” he said. “I’m looking forward to debating the issues and being part of the solutions that get our great state back on the right track.” Continued on page 10
HealthAlliance Foundation Contributes to Hospital Health Initiatives The HealthAlliance Foundation is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization supporting HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley’s mission, healthcare programs, services and facilities. Founded in 1982 as the Ulster Health Foundation of Kingston Hospital, Inc., the HealthAlliance Foundation has worked to fund quality healthcare in Ulster County and surrounding communities for over 30 years. During this time, the Foundation has been instrumental in improving and increasing patientfocused health care, quality services and community-
based activities, such as expanding emergency departments, purchasing stateof-the-art equipment, enhancing mental health services and offering educational programs. In May 2013, the Foundation assumed the name HealthAlliance Foundation to reflect its expanded focus as the fundraising arm the HealthAlliance Hospi-
Sponsor:
tals on both Broadway and Mary’s Avenue. Today, the HealthAlliance Foundation continues its development efforts for these two hospitals, as well as the Woodland Pond Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in New Paltz. Kevin Ryan, chair of the HAHV Board of Directors, acknowledged the role of Foundation supporters in making these projects a reality. “HealthAlliance is grateful to the community for its consistent and generous support. Congratulations to the Foundation Continued on page 4
Featured this Month: • • • • • • •
American Solutions Deegan-Sanglyn DragonSearch Saunderskill Farms USHECO
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID KINGSTON, NY 12401 PERMIT #39
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ChamberNews
Daily Freeman Advertising Supplement • Wednesday, September 3, 2014
The Official Publication of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce
(845) 338-5100 Fax (845) 338-0968 www.UlsterChamber.org
[email protected] 214 Fair Street • Kingston, NY 12401 BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS CHAIR.............................................................................................. Terry M. Parisian ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������Hudson Valley Mall PRESIDENT.......................................................................................... Ward D. Todd ��������������������������������������������������������� Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce Chair Elect........................................................................................ Larry Begnal ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������LT Begnal Motor Co. VICE CHAIR..........................................................................................Donald Verity ����������������������������������������������������������������������������Pamal Broadcasting WBPM/WGHQ SECRETARY.............................................................................. MaryRose Warcholak �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Ulster Savings Bank TREASURER ..........................................................................................Scott Jordan ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������Rondout Savings Bank IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR......................................................... Francis P. Flynn, CPA ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������Francis P. Flynn, CPA, PC Timothy Allred................................................................... The Williams Lake Project Jacquelyn Appeldorn..........................................................Mohonk Mountain House Joseph Beichert.................................................................. Timely Signs of Kingston J. Michael Bruhn, Jr., Esq................................................................... Attorney at Law Joe Charmello...................................................................... Brad’s Barns & Gazebos Jeremy Ellenbogen................................................................Ellenbogen Group, Inc. Cecilia Savona Madden................. Ulster County Office of Employment and Training Su Marcy........................................................................United Way of Ulster County Christopher Marx...........................................SUNY Ulster-Business Resource Center Mark Mulpeter.............................................................Central Hudson Gas & Electric John F. Murphy..........................................................................Murphy Realty Group Sylvia Murphy........................................................................... Marketing Consultant Kevin Quilty....................................... Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley Greg Riley..........................................MassMutual Westchester-Hudson Valley Office Harris L. Safier............................................. Westwood Metes & Bounds Realty, Ltd. David Scarpino...................................................HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley STAFF Ward D. Todd.............................................................................................. President Robert Hirsch.............................. Director of Business Services and Communication Carol Ricken.......................................................................... Director of Membership Valerie Walsh..................................................................................... Office Manager Robert Mitchell........................................................................ Chamber News Editor Ingrid Kulick................................................ Chamber Foundation Executive Director
ChamberNews
