GLENS FALLS — Saratoga Hospital’s Dr. Michael Bourla now sees patients at Saratoga Nephrology at Glens Falls, making it easier for those with chronic kidney disease and related conditions to access specialty care close to home.

Bourla joins Dr. Amy Hogan Moulton at the Glens Falls location at 2 Broad Stt Plaza. Both physicians are members of Saratoga Hospital Medical Group – Nephrology.

Nephrologists are doctors who treat diseases and conditions that affect the kidneys and their ability to function. Kidney disease is more common in people 65 and older, and an aging population and diabetes are fueling the increasing demand for these specialists.

A graduate of Duke University, Bourla earned his medical degree at Albert Einstein school of Medicine in New York City. He completed an internship and residency at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, followed by a two-year clinical fellowship in nephrology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Bourla is board certified in internal medicine and nephrology.

To learn more, go to www.saratogahospital.org. 

GLENS FALLS — The Board of Directors of Arrow Financial Corporation on April 28 declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.26 per share payable June 15, 2021, to shareholders of record on June 2, 2021. This represents an increase of 3% over the cash dividend paid in the second quarter of 2020, as a result of the 3% stock dividend distributed on Sept. 25, 2020.

Arrow Financial Corporation is a multi-bank holding company headquartered in Glens Falls serving the financial needs of northeastern New York. The Company is the parent of Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company and Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company. Other subsidiaries include North Country Investment Advisers, Inc., and Upstate Agency, LLC, specializing in property and casualty insurance and group health and employee benefits.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Northshire Bookstore opened the doors to its Saratoga Springs store on an August day in 2013, affecting in innumerable positive ways the downtown landscape of the Spa City. This week, it begins a new chapter.

“It is with excitement, confidence and sadness that I announce that the Northshire Bookstores are passing out of Morrow ownership,” said Northshire co-owner Chris Morrow, announcing in a statement that Clark and Lu French of Manchester, Vermont are the new owners of Northshire Bookstores, which sites locations in Saratoga Springs and Manchester, VT. 

Chris Morrow’s parents, Ed and Barbara Morrow, started the original store in Vermont in September of 1976. 

“When thinking about selling, my main worry was always finding someone, or two, who had the right sensibilities as well as the chops; someone who appreciated The Book, the art of bookselling and our amazing staff and who also had the background, energy, vision and resources to carry the bookstores into future decades,” said Chris Morrow.  In a generation of memories, Morrow explained it is the people he has come across he is most grateful for – from colleagues who have worked at the bookstores, authors who have dropped by, fellow bookstores, publishing houses, and the clientele “who have made all this possible for us. What a beautiful adventure.”

Ed and Barbara Morrow added that this is a personally bittersweet moment for them and expressed confidence they are passing the store’s stewardship into good and competent hands. 

Clark and Lu French, longtime patrons and supporters of Northshire, released this statement: “As this beloved family-owned business approaches its 45th Anniversary, we are thrilled and honored to become its next stewards. Along with our ownership team members Jon and Tom West, we are committed to continuing the legacy and high standards the Morrows have cultivated over their long tenure. 

“The Northshire is more than a bookstore to us. It’s a vibrant gathering and shopping venue where memories are made and discovery is encouraged. Supporting and nurturing this enriching experience is our highest priority. We are sincerely grateful to the Morrow family for trusting us with their life’s work and welcome the opportunity to continue their legacy for many years to come.” 

The French family has been involved in numerous Vermont area ventures, including the Taconic Hotel and the recent restoration of the former Mark Skinner Library building, as well as serving as board members of the Manchester Community Library, Taconic Music and Burr and Burton Academy. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Downtown Business Association thanks Zac and Corrina King of King Enterprises/King Hose, Bob Giordano and Michele Erceg of Best Dressed Windows for their volunteer efforts to bring Santa Claus to the community last year during the DBA Victorian Streetscapes. The “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” effort placed Santa Claus on a King Hose firetruck where he visited young and old alike in the neighborhoods of  Saratoga Springs.

