Images Fulton County, NY: 2008

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LIVING IN CLASS Former schoolhouse becomes home to stylish apartments THEY’RE WITH THE BAND Students clamor to be part of Oppenheim- Ephratah ensemble Dressing Up Downtown Main Street grants energize Gloversville revitalization SPONSORED BY THE FULTON COUNTY REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY OF FULTON COUNTY, NEW YORK 2008 | IMAGESFULTONCOUNTY.COM | VIDEO TOUR ONLINE TM

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Known as the Gateway to the Adirondacks, Fulton County’s 44 lakes earn it praise from the likes of Outdoor Magazine. Both Johnstown and Gloversville are rich in Colonial history and were home to a thriving leather industry in the 1900s. Artists here use natural materials to craft Adirondack-style furniture and other works. The historic Glove Theater hosts performing arts, and several galleries show the work of local painters, potters and artisans. Still, the real attraction is the opportunity to enjoy the natural, rustic beauty of the region, and the taste the products from local farms.

Transcript of Images Fulton County, NY: 2008

Page 1: Images Fulton County, NY: 2008

LIVING IN CLASSFormer schoolhouse becomes home to stylish apartments

THEY’RE WITH THE BANDStudents clamor to be part of Oppenheim- Ephratah ensemble

Dressing Up DowntownMain Street grants energize Gloversville revitalization

SPONSORED BY THE FULTON COUNTY REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

OF FULTON COUNTY, NEW YORK

2008 | IMAGESFULTONCOUNTY.COM | VIDEO TOUR ONLINETM

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Where Memories of a Lifetime Begin!S U P E R I O R S E R V I C E • E X T R A O R D I N A R Y F O O D • E X C E P T I O N A L V A L U E

H OTE L SPECIAL FE ATU R ES• K i ds St ay a n d E at Fre e ! *• I nte r i o r a n d E x te r i o r Co r r i d o r s• “ L i f e F i t n e ss ” E xe rc is e R o o m O p e n 24 H o u r s• H e ate d O u td o o r Po o l• Fa x a n d Co py S e r v i ce Av a i l a b l e• B a n q u e t , M e e t i n g a n d Fu n c t i o n Sp a ce ( Acco m m o d at i o ns to 30 0 )• 24 - H o u r Co i n L a u n d r y• S a m e - D ay D r y Cl e a n i n g S e r v i ce ( M o n . - Fr i . )• 24 - H o u r ATM• Lo b by I nte r n e t K i os k• U PS Le t te r Ce nte r• ADA R o o m Ty p e s Av a i l a b l e• H i g h -Sp e e d I nte r n e t Acce ss Prov i d e d by• Co m p l i m e nt a r y U S A To d a y N e w s p a p e r ( M o n . - Fr i . )• S a f e t y D e p osi t B oxe s• Fre e Pa r k i n g

• Tr u ck Pl u g - I ns• N o n -Sm o k i n g R o o ms Av a i l a b l e• M i crow ave s a n d R e f r i g e r ato r s• N e w l y R e n ov ate d G u e s t R o o ms

C ASUAL D I N I NGWe a ls o f e at u re S p i r i t s R e s t a u r a n t , s e r v i n g d a i l y f ro m 6 : 30 a m to 10 p m w i th ro o m s e r v i ce . Su n d ay s t i l l 9 p m . S p i r i t s L o u n g e o p e n d a i l y at 11 a m , Su n d ay s at n o o n .N e w o u t s i d e p at i o .

* O f f e r e x c l u d e s g r o u p s o r p a r t i e s o v e r 10 r o o m s . K i d s u n d e r 12 e a t f r e e f r o m k i d s m e n u .

( 518 ) 762- 4 6 8 6 Ph • ( 518 ) 762- 4 034 Fa x • h i jntny @ f ront iernet . net • w w w. hol idayinn.com / johns townnyI n d e p e n d e n t l y o w n e d a n d o p e ra te d b y C r e s t E n te r p r is e s , I n c .

LET US H OST YOU R WE D D I NG R ECE P TI O N• B a n q u e t S e at i n g f o r 30 0• N o Pa r t y To o B i g o r To o Sm a l l• Af f o r d a b l e Pr i ce s• B u f f e t , S i t- D ow n D i n n e r s o r Cre ate Yo u r O w n M e n u• Co m p l e te Acce ss i b i l i t y f o r th e H a n d i c a p p e d• Pro f e ss i o n a l Co nsu l t a nt to P l a n Yo u r M e n u a n d R e ce p t i o n D e t a i l s• Pr i v ate Acco m m o d at i o ns a n d B a r• A i r Co n d i t i o n e d f o r Su m m e r Co m f o r t• A m p l e Pa r k i n g• Co m p l i m e nt a r y O ve r n i g ht Acco m m o d at i o ns f o r th e B r i d e a n d G ro o m• Sp e ci a l l y Pr i ce d R o o m R ate s f o r Yo u r O u t- o f-Tow n G u e s t s W h e n We H os t Yo u r R e ce p t i o n• N o Ch a r g e f o r Pro f e ss i o n a l B a r S e t u p o n Pa r t i e s O ve r 10 0 G u e s t s

J O H N S TOW N - G LOV E R S V I LLEN E W YO R K

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12 DRESSING UP DOWNTOWNDowntown Gloversville isabout to get a face-lift.

15 LIVING IN CLASSSchool may be out, but the hallwaysof the old Estee Middle School stillget quite a bit of foot traffi c.

16 EAT, SLEEP AND BE STILLA variety of cozy bed-and-breakfasts in and around Fulton County stand ready to pamper and please.

18 WHERE ART MEETS APPRECIATIONThe Annual Fulton County Arts Show is held in a century-old church in Gloversville.

23 THEY’RE WITH THE BANDBeing in the band at Oppenheim-Ephratah Central School is like being on a winning sports team.

FULTON COUNTY BUSINESS 26 Hammering Out A National Nitch

The Delaney Group is expanding its reach outside the region after being purchased by Tetra Tech EC.

28 Biz Briefs

30 Chamber Report

31 Economic Profi le

CONTENTS

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

8 Almanac: a colorful samplingof Fulton County’s culture

21 Portfolio: people, places and events that defi ne Fulton County

34 Arts & Culture

36 Education

39 Sports & Recreation

41 Health & Wellness

42 Community Profi le: facts, stats and important numbers to know

2008 EDITION | VOLUME 4

OF FULTON COUNTY, NEW YORK

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ON THE COVER Photo by Wes AldridgeFulton County Tourist Information Center

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OF FULTON COUNTY

SENIOR EDITOR KIM MADLOM

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Images of Fulton County is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the

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For advertising information or to direct questionsor comments about the magazine, contact

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:Fulton County Regional Chamber

of Commerce and Industry2 N. Main St. • Gloversville, NY 12078

Phone: (518) 725-0641 • Fax: (518) 725-0643 E-mail: [email protected]

www.fultoncounty.org

VISIT IMAGES OF FULTON COUNTY ONLINE AT IMAGESFULTONCOUNTY.COM

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Please recycle this magazine

What’s Online More lists, links and tips for newcomers

VIDEO TOUR INSIDE LOOK Join us on a virtual tour of Fulton County through the lenses of our award-winning photographers at imagesfultoncounty.com.

A GREAT PLACE TO GARDENWonderful gardens have fl ourished for 400 years in the Mid-Atlantic. Winter is mild enough to let pansies bloom, and the hellebores fl ower early. Find out more at imagesfultoncounty.com.

A TASTE OF THE ADIRONDACKSAdirondack cuisine – rustic and hearty food that incorporates fruit from hillside orchards, maple syrup, wild honey, artisan cheeses and game – is abundant here. Get a taste of regional cuisine at imagesfultoncounty.com.

ABOUT THIS MAGAZINEImages of Fulton County is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is sponsored by the Fulton County Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In print and online, Images gives readers a taste of what makes Fulton County tick – from business and education to sports, health care and the arts.

MOVING PICTURES PLUS

IMAGESFULTONCOUNTY.COM

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For the RecordBang the gavel: Fulton County

Courthouse is the oldest courthouse in New York still in daily operation.

Erected in 1772, it is only one of five colonial courthouses still remaining in the entire nation. The bricks for the building were brought in from Holland, and a triangle made from a piece of bent iron is still in the belfry and is used to announce the assembling of court.

The building was originally known as the Tryon County Courthouse, then renamed the Montgomery County Courthouse and finally the Fulton County Courthouse during the Revolutionary War.

Where To Go ApeAdirondack Animal Land is the largest zoo

in upstate New York. It has also been voted the

area’s No. 1 tourist attraction for the last three

years by the readers of Fulton County’s newspaper,

The Leader-Herald.

More than 500 animals live in the 80-acre zoo/

wildlife park near Great Sacandaga Lake. Besides

viewing the animals, guests can take safari rides

to view more than 100 large beasts running wild.

Species of creatures at Adirondack Animal Land

include black bear, boar goat, buffalo, camel, crane,

giraffe, kangaroo, monkey, pot bellied pig, tiger,

wolf and zebra.

The Big 250Get ready for a big parade.

Johnstown is celebrating its 250th

anniversary in 2008, with a theme

of “Johnstown Celebrates 2008:

Time Marches On.” Sir William

Johnson, a British military officer

and colonial government official,

founded the historic Fulton County

town in 1758. He named the

settlement after his son,

John Johnson.