The official publication of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce is a special advertising supplement to the Daily Freeman 79 Hurley Avenue, Kingston, NY 12401 – A 21st Century Media publication Robert O’Leary, General Manager Tim Tergeoglou, Advertising Director Cheryl Nekos, Graphic Design To advertise, please call (845) 331-5000. To subscribe, please call (888) 699-7699
Upcoming Chamber Events Sept. 17 Noon- 5:00 pm
BUY LOCAL EXPO 2014 Diamond Mills Conference Center 25. S. Partition St., Saugerties, NY Exhibitors from the Ulster County Region will be showcasing their businesses and services. Open to the public. Free admission & Parking. Presenting Sponsor: Naccarato Insurance Sept. 23 7:30 - 9:00 am
CHAMBER BREAKFAST Meet the Candidates for NYS Senate Garden Plaza Hotel 503 Washington Ave., Kingston, NY $18 Members paid in advance • $20 Members paid at the door with advance reservation • $30 Non-members Sponsor: HealthAlliance Foundation Sept. 24 5:00 - 7:00 pm
MEMBERSHIP MIXER Begnal Motors at Hudson Valley Mall 1300 Ulster Ave., Kingston, NY Open to Chamber members and prospective members 21 years of age and older. No cost to attend. Sponsor: Begnal Motors Oct. 8 9:00 am
BUSINESS CARD EXCHANGE Courtyard By Marriott 500 Frank Sottile Blvd., Kingston, NY Sponsor: Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union Oct. 23 5:30 pm
BUSINESS RECOGNITION AWARDS DINNER Wiltwyck Golf Club 404 Steward Lane, Kingston Join us as we honor the recipients of the 2014 Awards Tickets $100 per person. Register for all Events (845) 338-5100 www.UlsterChamber.org
ChamberNews
Wednesday, September 3, 2014 • Daily Freeman Advertising Supplement
The Official Publication of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce
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Just Look for the Big White Tents Begnal Motors to Host Mixer at Mall L.T. Begnal Motor Co. pulled off one of 2013’s best Business-After-Hours mixers last year, so they’re going for an encore on Sept. 24. “It was a nice time last year,” said owner Larry Begnal. “The weather was perfect and there was a good crowd and everybody liked it. They liked the food and everything we did, so we decided to do it again.” The mixer is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. in the parking lot of the Hudson Valley Mall (in front of Best Buy) instead of at Begnal’s dealership at 515 Albany Ave. in Kingston. Just look for the large white tents. Oh, and be sure to bring plenty of business cards to hand out as you mingle with other business leaders. Begnal said Rene’s Bistro in Uptown Kingston will provide the food for the mixer and beer and wine will also be available as you peruse some 200 nearby vehicles. “We have a whole new line of commercial vehicles and we’re going to be showcasing those, as well as the new Jeeps, and
Dodges and Chryslers,” Begnal said. The dealership is a part of BusinessLink, which connects business owners with a network of commercial dealers uniquely equipped to work with small businesses. Begnal, the chairman-elect of the Chamber’s board of directors, likes to say he has never had a bad experience at a Chamber mixer. “It’s a great place to network and meet people and see how other businesses are run and see what’s going on in the community,” he said. Begnal said his business, which started in 1971, has bounced back in recent years from the industry crisis of 2008-2010. He said 2011, 2012 and 2013 were excellent years. “Our business is up year after year,” he said. “We’re ahead of last year and doing very well.” The dealership will be holding a sale at the mall from Sept. 17-23, including a “Jeep Jamboree” from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20. “Whether your Jeep is brand new, slightly used or completely broken in from your
September MIXER Wednesday, September 24 5-7 PM
Begnal Motors of Kingston will host the next mixer at Hudson Valley Mall. thrilling off-roading adventures, we want to see it!” says the Begnal website at www.ltbegnalmotor.com. Begnal said Jeep owners and their guests who preregister at the website will receive a complimentary barbecue. The recommended donation is $10 per vehicle and all proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society’s Continued on page 9
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ChamberNews
Daily Freeman Advertising Supplement • Wednesday, September 3, 2014
The Official Publication of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce
American Solutions for Business Personal Service with Big Leverage John Burlingham says working for American Solutions for Business is the best of all worlds. “It’s not a franchise; it’s an actual employee-owned company,” Burlingham says. “I actually work as an independent contractor. What that allows me to do is leverage American’s size as an independent, small businessperson to get better pricing for my customers.” American is a leading distributor of printing, promotional products, eCommerce, office supplies and strategic marketing solutions. Based in Glenwood, Minn., the company, founded in 1981, boasts nearly 300 employees, who support a sales force of more than 550 professionals in the field like Burlingham. American has been an employee-owned company since 2000 and each office operates itself independently, as Burlingham does at 630 Neighborhood Road in Lake Katrine. Customers get the personal service of a small company and all of the advantages of a large one. American serves more than 35,000 clients nationwide. “What makes it unique is you’re dealing with me as an independent business,” Burlingham says. “I have a lot of say. It’s not like a large corporation, where to get the best pricing or to get the best advice, you have to keep going up the ladder. I am that person. You don’t have to go any further. “I’ve got the leverage of an almost $200-million corporation with all it sells.” Burlingham said he doesn’t advertise but does use social media sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn to find customers. “In some cases, it’s just the old way of coldcalling,” he said. Burlingham said the Internet has changed how some companies buy, but he has found ways to remain competitive.
