SARATOGA SPRINGS — Tailgate and Party has had a successful summer at their new location on Phila Street. 

Tailgate and Party on 33 Phila Street, diagonal to Ben & Jerry’s is your go-to, one-stop-shop for all things celebration. The store has an assortment of merchandise that you might not find elsewhere, from track necessities to hostess gifts and milestone birthday supplies, including helium balloons. As the seasons change, owner Kirsten Lambert said some of the merchandise in the fall will transition to represent that, with more coolers, NFL gear, and tailgate-related items – true to the store’s name. However, a bestseller throughout the seasons has been their adult drinking games. Lambert said that customers who come into the store and see the display always have a story to tell or a memory to share. 

“It is a very happy store,” said Lambert. “Everyone is always laughing as they go through and look around at what we have.” 

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Tailgate and Party fills a need for Saratoga, which Lambert realized when she had a hard time finding supplies for her mom’s 80th birthday. 

Lambert had always said she wanted to be three things in life – a hairdresser, a teacher (which she was for 25 years), and to work in a store. So, she opened Tailgate and Party, and found out that much like teaching, there is a planning aspect to owning a party store. 

This summer has been quite successful since the move from the corner of Henry and Caroline Street to Phila Street. Traffic is heavy in the morning, as customers wait for brunch downtown or the track to open. But as she has learned from other local Saratoga business owners, there is never a “method to the madness”. 

“When I was on Henry and Caroline Street during the pandemic, I got to meet and talk to the locals. I learned so much about Saratoga,” said Lambert. “It was great preparation going into this new location. We want to keep evolving, changing, and moving forward.” 

To view Tailgate and Party’s featured products, balloon inventory, and more, visit their website at www.tailgateandparty.com, or reach the store by phone at 518-886-9015. 

MANCHESTER, NH and SARTOGA SPRINGS — Forcivity has been named one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, breaking the top 400 on the Inc. 5000 list for the second year in a row. 

This exciting news is announced in tandem with Forcivity unveiling a new logo and branding, capping off the merger with Jolt Consulting Group out of Saratoga Springs that was announced in March 2021.

Forcivity worked with Pennsylvania-based marketing agency Uncommon Marketing Works to put together the
new branding. 

“We knew we needed a new look to celebrate the joining of these two powerful companies with storied histories,” said Molly McGee, Director of Marketing for Forcivity. 

The new brand incorporated elements from each company’s original identities, but with a modern 2021 twist. 

“We are excited for the change not just because of the visual aspects, but because of what the new brand represents for our future,” said Steve Baines, Forcivity President and Chief Growth Officer. “We have been able to deliver so much more for our customers and employees since merging, and this evolution signifies our ongoing commitment to that. We’ve got a lot planned for our future growth and opportunity at our company.” 

SCOTIA — 1st National Bank of Scotia has announced the addition of William Faubion, Senior Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer, and Laura Siracuse, Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer. As members of the Commercial Lending Team, they will play an inte-gral role in cultivating new business and serving the bank’s existing commercial customers. 

Faubion, formerly a Senior Lender at NBT Bank, brings 41 years of commercial lending, cash management, and wealth management experience to the bank. 

Siracuse has 29 years of banking experience and previously served as a Senior Relation-ship Manager at M&T Bank. She specializes in relationship management, commercial lending, fi-nancial management and staff development, and played an integral role during the pandemic help-ing businesses obtain financing through the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Industry Disaster Loan.

CAPITAL REGION — On the heels of announcing its rebrand and the addition of four new affiliates, CanCode Communities has released its Fall 2021 course schedule for AlbanyCanCode and KingstonCanCode. Registration is now open for a mix of new, expanded, and popular courses designed to prepare individuals for technology careers while developing a tech talent pipeline to support businesses and fuel economic growth. 

Fall courses will be offered remotely in small classroom settings, with real-time instruction and hands-on learning. Classes will begin the week of Sept. 21, run for 12 weeks, and be conducted from 5:45 to 8:45 p.m. 