SARATOGA — The Gateway House of Peace, a not-for-profit organization offering hospice care, has been serving the Saratoga County region since 2014 as a safe, comfortable and caring home for terminally ill patients. 

Gateway House has always relied on the generosity of this community for support, as they are a donor-driven community organization which receives no insurance reimbursements or government funding, and care for residents and their families is at no fee to them.

In an effort to become more self-sustaining, Gateway House is seeking to open a Thrift Store that would allow to build upon the fundraising success the organization has had in the community with yard sales. With that goal in mind, Gateway House is seeking the donation of a building or location that could be used for such a Thrift Store. Gateway House of Peace believes this gift would allow them to achieve a longevity of service for our community. 

Please contact Gateway House of Peace at 518-450-1273; info@gatewayhouseofpeace.org

As a small business owner, having the right tools and resources is crucial for stability, growth and continued success. The same is true with your company’s banking relationship. When you partner with a financial institution, you want as much value and support as possible — both financially and strategically. Finding a community banking partner that serves your complete small business needs is vital. Let’s examine what challenges exist for small business resources and what a small business owner like you can do to best access financial support, such as lending and business credit, provided by financial institutions.

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On Broadway

On Broadway: work continues at the former Saratoga Downtowner hotel, antisipated to reopen in early June as a Lark Hotel – which has properties in seven different U.S. states. The new venture is expected to keep the “Downtowner” name.

Less Football, More Twang

SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Phila Street site that formerly housed Peabody’s Sports Bar is slated to be reopened prior to the summer season as Nashville of Saratoga. The venue promises a “Nashville style country bar” and live events. 

Job interviews will be held May 2 through May 4 and positions available include experienced cooks, bartenders, hosts and dish-washers. Go to: nashvilleofsaratoga.com. 

Strings Go Silent on Broadway 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Matt McCabe, who for decades owned and operated several Saratoga Guitar locations in and around the community, died in January at his home from complications of COVID-19.

Last week, the shop on Broadway located next to City Hall, posted the following message: 

After a great deal of consideration, we have decided to close Saratoga Guitar permanently. It pains us to do this, but after considering multiple avenues for its continuation we have come to a personal conclusion: Matt was the store. 

Even if the store continued to exist in some form, it wouldn’t really be Saratoga Guitar. 

Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the years. 

New Tailgate and Party Shop Opens on Phila

SARATOGA SPRINGS —The spot long-occupied by Four Seasons on Phila Street reopened on April 25 as the Tailgate and Party Shop. The shop relocated from its previous Caroline Street location and features entertainment for the entertainer – unique gift ideas, family and drinking games, hosting supplies, balloons, party goods and unique Saratoga items.

“You can honestly take an hour to just walk through here,” says owner Kirsten Lambert, who opened the initial store last June in a rented building on Caroline Street, and has since purchased the building where the new shop stands.  Open every day of the week. Go to: tailgateandparty.com.

Rockefeller Capital Management Grows into New Office Location in Saratoga Springs

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Rockefeller Capital Management this week announced the relocation of its Saratoga Springs location, the headquarters of its Family Office business. The new office will host all 40 employees in the Saratoga area. 

Led by Saratoga-based President of the Family Office Timothy O’Hara, the business serves ultra-high-net-worth families through an expanded offering of investment, tax and estate planning, strategic advisory, and trustee services, while creating access to strategic partnerships providing risk management and lifestyle-enhancing services. The business complements Rockefeller’s other practices, including Private Wealth Management, Rockefeller Asset Management and Strategic Advisory offerings. 

To support the growing Family Office business and the complex needs of its clients, Rockefeller has relocated to the 3rd floor of 321 Broadway, to accommodate its growing team of senior client advisors and multigenerational wealth planning experts. This space will enable socially distant and COVID-safe protocols and allow for an increase in collaboration among employees by consolidating from two small floors to one larger floor. 

Across the U.S., Rockefeller counts a total of 677 employees in 23 locations as of March 31, 2021. 

For more information, go to: rcm.rockco.com/saratogasprings 

Woman-Owned Tech Company Celebrates 25 Years In Business

SARATOGA SPRINGS — In 1996, Beth Weise Moeller, Ph.D., founded Interactive Media Consulting, LLC (IMC) as a website development company. Over the past 25 years, IMC has grown and evolved into a full-service digital marketing agency keeping pace with the ever-changing online world.

