SARATOGA SPRINGS — The judging is complete at the 54th annual World Dairy Expo, and once again Stewart’s Shops has some of the best dairy products in North America. The judging is based on flavor, body and texture, melting quality, appearance and color. 

Stewart’s Shops had a total of six winners at the competition, two first place winners, a second-place finish, as well as three third-place finishes. This year’s competition received over 1,400 submissions from dairy producers across North America. Stewart’s Shops officially has the best chocolate ice cream in North America – Stewart’s Chocolate Ice Cream was the winner in the Regular Chocolate Ice Cream category. Stewart’s Mango Dragon Fruit debuted as a seasonal flavor in 2020 and quickly became a customer favorite, as it was named The Best Sherbet in Show for the Open Class Sherbet category. Mango Dragon Fruit is now available in half gallons at all shops. 

The three third-place finishes were in the frozen dessert division: Mint Cookie Crumble in the Mint Ice Cream category, Peanut Butter Pandemonium in the Ice Cream with Peanut Butter category, and Milk Chocolate Gelato in the Gelato category.

Also notable, Stewart’s Milk was awarded second place in the Open Class Pasteurized Milk category. All of Stewart’s Shops dairy products are made fresh at their plant in Greenfield, NY with milk picked up from over 20 local family dairy farms. 

“We pride ourselves on offering high quality, fresh and local dairy products; our family has been making quality dairy products for over 100 years,” said Stewart’s Shops President, Gary Dake. “We are proud to have some of the best dairy products, not just in New York State, but in North America.”

Philly Vanilla, French Vanilla, and Crumbs Along the Mohawk have been honored at the World Dairy Expo in previous years. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Dance Factory, one of the most renowned performing arts studios in the Capital District, is celebrating the grand opening of their new studio space in the Wilton Mall this month. 

The Dance Factory held a ribbon cutting on Sept. 7 to formally celebrate the grand opening of their new studio after relocating inside the Wilton Mall to a larger space across from Bath & Body Works. The Dance Factory moved into the Wilton Mall in 2016, and the new studio is triple the size of their previous space at approximately 6,000 sq. ft. Classes will begin on Friday, Sept. 10.

The studio features two dance floors, a lounge for parents, a lounge for dancers, and a small boutique – “Tutu Perfect” – with leotards, dance dresses, and other dance accessories. Owner Dianne Sporko-Carola said that the space, formerly a Forever 21, is a perfect fit with the large windows for displays, ornamental shelving, and even chandeliers in the dressing rooms. 

“This isn’t your typical dance studio,” said Sporko-Carola. “I wanted this place to be sparkly and magical.” 

Sporko-Carola has done just that with her decorating, giving the studio a bright, positive atmosphere for dancers with personal mementos and motivational signs.

“Like one of my signs says, this is my happy place,” said Sporko-Carola. “I have spent my whole career doing this and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

Sporko-Carola is in her 44th season of her career. The Dance Factory offers classes in ballet, pointe, jazz, hip-hop, tap-dancing, and more. The studio puts on performances at least twice yearly in June and at Christmas. They teach dancers as young as three-years-old to seniors in high school. But there is really no age limit, as Sporko-Carola has a group of tap-dancing mothers and grandmothers and even a group of fathers who have been taking lessons from her for five years now. 

To this date, Sporko-Carola has seen up to three generations of dancers walk through the doors of her studio. Students who have graduated often come back to teach the younger ones and go on to have successful careers in dance, including her daughter Rachel who is a professional dancer. 

“They learn a lot of life lessons here like time management, teamwork, commitment, and dedication,” said Sporko-Carola. “They make lifelong friends here and grow up with each other.”

To learn more about The Dance Factory, visit them online at www.thedancefactoryofsaratoga.com, e-mail dancefactory7@aol.com, or call 518-253-1433.

HALFMOON — Trader Joe’s new location in Halfmoon is officially open for business. 

On Sept. 8, the Trader Joe’s in Halfmoon opened its doors following a ribbon-cutting ceremony. At 3 Halfmoon Crossing, this is the first Trader Joe’s in Saratoga County. Store Captain Thomas Witte, who is a 20-year veteran of the company, will manage the approximate 12,500 sq. ft. store, open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. 

The ceremony also featured live music, and the first 100 customers were given a bouquet of fresh flowers and a welcoming from Trader Joe’s Crew Members. There was a build-up of excitement in the community around the opening, and a line had already formed before the ribbon-cutting was underway. 

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“Some faces I recognize from around the community, and some I don’t,” said Witte after the ribbon cutting. “We are hoping to make a good first impression here today.” 