The newest course in the CanCode Communities catalogue, Software Development Lifecycle, will provide an overview of the software development process and methodologies for managing ideation, planning, and execution of software development projects. The course will use the Scrum methodology for development, and students will also learn about other Agile methodologies as they iteratively develop their projects. It will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

A recently added course, Microsoft Azure & Cloud Computing, is being expanded to include additional instruction. Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing service that enables complex computing, analytics, storage, and networking needs. This course will introduce students to the core concepts of cloud computing and the different services offered within Azure. It is being offered in partnership with SUNY Ulster and being held on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The Front-End Web Development course, which teaches technical skills necessary for user interface (UI) development and wire framing, is an ideal starting point for individuals with basic computer skills that wish to take their first steps into the field of software development. It is being offered in partnership with Capital Region BOCES and will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

And, classes will be offered in JavaScript Fundamentals, the dominant scripting tool for front-end web development. This course is intended for those who have taken Front-End Web Development in the past, or have experience in coding and wish to begin learning some of the most popular tools being used for web-based software. It is being offered in partnership with Capital Region BOCES and will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays. 

For more information and to register for Fall 2021 classes, visit www.albanycancode.org/for-students/courses/. Launched in 2016, CanCode Communities has produced more than 300 graduates that have secured tech jobs with leading employers – including Accenture, Goldman Sachs, New York State Office of Information Technology Services, MVP Healthcare, and Zones, among others – and seen average annual salary increases exceeding $18,000. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Hospital has named Meredith Borak as Associate Vice President for Quality and Performance Improvement. 

Borak comes to Saratoga Hospital from University of Chicago Medicine at Ingalls Memorial Hospital, where she was the Director of Clinical Excellence, responsible for risk management, quality and safety, regulatory compliance, and infection prevention. 

SEATTLE — Talking Rain Beverage Company, maker of Sparkling Ice® flavored sparkling water, has announced the winner of their second annual Cheers to Heroes contest celebrating everyday heroes from across the country. After receiving over 1,00 nominations from 905 cities across the U.S., the brand is honoring Michael Bayer from Ballston Lake as the official winner of this year’s Cheers to Heroes contest and $10,000 grand cash prize. 

In April 2021, Sparkling Ice teamed up with one of America’s favorite hometown heroes, 3x Olympic Gold Medalist Gabby Douglas to kick off this year’s campaign, where together, Gabby and the brand announced the campaign’s call-to-action for consumers to nominate a hero in their life. The nominations were narrowed down to three finalists including Michael Bayer from Ballston Lake, NY, Kay Menashe Ozone Park, NY, and Ryan Dwyer from Kenmore, WA. 

“I was humbled to have been nominated, honored to have been selected as a finalist, overwhelmed and grateful to those who voted for me,” said Bayer. “Winning this contest will enable me to participate in my youngest son’s promotion ceremony to Major in the US Army in January 2022 in Hawaii, and visit two of my grandchildren. I also plan to increase my involvement in National Cemetery services such as the Wreaths Across America Program. I hope my volunteer activities inspire others to open their eyes and hearts to volunteer opportunities and realize that in helping others, they will be fulfilled themselves.” 

“We are thrilled to honor Michael as this year’s contest winner for the extraordinary influence he’s had on the local Ballston Lake community,” said Chris Hall, CEO of Talking Rain. “As we continue to honor our everyday heroes, we’re excited to celebrate an individual like Michael who exemplifies what the Cheers to Heroes contest is all about – thanking and supporting local community heroes that continue to make a difference.” 

To celebrate all of the deserving nominees, Sparkling Ice has awarded Kay Menashe, the 1st place runner up with $7,500 and Ryan Dwyer, the 2nd place prize of $5,000. The brand has also extended a $500 3rd place cash prize to 300 nominees as a way to further celebrate and thank the heroes for their community service. 

For more information on Sparkling Ice and the Cheers to Heroes contest, please visit: www.sparklingicerewards.com/cheerstoheroes.