When Moeller established her woman-owned business, the digital profession was in its infancy, and tech-savvy women were a rarity.  At the time, there were less than 260,000 registered websites around the world. Today, twenty-five years later, there are over 1.6 BILLION websites registered internationally. Yet even as computers, the internet, and digital and social media have changed and grown at an astounding rate, women remain significantly underrepresented in the information and technology sector, accounting for approximately 25% of industry professionals.

Every year since its founding, IMC has given back to the community, supporting dozens of nonprofits and local organizations with digital marketing assistance. Over the years, IMC has worked with many youth or arts organizations, providing ongoing support to ensure continued growth and success. 

A passionate advocate for the arts and entrepreneurship, Moeller has long been committed to promoting artists and counseling small businesses. In 2015, Moeller introduced Arts Spark, a division of IMC established to “Help Artists With The Business of Being An Artist.” In 2019, Moeller launched The Innovation Center at Saratoga, Inc., a nonprofit collaborative makerspace where artists, entrepreneurs, and community members join together to learn, create, and innovate. Moeller’s vision includes programs where students can explore STEM in a
hands-on environment. 

IMC is a full-service website and digital marketing firm. Services include website design and programming, branding, content creation, print collateral materials, and hosting. Go to: www.imediaconsult.com. 

BALLSTON SPA — Saratoga’s Community Federal Credit Union and First New York Federal Credit Union recently collaborated on a state-of-the-art Interactive Teller Machine (ITM). This is the second collaboration for the two credit unions with the shared initiative of improving access to financial services in our local region. 

Under this collaboration, First New York FCU has launched an ITM in one of the drive-thru access lanes of Saratoga’s Community FCU’s newly opened Ballston Spa Branch. This provides members of both credit unions as well as members of all Shared Branch credit unions access to a full-service branch and ITM in the Ballston Spa community.  The ITM is staffed and maintained by First New York FCU and is available with extended weekday hours and Saturday hours.  The terminal also performs as an ATM with 24/7 access.

Under the new collaboration, members of the credit unions can complete all routine teller transactions with guidance from a live teller, and members of other credit unions within the CO-OP Shared Branch network can use the ITM terminal to complete common shared branching transactions. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Martin Nemer, founder of Nemer Motor Group, died unexpectedly of a heart attack at age 53. Nearly five decades later, his family still thinks about what might have been.

Earlier this month, the Nemer family—and the company that bears their name—made a gift to Saratoga Hospital Foundation to help prevent others from suffering a similar loss. As a tribute to their father and grandfather, the Nemers are underwriting Saratoga Hospital’s subscription to the emergency Lifenet System.

Lifenet transmits electrocardiogram and other critical patient information to the Emergency Department while the ambulance is en route. Armed with this information, the hospital can prepare for the patient’s arrival and ensure the emergency interventional cardiology team is at the ready, if necessary.

“If Lifenet were available when my father had his heart attack, he might have lived,” said Robert Nemer, partner, Nemer Motor Group, in a statement. “If we can help save someone’s life by getting them treatment faster, that would be a fitting tribute to him.”

Nemer Motor Group owns four dealerships, including Nemer Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram of Saratoga. Several family members live in Saratoga Springs.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Impressions of Saratoga hosts its fifth annual Breyer Fun Day, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 24.  The event will take place in front of Impressions of Saratoga and The Dark Horse Mercantile – at 368 and 445 Broadway – and allow for safe social distancing. Masks are required. 

Breyer Animal Creations was founded in 1950 in Chicago, Illinois, originally called Breyer Molding Company. They gained recognition when the company was commissioned by F.W. Woolworth to create a horse statue (now known as the # 57 Western Horse) to adorn a mantel clock. 

This event is free and features a Breyer Model Show, Paint your own Model Horse craft project, visits with the live miniature Dark Horse mascot UPSET, a scavenger hunt around downtown, raffles, prizes and more activities and events.