The 2008 activities kicked

off Jan. 20 with a reception

at St. Patrick’s Masonic

Lodge to honor Sir William

Johnson. Other upcoming

events planned for the

sesquentennial include

a Sept. 13 parade as well

as a November tribute

to local historic leaders

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

and Rose Knox.

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A Hand in HistoryOnce known as the “Glove Cities”

because of their role as the center

of the nation’s leather industry,

Gloversville and Johnstown still

have active family-owned glove

businesses. For more than 200

years, leather manufacturing has

been a vital part of Fulton County.

The leather tanning industry was

attracted to the region’s abundant

water supply. The glove industry,

which uses tanning, was a natural

outgrowth.

Lots of Links To LikeGolf courses in Fulton County are way above

par – and that’s a good thing.

Fox Run Golf Club in Johnstown is an 18-hole

course that measures 6,347 yards, and includes

a pair of par 5s on two consecutive holes.

Holland Meadows Golf Course in Gloversville

is an interesting par 3 layout with five par 4s,

making for an 18-hole total of par 63.

Other popular area courses include Hales

Mills Country Club, Kingsboro Golf Club, Nick

Stoner Municipal Golf Course, Pine Brook Golf

Club and Sacandaga Golf Club. For other aspects

of golfing fun, there are places such as Grandview

Mini Golf and Adirondack Fun Factory.

Fresh Air EverywhereFeel like exercising along an interesting trail?

Fulton County residents can cycle along the Rail

Trail, which is an 8-mile paved path from Johnstown

to Gloversville. The road used to be a railroad bed

for the old Fonda Johnstown & Gloversville rail line.

In the mid-1990s, the county transformed the

bed into a trail for walking, jogging, biking and

rollerblading.

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Almanac

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Johnstown

Broadalbin

Mayfield

Northville

Gloversville

Ephratah

Oppenheim

Dolgeville

Caroga LakeStratford

30

29

30

10

29

29

FULTON

90

90

Fulton County | At A GlancePOPULATION (2006 ESTIMATE)Fulton County: 55,435

LOCATIONFulton County is in east-central

New York and is known as the

“Gateway to the Adirondacks.”

BEGINNINGSThe county began to prosper more

than 250 years ago when Sir William

Johnson, a representative of the English

king, created Tryon County. That county

later divided into Fulton and Montgomery

counties. Fulton County’s namesake is

Robert Fulton, who invented the steamship.

FOR MORE INFORMATIONFulton County Regional Chamber

of Commerce and Industry

2 N. Main St.

Gloversville, NY 12078

Phone: (518) 725-0641, Fax: (518) 725-0643

www.fultoncountyny.org

SEE VIDEO ONLINE | Take a virtual tour of Fulton County at imagesfultoncounty.com, courtesy of our award-winning photographers.

Fulton County

It’s Snow ProblemIt’s snowing? That’s good news.

When winter arrives in New York State, it means

plenty of fun for skiing and snowmobiling enthusiasts.

Fulton County has more than 150 miles of well-

maintained trails for snowmobilers, and the Great

Sacandaga Lake is a major hub for such activity.

For alpine skiers, many of them head to the Royal

Mountain Ski Area on Caroga Lake. Royal Mountain

has 13 trails that range from easy to very difficult,

and snowboarding is also offered.

For cross-country skiing fans, there is Lapland

Lake Vacation Center in Northville. It also offers

tubing, sledding and snowshoeing.

Seek the AntiqueNeed a special lamp or end table? Fulton

County offers some of the best antiquing

you will find anywhere.

One of the popular stores to scour is

Stump City Trading in Gloversville. Its

inventory includes a variety of accents,

occasionals and Adirondack décor.

Other destinations in the county include

Caroga Lake Emporium, Debby’s Antiques,

Dolgeville Mill Inc., Lonesome Drum

Antiques, School House Treasures,

Terry’s Antiques and Wheels of Time.

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Almanac

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Fast Facts Fulton County is

home to the citiesof Gloversville and Johnstown; the villages of Broadalbin, Mayfield and Northville; and the towns of Bleecker, Caroga, Ephratah, Northampton, Oppenheim, Perthand Stratford.

Rose Knox (1857-1947) was a Fulton County native and helped build Knox Gelatin Co. into the largest gelatin distribution company in the U.S.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902) hailed from Fulton County and wasa pioneer of women’s rights and a leader inthe women’s suffrage movement.

Agriculture is important in Fulton County, with nearly 200 farms producing dairy, fruit, grain and livestock.

Fulton County is the southern gateway to Adirondack Park. Three of the four state highways leading into the park pass through the county.

SEE MORE ONLINE | For more Fast Facts about Fulton County, visit imagesfultoncounty.com.

The Show Still Goes OnBuilt in 1914, the Glove Theatre was originally created to showcase

opera, vaudeville shows and orchestral concerts. It was converted into a

vaudeville house in 1920 and later became one of the first theaters in the

area to show “talkies.” Then the stage of the Glove fell silent for 30

years. Reopened in 1997, the historic Glove Theatre now plays host

to about 150 events each

year, from professional and

community theatrical

productions to movie

screenings.

Land of LakesFulton County’s 44 lakes have been attracting visitors since the 1800s.

Great Sacandaga Lake, 29 miles long and 6 miles at its widest point, is

the county’s largest and is a favorite of fishermen, boaters, vacationers

and homeowners. East and West Caroga Lakes are popular for

watersports and also feature the historic Sherman’s Park amusement

park, Caroga Lake Beach and N.Y. State Campground, with a beach

and hiking trails.

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W ith a new source of financing and strong interest from merchants and property owners, downtown Gloversville is about to get a face-lift.

The Fulton County Regional Chamber of Commerce & Industry has received two $200,000 Main Street grants, funds that are to be used to renovate and upgrade buildings in the city’s core. One will be used on South Main, the other on North Main, and when it’s all said and done, the city’s business district will sport a clean, inviting look.

“We’ve got five applicants on South Main Street, and they are planning varying degrees of work,” says Wally Hart, the chamber’s president. “All five will be doing façade renovations, and some of them plan major building renovation. A couple of the applicants will be doing residential renovations as well, creating living spaces in the downtown area.”

While many downtown property owners have already invested heavily in improving their buildings, Hart says the new funds will make it possible to get more work done immediately, as well as increasing interest in improving the downtown area.

“The grants require that building owners match the funds at least 50-50, and the projects being done mean that this

MAIN STREET GRANTS GALVANIZE DOWNTOWN RENOVATIONS

DowntownSTORY BY JOE MORRIS

The Fulton County Regional Chamber of Commerce & Industry secured $400,000 in Main Street program grants to help revitalize the downtown area in Gloversville. Left: Plans include façade improvements and major renovations.

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Gloversville is providing matching funds to maximize the impact of the revitalization grant and private investment.

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Loft-style living is available in Gloversville through innovative projects such as Estee Commons.

money is only the tip of what’s going to be spent,” he says. “It’s encouraging some investment here, and that’s what we hoped would happen. We’re really thinking of the grants as seed money, and think we’ll exceed $1 million overall in improvement investments.”

A big chunk of that is being spent by Susan Casey, who opened Beacon Wearhouse in December 1998 and owns several other properties downtown. Casey, who has fully rehabbed one building to include both residential and retail space, says the added funds will move along several projects.

“There’s only so much you can put out of pocket, and if they can parallel some of the money I’m putting in, it will really help me out,” she says. “With one of the buildings I have, the intention is to create some middle-income housing, and the grant will go to renovate that building’s storefront. We’ve got a picture of the original building, and want to make something that’s much nicer than what’s there now.”

The plans are equally ambitious over at Buck’s Pizza, where owner Mary Jo Faville hopes to update the property she’s been in for 11 years.

“I hope to improve the outside,” Faville says. “We want to get back to the original look, but we’ve had trouble finding a picture. The majority of our work is going to be on the façade, and I’ve got a second floor to the building that needs some renovations. It really depends on how much we get.”

This kind of large-scale planning and excitement is exactly what these grants are designed to do, Hart says, and can only mean good things for downtown.

“The owners want to do these projects, and their work will encourage other people to start thinking about what they could do as well,” he says. “Just the encouragement of this kind of money being available is an incentive for people to start thinking, so it’s already succeeded.”

The early success of the effort is also a validation for the chamber, which wanted to help jump-start development in Gloversville, then replicate the process elsewhere in the county.

“We were asked to focus on Gloversville because they’ve suffered the most in terms of population decline, but we’re a regional chamber and want to step up to the plate everywhere,” Hart says. “We needed to put some extra effort into Gloversville now, but we’re ready to work with any community that needs us to help. We look forward to this project being a success, and if we can do it elsewhere, we certainly will.”

Living in ClassRENOVATED SCHOOL OFFERS

UNIQUE INTOWN LIVING SPACES

School may be out, but the hallways of the

old Estee Middle School still get quite a bit

of foot traffic.

The school, which was closed in 1997, has a new

life as intown living space. The building has been

converted into 39 apartments, ranging from 574-

square-foot studio spaces up to 2,300-square-foot,

three-bedroom units. And with rents anywhere

from $450 to $1,750, they’ve been getting snapped

up quickly since becoming available in June 2007.