CHARLTON — David Wood owns one of the largest farms in Saratoga County, but estate tax increases are threatening the future of his farm.

Wood does not yet have a family member ready to inherit Eildon Tweed Farm. If a long-time employee, per se, were to take over his farm when he retires, federal tax policies do not include exclusions for anyone other than direct family members. Therefore, his successor could potentially have to sell the farm just to foot the federal tax bill. 

“It is quite an undertaking, but we are hoping to make provisions,” said Wood, about having a family member inherit the farm in the coming years. 

After 2025, the estate tax will increase to 40 percent for property valued above $6 million, which includes Eildon Tweed Farm. Additionally, President Biden is proposing to increase capital gains tax to 39.5 percent. Wood’s successor, if not a family member, would have to pay millions in taxes and the farm would not be able to make a profit. 

When Wood moved into the farmhouse in 1970, Eildon Tweed Farm was operating with 60 acres. In 2021, it now operates on 3,500 acres and is valued at $12 million.

“The farm has different types of assets,” said Wood. “Real estate, machinery, etc., add value, but they are not fluid and not spendable.” 

Undeveloped land in Saratoga County, such as the farmland at Eildon Tweed Farm, has been rapidly increasing in worth. Between offers from developers and high taxes, local farms are slowly disappearing. 

However, the New York Farm Bureau is working on behalf of farmers like Wood. See the following passage from the New York Farm Bureau 2018 Policy Book: “Estate taxes continue to be of concern to farmers as they impact their ability to pass the farm on to the next generation or to another farmer. Current laws need modification in order to assure the continuance of New York agriculture.”

SCHUYLERVILLE — Flatley Read, Inc. an environmental and community development services firm based in Schuylerville, NY has hired Colin McKnight as their Director of Community Development Programs. He started on Aug. 2, 2021. 

Mr. McKnight, formerly the Deputy Director of the New York State Rural Housing Coalition, will be working with small municipalities across New York State on issues such as affordable housing, historic preservation, and other challenges to thriving, vital neighborhoods. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Munter Enterprises, Inc. have submitted a proposal to construct another warehouse at the W.J. Grande Industrial Park. 

Brothers John and Michael Munter, President and Vice President, are the second generation running Munter Enterprises – the general contracting firm out of Middle Grove. Munter Enterprises has constructed many large projects across the Capital Region, and up next they plan to construct a 70,000 square foot warehouse on a portion of the 10.34 acres of property they own in the W.J. Grande Industrial Park at 20 Skyward Drive in Saratoga Springs. 

The Munters took their warehouse proposal to the planning board on Thursday, Aug. 12. If the proposal is approved, more information about the project will then be made available to the public. 

Some of the projects that Munter Enterprises is known for are the Saratoga Regional YMCA, Druthers (all three Saratoga, Albany, and Mohawk Harbor locations), Adirondack Trust Company in Wilton, the Galway Volunteer Fire Department, RockSport Indoor Climbing in Queensbury, and SKS Bottle and Packaging, also at the W.J. Grande Industrial Park. 

For more information about Munter Enterprises, Inc. and their projects, visit www.munterenterprises.com. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs business owners are seeing double digits sales increases as visitors have flocked to the Saratoga Race Course for the first two weeks of the 2021 season. The positive outlook comes on the heels of a disastrous 2020 when many Saratoga Springs business owners had to fight for survival during the COVID pandemic. During the summer of 2020, city sales were down 30-40% overall, and a survey found that 30% of equine related business owners were concerned about losing their entire investment. 

“The Saratoga Race Course is the oldest sporting venue in the US with an estimated annual regional economic impact of $240 million,” said Todd Shimkus, President of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. “Every business in every sector here feeds off the Track. The City and the Track are inseparable when it comes to our economic health and history.” 

For the summer of 2021, it is like night and day. The city of Saratoga Springs projects 2021 tax collection will surpass $14.5 million, more than $1 million more than the amount collected in 2019, pre-COVID.