“If you’re a repeat customer, I’ve got to investigate my best way of producing and getting it for the cheapest and least expensive way to you,” he said. “Otherwise, you’ll just buy it over the Internet. “I hope my knowledge and being out in front of you is worth a little bit of extra money.” Burlingham said he prides himself on “servicing the customer” in these competitive times. “That’s the only way you can really make a living in this,” he said. “Otherwise, you’re the same as just a standard online order system.” American also offers a “high-end automated ordering system,” Burlingham says, “which allows me and my customers to place orders and actually streamline the procurement side of the business.” “We do online ordering,” he said. “We set up catalogues for our customers. This system, which cost millions of dollars to put together, is specific to American Solutions for Business. “This way I can get out on the road and I can make money selling and let American handle all the accounting part of it. They do the billing. They do the collecting. They also put together all sorts of marketing materials that I can use.” Burlingham, who has worked for American for 11 years, including seven in Lake Katrine, said his clients are largely banks and businesses in the financial industry who need office supplies, forms and promotional products. Given his line of work, Burlingham is a regular at the Chamber’s Business-After-Hours mixers and says he has picked up several new customers there. “In this industry … if you’re going to do a service for a customer, that’s a relationship that needs to build,” he said. “In order for that relationship to build, you’ve
MEMBER PROFILE “You go to Chamber mixers and you start talking to people and give them an idea of what you can do and eventually you wind up in a discussion because the customer needs something at that point. Then you can sit down and talk and hopefully help them out.” – John Burlingham got to see people. “What happens is it takes a little time. You go to Chamber mixers and you start talking to people and give them an idea of what you can do and eventually you wind up in a discussion because the customer needs something at that point. Then you can sit down and talk and hopefully help them out.” American Solutions for Business, 630 Neighborhood Road in Lake Katrine, can be reached at (845) 3385722 or
[email protected]. The company’s website is www.americanbus.com.
HealthAlliance Foundation Contributes to Hospital Health Initiatives Continued from page 1 Board for their exemplary efforts and commitment to high quality healthcare.” This year, the HealthAlliance Foundation has already pledged over $400,000 to support and enhance HealthAlliance programs and facilities. Projects funded to date include: improvements to the Broadway Campus, including upgrades to the telemetry unit (which provides intensive monitoring to critically ill or injured patients) and renovation of patient
areas; patient translation services (with the support of the Dyson Foundation); state-of-the-art recliners for Dialysis patients; patient room furniture, mobile computer stations, online education, and scholarships for nursing staff; scholarships for high school students pursuing careers in healthcare; an interfaith meditation room and wireless internet at Woodland Pond; and support for community programs such as “Let’s Move A Little Ulster County” and the Teddy
Bear Clinic to help children become comfortable with hospital services. David Scarpino, chief executive officer of HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley® (HAHV), expressed his appreciation for the work of the Foundation. “These contributions help us improve the quality of our services and increase patient satisfaction. We are grateful for the work the HealthAlliance Foundation does on our behalf.” Funding for these projects is made
possible through private grants, donor contributions, and fundraising events such as the Tulip Ball (held in April of each year) and the Golf Classic (held in August). Upcoming events include Cruisin’ for the Cure on October 1, 2014 and the Tonner Vampire Ball Halloween Party on October 25th. For more information or to register for these events, call the Foundation office at 845-334-2760 or visit www.FoundationUpdate.org.