“We only have a handful left to rent,” says Lisa

McCoy, marketing director for the Fulton County

Economic Development Corp., which spearheaded

the project. “They went much more quickly than we

expected. We’d hoped to be at the halfway mark

by Thanksgiving, but were almost fully rented at

that point.”

A big draw has been the building’s architectural

features, including large windows, high ceilings and

exposed ductwork.

“It’s not a cookie-cutter building,” McCoy says.

“There is not anything else like these apartments in

the marketplace. We were retrofitting an old building

and had to work within its confines to some extent,

but were able to make something truly unique.”

For those who may have missed out, there’s

another entire section of the building that will be

converted soon.

“We did a market study that showed the

need, and it really delivered on its promises,”

McCoy says. – Joe Morris

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Eat,Sleep

Be Still

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S eeking a break from the standard hotel room and continental breakfast? A variety of cozy bed-and-breakfasts in and around Fulton County stand ready to pamper and please.

At Richmond’s Reflections, a bedroom makeover became a new business venture for Ray and Doris Richmond. The couple turned their family home into a B&B in August 2003.

“We were redoing a room when a friend came by and said that our house would make a nice B&B,” Ray Richmond says. “We’d thought about it in the past, and so that was the motivator.”

After being in the home for 37 years, it wasn’t as though they had to start from scratch. A Victorian theme stretches to outside gardens, and the rooms and suites have been outfitted with all-modern conveniences. Turning a private home into a small hotel hasn’t been without its challenges, but the rewards are plentiful, Richmond says.

“The most fun is meeting the people,” he says. “Some are coming to see relatives and friends, and we’ve had others from all over the world.”

Another longtime area resident has taken a historic property and lavished time and attention on it, so much so that it now is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Olde Knox Mansion, built in 1898, has been owned by Marty Quinn for 14 years and was converted into a B&B during an extensive renovation process.

The home was built by Charles Knox, who founded the Knox Gelatin company, now a part of Kraft Foods. Over time, Quinn has been able to amass a collection related to the business, including some empty gelatin boxes with Hebrew printing sent by some Israeli guests.

The 42-room home, according to some visitors, has a permanent guest: Rose Knox, the widow of the home’s builder, who ran the company for decades following her husband’s death.

B&B’S OFFER RELAXING AND LUXURIOUS LOCAL GETAWAYS

STORY BY JOE MORRIS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY WES ALDRIDGE

Shannon’s Chambers is one of three guest rooms available at Richmond’s Reflections, left, a family-

owned bed-and-breakfast located in Northville.

“More than a dozen people say they’ve seen her,” Quinn says. “I just hope she likes everything that has been done to the house.”

Another Victorian home finding new life as a B&B is Gladsmere, which was built in Dolgeville on the banks of the East Canada Creek. Near the historic Daniel Green Felt Shoe Co., the home includes oak paneling, stained-glass windows featuring Kokomo glass, original Czechoslovakian crystal chandeliers and nickel-plated register covers dating to the 1870s.

Gladsmere is owned by Mr. and Mrs. William Smith, who turned the property into a B&B in 2004.

“It’s something we always wanted to do,” Mrs. Smith says. “I enjoy cooking, like to meet people and love to entertain. We’ve had guests as far away as England and Japan, and from Long Island to California.”

Gladsmere sees its share of special events, including weddings, which can be a mixed blessing sometimes.

“The weddings are a lot of fun, but they are also the most nerve-wracking,” Mrs. Smith says. “But having the wedding guests here, and the bride and attendants getting dressed here, has been a lot of fun.”

For a special stay in a beautiful setting, Betty’s River Road Bed & Breakfast in Northville is a good choice. This scenic, romantic and secluded bed-and-breakfast is ideally located for all Adirondack seasonal activities.

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FULTON COUNTY HAS A HISTORY OF SUPPORTING ARTISTS

Where ArtMeets

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uality arts and crafts events, galleries in every community, live theater and music events ranging from

folk to jazz and a host of renowned resident artists all combine to illustrate the growing artistic atmosphere within Fulton County.

Fulton County is home to Adirondack-style furniture artist Barney Bellinger and award-winning photographer John Gates. Bellinger, whose work is in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution and has been featured in publications such as Country Living, is founder of Sampson Bog Studios, while Gates’ photography is displayed in homes around the world.

Frank Casler, chairman of the 200-member Sacandaga Valley Arts Network in Fulton County, says it’s no surprise that world-renowned artists are at home in Fulton County. SVAN is one of several entities that provides support to artists by hosting exhibits and “Meet the Artist” receptions and assists in organizing arts events.

“We began as a networking process for artists and have grown into a full-fledged 501(c)(3) that serves the public, educates and entertains,” Casler says.

Casler says the region has an extraordinary number of talented artists.

“A fine example of the local talent

STORY BY NANCY McCRARY

Buttermilk Falls is the work of photographer John Gates, one of Fulton County’s artists-in-residence.P

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The historic, 100-year-old First Congregational United Church of Christ in Gloversville is home to the Annual Fulton County Arts Show, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2008. Inset: Ann Lee Clough is the director of the event, which features a juried competition in the high school category offering $1,500 in awards.

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here can be found in the oil paintings and giclee prints of Rhea Costello.”

Costello grew up in Fulton County but moved to California as a young girl, returning on summer vacations to visit her grandfather. When she was 21, she made Gloversville her home.

“I visited the Adirondacks growing up and, as hokey as it may sound, I love the roots of the area – the oldness of the trees and the beauty you find here,” she says. Her paintings, sold in numerous galleries as well as through her Web site, have earned her prestigious awards, including the Peoples Choice Award at the Adirondack Rustic Expo in 2005.

The Fulton County Arts Show, marking its 50th anniversary in May 2008, is an example of the region’s com-mitment to the arts and to supporting artists. Approximately 90 artists annually exhibit more than 400 works during the weeklong show, held in the historic 100-year-old First Congregational United Church of Christ in Gloversville. Participants include one artist, Julius Janeszewski, who has entered works in every show since the first.

One goal is to encourage young artists, according to Ellen Wood, a volunteer

organizer. While there are no prizes in the adult category, the high-school category is a juried competition offering $1,500 in awards.

“Many young artists are able to include these prizes in their portfolios when applying to art schools, so we find it important to have a jury for this part of the show,” Wood says.

All media are accepted, and a portion of the sales benefits local charities.

Other arts events are also on the calendar in Fulton County, including one linked to the region’s most recognized artistic style. The Adirondack Arts Society’s Annual Rustic Exhibit and Sale is held the last weekend of May in Northampton. Rustic Adirondack style includes the use of natural materials in bold yet simple styles.

“A lot of it depends on the interpretive eye of the artist,” says Wally Hart, president of the Fulton County Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a volunteer organizer of the event. Up to 30 artists exhibit and sell their work in the show.

The chamber, says photographer Gates, is another organization that demonstrates its support of the arts.

Gates says he has benefited from the promotional work the chamber does on behalf of the art community. He also cites the business and peer relationships that exist here, as well as some key events that help artists get their work seen – and sold.

“Forget Me Knots in Mayfield is my most important retail outlet,” Gates says. “Grace Kaye (owner) has created a space there for 20 to 30 local artists and crafts people to sell works in her store. She opened that store about the time I got started, and I’m not sure I could have made it without her.”

From hometown exhibits in Mayfield’s public library and the Wemple & Edick’s Craft Fair in Sammonsville to full-scale events such as the Eagle Mills Arts and Crafts Show in Broadalbin (which features more than 100 juried artists and crafters), Gates says Fulton County is artist-friendly.

“The Eagle Mills event is the largest one in Fulton County and is a very important show for me and other artists,” Gates says. “Being in Fulton County gives me access to the tourist market drawn to the Adirondack Park, and to the park itself where I do my work.”

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Family Fun at Eagle MillsVISITORS ENJOY PANNING FOR GEMS AND SIPPING FRESH APPLE CIDER

When Eagle Mills says the apple cider is fresh, they mean it.

Visitors can watch the 50-bushel antique, knuckle-joint press at work as water powers the wheel, and then sip a glass filled with the final product. Downstream from the cider mill is the Eagle Mills Country Bakery featuring hot cider doughnuts, baked strudels, turnovers and pies.

Eagle Mills also offers a chance to strike gold, or at least find something sparkling. Visitors enjoy panning for amethyst and rubies at the gem mining operation, complete with a water tower, waterfalls and 180 feet of wooden sluiceways. With a bag of “mining rough” and a sluice box, would-be prospectors try their luck.

For the younger visitors, a “Dino Dig” feature invites children ages 2 to 10 to dig for “dino eggs” that can be traded for coloring books, stickers and other items in the gift shop.

If relaxation is more your speed, take a stroll to New York’s only double covered-walkway and drive-through covered bridge. During the last two weekends in September, the Eagle Mills covered bridge is the setting for an arts and crafts show featuring more than 160 exhibitors displaying one the northeast’s finest collections of handmade crafts.

Owner Craig Boyko says in 2009, visitors will be able to stay for more than the day. “We want this to be a getaway community of cabin rentals,” Boyko says. “There will be 40 sites on 20 acres with a bluff overlooking a native trout stream.”

General admission to Eagle Mills is free, but visitors interested in specific activities or tours should call ahead for a schedule or appointment.

