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COMMUNITY ROOTS 2016
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Sponsored by The Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce Focus Fulton Montgomery Region, NY
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The Innerds! Meet the Gastroenterology Specialists of Littauer who have been nerdy about your innards for over 100 years. Littauer has the region’s most highly respected names in gastroenterology, Luz F. Alvarez, M.D. , Kamini Ramini, M.D. , and Hamid Azizur Rehamn, M.D.
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A healthy day begins at your provider’s office, delivered in an intimate setting. Our foundation is our nine primary and specialty care centers located throughout the region. Accessible and convenient, they are the Littauer mission realized. Our providers are expert communicators and gifted diagnosticians who help people reach their health goals everyday. We use the most rigorous standards of safety and challenge every staff person to deliver superior care to every patient. Every patient.
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This healthy day is brought to you by Littauer. We mean it when we say, “It’s your life, live it well.”
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Focus Fulton Montgomery Region, NY
Community Roots
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That Downtown Feeling
12
Region in Focus
Agribusiness
32
Education
6
44
Health Care
24
Farmers Markets
50
Heritage & History
30
Region Profile
51
Golf Courses
31
Restaurant Briefs
52
Agriculture & Agritourism
48
Chamber Report
54
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Contributors JOIN US TODAY!
Publisher Kevin McClary Associate Publisher Geoff Dylong General Manager Brian Krohn Advertising Manager Joe Ulrich Design & Layout Joe Ulrich Production Kirsten Knapp Jason Stock Joe Ulrich Contributing Writers Nicole Antonucci Emily Drew Levi Pascher John Purcell Joshua Thomas
Careers That Matter
©2016 McClary Media, Inc. 1 Venner Road, Amsterdam, NY 12010 1.800.453.6397 www.portjacksonmedia.com
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Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce www.fultonmontgomeryny.org 2 N. Main Street, Gloversville, NY 12078 1166 Riverfront Center, Amsterdam, NY 12010 (518) 725-0641
Focus Fulton Montgomery Region, NY 3/16/2016 10:00:05 AM
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
I am very pleased to present our second, locally written and produced edition of Focus Fulton Montgomery Region, New York. As many of you may know, our 2015 edition was our first attempt at publishing this annual quality of life piece “in house,” and it was met with overwhelming approval from our members and advertisers alike. For our second edition we have again partnered with Chamber member business, McClary Media, with the hopes of surpassing last year’s success, and as you can see, that was accomplished. Focus Fulton Montgomery Region, New York details and highlights the very diverse character of our region and its communities from the natural beauty of our lower Adirondacks and the 44 lakes in the North, to the rich history and vast agricultural resources of the Mohawk Valley in the South, and everything in between. You will also read about the diverse nature of our
business community. Many of our region’s businesses started out as small family enterprises that have flourished here and grown into international businesses. Many others have seen the benefits of relocating to the Fulton-Montgomery region by taking advantage of our wonderful business parks and site availability. You will also read about the multitude of unique happenings and fun events that make our region a great destination for travelers from outside of the area, or the perfect closeto-home escape for our locals. Not only will our local residents find this publication informative, but thousands of copies will be distributed outside our region to those who may be interested in traveling here, relocating, siting prospective land or starting a new business in Fulton or Montgomery counties. Take a look at the snapshot of our region in the economic and demographic profile in the magazine. I, again, want to thank our partners at McClary Media, along with their reporters, advertising representatives, graphic artists and production associates for making this another great success. I also want to give thanks to the many great advertisers and other contributors who made this magazine possible. Please let us know what you think and check us out on the web at www.fultonmontgomeryny.org and social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.) You can also email us at
[email protected] or call us at (518) 726-0641. — Mark Kilmer, President/CEO Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce
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REGION IN FOCUS: Nature & Agriculture Fulton & Montgomery Counties encompass the natural beauty of New York State
COMING HOME The monarch butterfly is native to this region. It makes an astonishing journey, migrating to Mexico every fall. Yet each generation always finds its way back home in the Northeast.
BEAUTY IN NATURE ALL YEAR ROUND A Pilated Woodpecker, common to the area, rests while searching for breakfast.
State Flower: Rose; Tree: Sugar Maple; Bird: Blue Bird
Located in the Mohawk Valley, Montgomery County is split by the Mohawk River which flows east finally converging into the Hudson River in Albany County. Much of the valley’s geography was formed by glacial carving. The river has provided rich fertile soil making the valley a prime agricultural seedbed for early settlers. Fulton County is in the Southern Adirondacks. It is approximately 533 sq. miles, and 59% of the county sits within the Adirondack Park.
State Fruit: Apple; Snack: Yogurt; Freshwater Fish: Brook Trout
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Annual Rain Fall 42.97” Annual Snow Fall 74.5”
Avg. Temperature (°F) Winter 34.6 Spring 40.6 Summer 66.3 Fall 51.2
For a copy of any of these publications, contact our Tourism Department at tourism@fultonmontgomeryny. org, email
[email protected], visit our tourism websites www.44lakes.com (Fulton County) or visit www.visitmontgomerycountyny.com (Montgomery County): • Fulton-Montgomery Snowmobile Trails map • Visitors Guides • Hiking Trails map • Great Sacandaga Lake map • Route 29A Chain of Lakes map • Harvest Tour map • Mohawk Valley Path Through History • Central New York (CNY) Fresh Brochure • FJ&G Rail Trail map Focus Fulton Montgomery Region, NY
REGION IN FOCUS: Culture A NATIONAL MEMORIAL A column from the World Trade Center Tower is memorialized at the Riverlink Park in Amsterdam. A steel beam from the World Trade Center is also on display at the Veterans Park in the Town of Florida.
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REGION IN FOCUS: Transportation Fulton County, located just north of the New York State Thruway (I-90). State Routes 30, 30A, 10 and 29 connect the traveler to the interstate highways. Montgomery County is accessible by Route 5 and 5S and by the NYS Thruway from exits 27 (Amsterdam), 28 (Fonda/Fultonville), and 29 (Canajoharie/Palatine Bridge), as well as by scenic Routes 10, 30 and 30A, heading south from the Adirondack State park, and Route 67 from Saratoga Springs. Gloversville Transit services the Cities of Gloversville and Amsterdam, with additional services to the Crossroads and Johnstown Industrial Parks, and FultonMontgomery Community College. Gloversville Transit partners with Adirondack Trailways to provide long-distance service: www.ridegts.com Amsterdam Transit System offers affordable, accessible bus transportation throughout Amsterdam and EASTERN TIME ZONE the surrounding areas. Also commuter service to Albany Both counties are in “Upstate” NY, and County buildings located in Fonda. 33 miles from Albany, the state capital www.amsterdamny.gov/departments/transportation.php
Mileage from Major Cites Albany 33 Binghamton 135
New York 186 Boston 200
Philadelphia 260 Buffalo 260
Syracuse 114 Saratoga Springs 30
Mean travel time to work (2009-2013): 23 minutes Commuting to work: workers 16+ Car, truck, van: driving alone 81.5% Car, truck, van: carpooling 11% Public transportation 5% Walking 2% Work at home 4% Other means 1%
Fulton County Airport is a county owned, public use airport for general aviation aircraft. It is within an hour’s flight time from Boston, New York City and Montreal. A fixed-base operator is available: The 195 Factory (www.the195factory.com). For airport information visit www.fultoncountyny.gov Albany International Airport: 33 miles from Amsterdam: www.albanyairport.com Amtrak station in Amsterdam: www.amtrak.com The Mohawk River which runs through Montgomery County, connects the Hudson River with the Great Lakes through a lock system, frequented by recreational boats. www.canals.ny.gov/boating/index.html
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Much of Fulton County offers a vast landscape for the outdoor enthusiast
REGION IN FOCUS: Recreation
To explore more in Fulton County visit: www.44Lakes.com For tourism information on Montgomery County visit: www.visitmontgomerycountyny.com The Northville-Placid Trail (NPT), one of the state’s premier hiking trails, begins in Northville at the village’s Waterfront Park. The trail is approximately 135 miles long and was created in 1924 by the Adirondack Mountain Club. In 2014, the NPT celebrated its 90th anniversary. In the same year, Northville installed an Adirondack-inspired archway and kiosk in Waterfront Park along with designated parking spaces for trail goers.
Throughout the years there have been new sections of the trail and reroutes of the original trail completed. Most recently, the southern section in Benson, a town just north of the village of Northville, was completed to reroute the trail off of the Benson Road.
– Northville-Placid Trailhead archway located on Main Street, Northville
While some hikers complete the entire trail in 8 to 10 days, it is suggested to plan for a 14-day journey. Be sure to follow the blue NPT trail markers and check trail conditions before your trip. The trail is maintained by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the NPT Chapter of Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK). For more information about the trail, visit www.nptrail.org or www.dec.ny.gov.
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Focus Fulton Montgomery Region, NY
That
Downtown Feeling
Communities look to re-energize the place which once drew people from around the world Fulton County is known as the foothills of the Adirondacks but the various communities within its borders have established microcosms that embrace the rich history and values of the region. The revitalization effort of the Fulton County region is in full swing and each community is taking steps to make sure its downtowns are incorporated in the movement.
GLOVERSVILLE
The largest municipality in the region is a city that was built on the hard work of laborers in the glove and leather industries. Although the industry that allowed the city to be called Gloversville is much smaller than it was in its heyday, the residents and business owners that make up the community have maintained that blue collar, hard-working attitude. The resilience and passion of the community can especially be felt in the downtown setting. A place where previous generations often reminisce about putting on their best attire to have a night on the town. “Gloversville is a 19th-century city that was built before the automobile,” Councilman Vincent DeSantis says. “We have beautiful historic architecture that can’t be replicated. It’s something we inherited and it’s also something we can build upon. What the older people remember is what the younger generation desires. They want the crowd, they want the excitement and they want a downtown that is vibrant and buzzing with activity. I think we can give it to them.” The councilman and life-long city resident is one of many people on the front lines of the revitalization effort in Gloversville. “It’s a place for entertainment, it’s a place for meeting friends and also a place for hosting community events,” DeSantis says. “It’s really the heart and soul of this community.” The Gloversville Business Improvement District has
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– From left, Gloversville resident Robin Coon laughs with Johnstown residents Ann Cislo and Joanne Gifford while enjoying lunch at Mohawk Harvest Cooperative Market in Gloversville.
“Gloversville is definitely improving and you can feel it in our downtown.”
– BID President, Jen Voorhees
started hosting some of those events, including the annual Southern Adirondack Wine & Food Festival. “Gloversville is definitely improving and you can feel it in our downtown,” BID President Jen Voorhees says. “We are trying to create more positive experiences downtown and that’s one of the reasons we have been hosting more events and activities that bring the community together.” The city recently hired local engineer Darrin Romeyn, of DM Romeyn Civil Engineering Design, which also operates in the city’s downtown, to help create the 13
“blueprint” for the city’s future downtown revitalization plans. “We are looking to tap into public funding that’s available to generate considerable private investment in the area,” he states. “I think the combination of the two would generate transformational change in Gloversville and that’s exciting.” This spring, the city hosted the New York State Urban Council’s quarterly meeting, which served as an opportunity for the city to showcase some of the many
future downtown development projects. The Center for Regional Growth is Fulton County’s top agency for marketing economic development and it also recently relocated to Gloversville’s downtown. “I think Gloversville is right on the edge of making a great comeback,” CRG President and CEO Ronald Peters says. “We are now in the center of Gloversville and we are going to help that momentum continue forward.”
JOHNSTOWN “It’s important that businesses in the downtown support each other.” – Mysteries on Main Street Manager, Patty Locatelli
The initial development of the Fulton County region started in the neighboring city of Johnstown. Fulton County Historian Samantha Hall-Saladino says Johnstown has served as the county seat since the days of Sir William Johnson, an 18th-century baronet and diplomat. It was the first major settlement in the county, established by Johnson, who built his home there, as well as the historic jail and court house. The court house, situated on Main Street, is still used for that purpose today making it one of the oldest active courtrooms in the country. One of the city’s other most notable residents, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, was born in the city in 1815. “The seed of her life’s work for women’s rights was planted right on the corner of Market and Main streets, where the Cady home once stood,” Hall-Saladino says.