ChamberNews
Wednesday, September 3, 2014 • Daily Freeman Advertising Supplement
The Official Publication of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce
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Deegan-Sanglyn Can Do It All 360 Degrees of the Real Estate Picture You’ve no doubt seen Deegan-Sanglyn’s familiar signs around Ulster County. You’ve also probably seen some of the buildings the commercial real estate company has developed, including the most recent project, the renovation of 572 Broadway in Kingston which has been leased by Finkelstein & Partners. Owner Joe Deegan, who started the company in 1998 with his father, John, said Deegan-Sanglyn does four major things: brokerage, development, management and consulting. “We function as a broker for buyers and sellers of property and people looking to lease real estate,” Deegan said. On the development side, the 572 Broadway project is just the latest. Deegan-Sanglyn also oversaw the renovation of the former Hutton Nursing Home at 360 Washington Ave. in Kingston into the Kingston Health Pavilion. The Rent-A-Center at 797 Broadway was another project. Deegan-Sanglyn also manages a quarter of a million square feet of real estate for tenants, coordinating everything from snow removal to blacktop maintenance. The company also can be called on for consulting, Deegan said. “They contact us if they’re not sure if they should sell or lease, refinance or renovate,” Deegan said. All things considered, Deegan said his company is uniquely qualified for just about any challenge. “I think based on those four services we offer, we truly have 360 degrees of the real estate picture,” Deegan said. “We understand development and construction issues, which are almost always related to the selling or leasing of a property. There’s generally some type of construction involved in that process.”
Managing a quarter of a million square feet of real estate also keeps the company in touch with current costs for maintenance, landscaping and other services, Deegan said. “We’re very, very familiar with the occupancy costs to run real estate and advise our clients as such,” he said. “I don’t know anybody else in the market who does what we do.” “Our main thrust is brokerage and I believe that providing those additional services makes us a superior brokerage firm because of that knowledge we retain on a daily basis.” Just some of Deegan-Sanglyn’s clients listed at www. deegansanglyn.com include Key Bank, M&T Bank, Wachovia, Merrill Lynch, Walgreen’s, Ryan Insurance, Kingston City Schools, United Health Care, Ulster Savings Bank, Mid-Hudson Family Health Services, New York State United Teachers and the New York City DEP. Deegan said the company’s five staffers get positive feedback from clients on the work they do. “I guess what makes us good is when I’m on the 50yard line, I know what it takes to get to the goal line,” Deegan said. “I know what attorney we have to contact; I know what planning board or zoning board actions we have to take; I know what construction is typically involved; I know what architect we need to employ. “We’re able to provide vision to get the transaction completed. I think our clients recognize that.” Deegan said the local real estate market “remains stable as far as value.” “Business overall is stable,” he said. “It’s not lackluster. It is not tremendously robust. It runs a steady course.” Deegan, who attends most of the Chamber’s Business-
MEMBER PROFILE “The mixers and the breakfasts are a great way to stay in front of people. People will see a sign of ours, and I’ll be at a mixer, and they’ll ask a question about a building. I just think it’s a great way to stay known in the community.”
– Joe Deegan
After-Hours mixers and breakfasts, said the organization is “great for networking events.” “The mixers and the breakfasts are a great way to stay in front of people,” Deegan said. “People will see a sign of ours, and I’ll be at a mixer, and they’ll ask a question about a building. I just think it’s a great way to stay known in the community.” Deegan-Sanglyn Commercial Real Estate, 325 Albany Ave. in Kingston, can be reached at (845) 334-9700 or www.deegansanglyn.com.