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A History of Hunting

For hunting enthusiasts, the Wildlife Sports and Education Museum in

Vails Mills is a must-see. The exhibits of fully mounted buffalo, an albino deer and two brown bears – each over 10 feet tall – are fascinating, and there is an opportunity to learn about the history of hunting and view the early weapons.

“This is one of the best sportsman’s museums in the country,” says Bob Kazmierski, the president of the museum’s board of directors. “We hold a fine collection of hunting, fishing and

trapping memorabilia.”Housed in a 14,000-square-foot space,

the not-for-profit museum opened to the public in July 2006 and is the first of its kind in New York state. With more than 100, it has the largest collection of head-mounted white tail deer in the U.S.

Alongside the animals, the museum displays a history of hunting implements. Bow-hunting displays range from early arrows with bone points to the modern day compound bow. The gun history collection includes flintlock, percussion,

single cartridge and the modern-day multi-cartridge. Fishing rods and reels and snowshoes are also on display, as well as a collection of traps throughout the years.

“It’s geared for the outdoor person who likes to hunt, fish, trap and camp,” says Kazmierski, who funded most of the project with his personal savings. He says he started the museum in an effort to get more children interested in the wilderness. “They need to see what Mother Nature has to offer.”

School groups routinely enjoy field trips to the museum, and other groups are encouraged to call for appointments. During the autumn and winter, the museum is open Saturdays, and seven days a week in spring and summer.

The mission of the museum is the preservation of the art, artifacts and memorabilia of the centuries-old sporting traditions of hunting and fishing and to foster interest in future generations. The museum also seeks to promote public understanding.

Bob Kazmierski personally funded much of the cost of the Wildlife Sports & Education Museum.

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Being in the band at Oppenheim-Ephratah Central School is like

being on a winning sports team. It comes with fans, boosters, recognition and travel – making membership in the Hawks Marching Band a popular choice. Consider: Just under 200 students are enrolled in grades seven through 12, and half are in the band.

“I am constantly amazed at what this little school district can do,” says DiAnne Mott, who has taught music and led the band for 24 years.

In recent years, the Hawks Marching Band has performed at the Orlando Music Festival, the St. Louis Music Festival, the Kentucky Derby Pegasus Parade, Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C., the New York State Fair and numerous other venues.

Such a schedule requires school system, parental and community support. It’s all there for Oppenheim-Ephratah. The school district supplies instruments to any child in the qualifying grades who wants to be a member of the band. Meanwhile, parents raise money, mend uniforms, hold student study groups and chaperone travel.

The band members do their part for

The Oppenheim-Ephratah Hawks Marching Band has performed

at the New York State Fair.

Being in the Band Is Popular Herecommunity service as well.

For example, when the band per-formed a show at a Kentucky children’s hospital, the student musicians deliv-ered toys to the children.

“This is a way for these kids to get out and see the world and leave their mark in a good way,” Mott says.

The results are evident, including “The Best 100 Communities in Music Education Award,” presented by sponsors including the Music Educator’s National Conference and Yamaha Music. Perhaps even more rewarding, graduates of the school have gone on to teach music and become professional musicians.

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Agritourism – a Growing Industry

In 1981, Mary Jean Cleland and her husband made a promise to each

other that they would never pass by a dirt road that looked inviting. Keeping that promise led them up Mussey Road in Caroga Lake, where the Clelands’ Timberlane Blueberry Farm is now located.

“We used to tell people we worked and taught in the school system to support our blueberry habit,” she says. Timberlane is set on 48 acres and has more than 4,000 blueberry bushes. The farm is open to the public from the “beginning of berry season until the end,” Mary Jean says. Weather plays a role in setting the schedule, but it’s typically from early July into early September.

Todd Rogers has been in the apple business since 1970. He never expected that a decade later, people would be interested in picking their own fruit. In 2007, between 4,000 and 5,000 customers plucked fruit from trees in the Rogers Family Orchard.

“One of the big draws is that it can be a family activity,” Rogers says. “People bring their children out here and they have a great time picking apples.”

By next season, there will be even more for children to enjoy. Rogers Family Orchard plans to add a corn maze, a pumpkin patch and some other activities for children. Like many farms, there’s a growing mix of agri-business with agri-tourism.

“Without the pick-your-own aspect of what we do, we would probably lose half of our business,” Rogers said.

Visitors purchase bags in various sizes and then go into the orchard to choose from a wide selection of apples including Rome, Cortland, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, McIntosh, Paulared, Spartan and Northern Spy. “I would say we have enough to keep someone busy,” Rogers says.

Other agri-tourism attractions in the Fulton County area include Peaceful Valley Maple Farms in Johnstown and Alpacas of Rain Dance Pond in Oppenheim.

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New YMCA Facility Under Way

A new $7.5 million, 70,000-square-foot YMCA in Fulton County will

bring together the programs of two existing YMCA facilities in Gloversville and Johnstown, and create an opportunity to serve even more citizens.

Funded through a successful capital campaign and state grants, the new facility creates space to serve another 500 members and expand programs serving teens and the youth of the region. Construction is expected to be completed later this year.

The plan includes a state-of-the-art gym, an indoor swimming pool, a youth game room and outdoor space, including a new athletic field, as well as much-needed parking. In addition to improving member services, the new facility has a positive economic impact, creating an estimated 30 new jobs.

The YMCA program has strong support in Fulton County and serves approximately 16,000 people, offering fitness classes ranging from aerobics to

karate as well as recreational basketball leagues. There is a strong focus on activities for teens, including a Saturday Night Teen Center that invites young people to enjoy adult-supervised activities including board games, billiards and music. An expansion of the program is Teen Time, which is offered on select weekday afternoons and evenings.

The YMCA is the largest provider of

child care services in Fulton County with Playmates Day Care and an after school program.

The YMCA in Gloversville houses a Men’s Residence that is typically filled to capacity. Men who are lower income or the working poor can rent housing at an affordable rate. The Gloversville YMCA will expand this service to women and families. – Stories by Nancy McCrary

Ground was broken in August 2007 for a $7.5 million YMCA facility.

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CONSTRUCTION FIRM EXPANDS REACH OUTSIDE REGION WITH NEW PARENT COMPANY

STORY BY JOE MORRIS

NationalHammering outA

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Business

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W hen Tim Delaney began his engineering design and construction company 25 years ago, he hoped for a successful run. A quarter-century and multiple satisfied

clients later, business is bigger and better than ever.What is now The Delaney Group was recently purchased by

engineering firm Tetra Tech, giving the company a much larger presence in the civil and environmental construction arena. The company caught Tetra Tech’s eye due to its growing presence in the field of wind technology, says Delaney, president of The Delaney Group and now senior vice president of Tetra Tech.

“They were looking to make the design and engineering of wind farms a larger component of their overall strategic plan, and we already had a foothold in the industry,” Delaney says. “They took a look at us, liked what they saw and ultimately made a proposal.”

Delaney’s 200-plus employee base was unaffected by the sale, as was the company’s local headquarters. Work still continues for clients in and around Fulton County and that’s not likely to change.

“Tetra Tech’s only goal is to grow our organization,” he says,

adding that a 10 percent annual uptick is the current plan.“We have a fairly large involvement with Department of

Defense work, and we’re looking to grow in that particular segment,” he says. “We’re very active at Fort Drum (in northwest New York), and recently through our new parent corporation, we’ve been bidding on a lot of that work in a much larger geographic area.”

In addition, the firm does a great deal of highway reconstruction work and is in the midst of cleaning up the third-largest tire dump in the country, near Syracuse, NY.

“It’s a tire-processing facility, and the dump contains 10 million tires,” Delaney says.

The range of projects and the firm’s growth wouldn’t have been possible without community support and the quality workforce available in Fulton County, he says.

“We are extremely diversified, which I think has led to our success,” he says. “As one market segment would slow down, we could rely on several others to carry us through. But the most important theme throughout is that we’ve been able to surround ourselves with great people. This has been a very good place to be; the workforce we have that live in the area are very dedicated people.”

Wind technology is an example of the projects that attracted Tetra Tech to Delaney Construction. Left: Tim and Tina Delaney have created a successful home-grown business with The Delaney Group.

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FINE AMERICAN FAREParillo’s Rainbow Restaurant, located

on downtown Johnstown’s Main Street, offers the best in American fare, with a focus on steaks.

“Our steaks are special,” says owner Marsha Parillo, who runs the restaurant with husband Wayne. “We hand-cut all our beef, and our new charbroiler in the kitchen really gives them a great f lavor.” Most popular is the Friday/Saturday prime rib, but get there early to guarantee a serving. It’s fresh-roasted each of those two serving days, and “we have it until it’s gone,” Marsha says.

Founded in 1956 by Wayne’s mother and stepfather, Parillo’s has expanded from one to four buildings. “We’ve restored the charm to this iconic Main Street landmark,” says Marsha, noting that she and Wayne have owned the restaurant for 18 months.

Offering a full-service bar and private rooms for parties of 10 to 300 people, the restaurant features homemade soups and biscuits, pub specials, fish, chicken and pork chops, and is one of 80 chamber-member restaurants.

BALLOONS AS ARTWhat do f loral arrangements,

bumper cars and gumball machines have in common?

Give up? Balloons.Specifically, balloons that are

magically twisted into air-f illed creations made by certified master balloon artist Daryl Baldwin, owner of Balloon Extravaganza.