Today, Johnstown is still known for its downtown business district, which includes a variety of restaurants, shops, and still serves as the headquarters of Fulton County government. The manager of the local book store Mysteries on Main Street, Patty Locatelli, describes Johnstown’s downtown as a place with “a lot of energy and cooperation between businesses.” “We all plan and support downtown activities because that generates a lot of business for all of us,” she says. “It’s important that businesses in the downtown support each other.” The city’s downtown hosts a variety of festivals, parades and events for all ages throughout the year to promote business activity and build the sense of community.
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Focus Fulton Montgomery Region, NY
Studio Herbage Florist owner, Jim Dempsey, says he is looking to take it a step further to connect the downtown businesses by establishing a new business association. “It would allow us to work together to make the downtown business community more appealing and inviting to those around the area,” he says. “Johnstown is a great place to conduct business, we just have to work together to let people know. We have the opportunity to make this city become a real destination.” The city also recently provided business owners the opportunity to make facade improvements through a previous grant it secured. Several building owners made cosmetic changes to the front of buildings which made a noticeable visual improvement along the Main Street corridor. “It’s made the businesses more inviting,” Locatelli says. Mayor Michael Julius says about six properties were improved through the previous grant opportunity. He says the city is hoping that the previous improvement project creates a snowball effect in the community to encourage other building owners to make private investments to improve the business locations.
NORTHVILLE
– Johnstown residents Ron and Barbara Freese walk by the Vintage Cafe in downtown Johnstown
The point furthest north in the county is known as the village of Northville. Fulton County Historian Samantha Hall-Saladino says the village’s Main
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from across the country. He says the lake community often hosts people from both far and near. “The Great Sacandaga Lake has became the playground for everyone across the state,” he says. “We also have people come from all over the United States and even as far as Europe.” He explains the community hosts several parades, festivals and events throughout the year in an effort to make Northville more of a destination. He states the small lakeside community previously established the Community Collaboration Council to help formulate ideas on how to further develop the area. He says the council is made of government officials, business owners and community organizations. The 135-mile Northville-Placid Trail previously relocated the trailhead to the center of downtown which now encourages people heading out or coming in to visit the various shops within the community. The NorthvillePlacid Trail traverses the heart of the Adirondacks from the village of Northville in Fulton County in the south to the village of Lake Placid in Essex County in the north. “Many of the people that come to visit Northville will take the time to see the various shops we have in the historic downtown,” Intrabartola said. The Adirondack Country Store, owned by Joyce Teshoney, has made a business of tapping into the tour– A crowd of people take a stroll during Northville’s October-Fest. The event features a car show, hayrides, bounce houses, face painting, craft vendors, a magic shows, a physic fair, farmers market, and a pumpkin carving contest.
Street was laid out in the early 1800’s and general stores, schools, mills, and a tavern were built. However, she said one of the biggest industries throughout the small village’s history has always been tourism. The former Sacandaga Park in Northville previously drew in nearly 100,000 visitors every summer. The FJ & G Railroad built the amusement park to encourage rail travel in the late 19th century and was once known as the “Coney Island of the North.” According to the county historian, Northville really began to be marketed as a tourist destination again during the post-war era and when the name of the reservoir was changed to the Great Sacandaga Lake to encourage tourism. The president of the Northville Merchants Association Michael Intrabartola describes the village as “the gem of Sacandaga and Adirondack region.” Intrabartola operates the bed and breakfast known as the Inn at the Bridge located just footsteps from the Great Sacandaga Lake, which he says continues to attract visitors 16
“The Great Sacandaga Lake has become the playground for everyone across the state,... the United States and even as far as Europe.” – President of the Northville Merchants Association Michael Intrabartola
ism and Adirondack market the village provides. The shop has been conducting business in the lake community for nearly 30 years selling various Adirondack themed decor, art and furniture. “A lot of the people that visit the area will stop by the shop for something associated with the Adirondacks,” she says. “We offer something different and unique to this area. I think Northville is a community on the rise and it’s only going to get better as more people visit and see what Northville has to offer.” With the wide-spread reach of the internet and social media, Intrabartola says the small village has been able to amplify tourism because it can now let more people know about the scenic destination within the Adirondack Park. Fulton County Center for Regional Growth’s Ron Peters says the attraction that Northville provides the Focus Fulton Montgomery Region, NY
county is vital because tourist from across the country and state will often travel through other municipalities to reach the vacation destination. “Northville really embraces tourism and them being a destination allows a lot of the other communities in Fulton County to benefit as well,” Peters says.
BROADALBIN
The village of Broadalbin is one of the many municipalities that is inviting to both the visiting tourist and locals around the area. Village Mayor Eugene Christopher says the downtown offers a variety of services to the community with various eateries and shops along the main corridor. The mayor says over the past couple of years it has installed seven decorative sidewalk lamps on Main Street, which were completely funded by community donations and improved the visual appeal of the downtown setting. “It really shows the spirit of this community because they paid for it,” the mayor says. “They donated the money and it allowed us to really spruce up our downtown and make it more inviting during the evening.”
The owner of Spinnaker Management, Katie KlugMonks, established her property management offices in the small village just over 10 years ago. “I really like it here,” she says. “It’s a community where everyone supports each other and works together to create a comfortable environment.” She explains the small community atmosphere is inviting and makes strolling the downtown area easy for both locals and visitors. “You get a lot of people heading up to the lake or their camps, which is positive for us because it really provides the opportunity for them to become interested in the area and see what this community can offer,” Klug-Monks says. “They could be looking for the vacation homes or rentals that we provide.” Ron Peters says each of the county’s downtowns provide ample historic building stock with tremendous potential. “Fulton County is truly filled with untapped gems because it has tremendous downtown building stock,” he says. “The existing building architecture is extremely valuable to prospective businesses looking for an attractive location to operate. It’s also a great place to visit, work, live and play.” — Levi Pascher
– “Departure of a Packet Boat” depicting commerce along the Erie Canal by artist Henry E. Schnakenberg, which hangs in the Amsterdam Post Office.
Downtown along the Erie Canal FONDA
As the Montgomery County seat and a gateway into the Adirondacks, the downtown area in the village of Fonda is often abuzz with activity. Just down the street from one of the county’s most wellknown school districts, Fonda-Fultonville, downtown Fonda has plenty of resources to appeal to young families and businesses offering jobs for recent graduates. In its early days, Fonda’s boom came from developing ways to travel west. In 1825, the Erie Canal opened and Fonda became a main trade and travel hub. A de-
cade later, the Utica and Schenectady railroad was established. “The village of Fonda, where it is now, was rapidly populated because of the construction of that railroad,” village historian Beverly Guiffre says, adding that the village became the county seat in 1836 due to the population boom. Now, village Mayor William Peeler is hoping to go back to those roots in an effort to draw more retailers and businesses. “We want to make it new, but we want
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to return to the roots of some of the history of the old types of downtown appearance as far as aesthetically,” he states. Many of the older buildings dating back to the 1800’s have been covered by concrete, and Peeler says he wants the village to reflect its history. Thomas Persse, of Thomas Persse Insurance Agen-
go through it. We want them to find a reason to stop, so it would be great if we can build on that,” he says. With the Fonda Speedway and fairgrounds drawing racing enthusiasts in the summertime and Peeler’s push to draw more businesses, Persse said he likes where Fonda’s revitalization efforts are going. In addition to local history, health will be a large concentration for Fonda’s downtown future. While Peeler said he would like to see a gym set up in the village, Nathan Littauer Hospital is preparing to set up a Primary and Specialty Care Center to provide medical support, including dialysis, for the aging population and commercial truck drivers who pass through. Riverfront development will also be at the forefront of future revitalization efforts. The village is working on developing its Canalside Park to provide access to the Mohawk River for boaters and residents. Redeveloped buildings would also serve as prime locations for retailers and restaurants. Peeler says good things are happening – Architecture on display at the old county courthouse in Fonda in the Fonda area, with the downtown at the cy, has been a lifelong village resident and independent center of it all. “I think that we’re on the fringe of having business owner for 19 years. He says he felt drawing on something great happening,” he states. Fonda’s history would be a good direction for the village. “We want to maintain that and not just have the people
CANAJOHARIE Canajoharie, an Erie Canal-raised industrial village made internationally famous thanks to Beech-Nut Packing Company, has developed into a thriving, artistic, culture- and history-focused community. Canajoharie’s downtown was officially born alongside the Erie Canal, installed between 1817 and 1825. The Arkell and Smith Bag Factory, lining the Canajoharie Creek, originated the paper bag in the 1870’s due to Civil War-related lack of cotton, and with that invention, birthed the first major industry in the village. At the turn of the century, the Imperial Packing Company, founded in 1891, was taken over by one of the company’s directors, Bartlett Arkell, who renamed the business Beech-Nut Packing Company in 1899. Arkell expanded the company’s ham-based operations, slicing bacon and selling it in glass jars, then purchasing a vacuum-packing process originated in Germany. BeechNut remained under local ownership until forming a partnership with Life Savers in 1959, employing hundreds in the village until relocating to the town of Florida in 2011. Remaining in Canajoharie to this day is a company that continues to produce long known Beech-Nut products
like Beechies Gum, and GravyMaster. “There’s a lot of stuff we have here,” says grant writer Nick Zabowsky, noting that the village just finished over a $5 million upgrade to its wastewater treatment plant, making it more energy efficient. A $500,000 infrastructure upgrade was also recently completed in downtown Canajoharie. “The water and sewer structure is 21st-century technology,” Mayor Francis Avery states. The Arkell Museum was constructed in 2007, an ex-
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“Being part of the Sustainable Cities Design Academy will help build on our community development goals...” – Montgomery County Executive, Matthew Ossenfort
pansion upon Bartlett Arkell’s vision when creating the original Canajoharie Gallery in 1927 based on galleries he visited in his travels to Europe.
The museum, attached to the Canajoharie Library, on Erie Boulevard, features a permanent collection of pieces purchased almost exclusively by Arkell, including works by Winslow Homer, George Inness, William M. Chase, Childe Hassam, Mary Cassatt, Georgia O’Keeffe
Design Academy, wherein teams of village and county leaders, representatives, developers and design professionals will join AAF’s National Sustainable Design Team in Washington DC for cross-disciplinary training and implementation planning, focusing on the site’s potential
– Bikers travel through the streets of Canajoharie during the Cycle the Erie Canal Bike Event. Over 600 participants ranging in all ages from 31 different states attend the event.
and Robert Henry. Permanent and changing exhibitions feature selections from the museum’s Mohawk Valley History collection as well as Beech-Nut archives of early twentiethcentury advertising material. From 2005 to 2008, Canajoharie’s downtown underwent an aesthetic revitalization, with many business owners taking advantage of a grant-funded project to historically restore Church and Main streets storefronts. Downtown Canajoharie’s 26-plus-acre former BeechNut plant became the focus of county and national attention in 2016, with the county launching an initiative to glean information about the site before deciding whether to take on its demolition and remediation. The site has been selected by the American Architectural Foundation to participate in the 2016 Sustainable Cities
future opportunities. This project will bring national attention to the site. “It is really a very prestigious thing that is usually granted exclusively only to large cities. It is highly unusual for a village to be awarded this,” Avery says. “We’re on everyone’s radar now. This isn’t just a state issue anymore. So, we do have some good attention being paid to us.” “Being part of the Sustainable Cities Design Academy will help build on our community development goals to return this site to reuse,” states Montgomery County Executive Matthew Ossenfort. “Our local team recognizes that we need the assistance from partners like SCDA to strengthen an otherwise already charming downtown and achieve greater success by creating more opportunity for future growth.”
