SCHENECTADY — Mohawk Honda has announced the 12 local nonprofits named to receive a combined $60,000 as part of its “12 Days of Giving.” The Schenectady-based dealership launched the campaign in late November as a way of giving back to the community the auto dealer has called home for more than 50 years. 

Community members were asked to nominate charities close to their hearts through a social media post that went viral throughout the Capital Region community. The post, located on the company’s Facebook page, collected more than 800 comments, 300 likes, and 7,500 views. 

After a two-week submission period, dealership executives were overwhelmed with the amount of support shown by the community. 

“From the moment we hit the publish button for the social media post, we just started watching the campaign grow and grow,” said Nathanael Greklek, Chief Digital Branding Leader, Mohawk Honda. “We monitored the post each day and we just kept receiving more and more comments, and post shares. It was great to see community members rally together for organizations they love and cherish.” 

The 12 chosen nonprofits to receive $5,000 each include: Family & Child Services of Schenectady, One Church Street, Schenectady Day Nursery, Wicklund Warriors, Operation at Ease, Safe Inc., Community Hospice of Schenectady, Capital Region Legacy Project/Veterans Memorial, Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY, Jack’s Place, Bring on the Spectrum, and Mother Theresa Cancer Awareness Fund. 

The Mohawk Family will present a check to each finalist between Dec. 13-24. The finalists will also be featured on Mohawk Honda’s social media pages. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Malta’s new breakfast spot, The Twisted Bagel Company, is baking up some fresh twists on a staple breakfast food. 

The Twisted Bagel Company, owned by David Samora and managed by Patty Ernst, opened in late August and is located in The Shops of Malta at 15 Kendall Way. The bagel shop recently held a ribbon cutting in November with the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. 

On the menu at The Twisted Bagel Co. is a wide variety of made-from-scratch bagels, homemade cream cheese, breakfast sandwiches, and lunch options. 

In addition to the traditional bagel flavors, The Twisted Bagel Co.’s unique creations are becoming quite popular, like the jalapeno cheddar bagel and the bacon, egg, and cheese bagel (the bacon, egg, and cheese is not on the bagel, but baked right into the dough!). They have seasonal items too, like their pumpkin bagel for the fall and a cranberry eggnog twist bagel that will be on the menu soon. They also offer gluten-free bagels for those with a gluten sensitivity. 

And, who said bagels can only be eaten for breakfast? The Twisted Bagel Co. even comes up with lunch creations like a tuna fish sandwich or a burger on a bagel. 

“I just want to make good food, get to know my customers, and make people laugh,” said Ernst, who helped Samora open The Twisted Bagel Co. because she simply wanted to have her own business as a means to express her creativity. 

Name a better way to start your day than a good laugh and a good bagel from The Twisted Bagel Company. 

You can see their daily specials and what they come up with next on their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/TheTwistedBagelCompany, or their Instagram @twistedbagelco. Hours are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Contact the shop at 518-80-TWIST or 518-808-9478. Website coming soon! 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A new initiative at Hattie’s Restaurant allows teen staff to come straight to Hattie’s from school, punch in an hour before their shift, work on homework, and be fed. 

Investing in people is at the core of Business for Good’s mission, and Hattie’s Restaurant is doing just that. In an effort to help teenage employees balance having a job and staying on top of their education, “Miss Hattie’s Homework Hour” was born. 

“Hattie Moseley Austin, our matriarch, was an extremely charitable woman,” said Hattie’s Restaurant Executive Chef, Jasper Alexander. “If she saw someone outside hungry, she would bring them in, sit them down, and feed them. If she saw someone who needed a job, she’d bring them in and make sure their time was being used for something constructive. The Homework Hour is yet another way for Hattie’s Restaurant to continue its longtime focus on truly caring for employees.”

Teen staff have the Homework Hour option at the two-year-round Saratoga Springs BEG Owned™ Hattie’s locations: 45 Phila St. and 3057 Rt. 50 in Wilton. When Hattie’s opens another location on Madison Ave. in Albany next spring, the Homework Hour will be offered there too. 

“A lot of our staff ride the bus home from school, only to have to turn right around and get a ride from their parents to work,” added Beth Alexander. “We really rely on this generation of workers, as they are willing and able to work. We want to support them in any way we can. They are the backbone of our restaurant.” 