One of just 300 such certified artists in the world, Baldwin has tied hundreds of thousands of balloons into shapes, all to the delight of his audience.

He’s sure to be a hit at any birthday party, which will include balloon sculp-tures for all attendees, as well as a magic show.

Most recently, he participated with 78 other artists in creating a haunted house in Rochester, N.Y., which featured 150,000 “scarigami” balloons and raised $50,000 for charity.

Baldwin started his career more than 30 years ago when he “bought a $5 trick on television after seeing a show,” he recalls. Known as Wizzie the Magic Clown for 28 years (Wizzie is now

retired), Baldwin also delivers delight through his “gorilla grams” and other costume-clad greetings.

DESIGNING IDENTITIESLinda Hinkle didn’t start out

planning to own her own graphic design business, but one thing led to another.

“I never planned to do freelance, but I started out doing work for a couple of printers, then started doing work for lots of people,” she says. Thirty-five years later, Hinkle is still designing logos, brochures and promotional mate-rials, with a focus on developing corporate identity.

She’ll take on “anything that falls under the graphic design umbrella,” she says, and that umbrella also covers Web design. The biggest challenge these days is keeping up with the technology required in this type of business. Working out of her home office in Johnstown, Hinkle is pleased she’s been able to thrive in a business that she loves.

Hinkle is one of five area graphic designers who are members of the Fulton County Chamber of Commerce.

Rainbow Chicken, grilled chicken served over pasta and grilled vegetables, is a specialty at The Rainbow Restaurant.

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A SPACE FOR CRAFTSLocated in a 12-by-24-foot space about

five feet from owner Grace Kaye’s Mayfield home, Forget Me Knots is packed full of handmade items reminiscent of the Adirondack style, as well as prints by famed photographer John Gates.

“It’s like fitting an elephant in a shoebox,” says Kaye of her unique shop, which is a craft and specialties shop featuring creations by as many as 30 artists and crafters. Furniture, hand-carved doors and mirrors, stained glass, handmade quilts and other unique items adorn the small space.

“We don’t charge artists rent,” Kaye says, noting that she gives preference to artists who are disabled and seniors. “This gives them a sense of purpose and fulfillment, and it helps them help themselves.”

The customers are the winners, because the quality is excellent and the prices are low, she says, following the shop’s theme of “princely items at pauper’s prices.”

SUPPLYING PARTIESElaine Spritzer enjoyed her job at a

Fulton County party supply store, so much so that she asked the owners to let her know if they ever intended to get out of the business. That happened in 2001, and Elaine and her son Jordan have been running Complements ever since.

Complements offers everything needed to host a party, including paper products and decorations, as well as items ranging from balloons to piñatas to party favors. In addition, the business stocks supplies for the home baker and items specific to weddings.

Spritzer says a key to success in retail is to listen to the customers.

“We’ve found that customers usually won’t steer you wrong,” she says. Lis-tening to customers meant an expansion of products to include more licensed ensemble products with children’s themes.

Elaine and Jordan work in the store, located at 120 Harrison St. in Gloversville, six days each week, handling every aspect of the business.

As for the future? More of the same. “We’re going to keep serving our

customers with friendly, hometown personal service,” she says.

– Stories by Betsy Williams

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Forget Me Knots creates a space for local artisans to display their work.

Business | Biz Briefs

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Taking Care of BusinessCHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS BUSY WORKING ON BEHALF OF MEMBERS

F ulton County is entering a particularly exciting time in terms of its development, and

the Fulton County Chamber of Commerce and Industry is right at the heart of it.

“We’re on the upswing with new development, whether it is retail, manufacturing or logistics,” says chamber President Wally Hart, whose chamber has hit an all-time high with membership numbers.

With 955 members and growing – impressive numbers for a community of 55,000 – the businesses of Fulton County are solidly behind the chamber.

“I give our staff a lot of credit for our success, but the real credit goes to the businesses who are supporting us,” says Hart, a Fulton County native. “They know what we’re doing for the community, and they are wanting to support it.”

And there is plenty to support, whether it falls under the heading of tourism, business advocacy, member-ship affinity programs, small business

and entrepreneur assistance, leadership development or education initiatives.

A former business owner, Hart understands the challenges of owning a small business. “We started looking at why businesses who joined the chamber were closing before they reached their first anniversary,” Hart says. “We wanted to help, so we started doing seminars on what it takes to start or expand a small business.”

Hart presents the seminars, going through steps necessary to develop a business plan, and then he will work one-on-one with business owners to help them through those difficult first years. The chamber also offers a small-business “desk,” providing direct contact with state and federal programs for small business assistance.

The area is getting a lot of attention these days, thanks to promotion of such resources as Great Sacandaga Lake, which has been the site of two ESPN-promoted bass tournaments, and another on the horizon in 2008.

“This has brought new dollars, new interest and great exposure,” Hart says. Funded in part by the state and by Fulton County, the chamber is the selected entity to handle the county’s tourism effort. “We are starting to develop partners and ask them to co-fund certain aspects of the tourism program,” says Hart, and a new Web site is being developed specifically for tourism-related activity.

A “shop local” campaign is well under way with the Chamber Check program, which provides gift certificates good at more than 50 businesses – and returns as much as $100,000 to participating members. That’s just one of the benefits of being a chamber member; others include health insurance and communications discounts and energy usage evaluations.

“We are fighting for our businesses,” Hart says. “We do work on behalf of all businesses, making this a better place to do business. We’re getting things done.”

– Betsy Williams

The Fulton County Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry

staff includes (front) Alison Swartz and (from left) Wally Hart , Michele

Marotta, Becky Dutcher, Terry Swierzowski and Amy Praught. W

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Business | Chamber Report

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TRANSPORTATION

Air

Albany International Airport

(518) 242-2200

Fulton County Airport

(518) 762-0220

Highways

Interstate 90

(the NYS Thruway) is just

five minutes away.

Accessible to Interstate 87

(the north/south connection

between Montreal and

New York City).

Railroad

Amtrak passenger rail

service is 15 minutes away,

in Amsterdam.

Waterway

New York State Barge Canal

System, a 524-mile inland

waterway providing transport

within and beyond the state’s

borders, is within 10 miles.

Port of Albany, for year-round,

ocean-going water transport

to and from North America, is

35 miles away.

INDUSTRIAL PARKS

Fulton County Economic

Development Corp. has

three industrial parks, all

of which are within the

New York State-designated

Gloversville Empire Zone

and offer zone incentives to

zone-qualified businesses.

Crossroads Business Park

Designed for professional

offices, telemarketing

operations, retail

establishments and other

high-tech enterprises

Average acres per lot: 3.2

Proximity to NYS Thruway

8 miles

Crossroads Industrial ParkIdeal for manufacturing/

distribution, warehousing

and food processing

Average acres per lot: 3

Proximity to NYS Thruway

7 miles

Johnstown Industrial ParkIdeal for manufacturing/

distribution, warehousing

and food processing

Average acres per lot: 6

Proximity to NYS Thruway

4 miles

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ZONES

Since its inception in 1987,

the Gloversville Empire

Zone Program has

assisted businesses within

Fulton County. The program

offers the following

incentives and tax credit

to businesses:

FULTON COUNTY

BUSINESS CLIMATEIn recent years, Fulton County has welcomed a number

of high-tech businesses to the area, including Internet,

telecommunications and telemarketing companies, as

well as health-care product manufacturers.

NON-FARM EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY

Data in Thousands Industry November 2007

Total non-farm 19.0

Total private 14.6

Goods producing 3.0

Natural resources, mining and construction 0.7

Manufacturing 2.3

Service providing 16.0

Private service providing 11.6

Trade, transportation and utilities 4.2

Wholesale trade 0.4

Retail trade 2.3

Transportation, warehousing and utilities 1.5

Information 0.6

Financial activities 0.5

Professional and business services 0.8

Educational and health services 3.5

Leisure and hospitality 1.1

Other services 0.9

Government 4.4

Source: New York State Dept. of Labor

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Business | Economic Profile

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Wage Tax Credit

Investment Tax Credit

Sales Tax Refund

Real Property

Tax Abatement

Utility Rate Reductions

Telephone

Tax Reduction Credit

Real Property

Tax Credit

Sales Tax Exemption

DISTANCE TO MAJOR CITIES

Albany, 40 miles

Boston, 215 miles

Buffalo, 250 miles

Montreal, 220 miles

New York, 180 miles

Saratoga Springs, 30 miles

Syracuse, 100 miles

Utica, 60 miles

MAJOR PRIVATE EMPLOYERS

Fulton County Chapter NYS

Association for Retarded

Children, 1,400

Nathan Littauer Hospital, 880

Wal-Mart Distribution

Center #6096, 800

Price Chopper

(Gloversville & Johnstown)

495

Frontier, 450

Fulton-Montgomery

Community College, 424

Exel, 322/full-time

employees and 140 part time

Nelson A. Taylor Co., 300

Finkle Distributors Inc., 210

Robison & Smith, Inc., 190

Callaway Golf Ball

Operations Inc., 185

Community Health Center, 170

Wells Nursing Home, 170

School House Companies, 150

Hannaford, 125

Spray Nine, 125

RESIDENTIALCOMMERCIAL

Plumbing • Heating • Air Conditioning

Complete heating & air conditioning design & installation.Specializing in radiant fl oor heating.