FORT PLAIN
Fort Plain, a once-booming factory village constructed along the Erie Canal, has gone through several incarnations since settling into the Mohawk Valley in the early 1800’s. Currently, the downtown area — a National Historic Register district — basks in the spirit of economic revitalization, with mom and pop businesses, restaurants and restoration-aimed organizations working to highlight the village’s history while transporting it into a successful new era. Fort Plain’s first businesses were constructed on the former-Sand Hill near the present Fort Plain Museum, which annually holds several unique, tourist-attracting
events. As the Erie Canal was constructed through the village between 1817 and 1825, Sand Hill merchants moved to the current downtown, its Main Street constructed along Otsquago Creek. The canal’s completion attracted businessmen, who saw the village — incorporated in 1832 — as a place to obtain wealth and success, resulting in Fort Plain’s downtown filling with hotels, boarding houses, carriage making and blacksmith shops. The first large industrial development in Fort Plain can be credited to Franz Hix, a high quality woodworker and furniture maker who immigrated to Fort Plain in
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“Activity in the downtown is moving forward every day. The area is thriving.” – Mayor Guy Barton
1853, establishing the Hix Furniture Factory on the south side of River Street. The Fort Plain Spring and Axle Works was the second largest industry in Fort Plain prior to their move to Chicago in 1892. In the late 1800’s, Thomas and Squire
Bailey established one of the village’s leading knitting mills — the Duffy Silk Company, on Reid Street. Over the course of the past decade, Fort Plain has gone through a historic revival, with groups such as Mohawk Valley Collective utilizing donations and grant funding to restore dilapidated downtown spaces to their former glory. We have already had about a half-dozen requests from various environmental groups as well as historical organizations to use the building for meetings and conferences.” Fort Plain’s historic library, at the corner of Willett and River streets, will spend 2016 in Phase One of a three-part project that will secure the library’s foundation and structure, centralize operations and add significant space. Longtime Mayor Guy Barton noted that a new production and manufacturing company is working to set up operations in Fort Plain in the old Milupa building on Willow Street. The factory is expected to employ over 100. “The community is moving forward and becoming very prosperous,” Barton says. “There’s new businesses, and we’re looking forward to additional ones coming very soon. Activity in the downtown is moving forward every day. The area is thriving.”
ST. JOHNSVILLE The overall goal being to foster more vibrant environments in the downtown areas in order to spur business reinvestment and tourism. – Montgomery County Business Development Center CEO Kenneth Rose
The village of St. Johnsville, an eighteenth-century mill hamlet once powered by Zimmerman Creek, was founded upon and remains an agricultural hub, its school district featuring a robust ag and tech program, and the former D.H. Robbins Elementary School slated to house an immersive, agricultural college-equivalent high school. The Mohawk Turnpike, one of New York State’s oldest chartered highways paralleling the Mohawk River and crossing the Zimmerman Creek, provided east and west passage for both goods and residents living in the agricultural flats of the continually-expanding valley village throughout the 19th century. St. Johnsville’s downtown was constructed along the Erie Canal, which opened on the opposite south bank of the Mohawk River in 1825. The canal’s installation, along with the introduction of the Utica/Schenectady and West Shore railroads, provided a transporta-
tion corridor allowing manufacturing entrepreneurs and water-powered mill owners to expand services beyond the immediate area. In 1889, Roth & Engelhardt, the first of St. Johnsville’s large Gilded Age industries, opened its first piano factory in the former Kneeskern carpenter shop on the west side of Bridge Street. In 1892, St. Johnsville welcomed its second industrial addition, as Joseph Reaney and his partner Clarence Taylor established a knitting mill in the former Heinrich furniture factory, employing 25 to create expandable, affordable textiles. The village today still retains much of its historical infrastructure — architecturally significant and impressive homes, a commercial district, steam-powered mills and churches built in the early 1900’s. Downtown St. Johnsville has been the focus of recent efforts to designate a National Register Historic
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District, for which grant funding was obtained to create an expansive architectural survey. Agriculture remains a focus in St. Johnsville, its recently merged Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville Central School district containing one of the area’s largest, most successful and long-running ag and tech pro-
– The OESJ Jr./Sr. High School houses a robust agriculture and tech program.
grams, also housing a healthy Future Farmers of America Chapter — the award-winning Mohawk Valley FFA. Stated OESJ Superintendent David Halloran, “Our ag and technology program has been robust for years.” He explained that an upcoming capital project will
focus on the construction of a state-of-the-art facility to house the district’s ag and tech program, of which he continued, “we want to strike the balance of offering industrial arts and pre-engineering courses.” In September of 2016, the former D.H. Robbins Elementary School will open its doors to 50 students culled from 14 component districts — the first class of the Hamilton Fulton Montgomery BOCES Ag-PTECH. The school, offering four-to-six year immersive agricultural programming, will allow students to work simultaneously toward earning a Regents High School Diploma and an Associate’s Degree from Fulton-Montgomery Community College in Johnstown. Stated Montgomery County Business Development Center CEO Kenneth Rose of St. Johnsville and the trivillage area’s potential for future growth, “The Montgomery County Business Development Center understands that the redevelopment of the municipalities within the western area of the county is a priority. Underutilized properties in the historic Canalway region’s downtowns offer the opportunity to ’grow’ without expanding the boundaries of these built up communities.” Currently MCBDC is having open discussions with the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor on ways of fostering growth and reinvesting in the County’s Canalway Corridor. The strategic approach would focus on downtown reinvestment by focusing on historic, cultural, and human assets within the region, the overall goal being to foster more vibrant environments in the downtown areas in order to spur business reinvestment and tourism.
AMSTERDAM The City of Amsterdam was born from a sleepy hamlet into a bustling mill town, harnessing its waterway with the advent of the industrial revolution. Now the city is again undergoing a transformation as downtown revitalization efforts are underway and its waterfront is tapped to encourage development. Amsterdam Mayor Michael Villa said revitalization must happen in steps, with each project spurring more economic development in the city. Several major projects are underway in the city, which Villa believes will encourage more developers to set their sights on downtown investment. “We’re trying to set us up where the future is brighter,” Villa said. “I think that plan is in place and now what we have to do is follow through with it.” East Main Street is a prime section of downtown with projects underway to build upon existing businesses. An eight-story former bank building at 29 East Main St. overlooking the Mohawk River is being redeveloped by
Cranesville Properties, LLC, with upscale apartments on the upper floors, and commercial use, such as a restaurant or pub, targeted for the first floor. Villa believes the more than $2 million rehabilitation will foster further interest downtown, with the project aimed at attracting young professionals. “We have to be able to take us to a place now where we can encourage either the 20 somethings to stay here or the 30 somethings to come back here,” Villa said. “You have to be able to entice them with our location. We have to make ourselves the attractive community that’s affordable, yet you can do a lot of things.” Kenneth Rose, chief executive officer for the Montgomery County Business Development Center, said attracting more people to live downtown will encourage additional investment. “That’s a big catalyst building downtown, so we are excited about that,” Rose said. “Anytime you get people living in your downtown that can generate the type of
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– Rte 30 is one of many ways into Amsterdam’s downtown.
critical mass where it could potentially attract other retail venues.” Another property across the street from the Cranesville project is being targeted to compliment residential development. The Amsterdam Industrial Development Agency (AIDA) will use a feasibility study to determine the best usage for the former Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. The three-story building, at the corner of East Main Street and Chuctanunda Road, is envisioned for mixed-use development. “It’s going to be very, very important that the former wrestling building is filled with the right type of usage,” Villa said. Not far from East Main Street, a company is performing extensive renovations to a dilapidated former hotel through a more than $12 million project to create an assisted living facility, named The Sentinel at Amsterdam. The assisted living facility will feature 150 beds across a mixture of single and double rooms and is scheduled to open early 2017. It is expected to employ approximately 75 full-time equivalent workers across a range of jobs. AIDA Board of Directors Chairman Pasquale Baia said the facility would not only be a tremendous asset for jobs, but redevelop a long neglected portion of the city. Villa added the facility would also bring more people downtown through workers and family members visiting relatives. “Now you’ve increased 22
the walking public to downtown, so we need to encourage why they’re going to go there,” Villa said. Tourists and area residents are expected to be drawn to the Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook (MVGO) pedestrian bridge, which is scheduled to open this summer and connect the city’s South Side over the Mohawk River to Riverlink Park. U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, while serving on the state Assembly, secured $16.5 million from the state’s Transportation Bond Act to construct the bridge. In 2015, Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara helped the city secure $1 million from the state Assembly to fully fund decorative elements on the bridge. The additional funding beyond the initial allocation allowed for artistic components, which include the Wheel of Life, a 12-foot wide mosaic rendition of a Mohawk Mill carpet commissioned around 1940 by the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, which would have been located at the center of the bridge; the Story Mark, a 12-foot wide compass pulling together the themes of the bridge and guiding visitors through the city’s past, present and future; 4-foot tall bronze-cased lettering reading “Amsterdam” so boaters know where they are; and interpretive decking features. Most recently the city secured an additional $650,000 and discussions are ongoing about how to use the funds, which must be applied towards the bridge project. City officials are also taking steps to create a culinary district. Montgomery County officials secured a $75,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture
– Night time at Amsterdam’s downtown.
to conduct a study and determine the feasibility of establishing a culinary incubator to create a “Menus of the World” attraction. William Roehr, senior planner for the Business Development Center, credited Rep. Paul Tonko for the idea. County economic development officials then worked with his office to draft the application through the USFocus Fulton Montgomery Region, NY
DA’s Rural Business Enterprise grant program. Tonko said the incubator would be similar to what has been done with manufacturing, which allows most of the ancillary pieces and daily routines to be clustered into a common core. He said this has previously allowed manufacturers to come develop new ideas for retrofitting their systems or providing technical assistance to achieve goals. A culinary incubator would enable chefs to pursue and focus on their passion while receiving assistance and guidance behind the business aspects of the process, according to Tonko. Dan Nelli, owner of River’s Edge Restaurant and Dan’s Backyard BBQ, recently took over operating the former Riverlink Cafe at the downtown park and said
“We have to be able to take us to a place now where we can encourage either the 20 somethings to stay here or the 30 somethings to come back here,” – Amsterdam Mayor Michael Villa
the pedestrian bridge would highlight a “hidden secret” in the city. “We are very fortunate to get the walking bridge,” Nelli said. “I think that adds a huge piece of the puzzle to connect the South Side to Riverlink Park and then hopefully one day to Main Street. I think that would really rejuvenate Main Street.” Villa’s long term goal is, if feasible, to relocate the West End Amtrak train station downtown, which could be used to connect downtown more directly to the MVGO bridge on the north side of the Mohawk River. The train station is located in a 100-year floodplain and in the latest round of Regional Economic Development Council awards the city was given $115,000 to study the station’s relocation. The city is eyeing funding through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program if relocation is determined to be feasible. Rose said if the train station relocation cannot be pursued then alternative means should be looked at to connect the MVGO directly to downtown. “There has to be that linkage created and it has to be a direct linkage,” Rose said. The momentum in downtown Amsterdam has spurred excitement about what could be possible in the future, according to Rose. “We are very optimistic about the future of downtown Amsterdam over the next couple of years,” Rose said. — John Purcell PortJacksonMedia.com Please recycle this publication. • FultonMontgomeryNY.org
ARTICLE KEY OF FEATURED BUSINESSES
FULTON COUNTY www.fultoncountyny.gov
Gloversville Gloversville Business Improvement District www.gloversvillebid.org • Facebook DM Romeyn Civil Engineering Design • (518) 752-5167 dmromeyn-civileng.com • LinkedIn • Facebook Fulton County Center for Regional Growth (518) 25-7700 • www.fccrg.org Johnstown Mysteries on Main Street • (518) 736-2665 • Facebook Studio Herbage Florist • (518) 762-7755 www.studioherbage.com • Facebook • Instagram Northville Northville Merchants Association • (518) 863-8013 Adirondacknorthville.com Inn at the Bridge • (518) 863-3174 www.innatthebridge.com – Facebook Adirondack Country Store • (518) 863-6056 www.adirondackcountrystore.com • Facebook Broadalbin Spinnaker Management & Realty Sales (518) 883-9933 • www.spinnakerusa.com
MONTGOMERY COUNTY www.co.montgomery.ny.us
Fonda Thomas Persse Insurance Agency • (518) 853-5442 www.mercuryinsurance.com/local/Thomas-PersseInsurance-Agency-311465.html Canajoharie Arkell Museum at Canajoharie and Canajoharie Library (518) 673-2314 • www.arkellmuseum.org • Facebook Fort Plain Fort Plain Museum • (518) 993-2527 www.fortplainmuseum.com • Facebook St. Johnsville Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville Central School District • (518) 568-2014 • oecs.k12.ny.us • Facebook Amsterdam River’s Edge Restaurant • (518) 320-4868 • Facebook 23
Health Care - St. Mary’s Healthcare
A consistent element over the years has been St. Mary’s drive towards advancing care while adapting to the needs of the community. St. Mary’s Healthcare has grown extensively since originally opening its doors more than a century ago, with the first hospital operating out of a converted mansion in the City of Amsterdam. Monsignor William A. Browne began developing the idea to establish a Catholic hospital to serve the Amsterdam community in 1901 and the following year Browne purchased the mansion of Abram Marcellus on Upper Guy Park Avenue. Browne contacted the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet, who had come from France and established hospitals in the midwest, to operate the new St. Mary’s Hospital. Vic Giulianelli, president and chief executive officer of St. Mary’s Healthcare, says Browne wanted to establish the hospital because the “burgeoning immigrant population was having a difficult time” accessing health care. Five sisters answered Browne’s call and the hospital was opened on April 10, 1903, with 11 employees and 20 beds. Giulianelli says, that along with opening the original hospital, a pivotal moment for St. Mary’s was opening the nursing school, because it’s when the hospital “really started growing our own nurses in this area.” In 1921, St. Mary’s opened a nursing school in response to the state to begin training nurses. The School of Nursing, currently known as the Carondelet Pavilion, operated until its closing in 1987. The original hospital didn’t take long to expand. A 24
decade after opening, St. Mary’s added its first new wing, which increased capacity to 44 beds. The cost of its new wing was $35,000. Expansions now-a-days hold a much bigger price tag. The new St. Mary’s Healthcare Rao Outpatient Pavilion at the St. Mary’s Memorial Campus in the town of Amsterdam, opened last year and cost around $17 million. Giulianelli says construction expenses totaled around $10 million, while the remaining $7 million was used to purchase equipment. The existing St. Mary’s Hospital that opened in 1980 actually had the same $17 million cost to construct and outfit, according to Giulianelli. Mary Kevin Ford, who went on to become the founding president of Carondelet Health System, broke ground on the current hospital in 1979, which was partially built with funds to provide community access to mental health services. St. Mary’s Hospital incorporated programing needed to be deemed a Community Mental Health Center, which allowed for federal funds to be tapped for the project. Giulianelli joined St. Mary’s shortly before the current hospital opened and remember watching how over a weekend patients were moved from the old hospital to the new facility. Over the next few months, the old hospital was razed and he remembered being struck initially how employees mourned the old hospital. “There was such love and devotion really attached
– St. Mary’s first location at the mansion of Abram Marcellus on Upper Guy Park Avenue
to that and I didn’t quite understand it back then,” Giulianelli said. “There’s such tremendous devotion among people here serving all their friends, neighbors and relatives.”