Trader Joe’s offers “unconventional and interesting products” with their label, as well as fresh grocery staples. This location features colorful artwork that pays tribute to the area, including the Twin Bridges, Saratoga County apple orchards, and wildlife native to the shores of the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers. 

“The Town of Halfmoon is proud that Trader Joe’s has chosen Halfmoon as its home for another location. Trader Joe’s will be another grocer that provides unique products to our town’s residents and our community,” said Town Supervisor Kevin J. Tollisen. “At the grand opening this morning, it was evident that so many people were looking forward to this new grocer in our community. We wish Trader Joe’s great success in the Town of Halfmoon and thank them for their long-term investment in our community.”

As your “neighborhood grocery store”, 80% of the Crew Members at the Halfmoon store are local to the community. Hiring efforts are still underway, and anyone interested in applying should visit traderjoes.com/careers for more information. 

GLENS FALLS — The Board of Directors of Arrow Financial Corporation declared a 3% stock dividend on Aug. 25, which will be distributed on Sept. 24, 2021. 

Shareholders of record on Sept. 17, 2021, will receive three additional shares of Arrow Common Stock for every 100 shares owned. Certificate shareholders will receive the cash equivalent of any fractional shares to which they are entitled. 

Arrow Financial Corporation (NasdaqGS® – AROW) is a multi-bank holding company headquartered in Glens Falls, NY, 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. 

CLIFTON PARK — Kitware has won a $1.3 million grant from the National Institute of Health’s BRAIN Initiative. The BRAIN Initiative aims to increase the understanding of the human brain through advanced imaging to better treat, cure, and prevent brain disorders. With the funds from the grant, Kitware is developing a tool that uses AI to help researchers analyze images of neuron connectivity over time. 

Their next project will be with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Invisible Headlights Program, collaborating with Spectrum Photonics and the University of Hawaii to develop passive 3D sensors for stealthy, nighttime autonomous vehicles. 

Read the full story on Saratoga Business Report at www.saratogabusinessreport.com.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — CanCode Communities, a nonprofit organization creating a new generation of software coders, has announced the addition of Facebook executive Lisa Harris to its board of directors, and the election of Miriam Dushane of Alaant Workforce Solutions and Kyle Bisnett of Microsoft to lead its slate of officers for 2021-22. The appointments were made at the board’s annual meeting. 

Harris is the Director of State and Local Economic Development Policy for Facebook. An upstate New York native, she previously served as Deputy Counsel to the New York State Senate Majority Republican Conference, and in the Executive Branch of New York state government, where she served four governors in executive roles.

Dushane, Managing Partner at Alaant, was re-elected as Board Chair, and Bisnett, Senior Engineer at Microsoft, was chosen as Vice Chair, In addition, David Wojeski, Founding Partner at Wojeski & Company CPAs, P.C., was selected as Treasurer, and John Haller, former Founder and Chief Technology Officer at SportsSignUp, was chosen as Secretary.

Launched in 2016 as AlbanyCanCode and rebranded as CanCode Communities in July, the organization now includes six additional affiliates. Its rapid expansion was fueled by a $50,000 investment from Facebook, announced last year and championed by Harris. 

For more information on CanCode Communities, including the Fall 2021 course schedule, visit www.cancode.org. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Peregrine Market Access, headquartered here in Saratoga Springs, has been rapidly growing and expanding this year. 

As of June 2021, Peregrine began covering full healthcare expenses for employees and their families as part of an enhancement to its employee healthcare benefit package. Employees will not have to pay a premium, deductible, copays, or out-of-pocket expenses for in-network medical, dental, and vision. 

“Our organization was created for the good of our staff and their families and we will continue to do everything we can to thrive together,” said Guarino in a press release from Peregrine regarding the full healthcare coverage. “This is an important step forward in changing the way we view and value healthcare in the United States. Why not start with our own team?”

Peregrine has also just recently announced that it was ranked at number 589 on the prestigious Inc. 5000 in 2021 with a three-year revenue growth of 817%. The Inc. 5000 list recognizes the nation’s fastest-growing private companies within the dynamic segment of independent small businesses. 

Read the full story on Saratoga Business Report at www.saratogabusinessreport.com.

NEW YORK — Thirty-six upstate elected officials have signed onto a letter opposing National Grid’s proposal to raise rates an average of $100/year for electric and gas customers; the company’s proposal does not comply with New York’s new Climate Law. 