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ChamberNews
Daily Freeman Advertising Supplement • Wednesday, September 3, 2014
The Official Publication of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce
`DragonSearch’ Stays in Uptown Company Has Vision for Training Center The digital marketing company DragonSearch has gotten around in its seven years. The company started out at TechCity and then moved to 280 Wall St. in Kingston above Ulster Savings Bank. Now the company has settled into new digs at 8 North Front St. in Kingston, remaining in Uptown Kingston and helping with the resurgence of the neighborhood. “We’re now moved in,” says owner Ric Dragon. “It’s very exciting. We’re basically going from 3,500 square feet to close to 9,000 square feet so we obviously have a lot more elbow room than we did before.” The building, which is next to the historic Senate House and was a Packard car dealership decades ago, is also large enough to help the company achieve one of its dreams. More and more clients have asked DragonSearch to provide training. “We really have a vision of creating a training center here in Kingston, where people come from all over the country for training in digital marketing,” Dragon said. DragonSearch, which employs 25 people, is a digital marketing firm that helps companies with online advertis-
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MEMBER PROFILE “Being a member of the Chamber is as natural as breathing the air around us,” he said. “We would never think of not being involved with the Chamber.” – Ric Dragon DragonSearch settles into new offices on North Front Street in Kingston. ing and search engine optimization. “It includes that entire world of social media, whether it’s strategic or actually tactical implementation, and the world of what’s called content marketing, which is actually producing content on behalf of our clients,” Dragon said. Most of DragonSearch’s clients are not local and include companies like X-Right, the parent company of Pantone. “Our clients include very large, important brands that help run the world, but aren’t always household names,” he said. Dragon said what makes his company unique is that it is “process-oriented.” “In a world where people are trying to figure out social media, and are sort of throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks, we’re very systematic in our approach and very goals-oriented,” he said. “Everything we do we’re tying back to actual business results and that’s a rarity in this world.” Dragon has written two books, “Social Marketology” and “The DragonSearch Online Marketing Manual.” He also is a guest columnist for “Marketing Land” and “Social Media Monthly” and is in demand as a speaker at national marketing events. “A lot of people hear about us through that circuit and we get a great deal of referral business from clients,” he said. “We have clients who have been with us since the very beginning.” Dragon said his company doesn’t offer “cookie cutter” solutions.
Building Relationships Connecting Business Leaders Advocating for Small Business The Voice & Choice of Business in Ulster County
“We help our clients specifically on their needs,” he said. “If a client needs a report in a certain way, we’re going to help craft a report that helps their marketing manager communicate better. “We’re very flexible. We’re agile. We don’t just tell our customers, ‘This is what we’re giving you.’ We work with our customers. We partner with our customers to give them marketing solutions that help them.” The result is that DragonSearch has grown 20 to 30 percent a year for seven years, Dragon said. “Digital marketing has fundamentally rewritten a lot of the old playbook for business—completely changed it,” he said. “We’re in very high demand. People really need our services because in order to compete in this new business environment, people need real help around that.” Dragon said many businesses don’t realize how important it is to be digital. “When we first started out, we had to make the case that businesses should have a website and that it was an extension of the business card,” he said. While some companies initially resisted, Dragon said most now have websites, but today he is fighting a new fight. “Today we still have a lot of the same conversations that people don’t understand the importance of being involved, for instance, with social media,” Dragon said. “They’re very slow to adapt. Larger brands, of course, know the importance of this. A lot of regional businesses are much slower to adapt. It is very, very important. It’s critical to being competitive in the coming years.” Dragon said his company has always been a member of the Chamber and he couldn’t imagine it any other way. “Being a member of the Chamber is as natural as breathing the air around us,” he said. “We would never think of not being involved with the Chamber.” DragonSearch, now located at 8 North Front St. in Kingston, can be reached at (845) 383-0890 or www. dragonsearchmarketing.com.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014 • Daily Freeman Advertising Supplement