Plumbing from service to new construction:Water services, back fl ow prevention testing (NYS Certifi ed),

repair work, water heaters, well pumps, camp closings & concrete core drilling services

444 Co. Hwy. 126 • Broadalbin, NY 12025Phone: (518) 883-3077 • Fax: (518) 883-8222

www.adirondackmechanicalcorp.com

The Area’s Plumbing & Heating ProfessionalsSince 1980

Distribution Center #6096 is a Grocery Distribution Center, approximately 870,000 sq. ft. serving mainly Wal-Mart Supercenters and Sam’s Clubs. The Distribution Center consists of both Dry Grocery and Perishable warehouse sections.

300 Enterprise Rd.Johnstown, NY 12095(518) 736-3000

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FOR MORE INFORMATION

Fulton County Regional

Chamber of Commerce

and Industry

2 N. Main St.

Gloversville, NY 12078

(800) 676-3858,

(518) 725-0641

www.fultoncountyny.org

www.44lakes.com

Fulton County Economic

Development Corp.

One Decker Drive, Ste. 110

Johnstown, NY 12095

(518) 762-8700

www.sites4u.org

Sources:

Fulton County Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Fulton County Economic Development Corp. www.fultoncountyny.org

McDonald’s, 110

Somerset Industries, 110

Hussmann Corp., 108

Leader-Herald Newspaper, 107

Northampton Marina

284 Houseman St. • Mayfield • (800) 309-5811 www.NorthamptonMarina.com

On Great Sacandaga Lake in the Adirondack Park

Boats • Aluminum Docks and Staircases Boat Rentals • Service • Dockage • Storage

FULTON COUNT Y IMAGESFULTONCOUNT Y.COM 33

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When artist Tiffany Smith moved back to her native Fulton County four years

ago, she brought a little piece of city life with her.

Her vibrant art gallery – Tiffany Smith Gallery – in Johnstown focuses primarily on modern art, featuring photography, digital art, painting, sculpture and installations by artists from New York, Connecticut, Vermont, Pennsylvania and other states. Shows

usually focus on one artist’s work at a time, and they change each month.

Other galleries in the region tend to showcase Adirondack art, so Smith set out to make her contemporary gallery more accessible by offering a range of related programs – from free, weekly art and documentary films to open-studio hours that allow people to explore their own creativity.

“My goal of having the gallery and classes is to bring something to the

community that I felt was lacking,” she says. “I’m introducing people to modern art forms, and the film series can help people in this area learn about modern artists and what’s going on in the field. It [modern art] is a component of the culture that isn’t really established here, but this can help get people’s creativity going.”

Her approach seems to be working.Smith has offered open-studio hours

by appointment to the public for about a

Freedom of ExpressionMODERN ART GALLERY FOCUSES ON FOSTERING CREATIVITY, OPENING MINDS

Artist Tiffany Smith is bringing modern art to Fulton County.W

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Arts & Culture

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Sir William Johnson Realty

Johnstown Professional Office Complex55 E. Main St., Ste. 50Johnstown, NY 12095

(518) 762-8001 • Fax: (518) 762-3643

www.swjrealty.com

year, and the gallery opened with its first show in summer 2007. The open-studio time allows people to study whatever they might be interested in – ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, paintings, drawing, paper making, glass work and more – with instructional help from Smith as needed. She also rents the studio out to established artists who need a place to work, and visiting artists offer weekend workshops periodically.

“Everyone has been very supportive,” Smith says. “I’ve had a lot of interest in the services I offer, and there has been a lot of support from all different parts of the community – from children and families to established artists and business people.”

Smith, 27, worked for three years in art therapy and creative arts education at Northern Westchester Center for the Arts while studying at Purchase College. After graduating in 2002, she completed a year of graduate study at the State University of New York New Paltz before returning to her roots in Fulton County.

“I wanted to come back to a rural, upstate, laid-back way of life,” she says. Smith worked on her own mixed-media art from home while searching for a gallery location, and she found the perfect spot in an 1800s-era chapel that she bought two years ago and renovated.

Ultimately, Smith sees her gallery as a place of expression, learning – and even therapy of sorts.

“This gallery works to satisfy people who have an interest in modern art,” she says, “and I’m trying to make it accessible for people who might not have had art in their lives but are interested in getting into it.”

– Rebecca Denton

“This gallery works to satisfy

people who have an interest in modern art.”

TIFFANY SMITH

GALLERY OWNER

FULTON COUNT Y IMAGESFULTONCOUNT Y.COM 35

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Adapting to meet the com-munity’s needs has always been a hallmark of Fulton

Montgomery Community College.The college’s commitment to the

community is especially evident now with the announced major overhaul of its classroom building and opening of a satellite facility in downtown Amsterdam. At the same time, new facilities on campus will expand current offerings, and a major capital campaign is set to launch in 2008.

The goal, says Dr. Dustin Swanger, president, is to enable the college to be the “go-to” entity for local employers, whatever their needs.

“We’re really trying to get people to think of all the resources that are here at the institution when they’re looking at what their needs are,” Swanger says. “Ideally, we’ll be the first call when somebody needs help with their employees or needs help finding

employees. Whatever the issue, we want them to know that we have the resources and, if we don’t, we can help them find what they need.”

A case in point is a planned laboratory for the radiological technology program. While area hospitals have been partnering with FMCC to provide lab experience for students, adding a new educational lab on campus will allow more students to enroll. The program is among the 50 degrees and certificates offered by the college, and is an example of how the campus is being retooled to fit changing workforce needs.

“Our modernization of the classroom building will make it much more contemporary and will also update the technology there,” Swanger says. “A lot of our facilities are original, and we need to bring them a modern look and feel in addition to just maintaining the infrastructure.”

With around 2,200 students, FMCC

has long been a steady source of new workers for the area’s business community, supplying graduates in everything from automotive technology to nursing. And as technology, particularly the Internet, has revolutionized the way companies do business, the school has launched many new programs and services to keep up.

One such program is EASE, a software program accessible via the Internet, which allows employers to post job and internship opportunities. Students have access from any computer, and it’s a far cry from how those connections were made in the past.

“Before this, we had a bulletin board outside an office with 3x5 cards on it,” Swanger says. “This is a huge leap forward for us.”

The additional and upgraded programs haven’t gone unnoticed in the community. Recently FMCC was ranked as the No. 1 economic development asset in Fulton County in a survey of local businesses.

“That was great for us,” he says. “We want to provide continuing education for employees, as well as develop programs specifically for a company. The business community is very supportive of FMCC, and we want to meet their educational needs.”

– Joe Morris

Meeting the Needsof the CommunityNEW PROGRAMS, REVAMPED FACILITIES EXPAND FMCC’S ABILITY TO SERVE STUDENTS AND AREA BUSINESSES

Fulton Montgomery Community College has recently spent $2.8 million in renovations to the campus.

36 IMAGESFULTONCOUNT Y.COM FULTON COUNT Y

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Your Complete Home Furnishings Center

Bedding • Flooring • FurnitureElectronics • Appliances • Lighting

New Super Store.Same Great Prices & Services.

We Have Something For Everyone!307 N. Comrie Ave. • Johnstown, NY 12095

(518) 762-7829 • Fax: (518) 736-3556

www.RandQ.com

RUBY & QUIRI CARPET ONEEvery school year brings

new faces, and in Fulton

County, some of those are in

the administrative offices as

well as the classrooms.

Three area districts have new

superintendents: Robert DeLilli

at Gloversville Enlarged, Steve

Tomlinson at Broadalbin Perth

Central and Kathy Dougherty at

Northville Central. All are ready

to meet the challenges of their

respective districts.

Tomlinson, who taught

for several years in the

Broadalbin district before

taking administration positions

elsewhere, returned as a principal

in 2000 and took the top job in

January 2008. For him, it’s a

true homecoming.

“I spent my whole life in this

district, and I’m certain that’s

going to help me,” he says.

Among the challenges ahead,

he says, will be working with the

state government to keep state

aid at its current level, reducing

the burden on local taxpayers

as much as possible.

For DeLilli, who took over

in Gloversville on Sept. 15,

2007, it is also a homecoming.

A resident of the city and

graduate of Gloversville High

School, he says this is a great

opportunity to give back to

the community.

The district is currently in the

middle of an eight-year building

and renovation project. DeLilli

has quickly gotten up to speed.

“It’s a large task, but it’s

also a very exciting time,”

he says. “It’s a whole new

ballgame here.”

– Joe Morris

School of SuccessNEW LEADERS

TAKE THE HELM

FULTON COUNT Y IMAGESFULTONCOUNT Y.COM 37

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Looking for ways to save money

on gas and help the environment?

The EPA wants to share some

smart driving tips that could give

you more miles per gallon of gas

and reduce air pollution. Tips

like making sure your tires are

properly infl ated and replacing

your air fi lter regularly. And

where possible, accelerate and

brake slowly. Be aware of your

speed ... did you know that for

every 5 miles you go over 65 mph,

you’re spending about 20 cents

more per gallon of gas? If you’re

shopping for a new car, choose

the cleanest, most effi cient

vehicle that meets your needs. If

we each adopt just one of these

tips, we’d get more miles for our

money and it would be a little

easier to smell the fl owers. For

more tips and to compare cleaner,

more effi cient vehicles, visit

www.epa.gov/greenvehicles.