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On June 1, 2006, St. Mary’s Hospital and Amsterdam Memorial Healthcare unified the two entities under the name of St. Mary’s Hospital at Amsterdam. In early 2011, the unified entity changed its name to St. Mary’s Healthcare to better reflect the continuum of care provided through not only the hospital and nursing home, but all of the outpatient services, including primary and specialty care facilities, expanding mental health and addiction services, and many other services provided by the ministry. St. Mary’s recently returned to its former location in St. Johnsville to open an urgent care center through a collaborative effort with the St. Johnsville Rehabilitation and Nursing Center to meet a need felt throughout the community.
Giulianelli said visionaries for health care see urgent care as part of the solution to move away from “the most expansive venues like emergency rooms” to serve a need in communities. “We have a very, very expensive health care system in this country and we’ve got to find more efficient
– St. Mary’s Urgent Care Center located in the Rao Outpatient Pavilion on Route 30, Amsterdam
surgery guidance system, known as the Mazor Robot. A year after starting its initiative, St. Mary’s began using the da Vinci Xi robotic system for general surgery, which is the most advanced da Vinci system for minimally invasive surgery in the world. Dr. Ronald Marsh, of St. Mary’s, has been tapped to be a trainer by the company manufacturing the da Vinci Xi robotic system, according to Giulianelli. Surgeons from China have even visited the organization’s Amsterdam facility to observe minimally invasive spine surgery being performed. “We have some of the most advanced surgeries going on in the whole Capital Region right here with these surgeons,” Giulianelli said. Giulianelli said St. Mary’s has a “quadruple aim” goal to improve the whole status of the community beyond the people who come into the hospital; improve the patient experience; improve the provider experi-
“I get to work with great people every day. They care about what they are doing and they do a great job, so that’s what keeps me going.” – Vic Giulianelli, President and Chief Executive Officer of St. Mary’s Healthcare and more effective ways of delivering care,” Giulianelli said. “Many people have minor illnesses and injuries that don’t need a full blown emergency room, hence urgent care. It’s a great solution because it offers services rather quickly at a much, much lower cost, so it fills that niche.” St. Mary’s also has urgent care centers located in the Rao Outpatient Pavilion on Route 30 and the Gloversville Health Center on East State Street. There is also a primary care practice in Canajoharie. In June 2013, St. Mary’s began a strategic initiative to become the regional leader in minimally invasive surgery. The organization was the first hospital in the Northeast to purchase the Renaissance Robotic spine
ence; and lowering the cost of health care while doing improvements. What’s kept Giulianelli working at St. Mary’s since 1980 is something more simple. “I get to work with great people every day,” Giulianelli said. “They care about what they are doing and they do a great job, so that’s what keeps me going.” — John Purcell
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Health Care - River Ridge Living Center As the baby boomer generation grows older, more and more people look for ways to keep their strength and energy up, which is why the River Ridge Living Center concentrates on rehabilitation therapy The Amsterdam-based and family-owned nursing home and rehabilitation center has a variety of services to both its long-term residents in the nursing center and short-term patients who are recovering from a hospital stay. In a specific Subacute Care
Heather Theobald says. Unique to the area, River Ridge also has a therapist conduct pelvic floor rehabilitation, to help with urinary incontinence, which she says is not offered at many facilities. Rehabilitative services are available to help seniors recover from orthopedic and neurological inju-
depending on a patient’s needs. Theobald said the facility offers more technological therapy, like Wii golfing, to help with balance. “People can do it either seated or standing. When it’s in standing, it’s for more balance. When it’s in the seated position, a lot of times we’re trying to do some hand-eye coordination, even just motor coordination,” she says. For inpatient therapy, the facility has a model kitchen to help seniors
River Ridge’s facilities includes a Rehab Gym with numerous staff therapists and aides, and features state of the art exercise equipment and skills to prepare seniors for the return home.
Wing, staff offers rehabilitation from vestibular therapy, to help with improve balance and reduce dizziness, to exercises like getting out of a chair that can be done at home to ensure seniors remain independent longer. “We have physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy services,” Director of Therapy 26
ries like acute and chronic neck and back pain, stroke, sports-related injuries, as well as post-surgical care. River Ridge’s facilities includes a Rehab Gym with numerous staff therapists and aides, and features state of the art exercise equipment and skills to prepare seniors for the return home. One-on-one therapy is offered
practice lifting, bending and picking objects up. “When somebody is in the facility for inpatient therapy, it’s usually because they are not able to do their activities of daily living that they need to do in order to be home independently,” Theobald says. Individuals who have difficulty getting out of a chair, washing themselves, getting dressed or walking go to River Ridge for inpatient therapy. Therapists will conduct exercises and teach patients how to use adaptive equipment, such as long-
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“Even getting up and down in their chairs,” she says. “The more they move, the better off they are to keep themselves healthy and keep them out of the hospital and just keep them busy.” – Director of Therapy Heather Theobald
– One-on-one therapy. Michele Harder, Director of Admissions and Marketing works with a senior resident on her fine motor skills.
handled shoe-horns or sock aids for people who have trouble dressing their lower bodies. Once the senior is able to do these activities without physical assistance or pain, they transition from inpatient therapy to outpatient, which includes higher-level therapy like balance training and keeping strength up, or get ready for discharge. But, Theobald says, even for the seniors who make the transition out of River Ridge, the staff doesn’t leave them with nothing. “When somebody goes home, we always give them a home exercise program and we give them suggestions of things that they can do in their home to keep themselves active,” Theobald says. She stresses the importance of home exercise, saying that when a senior leaves the facility only to sit on the couch at home, they are guaranteed to lose the strength they’ve built up. And if the seniors lack exercise equipment at home, or the funds to purchase some, River
– Residents and staff celebrate life on a beautiful spring day!
Ridge staff suggests everyday objects to use as substitutes. Theobald suggests a soup can or bottle of laundry detergent that weighs a couple of pounds. “Even getting up and down in their chairs,” she says. “The more
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they move, the better off they are to keep themselves healthy and keep them out of the hospital and just keep them busy.” — Emily Drew
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Health Care - Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home
Primary Care — medical excellence, expanded … Pediatric visits:
Our Primary /Specialty Care Centers span a fifty mile radius - an accomplishment worth celebrating.
22,546
Women’s health visits:
2015
Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home’s nine Primary/Specialty Care Centers are a huge part of who we are today, and definitive of Littauer’s compassionate culture of medical excellence. Our Primary/Specialty Care Centers completed over 122,500 patient visits last year, and they remain an essential part of medical care in the communities they serve.
16,146
Neurology visits:
Urology visits:
3,721 2,634
Nathan Littauer Primary/Specialty Care Center Patient Visits
Mayfield Primary/Specialty Care Center
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Heritage & History
Fulton Montgomery Quilt Barn Trail Across the two-county region www.fmquiltbarntrail.com • Facebook Tourism trail that visually connects the outdoor landscape with unique barn squares through the region. A quilt barn square is a painted wooden square, once displayed, helps create a trail. Over 80 squares currently on display.
Johnson Hall State Historic Site 139 Hall Avenue, Johnstown (518) 762-8712 parks.ny.gov/historic-sites/ • Facebook 18th-century Georgian home of Sir William Johnson and Mohawk Indian Molly Brant. Johnson was the most influential and largest landholder in the colonial Mohawk Valley. Mohawk Valley Collective Fort Plain and Canajoharie (518) 993-5506 mohawkvalleycollective.com • Facebook Dedicated to the restoration and adaptive reuse of two of our area’s historic architectural gems: Unity Hall in Ft. Plain and the former West Hill School in Canajoharie. Promotes tourism, the arts and job creation. Also maintains the regional visitors center in Canajoharie. Knox Mansion 104 W. Second Avenue, Johnstown (518) 752-8231 • Facebook The Knox Mansion is a historical home built in 1889 by businessman Charles Knox, owner of Knox Gelatine Factory. With 42 rooms, elevator, grand staircase, lava ash fireplace, it cost $1.2 million when it was built.
Tribes Hill Heritage Center Tribes Hill (518) 829-7031 • Facebook Future community center and educational facility in Tribes Hill, NY dedicated to preserving the cultures and ways of life of those who came before us in this area. Johnstown Historical Society 17 N. William Street, Johnstown (518) 762-7076 fulton.nygenweb.net/history/johnsvisit.html • Facebook Operates and maintains three historic sites: The Historical Society Museum (17 N. William St.), The Drumm House (117 W. Green St.) and The Jimmy Burk Inn (200 S. William St.) in Johnstown, NY. Friends of Sanford Stud Farm Route 30 and Tessiero Square, Amsterdam (518) 761-0703 • www.sanfordstudfarm.org Facebook Works to preserve the legacy of the Sanford Stud Farm, at one time one of the largest and most recognized thoroughbred breeding facilities in the country.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton Hometown Association PO Box 753, Johnstown • (518) 773-8800 www.ecstantonhometown.org • Facebook An organization dedicated to honoring the life and legacy of Elizabeth Cady Stanton through community service, educational activities and by fostering charitable outreach on behalf of women of all ages and is centered in the home of Stanton’s birthplace, Johnstown, NY. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MOHAWK VALLEY HISTORICAL SITES VISIT: WWW.MOHAWKVALLEYHISTORY.COM
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Golf Courses Amsterdam Municipal Golf Course & Clubhouse 158 Upper Van Dyke Avenue, Amsterdam (518) 842-9731 www.amsterdammuni.com • Facebook An historic 18-hole public golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones and run by the City of Amsterdam. Clubhouse restaurant offers lunch, dinner, breakfast and all parties or functions welcomed. Canajoharie Golf & Country Club 154 Golf Club Road, Canajoharie (518) 673-8183 • canajohariegolf.com An 18-hole public golf course located in Canajoharie, in the beautiful Mohawk Valley of upstate NY. Established in 1936, the Club includes a restaurant/banquet facility and pro shop. Conveniently located 5 miles off of Exit 29 on the NYS Thruway.