NASA Magazine Honors Local Company Plant Air Purifier Wins Contest U.S. Health Equipment Co.’s Plant Air Purifier recently won the Consumer Products Category of a prestigious contest sponsored by the publishers of NASA Tech Briefs Magazine. The annual Create the Future Design Contest has attracted more than 8,000 products and design ideas from engineers, entrepreneurs and students worldwide since 2002, according to the website www.contest.techbriefs.com. The Plant Air Purifier (www.plantairpurifier.com) removes toxins and other contaminants from the air. “It basically enhances the natural cleaning power of plants by 28 times,” says Wayne Schaeffer, vice president of U.S. Health Equipment Co. and president of USHECO. “Everyone has volatile organic compounds in their house floating around at various levels.” Schaeffer said in a home, wood-based products is often the culprit. “They’re off-gassing all the time to a low extent,” he said. “Over time, the accumulation of all these things become very unhealthy for people.” The Plant Air Purifier, which can accommodate almost any type of houseplant, features a ventilation system that cleans the air. “The Plant Air Purifier is a new air cleaning appliance that utilizes the recently discovered air-cleaning capacity of
root-associated microbes living synergistically with common houseplants to trap and consume toxins in the air,” according to a description of the device at www.contest.techbriefs.com/2013/entries/consumer-products/3675. Schaeffer said besides removing dust, dander and other allergens, NASA research shows that the unit removes toxins such as formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene and even radon. The Plant Air Purifier retails for $229, but Schaeffer has good news for his customers. “We’re making a smaller, nicer-looking, much cheaper model,” Schaeffer said. The new unit will retail for $99 and will be available in September. U.S. Health Equipment Company was incorporated in 2000 by Schaeffer and his father, Bernarr C. Schaeffer, who also founded USHECO. The company collaborated with NASA scientist Dr. B.C. Wolverton, to bring to market the Plant Air Purifier. Wayne Schaeffer has more than 30 years experience in design and manufacturing and holds several patents. U.S. Health Equipment Co. and USHECO, located at 138 Maple Hill Drive in Kingston, can be reached at (845) 658-9200 or www.usheco.com
ChamberNews
The Official Publication of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce
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ChamberNews
Wednesday, September 3, 2014 • Daily Freeman Advertising Supplement
The Official Publication of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce
The Smell of Fall is in the Air
MEMBER PROFILE
Saunderskill Farm has Full Agenda Fall is just around the corner and that means an influx of travelers to beautiful Ulster County for pumpkins, apples, hayrides, cider, corn mazes and Indian corn. One of the more popular stops in our neck of the woods for all things fall is the iconic Saunderskill Farms on Route 209 in Accord. “There are a lot of people who come into the area for the foliage and pick-yourown apples,” says Danny Schoonmaker, one of the farm’s owners. “That’s a great opportunity for many people to explore the region. “It’s sort of everyone’s last fling to get out before the winter comes. It’s relaxing and a chance to make one last trip.” Saunderskill Farms already has a full calendar this fall. “We have pick-your-own pumpkins every weekend starting in October with horse-drawn hayrides,” Schoonmaker said. “We also have tractor-drawn hayrides.” Oct. 4 is Hudson Valley Draft Horse Association Fall Harvest Day, an event that will also feature vendors, crafts and food at the farm. Columbus Day Weekend promises to be a busy time with a craft show on Oct. 11 and an antique tractor pull on Oct. 12. The farm also offers a free corn maze and its popular fall mums, but the big draw this time of year are those juicy red apples, Schoonmaker said. “Apple cider, apple cider donuts, apple pie—you name it,” he said. “The fresh apples are a big draw, especially in October.” The farm also features a popular market and full bakery, where Schoonmaker said
“... the Chamber has helped our business with visibility over the years. They let people know who we are and where we are. I think that’s how the Chamber has helped us the most in my opinion.”
Saunderskill Farms features a popular market and full bakery, where pies are a big seller. the pies are a big seller. “Especially in the fall, the pies go well,” he said. “The donuts and muffins and turnovers all go well.” Other big sellers include local produce, honey, syrup and Boice Brothers milk, Schoonmaker said. The bakery area can seat 25-30 people and if the weather isn’t so great, a gas-fired fireplace is inside to keep warm. Schoonmaker said what sets Saunderskill Farms apart is its cleanliness, service, quality products and, of course, the atmosphere. “It’s a farm-like setting,” he said. “The farm stand is here. The fields that we grow the different pickyour-own items are right here. It’s
a nice family-farm setting.” Schoonmaker and his brother David and father Jack own the farm, which employs eight people. Schoonmaker is the 12th generation of his family to lead the farm, where growing has taken place since 1680. Saunderskill has 13 greenhouses—heated with corn grown on the farm—where you can find hanging baskets, garden flats, perennials, vegetable plants and hot house tomatoes and strawberries, according to the farm’s website (www. saunderskill.com). The Schoonmaker family farms 450 acres of asparagus, strawberries, sweet corn, tomatoes, apples, pumpkins and more.