Save Money. Smell the Flowers.

“Come Feel the Heat”

(518) 762-9671 • Toll-free: (888) 762-9671E-mail: [email protected]

www.homeheatingheadquarters.comStore hours: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 8am-4pm, Sun closed

WOOD • PELLET • GAS • CORN • COAL • ELECTRIC

HomeHeating Headquarters

FinancingAvailable

FIREPLACES • INSERTS • ZERO CLEARANCE • FREE STANDING

250 N. Comrie Ave.Johnstown, NY 12095

Johnstown AgwayLocated

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Your home for lawn, garden and pet Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 8am-4pm, Sun 9am-1pm

FREEIn Home

Estimates

38 IMAGESFULTONCOUNT Y.COM FULTON COUNT Y

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Whether it’s hip waders or hunkering down in a deer stand, the outdoorsman can find plenty of action in Fulton County.

The region’s abundant natural resources ensure that some type of game is in season practically year-round. Deer, bears and turkeys on land vie for attention with trout, bass, walleye and pike in the water, giving the area something for everyone.

“We have a lot of local hunters and do cater to the local market, but we get a lot of people up from downstate and New Jersey, too,” says Jeff Chamberlain, owner of the Adirondack Sports Center. In his 31 years in business, Chamberlain says he’s seen a lot of change in the hunting/fishing populations, but both sports remain extremely popular.

“A lot of people keep camps and property in the area and come up almost every weekend,” he says. “A lot of the appeal here is the availability of hunting areas. The parkland is enormous, and hunters have access to almost all of it from here.”

From late September through early December, deer season holds sway, with turkey season taking up a big chunk of time in the spring. Trout season begins in April, with peak times for other fishing coming along throughout the summer and early fall months.

That broad range of options has kept the area busy even as hunting and fishing have slowed in other parts of the country, says Mike Hauser, owner of Twin City Sports Promotions, who puts on the annual Adirondack Outdoorsman Show (www.adkshow.com).

“People have realized that they don’t have to go to Canada,” Hauser says. “There’s plenty of quality game and fish right here in their own backyard.”

The outdoorsman show was launched in February 2006, when Hauser realized that he could greatly expand the sports-card shows he was hosting. Now he’s filling up the Moose Club in Johnstown and talking about expanding.

“We have about 2,000 people at our show now and are looking to begin a second show in the fall starting in 2009,” he says.

While there are still plenty of hunters and anglers who go it alone, Hauser says that hunting guides are coming back into vogue, which should bring even more people into the area.

“Guides were a very big deal in the Adirondacks in the 1930s and 1940s, but then more people started going out on their own,” he says. “It was an art form that kind of died off, but now with people’s lives being so busy, they don’t mind paying for a service that puts them right on top of the fish or the game. It’s really about condensing the experience.”

That said, there will always be the diehards, but there’s plenty of Adirondacks to go around, no matter how people choose to have their experience, says Hauser.

“We’re working with the chamber of commerce to do even more to make sure we capitalize on the rich resources we have. This really is an untapped market, kind of a hidden secret.”

– Joe Morris

Anglers look forward to May when the season opens for walleye, northern pike and pickerel. PHOTO BY ANTONY BOSHIER

Outdoor AdventuresPLENTIFUL HUNTING AND FISHING MAKE AREA A SPORTSMAN’S PARADISE

FULTON COUNT Y IMAGESFULTONCOUNT Y.COM 39

Sports & Recreation

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Wellness CenterOrthopaedic

(518) 773-7306 • (800) 724-2900 • Physical Therapy: (518) 773-2508215 County Hwy. 128 • Gloversville, NY 12078

www.orthopaedicwellnesscenter.com

Thomas S. EaganM.D., P.C.

Board Certified Orthopaedic SurgeonCertified Clinical Densitometrist (C.C.D.)

Specializes in the Care of Bone and Joint Conditions

The Orthopaedic & Wellness Center Offers:

Physical Therapy Services

Bone Density Testing

Nerve Conduction Studies

Orthotics

Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement

Matta Anterior Approach

Computer-Assisted “Navigation” Knee Replacement

SERVING THE CAPITAL REGION SINCE 1924

AMSTERDAM OVERHEAD DOOR CO. INC.Sales • Installation • Service

Residential & commercial garage doors & openersCarriage house doors • Retractable awningsSprings, cables & sections replaced • High-speed doorsRolling grilles & fire doors • Loading dock equipment

(518) 842-7370 • (800) 842-7370403 West Main Street • Amsterdam, New York 12010Lou Mosher, Owner, Commercial SalesBeth Apholz, Residential Sales

40 IMAGESFULTONCOUNT Y.COM FULTON COUNT Y

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Who says you can’t go home again?Some of the area’s newest health-care

providers aren’t new at all; they’re area residents who, after school, went to work in other parts of the country. And, after a while, decided to come back home, bringing high-quality care with them.

After finishing chiropractic school in the Atlanta area, Karen Miller began to practice there. It was a great experience, she says, but eventually the desire to be near family and other considerations brought her to Johnstown, where she opened Back to Health Chiropractic Center in May 2007.

“I wanted to be closer to my roots, “ Miller says. “I’m from Gloversville, but I had worked as an engineering designer in Florida for several years before going back to school. I’ve been gone 26 yeas, so it’s nice to be back.”

The legendary Atlanta traffic has made her very grateful to be able to get across town in five minutes, and the ease with which she’s made professional ties in the community also has been beneficial.

“Things are going nicely and growing the way I want them to,” Miller says of her business. “This has been a nice place to start fresh, and I feel like my services are needed here as well. I feel very confident about running a business here, and it’s very rewarding helping people to feel better.”

Things are much the same for Brad Dunlap, who opened Dunlap Chiropractic in February 2006 after completing his professional training. When he was looking at returning to the region, he contacted the Fulton County Economic Development Corp. and was pleased at how quickly things fell into place.

“They were building a new facility for the Crossroads Incubator, and I was able to get a suite there,” Dunlap says. “It’s been a great place to practice.”

From his Johnstown office, he sees people throughout the area and says that being able to give back to his community has been one of the greatest rewards he’s reaped so far.

“This area really is underserved in this field, and so it’s been really great. It’s nice to be in a small community where people trust and depend on you. I’m really enjoying it.”

Brad’s wife, Tamara, has opened a thriving dental practice in Johnstown. Together with two sons, they make their home in Broadalbin.

Area residents also benefit from the services of Matthew Goodemote, who opened what is now Community Physical Therapy & Wellness four years ago. The facility offers everything from a heat therapy pool and specific types of massage all the way to nutrition consultants, a gym facility and a wide array of classes and workshops. Next up will be a variety of programs to address workers’ compensation issues, including a room devoted to work conditioning and other specific treatments and programs.

“My family lives in the area, and every time I came back I saw the need for my kind of training,” says Goodemote, who is schooled in the McKenzie Method. “And we’ve gone from three to 30 employees, and will be adding more, so it’s been a tremendous success.”

– Joe Morris

Homeward BoundHEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONALS RETURN TO THEIR ROOTS TO SET UP SHOP

Like several other health-care professionals, Brad Dunlap returned to Fulton County to open his practice. W

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COMMUNITY

THIS SECTION IS SPONSORED BY

EDUCATION

School Districts

Broadalbin-Perth

School District, 954-2500

Gloversville Enlarged

City School District

775-5700

Greater Johnstown

School District, 762-4611

Mayfield Central

School District, 661-8207

Northville Central

School District, 863-7000

Oppenheim-Ephratah

Central School District

568-2014

Wheelerville Union Free

School District, 835-2171

Private Schools

Heritage Christian Academy

Johnstown,

762-0267

Perth Bible Christian

Academy, Amsterdam

843-0734

Colleges

Fulton-Montgomery

Community College

762-4651

CLIMATE

Average high temperature

January 28 F

July 79.9 F

Average low temperature

January 9.2 F

July 58.2 F

Average annual precipitation

44.4 inches

Average annual snowfall

65.3 inches

UTILITIES

Cable

Time Warner Cable

(866) 321-2225

Electric & Gas

EnergyNext Inc.

580-9244

National Grid

(800) 642-4272

Upstate Utilities &

Consultants Inc., 842-6130

Internet Service Providers

Frontier, (866) 257-9075

Logical Net, 292-4500

Time Warner Cable

(866) 321-2225

Telephone

Clear Tel, 762-7594

Frontier, (866) 257-9075

Time Warner Cable

(866) 321-2225

MEDIA

Newspapers

Amsterdam Recorder

(daily), 843-1100,

www.recordernews.com

Gazette newspapers

(daily), 374-4141

www.dailygazette.com

The Leader-Herald

(daily), 725-8616

www.leaderherald.com

Radio

WENT 1340, 725-7175

www.am1340went.com

WBUG 99.7 & 101.1

843-9284

www.bugcountry.com

FULTON COUNTY

SNAPSHOTThe beauty of the four seasons can be seen and enjoyed in all its

glory in Fulton County, where Adirondack Park meets the Mohawk

Valley. And the activities available are as different as the seasons.