Hales Mills Country Club 146 Steele Road, Johnstown (518) 736-4622 www.halesmillscountryclub.com • Facebook 18-hole golf course open to the public. All grass driving range, carts, extensive pro shop and full-service restaurant with bar. Banquet facility. Holland Meadows Golf Course 1503 State Highway 29, Gloversville (518) 883-3318 hollandmeadowsgolfcourse.com • Facebook 18-hole course and extensive pro shop for all your golfing needs. Open year round with four-Indoor Golf Simulators, driving range. Fox Run Golf Club 129 Fox Run Drive, Johnstown (518) 762-3717 • www.foxrungolfclub.net • Facebook 18-hole championship layout, driving range, banquet and restaurant, pro-shop, golf pro, outdoor decks, scenic views, chipping and putting greens, indoor simulators, lessons, memberships, open to public. Rolling Hills Country Club 2258 State Highway 5, Fort Johnson (518) 829-7817 golfrollinghills.cc/ • Facebook Once a private fraternity, Rolling Hills is open to public play and membership. Serene views of the Mohawk River and picturesque landscape with superb course conditions. Full service Bar/Restaurant.
Kingsboro Golf Club 301 N. Kingsboro Avenue, Gloversville (518) 725-4653 www.kingsborogolfclub.com • Facebook Scenic golf club offering a competitive 9-hole course for novice and experienced golfers. Enjoy cold beverages and a varied menu-from pub food to homemade pasta and specials in Double Eagle Restaurant.
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Agribusiness GODERIE’S TREE FARM Goderie’s Tree Farm is a family-owned tree farm and nursery in Johnstown that consists of approximately 250 acres of nursery stock, Christmas trees and supporting woodlots. For Pete Goderie, who owns the farm with his brother Mike, the business is more than just selling a variety of trees, it’s preserving a rich family history that dates back to the 1960’s. Originally, Goderie’s grandfather, Floyd Kenyon, used the land as a dairy farm starting in 1960. His original farm in the town of Northampton was flooded to create the Great Sacandaga Lake. In the 1970’s, Goderie’s parents took over the farm and began to plant trees. The farm grew over the next decade into a larger plot that housed more than 30,000 Christmas trees. Then in 1983, Goderie and his brother, Mike, graduated college and took over managing the farm. “It was already established by the time we got out of college and we looked around to see what would happen at that point. We worked construction before we made the jump full time,” Goderie says. “We added a lot of the nursery stock and digging live trees.” Today, the farm has 160,000 Christmas trees as well as a small blueberry patch and most recently, hops. “The jury is out on how that is 32
– Jared Goderie shows a perennial hops plant from last year’s harvest at Goderie’s Tree Farm
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the market goes.” In addition, the Goderies are working with the State University of New York (SUNY) and Cornell University on a study to understand different growing practices to make the tree business more efficient. “The tree business is a good business but the drawback is that you don’t see a lot of people getting into it because there is such a long turnaround before you have a return on it,” Goderie says. “Once it’s established and you have enough coming behind in the rotations, it’s not bad.” It was another reason why the farm expanded into the hops business. The crops are harvested in late August, which allows Goderie to grow and harvest the crop in the “off season.” While Christmas trees grow in an 8- to 10-year cycle, hops are grown and harvested in the same year. “The biggest things with the – Above: Dave Goderie helps his father Mike as they plant a tree in the ground. Below: Mike Goderie operates a tree spade machine that digs a Myer’s Spruce out of the ground. blueberries and the hops is that we are trying to diversify more,” Goderie said. “A lot of agriculture is very seasonal so we Goderie said he got into hops, a crop used do our best to spread things out and make it more year to brew beer, because of his son who is interround.” ested in the brewery business. While Goderie — Nicole Antonucci wasn’t interested in the business end he was interested in the farming part. “It was definitely a learning curve,” he says. Goderie’s Tree Farm Right now, they are growing hops on an acre 338 County Highway 106, Johnstown www.goderiestreefarm.com • Facebook of the farm but Goderie says they are constantly doing research, learning about new techniques going to go, but we are in the fourth season,” he says. “Right now there is a great demand for it. It seemed like a good fit for us because a lot of the equipment was the same.”
“A lot of agriculture is very seasonal so we do our best to spread things out and make it more year round.” – Pete Goderie
and processes, and taking advantage of incentives that are being offered by the state. “There are all types of incentives for the farm brewers to buy a certain percentage of products. So for the growers that is a good thing because it puts a higher value on the production,” Goderie says. “It is in the testing stage. I want to expand it but we are going to wait to see where PortJacksonMedia.com Please recycle this publication. • FultonMontgomeryNY.org
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HUMMINGBIRD HILLS WINERY Nestled on an old dairy farm in the town of Charleston, Montgomery County’s first winery works to give wine tasters, amateurs and connoisseurs alike, a unique experience where the only request is to keep an open mind. Ken and Kimm Schick began Hummingbird Hills Winery as a passion project in 1998. The two New Jersey transplants purchased the Charleston farm to escape the noise and bustle of the city, although they were unsure of what to do with it at first. Kimm says they had planned to use the farm as their “working retirement” and sell grapes commercially, rather than make wine. “We did some test batches of wine and they seemed to do pretty well. Everybody liked them,” Kimm says. Then, her husband, a mechanical engineer who comes from a family of winemakers, decided to put his background to work. “Ken said, ‘We have this big old barn, why don’t we sell the wine ourselves?’ And I said, ‘Well, we’re kind of 34
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out in the middle of nowhere,’” Kimm says. “I thought he was crazy, but I thought well, it’s a dream. We have the means to do it. Let’s try it out.” The Schicks have been producing wine commercially since 2010 with much success. What began as 2,000 hand-planted grapevines has turned into a business that often sells out of its wines popular wines like its strawberry and Concord blends. Kimm says that when she and her husband first began, many people told them if they did not make the popular wines, like Cabernet Sauvignon, they would not be successful. “A lot of people said to us, you better bring in other grapes,” she says. With the cold upstate New York winters, such grapes don’t survive well, so the Schicks stick to their blends of white and red wines. “Last year, we sold over 6,000 bottles. It’s not a lot for some people, but not when you have to do it yourself,” Ken says. While Ken manages the winemaking process, from hand-picking the grapes, with some summertime help, to bottling and packaging the
“There’s always a rainbow over Hummingbird Hills. Some say our wine is like liquid gold” – Kimm Schick, owner
– A successful harvest. The winery’s finished product on display in the tasting room.
wine, Kimm runs the tasting room. Hummingbird Hills prides itself on its more unique blends. Kimm said they encourage winetasters to keep an open mind and try all of their wines, especially the unusual ones, like their dandelion wine. Although a labor-intensive wine to make, since all the dandelions have to be hand-picked, it’s one of their most popular blends. “We started to grow and produce it ourselves,” she says. “We have a different philosophy, that’s all.” That community spirit also extends into the
winemaking. “We try to improve every year, we try to listen to what people are looking for,” Kimm says. “Our tagline is, escape from the normal. When you come in here, it’s a totally different experience. Family run, familyoriented. Everybody means something to us.” — Emily Drew
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Hummingbird Hills Winery 1442 Burtonville Road, Fultonville www.hummingbirdhillswinery.com • Facebook
In Fort Hunter, Homestead Organics has been spreading the good word of composting. Although a growing industry today, owner Ken Van Alstine Sr. began composting as a hobby at his nursery, Van Alstine’s Horticultural Services, Homestead Organic’s parent company, in 1989. “When I had the nursery and the landscaping business, we always used compost. We made it ourselves on our soil. We weren’t doing it for commercial,” Van Alstine says. “We were doing it for our own use and need. We did sell it to the local farmers and so on, and then the darned thing got bigger and bigger. Bigger than we figured.” Van Alstine was contacted by Cornell Waste Management Institute to create a partnership, and then by the New York officials. “All they could say was, ‘You ever think of expanding?’” Van Alstine says. The business qualified for state grants, which, in 1992, allowed him to grow Homestead Organics into a full-fledged business. He was later named Recycler of the Year in 2011 by the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling. Now, Homestead Organics provides compost to local farmers, businesses and homeowners around Montgomery County, and as far as Buffalo. The compost can be used in either commercial farms or small gardens. Van Alstine says that while compost might be more expensive
initially, compost lasts about six years, where as fertilizers has to be reapplied nearly three times each year. “In the long run, it’s a lot cheaper,” Van Alstine says. Due to the chemicals in fertilizer, it breaks down quickly, especially when it rains. Compost, however, breaks down slowly. “Rain comes down, the fertilizer goes through the ground and it’s gone, but compost stays on and breaks down gradually. So it’s always there when the plant needs it.” Van Alstine also partners with local groups for educational opportunities to spread awareness about the benefits of composting. Garden clubs, local schools and organizations have reached out for
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“We’re taking something that was worthless, we’re turning it into something that is worth something.” – Ken Van Alstine Sr., owner
– Employee John Sira moves compost with a loader.
seminars and classes. Although Homestead Organics was hit hard by Hurricane Irene in 2011, it persevered and is now testing raised garden beds to make gardening easier for people with physical disabilities. “It grows everything faster, better, and it’s easy to maintain,” Van Alstine says. Most of all, though, Homestead Organics keeps waste out of the landfills. Waste from vegetable
produce and rendering seafood to wood chips and garden waste is broken down for compost. “We’re taking something that was worthless, we’re turning it into something that is worth something,” Van Alstine says. “No value to value.” — Emily Drew
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Homestead Organics 161 Dufel Road, Amsterdam www.homesteadorganicsny.com
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COMMUNITY ROOTS
SANFORD STUD FARM Nestled within the bustling commercial corridor along Route 30 in the Town of Amsterdam are historic barns listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which a not-for-profit organization has worked to restore and revitalize for future generations. Friends of the Sanford Stud Farm is dedicated to preserving the legacy of Amsterdam carpet mogul Stephen Sanford, who founded one of the most recognized thoroughbred breeding facilities in the nation. To preserve the international businessman’s legacy, volunteers of the not-for-profit have raised funds and looked towards the community Sanford had supported through his own philanthropy. “Really what this is, is to pass this on to the next generation, so
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they can have an appreciation of what the past brings to the future,” Louis “Sam” Hildebrandt Jr., of the Friends of the Sanford Stud Farm, says. “Kids today don’t really have
the Hurricana Stock Farm, which was named after the strong winds that regularly blew through the Mohawk Valley. Hildebrandt’s father, Louis, was a jockey for the Sanfords,
– “To go in there and see some photos of where it’s been and how far it’s come is a treat,” says Amsterdam Town Supervisor Thomas DiMezza
an appreciation of the past.” Hildebrandt’s childhood is fittingly intertwined with the historic farm established in the 1870’s as
and before he passed in 2001, he was believed to be the oldest living stakes-winning jockey at 93 years old. “We were up here all the time,
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The Sanford family’s legacy is immortalized in Saratoga Springs with the Grade II Sanford Stakes held annually since 1913.