Begnal Motors to Host Mixer at Mall Continued from page 3 If you miss the sale or the “Jeep Jamboree,” you could still be a winner if you attend the mixer on Sept. 24. Begnal said some lucky business leaders could win a television—just like last year. “I know word spread around about that, so I’m sure we’ll get more people there this year,” Begnal said. L.T. Begnal Motors, located at 515 Albany Ave. in Kingston, can be reached at (845) 331-5337 or
www.ltbegnalmotor.com. Chamber mixers are a great way to network and promote your business. Be sure to bring plenty of business cards. This free networking event is open to Chamber members and prospective members. Reservations are a must and can be made by calling the Chamber office at 845-338-5100 or be registering online at www.ulsterchamber.org.
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The website says some of the Schoonmaker family still lives in a stone house built in 1770 on the farm. Peter Stuyvesant originally granted the property to Lieutenant Hendrick J. Schoonmaker in 1663 as payment for military service. Where did that name “Saunderskill” come from? That’s the branch of the Rondout Creek flowing through the farm. Schoonmaker said the
– Danny Schoonmaker
Chamber has helped his business with visibility over the years. “They let people know who we are and where we are,” Schoonmaker said of the Chamber. “I think that’s how the Chamber has helped us the most in my opinion.” Saunderskill Farms, located at 5100 Route 209 in Accord, can be reached at (845) 626-2676 and www.saunderskill.com.
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ChamberNews
The Official Publication of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce
Ribbon Cuttings
Daily Freeman Advertising Supplement • Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Member Events
COTTONWOOD CREEK HOLISTIC VETERINARY CENTER
ELLENVILLE REGIONAL HOSPITAL
HOTEL DYLAN
JULIE’S PIES AND CHEESECAKES
The Ulster Chamber conducted a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony celebrating the Grand Opening of Cottonwood Creek Holistic Veterinary Center located at 230 Partition Street, Saugerties, NY. www.cottonwoodcreekvet.com
Hotel Dylan located at 320 Maverick Road, Woodstock, NY, celebrates its Grand Opening with an Ulster Chamber Ribbon Cutting. www.thehoteldylan.com
Ellenville Regional Hospital broke ground for the Neil Calman, MD Medical Arts Building. It will house the hospital’s new Cardiac Rehabilitation unit and the Health Quest Medical Practice Cardiology Suite.
Julie’s Pies and Cheesecakes celebrate their Grand Opening at 4 Hamilton Drive, Kerhonkson, NY. www.JuliesPies.TK
Election Time Again - Tkaczyk, Amedore Face Off Again Continued from page 1 The 46th Senate District includes the city of Kingston and towns of Esopus, Hurley, Kingston, Lloyd, Marbletown, Saugerties, Ulster and Woodstock in Ulster County. The race in the 39th Senate District pits Larkin against Lee. Larkin was first elected to the Senate in 1990. He served in the Assembly from 1979-1990 after 23 years of active military service. Lee said she supports women’s rights, gay marriage, the “Dream Act” on immigration, the SAFE Act and ending the property tax to fund education. “I advocate replacing that unequal system with a fair system based on the income tax. Since graduating from Smith College, School for So-
cial Work in 1994, Lee has worked as a staff psychotherapist, senior clinical supervisor, program consultant, adjunct professor, program director and chief executive officer. “Voters need a clear choice between the past and the future, and I am a real, honest, hardworking, viable choice for the future,” she said. The 39th Senate District, which includes mostly Orange and Rockland counties, includes the towns of Plattekill and Marlborough in Ulster County. Ulster County’s other two state senators are unopposed this year: Sen. John Bonacic, R-Mount Hope, in the 42nd District and Sen. James Seward, R-Oneonta, in the 51st District. Bonacic, a former majority leader and chairman of the Orange County Legislature, was first elected to the state
Senate in 1998. He was a member of the state Assembly from 1990-1998. The 42nd Senate District he represents includes the towns of Denning, Gardiner, New Paltz, Rosendale, Shawangunk and Wawarsing in Ulster County. Seward was elected to the Senate in 1986. He is a former Milford town justice and former chairman of the Otsego County Republican Committee. The 51st Senate District Seward represents includes the Ulster County towns of Rochester, Olive, Shandaken and Hardenburgh. Chamber breakfast programs are a great way to network with other local business leaders and stay on top of current events. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. To register, call (845) 338-5100 or go online at www.ulsterchamber.org.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014 • Daily Freeman Advertising Supplement