For more information visit www.businessforgood.org. For more information about Hattie’s Restaurant, visit www.hattiesrestaurant.com. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Fingerpaint, biopharma’s global commercialization partner for analytics-enabled integrated solutions, announced that it has acquired MedThink, a North Carolina-based company that empowers healthcare providers through medical communications. Details of the transaction were not disclosed. 

The acquisition of MedThink will bring extensive medical communications capabilities to Fingerpaint through 2 distinct divisions: MedThink SciCom, which will harness deep scientific knowledge and extensive industry experience to develop solutions for medical affairs, medical communications and publications groups; and MedThink Communications, which provides medical education and marketing services that influence perception and change the behavior of healthcare professionals to commercial teams of all sizes. 

MedThink joins integrated Fingerpaint firms Leaderboard Branding, a leading global naming and branding business; 1798, a market access and commercialization firm that specializes in healthcare consulting services, including patient and provider access services, and Photo 51, a consultancy focused solely on advanced therapeutics, such as gene and cell therapies. 

Scott Goudy, president of MedThink, will continue to lead day-to-day operations. GP Bullhound, Inc. acted as financial advisor to MedThink. 

BALLSTON SPA — The next community free food distribution will be held on Dec. 13 starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Ballston Spa National Bank (BSNB) at 990 State Route 67, Ballston Spa. All families/community members are invited to enter the parking lot and remain in their care while volunteers load the free food/supplies into their car. 

The event is open to the public and free of charge. Patrons will receive food on a first-come, first-serve basis, while supplies last. All volunteers will follow CDC guidelines by wearing appropriate masks and gloves while actively practicing social distancing. The drive-thru food pantry is sponsored by the Regional Food Bank and BSNB. 

Thanks to the Regional Food Bank, an anticipated 18,000 lbs. of food will be distributed by BSNB volunteers at the event. Items distributed include fresh produce, dairy, frozen meats, and non-perishable food items. Since the spring of 2020, food pantries hosted by BSNB have distributed 306,000 lbs. of food benefiting nearly 16,000 people within Albany and Saratoga counties. 

In addition to volunteer support, a series of matching campaigns initiated by the bank have already generated donations from community members totaling nearly $35,000. Coupled with $85,000 in support from BSNB, the Regional Food Bank has received nearly $120,000 to date to help those challenged with food insecurity in our region. 

BSNB invites the community to join them in providing financial support to the Regional Food Bank. From now through Dec. 13, 2021, the bank will match up a total of $5,000 in new donations. 

Members of the public wishing to support the Regional Food Bank under BSNB’s matching campaign may donate directly via the Regional Food Bank’s donation site, selecting ‘BSNB Matching Campaign’ as the donation designation. For more information visit regionalfoodbank.net or bsnb.com. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS and MANCHESTER, NH — Forcivity, a leader in business and technology consulting centralized in service, has announced that it has achieved Crest (formerly known as Gold) partner status within the prestigious and competitive Salesforce Partner Program. This achievement comes in the fourth quarter of a tremendous growth year for Forcivity, which ranked in the top 10% of Inc 5000’s list of fastest growing companies in 2021. 

Forcivity is a member of the Salesforce Partner Program as a consulting and implementation partner, and also sells two proprietary apps on the Salesforce App Exchange. Advancing in the program requires dedication to guidelines and principles set by Salesforce, including variety of projects completed, customer satisfaction rating, innovation, and corporate responsibility. Within the program, Forcivity currently maintains a 5 out of 5 customer satisfaction score for total projects completed this year and reviewed by the customer. 

Additionally, the Forcivity team has been hard at work earning individual certifications, with several team members passing exams related to specific disciplines and clouds within the Salesforce platform. The exams often require weeks to months of studying to master the material. Passing these exams is essential for advancement within the program and ensuring that the teams are well-educated and experts at what they do. 

Forcivity’s strength and advancement has been driven by a close partnership with Salesforce account executives and leadership teams. Forcivity has positioned itself as a trusted partner, especially in the Northeast, and has been described as instrumental in acquiring new customers and expanding existing customer footprints for the CRM provider. 

It is impressive for a firm this size, just over 30 full time employees to date, to excel so rapidly through the program, a feat that Forcivity President & Chief Growth Officer Steve Baines attributes to the work ethic of the team. 

