Anchorwoman leaving
PLATTSBURGH -- WPTZ NewsChannel 5 and WNNE NewsChannel 31 on-air personality Erin Connors is leaving the stations to pursue a media-relations career in Washington, D.C.
Connors co-anchors "First at Five" with Stephanie Gorin and is sole news anchor of "5:30 NOW." She also serves as the stations' health and medical reporter.
Connors joined NewsChannel 5 in 2001 as weekend news anchor. In 2002, she and Gorin teamed up to launch the region's first 5 p.m. newscast, "First at Five," and in 2005 she started "5:30 NOW." Prior to coming to NewsChannel 5 and 31, Connors was an anchor and reporter at KAAC-TV in Austin, Minn., specializing in health/medical reports. Washington will be a homecoming of sorts for her. She spent two years there in the early '90s working as a production assistant and news writer at NewsChannel 8.
"It's been an honor and privilege to work with the team at WPTZ over the past eight years," Connors said. "I will miss this beautiful region and all the wonderful people I have met over the years. At the same time, I am very excited for this next step in my life in our nation's capital."
"Erin has been a terrific worker, friend and performer since she arrived here nearly eight years ago," said WPTZ/WNNE President and General Manager Paul Sands. "We wish her the best as she moves forward into an exciting future."
Connors' last day at the stations will be Friday.
New Realtor
WESTPORT -- Realtor Louann Jaquish has joined Weichert, Realtors-Venture North Associates in Westport.
She brings four years of experience in residential sales to clients in southern Essex County and surrounding areas. She is a member of the Northern Adirondack Board of Realtors and the New York State and National Associations of Realtors.
Born and raised in Ticonderoga, Jaquish earned an associate degree from Adirondack Community College and graduated cum laude from Plattsburgh State University with a bachelor's degree in sociology and women's studies. She has worked for Essex County government for 20 years, currently as a medical-services assistant in the Coordinated Care/Adult Protective Unit.
Weichert, Realtors-Venture North Associates is located at 14 Champlain Ave. in Westport, phone 962-8424. The company has a second office in Lake Placid.
Attorney retained
SYRACUSE -- James L. Sonneborn has joined the firm of Green Seifter, PLLC, as part of the firm's litigation practice.
A resident of Syracuse and Saranac Lake, he joins the firm as a member and brings more than 25 years of litigation, arbitration and mediation experience to the firm. This experience includes the prosecution and defense of various civil and criminal cases, including negligence, contract, securities arbitration, partnership disputes, shareholder disputes, torts and defense of major criminal cases. He is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University (J.D.) and the University of Virginia (B.A.). He is admitted to practice in New York and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit. Prior to joining Green Seifter, Sonneborn was a principal with the firm Sonneborn, Spring & O'Sullivan for more than 20 years.
"Sonneborn brings a depth of knowledge in the areas of business litigation, mediation and arbitration to our litigation practice that better positions the firm to meet the increasing demands and complexity of our clients' litigation needs," said Laurence G. Bousquet, member of the Board of Managers.
Green Seifter is a diversified law firm of more than 30 attorneys located in Syracuse. The firm provides counsel on such issues as mergers and acquisitions, business transactions, economic development, government relations, litigation, commercial bankruptcy, trusts and estates, employee benefits, commercial real estate, employment, energy, environmental and land-use law, and tax planning and advocacy. For more information, please visit http://www.gslaw.com/.
Auto dealer donation
PLATTSBURGH -- Garvey Hyundai has announced that in the month of December each department from parts, sales and service will donate a portion of its proceeds to the Elmore SPCA.
Also, it will match donations made to the same organization through its store. For those donations, call the sales manager for details.
This will represent the first of many charitable endeavors Garvey Hyundai will be attaching to its sales events. Garvey has been in business for 30 years and in the Town of Plattsburgh since 2005. In that time, it has seen significant growth and support from the community and has decided, especially during the holidays, it's time to give something back.
The charitable effort began with a sign of the seasons: a puppy, wrapped in a red bow, sitting above its used-car ad saying, "Adopt one today." Pets have always been welcome at Garvey Hyundai and most employees have a dog, a cat, both, or some other type of pet. So after much discussion, it was decided the donation to the Elmore SPCA, headed by Kelly Allen, would be the best donation.
Allen, who can be reached at www.elmore.petfinder.com or by calling 643-2451, confirmed there is a significant need.
Now, Garvey Hyundai's advertising will serve an even greater purpose. The dealership has decided each month to give to a different charity. The charity it chooses will put the dollars given directly back into the community and will have a direct and instant effect on the people that have helped the company be successful.
License received
PLATTSBURGH -- AES Northeast, PLLC, has announced that Nathan C. Bull of Plattsburgh has received his New York State Professional Engineer's License.
He has been employed with AES Northeast since 2002. Bull is a 1998 graduate of Saranac Central School and his credentials include a Bachelor of Science Degree in mechanical engineering from SUNY-Binghamton in 2002. He is also a certified thermographer technician, specializing in thermal imaging using infrared camera technology.
Bull is also a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers. He is the principal mechanical design engineer of the firm.
Chamber officers
PLATTSBURGH -- The Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce has elected new officers for the coming year.
On Jan. 1, taking office for a one-year term each, will be John VanNatten of Glens Falls National Bank, chairman; Gary Titherington of Treadwell Bay Marina/Geoffrey's Pub, first vice chairman; Robert Frenyea of Abbott Frenyea Russell & Coffey, second vice chairman; Susan Manning of NYCO Minerals, treasurer; and Gene Chauvin of Chauvin Agency, past chairman.