National Grid is proposing to spend $1.4 billion on new fossil fuel infrastructure and to increase gas sales in its territory, which does not comply with the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) mandated emissions reduction targets. The officials’ letter states the following: 

“The CLCPA mandates that the state achieve net zero emissions by 2050, necessitating an end to most fossil fuel use by that date. Yet, National Grid is proposing gas infrastructure with the assumption that it will be ‘used and useful’ past 2050.” 

As of June 2021, 253,535 residential and 12,914 non-residential upstate National Grid customers were 60 or more days behind on their bills, owing a total of over $408 million to the utility. Customers who self-certify to their utility that they have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 crisis are protected from shut-offs until the end of this year. 

“At a time when most of our residents and small businesses are still struggling to get back on their feet, rate increases of this kind simply cannot be approved,” said Assemblymember John T. McDonald III (District 108). “We also must continue our strong commitment to the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and its goal for a decrease in fossil fuel use. We have to make this a priority in the coming years and encourage and reward energy conservation.” 

The first image that often comes to mind when people think about long-term care is an elderly person sitting alone in a depressing nursing home. The misconceptions about what long-term care involves and peoples’ images of the most common care settings are understandable, since long-term care insurance originally started as nursing home insurance four decades ago. However, it has evolved into a much more flexible solution that allows you to receive care in a variety of settings.

Most of us want the ability to age at home, in a familiar setting surrounded by family and our favorite things. The fact is, 90 percent of adults who need long-term care services receive assistance at home or in another community setting. 

If the level of care you need evolves over time, most long-term care insurance policies not only allow you to transition to a nursing home, but some may also provide you with support during the transition. Since you can’t predict the care you might eventually need, it’s important to have the flexibility to choose the setting that best fits your needs at any given time.

Many long-term care policies available today can provide you with a choice of where you want to receive care, including:

• At home, with the help of a home health aide or in some cases a family member or friend to assist with daily activities
• In a community setting, such as adult day care services
• At an assisted living facility, where you can receive help with transportation and meals
• In a nursing home, if you need around-the-clock care

Each of these options provides a different level of care depending on how much assistance you need. Receiving care at home is the most popular and preferred option, and some policies even provide benefits that allow you to make home modifications that can help you stay at home longer. Policies that provide home care allow you to receive care from a professional, or possibly a friend or family member if informal care is covered.

While most people hope they won’t ever need to worry about long-term care, the reality is more than half of Americans will need long-term care assistance after age 65.  Women are even more at risk, primarily because they tend to live longer. The thought of not being able to care for yourself can be difficult and creating a plan for care can be daunting. However, it’s best to not let long-term care planning get pushed aside, because your age and health both factor into whether you’ll qualify for insurance and how much you’ll pay for coverage.

By including long-term care in your retirement planning, you’ll have the peace of mind that you’ve taken the steps to help protect your family from the financial and emotional impact of a long-term care event. Take the time to research available options, decide how much coverage you need based on estimated costs, and create a plan that will give you the flexibility to choose where and how you receive care. If you need additional information, contact a New York Life agent to find out more about our solutions.

This third-party article is provided by Barry J. Bruno, CLU, ChFC, Agent, (CA Insurance Lic. #OB65966) and Daniel D. Bruno, Agent, (CA Insurance Lic. #4097332) New York Life Insurance Company. To learn more about the topics discussed, please contact Barry or Dan at Bruno & Bruno Financial Services LLC 518-587-9295 or email: barry@brunofs.com or dan@brunofs.com. Bruno & Bruno Financial Services LLC is not owned or operated by New York Life Insurance Company

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Bridges announced Jane Mastaitis to be their Chief Executive Officer effective October 1, 2021. In her role, Jane will provide leadership for all aspects of Saratoga Bridges’ operations and is responsible for implementing policies and programs to carry out the work of the organization with an emphasis on long-term goals, growth and sustainability in the alignment of their strategic plan. Jane is replacing Valerie Muratori who will be retiring after 38 years of service to the agency. 

Saratoga Bridges also welcomed Dorothy Broekhuizen as their new Chief Operating Officer replacing Greg Cuda who retired after 30 years with the agency. Dorothy is responsible for assisting the CEO in leading, developing and overseeing the day-to-day administration of services to ensure they remain at a consistent high level and with a person-centered focus while maintaining the programmatic structure and regulatory requirements.

Saratoga Bridges has been providing the highest level of programs to people with developmental disabilities and their families for more than 60 years by promoting their abilities and achievements in every aspect of community life.  As one of the largest private non-profit organizations in Saratoga County, they have been committed to ensuring that the individuals they support are able to empower their hopes and dreams as they work, volunteer, socialize and recreate while leading full, productive and contributing lives.