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October 20, 2008

Business briefs: Oct. 19, 2008

Vice president named
PLATTSBURGH — Nova Bus has announced that Gilles Gervais joined the company as vice president, operations, in July.

“Gilles brings a great deal of expertise, skill and experience in manufacturing operations to our team, and will be responsible for the operations of all Nova Bus manufacturing plants,” said Gilles Dion, president and CEO.

Gervais received a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal and an MBA from Universite de Moncton. He comes to Nova Bus with 27 years of experience in the automotive, heavy-equipment and aeronautics industries.

He has served a number of Canada’s leading companies as director of manufacturing operations, plant manager and senior director of advanced manufacturing. He has also been involved with efforts to instill and recognize quality, such as the Mercuriades competition, sponsored by the Quebec Federation of Chambers of Commerce to salute outstanding achievements by Quebec businesses, and the Grand Prix Quebecois de la Qualite, which recognizes outstanding achievements in the implementation of quality and lean manufacturing.

Nova Bus is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Volvo Bus Corporation, the world’s second largest motorcoach and transit-bus manufacturing group. It is a leading manufacturer of city, suburban and shuttle buses in North America. The company operates two plants in Canada and construction of a new 135,740-sq.-ft. bus assembly plant is under way in Plattsburgh, on schedule to become operational in the second half of 2009.

Open house
PLATTSBURGH — Plattsburgh Housing Outlet has announced the results of the Bill Lake Modular Homes fall open house.

In conjunction with Bill Lake Homes fall open house Oct. 4-5, Plattsburgh Housing Outlet offered tour-bus transportation to all interested parties that Sunday. Participants had the opportunity to receive a personal tour of the modular-home factory by Bill Lake and his staff, tour the brand-new design center and explore the custom model homes. All attendees received a $750 coupon if they build a Bill Lake Home and there was a drawing for the chance to win one of three prizes: a $12,000 coupon and two $6,000 coupons off the purchase of a new home.

The grand prize winner was Chip Carney of Syracuse. However, the second- and third-place winners were from the North Country. Stacey Bedard of Champlain and Chris Miner of Cadyville were both awarded $6,000 coupons.

“We had so much interest for their event in June, but many people didn’t want to spend the money on gas, so they didn’t go,” Michelle LaBounty, marketing director for Plattsburgh Housing Outlet, said. “We thought by offering transportation it would be a great way for people to learn about the advantages of building both residential and commercial modular structures on our dime. We are thrilled that our customers were the top winners.”

Plattsburgh Housing Outlet has been building homes in upstate New York and Vermont since 1991. It was one of only four companies across the nation to be named retailer of the year in 2003 by the Manufactured Housing Institute.

Networking event
PLATTSBURGH — The Adirondack Young Professionals (ADK YP) would like to invite all members both current and future to a “Speed Networking” event to be held Thursday at Nicola’s Restaurant at the Gateway Building on Durkee Street in Plattsburgh.

Socializing will be from 5:30 until 6 p.m. with the Speed Networking event held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. There will be a variety of complimentary appetizers available throughout the event. Seating is limited to 40, so come early with your business cards to meet fellow young professionals and share experiences.

Throughout the event, ADK YP will be collecting canned food and monetary donations to be provided to the JCEO food shelf. Information requests about this and other events should be directed to info@adkyp.com.

Agency acquired
GLENS FALLS — Arrow Financial Corporation has announced that Arrow’s lead subsidiary, Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co., has executed a letter of intent to acquire Upstate Agency Inc., an independent property-and-casualty insurance agency headquartered in Chestertown with five offices located in Northern New York.

Mark Carpenter, president of Upstate Agency, will continue managing the agency, which offers commercial and personal lines of property and casualty insurance. The acquisition is subject to the parties entering into a definitive purchase agreement, obtaining all required regulatory approvals and other terms and conditions. Arrow anticipates that it will complete the transaction in the fourth quarter of 2008.

“This affiliation will allow us to add to the services we provide,” said Thomas L. Hoy, chairman, president and CEO. of Arrow Financial.

Glens Falls National currently owns another insurance agency, Capital Financial Group Inc., which sells and services group health and life insurance and will continue to operate as a separate agency after the proposed acquisition of Upstate.

Arrow Financial Corp. is a multi-bank holding company headquartered in Glens Falls with 33 banking locations in Northeastern New York.

Toy drive
PLATTSBURGH — Price Chopper Supermarkets, a Golub Corp. company, is partnering with the U.S. Marine Corps. for the 2008 Toys for Tots drive to reach 200,000 needy children in the area.

“Our Price Chopper associates are our extended family. When one of our family members brings to our attention a greater need in the community, we listen,” said Mona Golub, Price Chopper’s vice president of public relations and consumer services.

Anthony Mazzone, a store set-up specialist and a Marine Corps Gulf War veteran, learned that the Reserve Fox Company out of Albany might not have the resources to run the toy drive due to the company’s deployment to Iraq. Price Chopper decided to team up with the Marines to help them meet their goals for this year’s toy drive.

Until Oct. 31, customers can donate new, unwrapped toys at 78 Price Chopper Supermarkets throughout New York, Western Massachusetts and in Vermont. The mission of Toys for Tots is to collect and distribute new toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community as a message of hope that will motivate them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders. Last year, the Marine Corps was able to distribute 67,804 toys to children in the Capital Region area.

For more information or to make a donation, visit www.pricechopper.com or www.toysfortotsalbanyny.org

Cooking school
LAKE CLEAR — The Adirondack Cooking School sponsored by The Adirondack Resort and Retreat at Hohmeyer’s Lodge on Lake Clear is holding a special holiday series. The school is focused on helping save time and money this holiday season by teaching you how to get in touch with the cooking roots of your grandmother — 21st century style.

Participants can interact in an original Adirondack lodge Old World kitchen as follows:

Today: Ten holiday planning secrets from an executive chef to create simple holiday appetizers paired with wine and beer.

Oct. 26: Roasts, stews and sassy sauces: Cook once for the whole week.

Nov. 2: The holiday sweet tooth: Yummy, local and organic.

Nov. 9: Simple and healthy holiday meals with a budget in mind.

Nov. 16: Spatzel, marzipan and dumplings: Old World holiday touches.

Executive Chef Cathy Hohmeyer offers guidance in the art of her Adirondack cuisine with Old World flair and attendees can learn many more time- and money-saving ideas.

All classes come with Adirondack Cooking School membership, an online Adirondack Cooking Club blog, recipes and follow-up assistance, all for $75 per person per class or $60 each when more than one class is taken. Group discounts are available.

For more information, visit www.AdirondackAlps.com or call 891-1489.

The Adirondack Resort and Retreat at Hohmeyer’s Lodge on Lake Clear was voted the No. 1 restaurant in Northern New York in 2007 by the Watertown Daily Times, was named to the 2008 National Geographic Traveler’s “Stay List” and has been providing Adirondack-based Old World culinary experiences for more than three generations.

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