Study Analyzes Who Belongs to the Chamber of Commerce The best places to work tend to belong to their local chamber of commerce, according to a recent study by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). Of Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” in the United States and Canada, 94 of the recognized businesses are members of their local chamber, including all of the top 24. Separately, ACCE found that in a random sample of 100 companies in the Fortune 1000, at least 75 of those sampled organizations were members of their local chamber. Local chambers of commerce are associations of businesses that come together to improve the local economic climate and help members network and find new business. Strong employers link with and learn from like-minded peer companies through business-led civic organizations chambers of commerce. According to Ulster Chamber President Ward Todd, “The Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce’s selection of programs, services and events are designed to connect our local business community. There is no other organization in Ulster
The staff of the Ulster County Chamber of Commerce. County that offers better variety, quality and frequency of networking, planning, education and special events.” Consumers seem to expect chamber members to be better-than-average companies. A study by the Atlanta-based Shapiro Group found that consumers are 63 percent more likely to buy products from companies that they believe are chamber members. For information about membership in the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce, contact Carol Ricken at (845) 338-5100 or email
[email protected].
ChamberNews
The Official Publication of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce
These Members Have Renewed
Advantage Modular Homes Albany Med EmUrgentCare Alzheimer’s Association Arthur F. Mulligan, Inc. Arts Society of Kingston Bar-Jan Jewelry Repair Birchez Associates, LLC Bop to Tottom Brand Riffs Inc. Clear Channel Outdoor Courtyard by Marriott Gene DeStefano, DDS DragonSearch Excelsior Wood Products Friends of Senate House, Inc. GSB Surgical Services Health Quest HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center, Inc. Hunter Mountain Resort Tim Hurley, Realtor J.R.’s Auto Body, Inc. Keyser Funeral and Cremation Service Inc. Kingston City School District
Kingston Housing Authority F.W. LaMotte Contracting LHV Precast Inc. Liberty Security Services LLC Mid-Valley Cardiology/St.Peters Health Partners Med.Assoc. People’s Place Plaza Pizza Prostate Cancer 101 Rainbow Drive-In Record Storage Solutions Rhinebeck Bank Savonas Trattoria & Pizza Sawyer Savings Bank Stainless Steel Welding Service Steamco Carpet Cleaning Sunrise Bagels & Deli Timothy J. Donovan, Inc. Tonner Doll Company, Inc. Transformation Life Center Trolley Museum of New York, Inc. Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency Walgreens / Kingston Plaza Wallkill Central School District
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ChamberNews
Daily Freeman Advertising Supplement • Wednesday, September 3, 2014
The Official Publication of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce
August Mixer Sponsored By
August 20, 2014 Olive’s Country Store & Cafe Shokan, New York
(L-R) Ivan Krajcovic (Corporate Protection Group, Inc.), Charlie Egan (Waste Management), Dave Barber (Waste Management)
(L-R) Dawn Roeber (Catskill Hudson Bank), Ryan Hallam (Catskill Hudson Bank), Robert Higgins (Catskill Hudson Bank)
Our Mixer Sponsor, Rondout Savings Bank (L-R)Lori Kurz, Gina Pambianchi, Francesca Szabadi, Stephanie Earl, Nicole Gill, Leslie Sewell, Richard Barger, James Davenport, Joanne Osenenko, Cheryl Bowers, Crystal Jacob, Joseph Murphy, Brian Smith
(L-R) Rob Agostinoni (The Bank of Greene County), Karen Van Kleeck (Van Kleeck’s Tire Inc.), Clayton Van Kleeck (Van Kleeck’s Tire Inc.), Sean DuBois (The Bank of Greene County)
(L-R) Monica Gonzalez (Roca Floral), Louis Werbalowsky (Genworth Financial), David Sosa (Roca Floral)
(L-R) Liane Potter (Moving Right Along), Samuel Sawyer III (Moving Right Along), Michelle Tummillo (James E. Rappa DMD), Michael Pitt (All American Ford)