25 years of experience in the construction industry specializing in heavy civil infrastructure, energy,

wind farms, design/build, site development, roads, bridges, airports, athletic facilities and railroad

construction. The Delaney Group, Inc. takes pride in our reputation for embracing

the most challenging schedule and completing our projects on time

without sacrifi cing safety, quality or budget.

The Delaney Group, Inc.2736 State Hwy. 30 • Gloversville, NY 12078

(518) 661-5304 • Fax: (518) 661-5818www.thedelaneygrp.com

42 IMAGESFULTONCOUNT Y.COM FULTON COUNT Y

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MEDICAL SERVICES

Fulton County residents have

a wide range of specialized

medical services conveniently

available to them.

Amsterdam Memorial Hospital

842-3100

Bassett Healthcare Gloversville

725-9698

Community Health Center

762-8215

Fulton County

Office for Aging, 736-5650

Home Health Care Partners

842-6718

Mountain Valley Hospice

725-4545

Nathan Littauer Hospital

and Nursing Home, 725-8621

St. Mary’s Hospital, 842-1900

Visiting Nurses Home Care

458-9781

Wells Nursing Home, 762-4546

GOLF

Fox Run Golf Club, 762-3717

Hales Mills Country Club

736-4622

Holland Meadows Golf Course

883-3318

Kingsboro Golf Club

773-4600

Nick Stoner Municipal

Golf Course, 835-4220

Pine Brook Golf Club Inc.

725-1621

Sacandaga Golf Club, 863-4887

BEACHES

Caroga Lake Beach, 835-4241

Broadalbin Town Beach

883-8353

Town of Mayfield Beach

661-5414

Northampton State Campground

Beach, 863-6000

Northville Beach

863-4040

Pine Lake Park Beach

835-4930

CALENDAR

February

2, 9, 16, 23FINN-TASTIC SATURDAY EVENINGS!Lapland Lake

Nordic Vacation Center

139 Lapland Lake Rd.

Benson • 863-4974

5-28MARDI GRASThe Perthshire, Route 30N

Perth • 883-5123

9NICK STONER TRAILERS ANNUAL POKER RUNRoute 29A, Caroga Lake

835-6015

10SACANDAGA VALLEY ARTS NETWORK COFFEEHOUSENorthville Methodist Church

Hall, Northville • 883-5761

16-17

ADIRONDACK OUTDOORSMAN SHOWJohnstown Moose Club, 109 S.

Comrie Ave./Route 30A

Johnstown • 725-5565

18ANNUAL DEMO DAYLapland Lake Nordic Vacation

Center, 139 Lapland Lake Rd.

Benson • 863-4974

March

1, 8, 15, 22

FINN-TASTIC SATURDAY EVENINGS!Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation

Center, 139 Lapland Lake Rd.

Benson • 863-4974

110TH ANNUAL MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION IN FULTON & MONTGOMERY COUNTIES’ MINIATURE GOLF TOURNAMENT & CHILDREN’S CARNIVALAmsterdam High School

Amsterdam • 725-2790, ext. 115

1-26MYTHS AND MUSIC OF IRELANDThe Perthshire, Route 30N

Perth • 883-5123

4-25WEARING OF THE GREENThe Perthshire, Route 30N

Perth • 883-5123

6-27FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH’SThe Perthshire, Route 30N

Perth • 883-5123

9SACANDAGA VALLEY ARTS NETWORK COFFEEHOUSE

Northville Methodist

Church Hall

Northville • 883-5761

29-30NYS MAPLE WEEKEND OPEN HOUSEPeaceful Valley Maple Farms

116 LaGrange Road

Johnstown • 762-0491

April6STORYBOOK SUNDAEFOR THE JOHNSTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARYFMCC Student Union

Johnstown • 762-8317

13SACANDAGA VALLEY ARTS NETWORK COFFEEHOUSE

Northville Methodist Church

Hall, Northville • 883-5761

May1-31SPRINGTIME IN NYThe Perthshire, Route 30N

Perth • 883-5123

June1-30COUNTRY, BLUES & BBQThe Perthshire, Route 30N

Perth • 883-5123

5-26SPRINGTIME IN NYThe Perthshire, Route 30N

Perth • 883-5123

The area code for Ful ton County i s 518 . IMAGESFULTONCOUNT Y.COM 43

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FOR MORE INFORMATION

Fulton County Regional Chamberof Commerce and Industry

2 N. Main St.

Gloversville, NY 12078

725-0641

(800) 676-3858

www.fultoncountyny.orgwww.44lakes.com

Fulton County Economic Development Corp.

The Johnstown Professional Office Complex

One Decker Drive, Ste. 110

Johnstown, NY 12095

762-8700

www.sites4u.org

Sources:

Fulton County Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Fulton County www.visitnewyorkstate.net www.44lakes.com

July

1-31

COUNTRY, BLUES & BBQ

The Perthshire, Route 30N

Perth • 883-5123

1-31

DEATH IN THE

BACKSTRETCH

The Perthshire, Route 30N

Perth • 883-5123

18

ADIRONDACK WATERFEST

Along the Cayadutta Creek

Gloversville & Johnstown

725-0641

August

1-30

DEATH IN THE

BACKSTRETCH

The Perthshire, Route 30N

Perth • 883-5123

At St. Jude Children s Research Hospital, we can t.That s why we are working every day to find cures for life- threatening diseases that strike children everywhere. Diseases like cancer, pediatric AIDS, and sickle cell. And we won t stop until every child is cured and every disease is defeated.

Because we can t imagine a world without children … can you?Call 1-800-996-4100 or log onto www.stjude.org to learn how you can help.

Finding cures. Saving children.

Adirondack Mechanical Corp. www.adirondackmechanicalcorp.com

Albanese & Albanese

Amsterdam Overhead Door Company

Coldwell Banker www.coldwellbankerarlenemsitterly.com

Delaney Construction www.delaneyconstruction.com

First Colonial Realty www.1stcolonialrealty.com

FMCC www.fmcc.edu

Frontier Communications www.frontieronline.com

Fuel N’ Food

Fulton County EDC www.sites4u.org

Fulton County Electrical

Gloversville-Johnstown Joint Wastewater Treatment Facilities www.g-jwastewater.com

Hodgson Russ LLP www.hodgsonruss.com

Holiday Inn www.holiday-inn.com/johnstownny

Home Heating Headquarters www.heatingheadquarters.com

Johnstown Animal Clinic www.johnstownac.com

Microtel Inns/Suites

Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home www.nlh.org

NBT Bank www.nbtbank.com

Northampton Marina www.northamptonmarina.com

Ruby & Quiri www.randq.com

Sir William Johnson Realty www.swjrealty.com

SLA Transport, Inc. www.schoolhouseco.com

State Farm www.statefarm.com/upps/agent

Sunset Heating & Cooling www.callsunset.com

Thomas S. Eagan, M.D. P.C. www.orthopaedicwellnesscenter.com

Virginia M. Mackey Real Estate www.vmackey.ihouse2000.com

Wal-Mart Distribution Center

Visit Our Advertisers

44 IMAGESFULTONCOUNT Y.COM FULTON COUNT Y

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Virginia M. MackeyGRI-CRS

Licensed Real Estate Broker • NYS Certifi ed Appraiser

(518) 773-3298 • FAX (518) 725-8615E-mail: [email protected]

www.vmackey.ihouse2000.com

Virginia M. MackeyReal Estate

226 E. Fulton St., Gloversville, NY 12078VMMFuel N’ Food

3006 St. Hwy. 30Gloversville, NY 12078

This space provided as a public service. ©2004, The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

It’s about honoring survivors and those

who’ve lost the battle. It’s about raising

funds for research, education, screening and

treatment. The Komen Race for the Cure® is

about support, not competition. Join us at

komen.org or 1.800 I’M AWARE®.

Sometimes winning a race is not about beating

the other runners.

Everyday moments can be learningmoments with your kids. For more tips, visit bornlearning.org

I spysomethinggreen.

Mario M. Albanese, Esq. • Michael M. Albanese, Esq.

Alb anese & Alb anese35 South Main Street

Gloversville, NY 12078(518) 725-3575

GENERAL PRACTICEPersonal Injury • Real Estate

Wills & Estates • CriminalFamily Court/Matrimonial

School House Pallet & WarehousingSLA TRANSPORT, INC.

(518) 725-6960 • (518) 725-6763 faxwww.schoolhousecompanies.com

600,000 sq. ft.

Johnstown Animal Clinic2802 State Hwy. 29Johnstown, NY 12095(518) 762-2327Fax: (518) 736-2327www.johnstownac.com

Amy J. French, DVM • Catherine Roberts, DVMAnn Wainwright, LVT • Kerry Dutcher, LVT

FULTON COUNT Y IMAGESFULTONCOUNT Y.COM 45

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Ajoint 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 multi-million dollar investment

serves to protect the waters of Fulton

County. Wastewater generated by

the residents of the community along

with approximately 30 diverse

industries is accepted and treated at

this facility.

Our excess capacity has allowed

us to be able to accept trucked waste

from various outside sources as well.

We remain dedicated to protecting

the environment and ensuring

adequate treatment of wastewater

for our future generations.

191 Union Ave., Johnstown, NY 12095 | www.g-jwastewater.com | e-mail: [email protected]

GLOVERSVILLE-JOHNSTOWN JOINT WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY

(518) 762-3101

GJ

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