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so I got to spend a lot of time here when the farm was in tact,” Hildebrandt says. Stephen Sanford reportedly suffered health issues from the stress of work and upon the advice of his doctor purchased a modest farm to help improve his condition. Sanford went on to acquire several neighboring farms and amassed more than 1,000 acres along a hilltop overlooking the city of Amsterdam. Sanford’s farm at its height had around 40 buildings, a training track with dirt and turf surfaces, a steeplechase course and an indoor training track. The Sanford family did not take long to find success on the racetrack, too, with its horses in the 1880’s landing in the winner’s circle at Saratoga Race Course. The family’s legacy is immortalized in Saratoga Springs with the Grade II Sanford Stakes held annually since 1913. Sanford also organized matinee races at his farm for the enjoyment of Amsterdam residents, which were reportedly often attended by 10,000 or more people for an afternoon of entertainment. The premise of owning and training horses was never meant to make money for Sanford, according to Hildebrandt, who estimated the venture probably never yielded a big payoff. “Sanford, of course, was a very wealthy man and he spared nothing when it came to his horses,” Hildebrandt states. “He treated his horses and employees in the mills with nothing but respect. He knew his employees were the people that made him the man that he was financially.” Amsterdam Town Supervisor Thomas DiMezza says the town acquired the remaining undeveloped land at the Sanford property and its barns about a decade ago after the Friends of the Sanford Stud Farm formed. Over the last eight years, DiMezza estimated that approximately $300,000 has been invested into restoring and improving the farm’s facilities. “It’s come a long way and I’m very proud of it,” DiMezza says. “Eventually, we want it to be a focal point for Route 30.” DiMezza admitted when he first 39
“Really what this is, is to pass this on to the next generation, so they can have an appreciation of what the past brings to the future.” – Louis “Sam” Hildebrandt Jr., of the Friends of the Sanford Stud Farm
looked inside the broodmare barn, which is a featured building on the site, he wondered if the amount of work required was too much. “I shook my head and said, ‘Oh my gosh, this is a nightmare,’” he says. “To go in there and see some photos of where it’s been and how far it’s come is a treat,” DiMezza says. “It took us awhile to stabilize it, but now that the building is stabilized we want to make it so it’s workable and useable.” The not-for-profit recently received a $125,000 grant that will be spread across five years, which Friends of Sanford Stud Farm member Thomas Foster states will allow new features and amenities to be added to the site. “Over the next five years, it really is going to change as far as the dynamics of what we can do with the property,” Foster says. A forthcoming project for the broodmare barn is aimed to bring water and sewer utilities to the building, which would allow for the installation of restrooms and for kitchen features to be functional again. The kitchen is also planned to be insulated, Foster explains, which would allow for the board of directors meetings to be held on site throughout most of the year. “We really want to get this to a point where we have the amenities so that people can actually rent this place out and host functions,” Hildebrandt says, “and certainly have educational activities here for the young people.” DiMezza says the property has been rented for a wedding and students have taken portraits at the barn before attending a school dance. Restrooms are eyed to be installed where the old boiler sits, but a smaller shower in the room that was used by jockeys will fittingly remain. An old coal bin in the boiler room could also remain. Another touch from the past that is still present is the
“cribbing” around the horse stalls throughout the barn. “When a horse gets bored he doesn’t have a video game to play, so what they do is they start gnawing on the wood,” Hildebrandt explains, adding that cribbing is a common action for horses. One portion of a wall is preserved where horses had gnawed a hole right through the wall. Hildebrandt says while cribbing seems like a funny trait the habit can be dangerous. Once in awhile, he said a horse could get a splinter in its mouth that can cause bleeding or even lead a horse to choke to death. “You have to get a veterinarian and it’s not cheap to have a sliver removed from a horse’s throat,” Hildebrandt says. Restoration efforts at the barn haven’t proved to be particularly cheap either, but the Friends of the Sanford Stud Farm and town officials remain committed to preserving the unique part of Amsterdam’s history. “Part of our mission has always been to make it known to the public about the Sanford family and their contributions to not just the local community, but to the sport of horse racing,” Foster says. “I couldn’t even tell you how many horses that people know the names of because of who he was. He was the equivalent of Whitney or Vanderbilt to Amsterdam, to Saratoga and to racing in general.” — John Purcell
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Sanford Stud Farm Route 30 and Tessiero Square, Amsterdam www.sanfordstudfarm.org • Facebook
Mohawk Valley Collective continues to restore the former West Hill School, Canajoharie
MOHAWK VALLEY COLLECTIVE “Through our grassroots fundraising and volunteer efforts we have been able to save, stabilize, and reuse buildings that not only enhance, but really define the skylines of our villages.”
– Tolga Morawski, MVC Treasurer and founding member
Since first organizing in the summer of 2011 as Historic Fort Plain, the since-renamed Mohawk Valley Collective has expanded upon its original mission to restore and repurpose the dilapidated former Universalist Church in Fort Plain. Their focus now includes revitalizing properties in several local communities. “The Mohawk Valley Collective has taken on projects municipalities and other nonprofits haven’t been able to due to a lack of resources,” says MVC Treasurer and founding member Tolga Morawski. “Through our
grassroots fundraising and volunteer efforts we have been able to save, stabilize, and reuse buildings that not only enhance, but really define the skylines of our villages.” Historic Fort Plain, incorporated in the fall of 2011, gained members as it raised funds to revive the oncecondemned former Universalist Church, which has been renamed Unity Hall — a title better fit to the building’s new use as a community space. Unity Hall now holds several events each year, participating in community-wide celebrations and inviting
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people to the venue’s annual summer concert series, which will launch its third season in 2016. In the summer of 2012, Montgomery County officials reached out to Historic Fort Plain, Inc., asking them to assist with the revitalization of Canajoharie’s historic
West Hill School, purchased and abandoned by a private citizen. The county transferred ownership of West Hill School to the village of Canajoharie, which donated the property to Mohawk Valley Collective — renamed as their mission expanded and became more inclusive — following a year-long probationary period during which MVC cleaned the stone structure, shored it up and fixed the roof. In the fall of 2012, MVC purchased a gazebo from Fort Edwards, which now serves as the Tourist Information Booth at the edge of Fort Plain’s Haslett Park. The structure was utilized extensively following the flood of June 2013, acting as an organizational volunteer hub. In the summer of 2013, MVC organized the first “River Through Time” fundraiser, held throughout downtown
Fort Plain. While the annual event was initially aimed at raising money for flood victims, it’s since obtained funding for several community groups and projects. Also in the summer of 2013, a soft opening was held for a Tourist Information Center in downtown Canajoharie, the center’s creation spearheaded by owners John and Michele McGlone. John McGlone served as a MVC board member at the time. In late 2013, MVC purchased the condemned building behind Unity Hall at 41 Mohawk St., tearing it down and raising money through the sale of the home’s components. Then they turned the empty space into a park. The now-green lot has been seeded, with 21 trees planted there, and MVC anticipates the installation of lights and a small gazebo in 2016. Their goal being to offer the space’s use for community and private events. In September 2015, MVC came into possession of a flood-destroyed home at 52-54 Mohawk St., the property being donated by Wells Fargo. The Mohawk Street home is currently undergoing an extreme revitalization, with MVC aiming to make the building’s apartments rentable in the late spring of 2016. The income raised via the property’s rental will help the group with their ever-expanding roster of revitalization projects, which includes upcoming ground floor work at Unity Hall, and the replacement of 114 windows at West Hill School, for which the group is currently accepting sponsorships. Important to the group is the example they hope to set in rehabilitating local properties, one of their future goals being to turn area foreclosures into useable
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“Our rural character and wonderful historic homes are reasons to stay and get the area growing again.” – Tolga Morawski
– Mohawk Valley Collective continues to restore Unity Hall, at the corner of Mohawk and Center streets, Fort Plain.
spaces, putting buildings back on local tax rolls while addressing blight. “Our vision for the future is one of resurgence. Through tourism, diverse historic, cultural, and of course natural attractions we can bring people to the region,” Morawski says. “Our rural character and wonderful historic homes are reasons to stay and get the area growing again. While some may focus on what’s wrong, or what’s lacking, that doesn’t accomplish much. We’ve only gotten where we are through hard work and putting
one foot in front of the other day in and day out — and we will continue to build on that positive momentum.” MVC has been able to fund their projects via local, state and federal grants, including from the Yerdon Foundation, Adam and Nellie Horn Foundation and the Preservation League of New York State, along with private donations and memberships. MVC currently has 120 members. — Joshua Thomas Mohawk Valley Collective PO Box 53, Fort Plain mohawkvalleycollective.com • Facebook
– Mohawk Valley Collective removed a dilapidated home at 41 Mohawk Street and installed a park, which should open in 2016.
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– From left, Amsterdam resident Annserete Santiago and Johnstown resident Linda Wenskoski walk the hallways on the way to class.
EDUCATION
A look to the future
HFM PTECH
Two years ago, Hamilton Fulton Montgomery Board of Cooperative Education Services (HFM BOCES) partnered with the Fulton-Montgomery Community College (FMCC) to create an innovative approach to educate high school students. HFM BOCES began the Pathways Through Technology Program (PTECH) — an accelerated high school program designed for incoming freshmen who want to graduate with an associate degree in a technologybased field. In a period of four to six years, students can earn their high school diploma, Regents diploma and an associate degree within five career strands — information technology, business administration, and management healthcare, advanced manufacturing and clean energy. But what makes this program truly unique is how students are taught. “Our school is a project-based learning environment,” PTECH Principal Michael Dardaris says. “So 24/7 our students work in multidisciplinary projects. Instead of sitting in a lecture environment where a teacher 44
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is talking at you, it’s a hands-on project-based environment.” Through projects, students must show their understanding of key concepts in English language arts, sciences, etc. For example, students recently completed a project based on the zombie apocalypse. Students were the survivors after an outbreak of the HZB, or zombie virus, contaminated the globe. After receiving a crackling audio message from their teachers informing them of the outbreak, students had to work to restore civilization by establishing a government, food sources, and law and order, etc. “Through that they are learning the regent standards, but instead of having it lectured to them, they have to use it in an application,” Dardaris says. While the concept is different and new in the region, HFM BOCES District Superintendent Patrick Mi-
chel says it’s an approach that is seeing results. The first PTECH class, now sophomores, recently completed their ELA Common Core regents, a test usually taken at the end of a high school student’s junior year, and the results show a 92 percent passing rate. Students taking college algebra are also seeing high marks. “We are seeing some really good academic progress,” Michel says. “Most of our kids came to us two or three levels behind in reading and writing so it is pretty heartening that the teaching methods we are using are having an impact.” PortJacksonMedia.com • FultonMontgomeryNY.org
– Above: Gloversville resident Taylor Nellis reads a book titled “A Long Way Gone” with his group partners for a global human rights and injustice assignment. Below Left: From right, Gloversville resident Theresa Clark shares a laugh with her group partner Melodie McClary while discussing a book titled “Sold” for a global human rights and injustice assignment.
Now PTECH is getting ready to transition to a new phase of the program as the sophomores move to junior year. A student’s first two years are spent at the former Jansen Avenue School in Johnstown in high-school level classes in their selected career pathway earning credits in their basic college classes. In their junior PTECH year, students move to the FMCC campus where they take college-level courses in their pathway or career cluster. At this point students are mentored by one of the business partners and begin to receive workplace experience and mentorship. PTECH has partnered with local businesses such as the Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce, St. Mary’s Healthcare, NBT Bank, Benjamin Moore and Beech-Nut Nutrition Corporation to help create a curriculum for the four career pathways that are emphasized at PTECH - health sciences, advanced manufacturing (clean technology), business management and administration, and information technology, and to provide workplace experiences, mentorships, and real-world learning experiences. “These kids (sophomores) are the first cohort,” Dardaris says. “Every year they are the guinea pigs, they are the trailblazers for every cohort after them.” Michel says depending on the career pathway that students choose determines whether they will stay at the college or split their time with BOCES. For students who choose business administration, they will attend FMCC full time while those who choose clean energy will attend both campuses. To ensure that the transition to the college is smooth, 45
– Amsterdam resident Nigel Conyers reads a book titled “A Long Way Gone” with his group partners for a global human rights and injustice assignment. The book takes place in Africa during a civil war as a young man is forced to become a child soldier.
administrators are hiring additional faculty to help students stay organized with the course work. Currently there are approximately 100 students enrolled in the program with 50 new students expected each year. Eventually, there will be 150 upperclassmen at BOCES Career and Technical Center and at FMCC and the college while 100 students will attend classes in the PTECH building. Michel says the program is a benefit for those students who are different type of learner and want to realize their dreams. “It is a very different approach to education. You’re not only a freshman in high school but in college. If you want to focus on a goal or career pathway than PTECH is for you. It doesn’t stink that you get a free associate’s degree out of the deal,” he says. “It is my hope that in the next five or ten years that every high school looks like a PTECH.” Dardaris says he was impressed by how much the college invested to help the students. “Without that kind of support from business partners and the college, being willing to try something new, a program like this doesn’t happen,” he says. — Nicole Antonucci
– The former D.H. Robbins Elementary School will house the new HFM BOCES Ag-PTECH school.