In addition, elected to the board of directors for four-year terms each are Kirk Stallsmith of Georgia Pacific; Ron Graham of Monaghan Medical and Patti Husband of Kayak Shack.
The Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce is the largest business and economic-development organization in northern New York, serving more than 3,200 members in Clinton, Essex, Franklin and northern Warren counties.
Agent certified
LAKE PLACID -- Carla Navarra, account executive at Wilkins Insurance Agency with offices in Lake Placid, Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake, has been designated a Certified Insurance Counselor by the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors.
The certification included completion of a rigorous insurance-education program.
The society is a key member of The National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research, the nation's preeminent provider of insurance and risk-management education. The alliance conducts more than 2,500 programs annually throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Currently, more than 29,500 agents and insurance professionals throughout the country have received the designation.
Navarra has demonstrated her professional competence through the successful completion of the five Certified Insurance Counselor institutes and comprehensive written examinations focusing on all major fields of insurance, insurance management and agency operations.
She has been a key member of the staff of the Wilkins Insurance Agency for 10 years and is a graduate of Lake Placid High School and Plattsburgh State.
Holiday donation
PLATTSBURGH -- To help the less fortunate this holiday season, Fidelis Care, the New York State Catholic Health Plan, donated 1,200 turkey coupons to Northeastern New York health-care facilities, health providers, charitable organizations, hunger-relief groups and nonprofit agencies that bring hope and inspiration to those most in need.
In Clinton County, several providers and organizations received holiday turkey coupons, including Catholic Charities of Clinton County, Plattsburgh Housing Authority, and CVPH Medical Center.
"Every family should have the opportunity to enjoy a hearty holiday meal," said Fidelis Care Assistant Vice President of Marketing Scott W. Averill.
Each turkey coupon is good toward the purchase of any fresh or frozen Butterball turkey. Fidelis Care donated more than 7,600 turkey coupons to charitable organizations statewide, including 1,750 in Western New York, 1,200 in Central New York and 3,500 to the New York metropolitan region.
Serving more than 437,000 members in 42 counties, Fidelis Care is one of the largest health plans offering government-sponsored health programs in New York state. It was founded on the belief that all New Yorkers should have access to affordable, quality health insurance. Through the Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus and Medicaid programs, members are covered for regular checkups, preventive care, hospital and emergency care, eye exams, dental care and more. Fidelis Care offers Fidelis Medicare Advantage in 22 counties and Fidelis Dual Advantage for residents eligible for Medicaid and Medicare in 17 counties.
Fidelis Care members have access to a provider network of more than 30,000 health-care professionals statewide.
Individuals seeking affordable health insurance coverage should contact Fidelis Care toll-free at 1-888-FIDELIS (1-888-343-3547).
Business mixer
PLATTSBURGH -- The Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce invites area business people to a special Holiday Business After Hours Thursday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Geoffrey's Pub.
Attendees can enjoy delicious food and a cash bar while making new business contacts. Guests may even win one of the door prizes provided by Geoffrey's Pub, WOKO, WKOL, WIZN, WBTZ and WJOY. The festivities will continue after this event with Geoffrey's Annual Holitini Party.
Business After Hours is open to all chamber members and their employees. Not-yet members are encouraged to contact the chamber for a special-guest pass.
Admission is $3 with a reservation and $4 without. For more information, or to make reservations, call the chamber at 563-1000.
Award received
LAKE PLACID -- The Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort in Lake Placid recently received a New York State Environmental Excellence Award.
The awards were announced by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and were presented in Albany by DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis at a reception to acknowledge the winners. Now in their fifth year, the awards honor businesses, non-governmental organizations, educational facilities, government/municipalities and individuals that have made great strides in improving and protecting New York's environment through innovative and environmentally sustainable practices or creative partnerships.
The Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort was the first hotel to ever win the award. They were honored for taking action and greater responsibility for climate change.
The resort has taken a leadership role as the first resort in the region to become more sustainable, educate guests about environmental issues and inspire other resorts to follow their model of excellence in order to reduce the carbon footprint of the hospitality industry. The Golden Arrow Resort has instituted green programs on a variety of fronts including energy efficiency, water conservation, recycling, green grounds and environmental education to reduce the environmental impact not only of the hotel, but also of the traveler.
It features a "green roof" -- a rooftop expanse of native plants that provides wildlife habitat, reduces water runoff and helps keep the inn warm in the winter and cool in the summer. A limestone beach reduces the impacts of acid rain. In-room recycling, insulated windows, energy-efficient lighting and low-flow plumbing fixtures are also part of the mix. The hotel offers incentives for guests that travel by foot, ski, bike or hybrid car.
Four factors are considered at the resort when making all decisions: guest satisfaction, product quality, profitability and environmental impact. They are committed to making environmental improvements throughout the resort's operations and maintenance, as well as helping more than 80,000 guests annually become educated about how to live a sustainable lifestyle. The Golden Arrow also assists others in the hospitality industry find ways to reduce their carbon footprint.
More than 40 applications from throughout New York State were submitted for the awards with submissions coming from industry, local governments, advocacy groups, educational institutions and the hospitality sector. A committee of 20 representatives from the public and private sectors reviewed the applications and selected the winning submissions.
"We have really come a long way in the last few years and look forward to continuing to grow our green initiatives," said Jenn Holderied, owner of the Golden Arrow.
The Golden Arrow is the only resort in the United States to have achieved a 4-Green Leaf ration from International Audubon.
The Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort has 166 rooms and suites along with extensive conference facilities with every meeting being automatically green, dining at Charlie's and the T-Bar and a wide range of amenities on the property.
For further information or reservations, call 523-3353 locally, toll-free at 800-582-5540, or visit the Golden Arrow's Web site at www.golden-arrow.com.