Forcivity and Jolt Consulting Group merged in March 2021. The firm doubled in size and continues to seek open positions across the company including account management, project management, solution architecture, and business analysis. Forcivity is based in Saratoga Springs, and maintains an office in Manchester, NH. 

BALLSTON SPA — An annual tradition has been hoodwinked by the Supply Chain Grinch, leaving The Rotary Club of Ballston Spa in quite a pinch. 

For nearly 50 years, the Club has spread an abundance of cheer, selling Christmas trees locally that families hold dear. But thanks to dear COVID’s lingering stink, the Supply Chain Grinch made 600 trees disappear in a blink! 

“We’re sad to see the Grinch pull this dastardly ploy – but we won’t let him steal our holiday joy,” said Doug Ford, Rotarian, and Vice President of Sales and Purchasing at Curtis Lumber. 

While the trees may be in short supply, the good tidings of Christmas will never run dry. But the Club still needs our support – the fundraising cannot come up too short! 

“100% of funds that we raise go back to the community in a variety of ways,” said Ford. “From summer lunches to school backpacks, the Rotarians are proud to always give back.” 

To help the community, we ask for your unity – to take part in this virtual tree giving opportunity. Pick a tree from three sizes – any size will do – and your donation will ensure the Grinch’s tricks are nothing but a hullabaloo. 

“To the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, we thank you for helping us keep our promise,” said Ford. “Together, we’ll do our part to keep the Christmas spirit in each and everyone’s heart.” 

Want to make a donation? It’s as simple as can be – click on this link to pick your virtual Christmas tree! https://bit.ly/3kQQXSa 

GANSEVOORT — Sundaes Best Hot Fudge Sauce will host an open house and pop-up shop at their manufacturing facility on Dec. 4, 5, and 18, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Celebrating 20 years in business, owner Katie Camarro and friends will be on hand with product displays and gift ideas for everyone on your list. Sundaes Hot Fudge Sauce kitchen is located in Gansevoort at 23 Northern Pines Rd, 1st floor, Bldg. 2, across from Saratoga Restaurant Supply or visit their website at www.sundaesbest.com 

MALTA — Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) will start the bidding process for contractors to expand its Malta campus starting next month. 

In august, HVCC announced that they will be constructing a new training and apprenticeship center at the college’s North extension center in Malta following a $500,000 philanthropic gift from GlobalFoundries. The center is part of the college’s $12.5 million expansions project aimed at boosting workforces training efforts in high demand areas. 

HVCC President, Roger A. Ramsammy, explained that the college receives many applications for their selective programs. The expansion of the Malta campus will both facilitate travel for students who live more north of the Rensselaer campus and will allow for more openings in those programs. 

The project, designed by Mosaic Associates Architects of Troy, is a new two-story, 17,500 sq. ft. STEM Education Center, which will include brand new, state-of-the-art labs for microbiology, anatomy, and physiology, chemistry and biology, and new classrooms, student support spaces, and offices. 

Bids will be opened on Jan. 19. Construction is expected to take at least one year and is scheduled to start in April and be finished before the fall 2023 semester. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s Get With the Guidelines® – Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award. 

The national recognition acknowledges Saratoga Hospital’s commitment to providing patients with the most appropriate stroke treatment, in keeping with the latest research-based guidelines. 

“Our goal is to give our patients the best chance for survival and quality of life after a stroke,” said Dr. Robert Donnarumma, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Saratoga Hospital and medical director of its stroke program. “Get With The Guidelines provides tools and resources – including achievement measures – that help us follow evidence-based guidelines and improve patient outcomes.” 

Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the U.S. On average, someone in the U.S. has a stroke every 40 seconds, and nearly 795,000 people have a new or recurrent stroke each year. Early detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability, and speeding up recovery times. 

Saratoga Hospital has made significant investments in recent years to enhance stroke care. In 2020, the hospital launched a teleneurology program – including telestroke care – to give patients 24/7 emergency access to neurologists who have extensive experience treating strokes. 

In August, Saratoga Hospital received a $100,00 grant from Highmark Blue Shield of Northeastern New York Blue Fund to advance the hospital’s stroke program. The grant will help cover education, equipment, and other costs involved in attaining New York State Department of Health designation and Joint Commission-American Heart Association certification as a Primary Stroke Center.