HFM BOCES AG-PTECH Area students will be given the opportunity to study college-level, agricultural curriculum in 2016 when a new Hamilton Fulton Montgomery BOCES Agriculture Pathways in Technology Early College High
School (Ag-PTECH) opens in the former D.H. Robbins Elementary School in St. Johnsville. The HFM BOCES Ag-PTECH school will provide its students — many from component districts that
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don’t offer agricultural courses — the opportunity to immerse themselves in an all encompassing agricultural experience. The school’s website, at hfmboces.org/AGPTECH. htm, asks prospective attendees to “imagine a high school without the bell schedule, without students shuffling shoulder to shoulder through narrow hallways, without rows of desks and lectures. Imagine, instead, a new model for high school education” that doesn’t focus on readying students for college, but instead includes college-level, credit-bearing coursework.”
“This area has a rich history of agriculture, and we hope through our partnerships with local businesses that this grows,” Shafer says. “I believe we will be able to provide a prepared workforce for our local agribusinesses, as well as develop students who are entrepreneurs and who will start new agribusinesses in the area.” Shafer says she’s thrilled with the opportunity to serve as principal of the new Ag-PTECH school. “As a former technology education teacher,” Shafer says, “I have been engaged in project-based learning, and am familiar with teaching core content
“I believe in what PTECH offers. The school will provide an innovative, relevant style of learning, leading to student success.” – Kristy Shafer, Principal
– One of the rooms at the former D.H. Robbins Elementary school that the new Ag-PTECH school will occupy.
Students enter the Ag-PTECH program as a freshman, working simultaneously toward earning a Regents High School Diploma and an associate’s degree from SUNY Cobleskill or Fulton-Montgomery Community College, all at no cost to the student. “I believe in what PTECH offers,” said Principal Kristy Shafer, explaining that the school will provide “an innovative, relevant style of learning, leading to student success.” Throughout 2016, 50 students from 14 component districts were selected as HFM BOCES Ag-PTECH’s first class. They will participate in the school’s four to six year sequence emphasizing individualized pathways to completion, mentorship, in-depth project-based learning, work place and real world experiences. Ag-PTECH offers six career clusters in agricultural business, agricultural science, agricultural engineering technology focused on power machinery, agricultural sustainable crop production, environmental studies and fisheries and wildlife technologies.
through projects in areas like construction and technical drawing.” Shafer had been at the Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville Central School District prior to her principal placement. “My work as the Mohawk Valley FFA co-advisor has opened my eyes to the opportunities that exist for students in agriculture,” she says. She continued, “I worked with HFM BOCES over the summer to encourage business partners to participate in the grant for this program, and meeting with local agribusiness further solidified my belief and its practices.” — Joshua Thomas
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Agriculture Agritourism Agriculture is the biggest industry in Fulton and Montgomery counties, which boast resources of rich soil and expansive, undeveloped space. Peaceful Valley Maple Farms 116 LaGrange Road, Johnstown (518) 762-0491 • Facebook Maple-syrup production with an on-site retail store that carries maple products, locally-produced foodstuffs and kitchenware. Serves all-you-can eat, family-style breakfasts and dinners mid-January through Mother’s Day, and mid-September through mid-December. Crum Creek CSA 192 Crum Creek Road, St. Johnsville (518) 568-5746 • crumcreekcsa.com • Facebook A collaborative effort of small family farms working together to provide a selection of locally-raised, highquality, healthy meats - beef, pork, chicken and elk; 6 month shares, 20 lb bundles, bulk orders. Hours are by chance or by appointment. Maple Hill Farms 167 Tennantville Road, Edinburg (518) 863-4188 Tennantville timber team logging & firewood. Rogers Family Orchards Inc. 260 Route 131, Johnstown (518) 762-8736 • Facebook Family-owned and operated apple orchard offers you-pick and ready-picked apples, and other readypicked fruits. The country store offers locally-made and locally-grown products.
Homestead Organics 161 Dufel Road, Amsterdam (518) 762-1467 • homesteadorganicsny.com Homestead Organics is a supplier of organic compost for commercial and residential markets; also offers soil testing and blending. Works with local organic farmers/growers for best compost supply. Bag or bulk; pickup or delivery. They are committed to mastering the art of compost.
Glenbrook Farms 142 Brooks Road, Fultonville (518) 922-5091 • glenbrookplants.com Nursery growing 1,500 varieties of hostas and companion plants. The collections also include daylilies, irises, peonies (50+ species and cultivars), conifers and deciduous trees (more than 150 different), popular and rare lilacs (nearly 50 different), flowering trees and shrubs, uncounted numbers of other more or less unusual perennials, clematis, ferns, alpines, wildflowers, ornamental grasses, bulbs, and whatever else strikes their fancy, all in a bucolic setting surrounded by green fields and pastures, where horses cavort. Visitors welcome but call for appointment.
Pavlus Orchards 272 Hickory Hill Road, Ft. Plain (518) 993-2643 This orchard features 13 varieties of apples. Cider doughnuts and pies are available on weekends.
Mohawk Harvest Cooperative Market 30 N. Main Street, Gloversville (518) 706-0681 • www.mohawkharvest.org • Facebook A food co-op promoting healthy eating, buying local and unique products not available at commercial stores. Memberships available, but open to all. Happy Jacks Café - Deli & Coffee Shop, Daily lunch specials, Brunch specials. Now offering locally-raised, grass-fed beef and Antonucci’s Seafood.
Rock Creek Farm 1118 Route 163, Fort Plain (518) 993-3169 • localharvest.org/rock-creek-farm-M39949 A small, organic farm that cultivates beef cattle, turkeys and chickens. Also offers eggs, vegetables, seeds and grains.
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Braasch Farm 142 Braasch Road, Fultonville Family farm in Montgomery County. Milk Train, Inc. PO Box 102, Sprakers (518) 673-5355 Commercial dairy farm. Arnold’s Feed and Grain Service, Inc. 371 Swart Hill Road, Amsterdam (518) 843-3429 • Facebook Offers “feed for every livestock need,” serving the agricultural needs of the region.
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham 136 North Comrie Ave. Johnstown, NY 12095 (518) 762-5425
DESIGNED FOR A BETTER HOTEL STAY SM
From the ground up, value and satisfaction are built into every Microtel Inn & Suite by Wyndham hotel. Enjoy our comfortable and spacious rooms and suites, plus: • Free wireless high-speed Internet • Free continental breakfast • Cozy Dreamwell® bedding • Earn Wyndham Rewards® Points
Timberlane Blueberry Farm Mussey Road, Caroga Lake (518) 835-3938 • Facebook Ready-pick and you-pick fruit and fruit products, breakfast and tea gift baskets. Hummingbird Hills Winery 1442 Burtonville Road, Fultonville (518) 875-6919 • hummingbirdhillswinery.com Small, family-owned winery, with a love for country living and good wine. Their unique wine is produced from their own grapes grown in their vineyards in Montgomery County. PortJacksonMedia.com • FultonMontgomeryNY.org
©2016 Microtel Inn and Suites Franchising, Inc. All rights reserved. All hotels are independently owned and operated.
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Farmers Markets The local agriculture industry is capitalizing on farm-to-table economics. The bounty is showcased at numerous weekly farmers markets. Fort Plain Farmers Market 12 Willet Street, Fort Plain, (518) 993-4271 Memorial Day weekend through end of November Thursdays, 1pm - 5pm.
Fulton-Montgomery Farmers Market Assoc. fultonmontgomeryfarmersmarket.org
100% grower markets, which means that the seller actually raised all of the produce and made the products they offer for sale at the markets. Entertainment offered on various dates; check website for details.
Northville Farmers Market Waterfront Park, off of Main Street, Village of Northville, (518) 863-4211
Markets held Tues. and Fri. from 2pm - 5pm from July through September with a winter market in December. The Amsterdam Farmers Market 100 Church Street, Amsterdam, (518) 843-5151 Held in the parking lot at 100 Church Street on Saturdays from mid-May through September. Taste of the Mohawk Valley - Montgomery County Soil & Water Conservation District facebook.com/TasteoftheMohawkValley/
Multiple off-season markets held year-round indoors at Alpin Haus, 1863 Route 5S, Amsterdam.
– Bryan Marcucci of Johnstown arranges the crops at St. Mary’s Healthcare Memorial Campus Farmers Market
Amsterdam: St. Mary’s Healthcare Memorial Campus, at 4988 State Highway 30 Wed., 3pm - 6pm, May through October. Johnstown: Johnstown’s Main Street Park at Market St./Main St. Tues. 3pm - 6pm May through October.
– Marvin Ladeau of Gloversville makes some healthy choices when visiting the Elm Street Pavilion Farmers Market
Gloversville: Elm Street Pavilion between Spring and Church Streets Saturdays 8:30am - 12:30pm May through mid-October. 50
Focus Fulton Montgomery Region, NY
FULTON MONTGOMERY REGION PROFILE
The region’s economy features agriculture, commercial, retail, industrial, warehousing and distribution, transportation, food manufacturing, and other businesses. POPULATION: Total = 103,884 (2014 estimate) Fulton County = 54,104 City of Gloversville 15,315 City of Johnstown 8,479 Montgomery County = 49,779 City of Amsterdam 18,206 LAND AREA in square miles (2010): 898.51 Fulton County = 495.47 Montgomery County = 403.04 PERSONS PER SQUARE MILE (2010): Fulton County = 112.1 Montgomery County = 124.6 TOTAL NUMBER OF FIRMS (2007): 7,914 MAJOR PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYERS (# of employees)
Lexington ARC, Fulton County (1600)
St. Mary’s Healthcare, Amsterdam (1447)
Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home, Gloversville (961) Wal-Mart Distribution Center, Johnstown (750)
Kasson Keller Keymark, Fonda (715)
Target Distribution, Amsterdam (682)
Liberty ARC, Montgomery County (675)
Amsterdam Printing & Litho, Amsterdam (500)
Exel, Johnstown (477)
Taylor Made Group, Gloversville (340)
FAGE USA Dairy Industry, Johnstown (295)
Robison & Smith, Gloversville (288)
Beech-Nut Nutrition Corp., Amsterdam (285)
Frontier, Johnstown/Gloversville (200)
PortJacksonMedia.com Please recycle this publication. • FultonMontgomeryNY.org
COST OF LIVING Median Housing Prices (2014): Fulton County = $104,500 Montgomery County = $78,475 Median Rental Price (average of three cities’ rates): For a 2 bedroom/1 bath = $720/month SALES TAXES County = 8% (Fulton County and Montgomery County) State Sales Tax = 4% OCCUPATIONS OF RESIDENTS Montgomery Co. Fulton Co. 16+ Years Civilian Employed 21,714 23,639 Management, Business, Science & Arts 30% 28% Service Occupations 18% 20% Sales And Office 23% 25% Natural Resources, Construction & Maintenance 10% 10% Production, Transportation, Material Moving 18% 17% ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce www.fultonmontgomeryny.org 2 N. Main Street, Gloversville, NY 12078 1166 Riverfront Center, Amsterdam, NY 12010 (518) 725-0641 Fulton County Center for Regional Growth 34 West Fulton Street, Gloversville, NY 12078 www.fccrg.org 110 Decker Drive, Suite 201, Johnstown, NY 12095 (518) 725-7700 Fulton County Industrial Development Agency ida.fultoncountyny.gov 1 East Montgomery Street, Johnstown, NY 12095 (518) 736-5660 Montgomery County Business Development Center www.mcbdc.org/ 9 Park Street, Fonda, NY 12068 (518) 853-8334
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Restaurant Dome49 Restaurant & Wine Bar
49 Hancock Street, Fort Plain (518) 993-3600 dome49.com • Facebook Enjoy Italian and American casual dining in the intimate atmosphere of their geodesic dome. Steaks, pastas, chicken, fish and more are cooked fresh, coupled with service to make you feel at home. Dinners and monthly Sunday brunch (first Sunday), extensive wine and beer menu for every palate.
Palmateer’s Top Notch Tavern
712 County Route 132, Hagaman (518) 843-2333 topnotchtavern.com
• Facebook Chef Robert Palmateer tells the story of Top Notch Tavern in every dish in this restaurant and tavern specializing in world-famous Top Notch Prime Rib. Offering thick steaks, fresh seafood, rustic salad bar, real wood fireplaces, and free peel/eat shrimp Sun-Thurs. Daily specials and extensive wine and beer selection.
Montgomery County
Rooted in history, Montgomery County is a location of breathtaking natural beauty and abundant resources, the ultimate playground for year-round outdoor activities, good strong fun and is a great place to do business.
Visit us at www.co.montgomery.ny.us 52
Nicolino’s Restaurant & Wine Bar
4515 State Highway 30, Amsterdam (518) 842-4907
Fine Italian cuisine is offered at Nicolino’s including pasta, steaks, seafood and more. Nicolino’s has a casual wine bar, along with full bar offerings. Eat-in and take out available and they have a great private room available for parties. Alla Parmigiana every Wednesday, and other special nights themed for community events. Roasted mushroom and pancetta bisque soup is a specialty, along with dishes such as Cotolette alla Zingura (gypsy-style braised pork steaks pan seared with olives, capers, peppers and grape tomatoes), and Costada de Manzo alla Romana (ribeye steak, marinated in rosemary, garlic, and lemon and then chargrilled to order), leaves you wanting to taste everything on the menu.
Miss Johnstown Diner
28 E. Main Street, Johnstown (518) 762-1994 • Facebook
A popular local favorite, Miss Johnstown Diner offers homemade goodness 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to breakfast lovers, as well as late-night diners. Serving the community for over 90 years, their famous “mac and gravy” (macaroni salad and hot brown gravy) is a local specialty, along with huge omelets and egg dishes any time of day/night, hamburgers, sandwiches and homemade pies.
Lulu’s Bar & Bistro at The Inn at the Bridge
641 Bridge Street, Northville (518) 863-8013 theinnatthebridge.com • Facebook Opt for a table in the dining room, settle in by the fireplace, or in summer, enjoy outdoor dining options overlooking the Great Sacandaga Lake. Seasonal selections with products and ingredients from their own organic garden, the region’s best farms and cooperative markets. Chick and Hen Bakery at the Inn is a collaboration between a baker and innkeeper with desserts, breakfast pastries, and other specials for the restaurant, and to-go. New York State micro brews, hand-picked wines by the glass or bottle, gourmet Tapas Plates, and exceptional desserts. Focus Fulton Montgomery Region, NY
Briefs River’s Edge Restaurant Riverlink Park, Amsterdam (518) 320-4868 • Facebook
(Parking for River’s Edge Restaurant available on top of Amsterdam Mall with scenic walk over pedestrian bridge to Riverlink Park).
Dan Nelli’s two businesses allow him to offer great food at a waterfront restaurant and at the venue of your choice! River’s Edge Restaurant has a beautiful waterfront location offering BBQ, steaks, seafood, burgers, pasta, family style meals, and full bar with drink specials. Seats 135 with event tent seating up to 275 with overnight docking, concerts and other great events in Spring, Summer and Fall. Dan’s Backyard BBQ offers great barbecue specialties with off-premise catering up to 2,000. Amsterdam Diner
4790 State Highway 30, Amsterdam (518) 212-6057 • Facebook
The LaVoie family became this restaurant’s new owners in 2015, and offer breakfast items all day to full dinners including Italian favorites. Specializing in comfort foods and homemade soups and desserts. Daily and seasonal specials. Private room for up to 45 people. Village Café & Pizzeria
172 South Main Street, Northville (518) 863-6377
Pizza, Italian Cafe’ and American food. Daily specials including calzone, pizza, pasta, wings, salads, grinders and more! Eat in at an intimate booth or open table or take some of their specialties to go to enjoy at home. Recovery Sports Grill
5005 STHWY 30N, Amsterdam (518) 842-5500 recoverysportsgrill.com • Facebook Taking its nickname after the famous horseracing farm that sits nearby, the Recovery Sports Grill Hurricanna in Amsterdam has become the place for local sports fans to watch the game. From their fresh, never frozen hand battered chicken tenders and 16 signature wing sauces to a 100% all-American premium cut beef burger or a salad, Recover Sports Grill has something for everyone. Happy Hour every Monday through Friday from 4pm-7pm they carry many New York beer and wine. PortJacksonMedia.com • FultonMontgomeryNY.org
Shorty’s Southside Tavern 51 Broad Street, Amsterdam (518) 842-7800 • Facebook An Amsterdam southside mainstay, this restaurant serves Italian specialties, subs, wraps, salads and more! Homemade, brick-fired, thin crust pizza served Tuesday through Thursday. Great bar and appetizers. Delivery available. Specializing in office luncheons. Drew Dog’s And More
62 Elmwood Avenue, Gloversville (518) 725-3739 • Facebook
Classic hot dogs every which way, four homemade soups served every day, specials like Reuben sandwiches and homemade mac-n-cheese, sandwiches, salads and so much more make this place a lunch time favorite. They are also famous for their homemade rice pudding. Open 11am-4pm. Winner’s Circle
3293 State Highway 5, Fonda (518) 853-3094
A local favorite, Winner’s Circle offers race-themed decor (a tribute to the nearby Fonda Speedway) and menus including their own roast turkey and beef, steaks, pasta, chicken, soups, sandwiches and salads. Fullservice catering on- or off-site; banquets up to 100. Vince’s Pizza & Pasta
118 West Main Street, Johnstown (518) 736-2828 • Facebook
Italian restaurant offering eat in, take out or delivery. Pizza, wings, salads, subs, daily pasta specials. Private room seats up to 40 people. Children’s birthday parties - kids make their own pizzas.
NYS Licensed Real Estate Broker:
E N E R G Y • I N N O VAT I O N • R E S U LT S
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CHAMBER REPORT A chamber membership is an investment in your business & your community
The Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce is a membership-based organization, right now composed of 950 business members from all over the Fulton-Montgomery counties region and beyond (Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga,
Schoharie, and more!) Our vision statement: “We are the leading voice of business in the region providing advocacy, resources and solutions for our members” couldn’t ring more true. Advocacy – we speak as one voice for business
Focus Fulton Montgomery Region, NY
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in the halls of government; from mayors of cities/villages in our two counties, to county governments, state and beyond. We speak up for pro-business issues to make for a stronger business climate for all. Resources and Solutions – we provide ways for our members to network with each other and grow their businesses; we promote our businesses in many ways, online and offline; we provide educational resources and seminars on issues important to businesses large and small; we communicate with our members and help them communicate with one another. Chamber membership is an investment in your business, and is best utilized when you take advantage of Chamber member benefits. One way to get involved is for Chamber member businesses and their employees to get involved with a Chamber Committee. Here is some information on these Chamber groups and the staff liaison who works with them. Please reach out and get involved! Ambassador Committee – Led by Co-Chairs Carl Marucci (Patriot Federal Bank) and Lana Ruggiero (Ruggiero Realty), this Chamber committee is very active. The committee’s mission statement speaks to their program of work – promoting the goodwill communicating the mission of the Chamber to new and existing members, encouraging business members and their employees to get involved with Chamber programs and services, and supporting business members and staff. Ambassadors are often the first link that new members have with the Chamber. Their goal is to make businesses feel welcome and comfortable at Chamber events and programs. They do this by attending ribboncutting events to welcome new businesses, they contact new members to answer questions and explain benefits, and more. They also serve as the official hosts at Chamber events, where they pay special attention to first-time attendees, meeting them and introducing them to other members. They truly are Chamber advocates. The group meets monthly at Chambermember restaurants all over the region. The staff liaison to this group is Alex Ruggeri. Fulton Montgomery Young Professionals Network (FMYPN) – This group’s Chairman is Sam Zimmerman (Mohawk Valley Group at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management). Sam’s Co-Chair is Shane Rauh (SEFCU). This active group’s vision is “to serve as a catalyst to connect, develop and empower young professionals by offering networking, professional development, and civic engagement opportunities in a fun atmosphere. The professionals targeted will range from “20-something to 40-something” but the expertise, participation and camaraderie of professionals of all ages will be sought, welcomed and encouraged.” FMYPN is led by a Steering Committee, whose members 48
PortJacksonMedia.com • FultonMontgomeryNY.org
chair group sub-committees. Anyone is welcome to be a part of the networking and community events in which the group participates. You can like FMYPN on Facebook, follow the group on Twitter (FMYPN) or Instagram #FMYPN for updates on events and more. Staff liaison is Nicole Walrath. Education Committee – This committee is chaired by Diana Marshall (Gloversville Sewing Center) and is comprised of business leaders, and education leaders from school districts and HFM BOCES. The group works on events that foster collaboration between businesses and our schools (8th Grade Career Exploration Day), gets businesses directly involved with
Our vision statement: We are the leading voice of business in the region providing advocacy, resources and solutions for our members students through mentor programs and internships, and helps to connect businesses with information about how educational initiatives in our region will help prepare the workforce of tomorrow. The group meets monthly at the Chamber office, HFM BOCES, or PTECH and is always looking for business members to help with its program of work. Staff liaison is Terry Swierzowski. Governmental Affairs – This important committee puts together an Advocacy Agenda for the Chamber each year, that helps focus on issues that are important for our businesses. They regularly meet with elected officials on municipal, county, state and federal levels to keep a finger on the “pulse” of legislation and to keep pro-business issues in the conversation. Mark Kilmer is the staff liaison to this committee that meets monthly on a rotating basis in the Chamber’s Amsterdam office or Gloversville office. Kevin McClary, publisher of The Recorder and President of McClary Media is the Committee Chair. Find out more about how the Chamber can help your business…and our region. Call (518) 725-0641, visit www.fultonmontgomeryny.org, Like us on Facebook, and connect with us on Twitter and Instagram. Remember, membership in the Chamber is a good investment for your business…and for our region.
“Life Is Good After Rehab at River Ridge.”
- Wendy P
• Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapy 6 days a week • Sports Medicine Rehabilitation • Wii Therapy • Joint Replacement Therapy • Vestibular Rehabilitation • Pelvic Floor/Bladder Rehabilitation
• Stroke Management & Recovery • Respiratory/Pulmonary Management • 24/7 Skilled Nursing Care • Physicians Services • Comprehensive Wound Care • Pain Management • IV Certified Program
100 Sandy Drive, Amsterdam, NY 12010 518.843.3503 • Fax: 518.843.3537 RiverRidgeLC.com Focus Fulton Montgomery Region, NY
A
joint venture between the cities of
Gloversville and Johnstown in the 1970s resulted in the creation of a Joint Wastewater Treatment Facility located near the Cayadutta Creek. This multimillion dollar investment serves to protect the waters of Fulton County. Wastewater generated by the residents of the community along with approximately 25 diverse industries is accepted and treated at this facility. The facility recently completed an upgrade project resulting in the generation of more than 95% of the electricity required to operate the facility.
GLOVERSVILLE-JOHNSTOWN JOINT WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY (518) 762-3101
191 Union Ave., Johnstown, NY 12095
www.g-jwastewater.com
PortJacksonMedia.com • FultonMontgomeryNY.org
email:
[email protected]
Focus Fulton Montgomery Region, NY
