New associate
PLATTSBURGH — Century 21 Foote-Ryan has hired Sonya Rule-LaRoche as a full-time sales associate.
Rule-LaRoche grew up in the North Country and graduated from Plattsburgh State. She recently retired after a 20-year career with the New York State Police. Her knowledge of the area and strong connection with the community has given her a solid foundation as a Realtor.
Rule-LaRoche currently resides in Rouses Point.
Promotion announced
MALONE — Beardsley Design Associates Architecture, Engineering & Landscape Architecture, P.C., has promoted Michael N. Reynolds to a senior associate of the firm. In this capacity, he will assist the Board of Directors in leading the company.
Reynolds has been with the firm for 11 years, is an award-winning designer and project manager and serves as the manager of the firm's Malone office.
For more information, visit www.beardsley.com.
Workshop offered
PLATTSBURGH — The North Country Small Business Development Center is hosting a workshop titled Retirement Planning for Small Business Owners, to be presented by Chris Huchro, partner at West Bay Financial Group, LLC, from 7:30 to 11 a.m Tuesday, Jan. 24, at North Country SBDC, 194 U.S. Oval, Conference Room 220, Plattsburgh.
The cost is $15 per person, pre-registration required. Refreshments will be provided. For more information or to register, call 564-2042 or email sbdc@plattsburgh.edu.
The workshop will help small-business owners learn what they can do now to be better prepared for retirement.
Topics include Estate Planning Strategies, Retirement Planning, Executive Benefit Planning, Qualified Retirement Plans, Tax Benefits of a Qualified Plan and Defined Contribution Plans.
Travel opportunities
PLATTSBURGH — The North Country Chamber of Commerce is offering two travel opportunities this year. Everyone is invited to attend the information sessions to learn more about trips to Italy and China.
ITALY — Oct. 12 to 20. The chamber has teamed up with Mountain Lake PBS to offer this trip. For $2,849, tour members will visit Venice, Rome, Florence and more. A free information session will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 17 at Mountain Lake PBS studios.
CHINA — Oct. 19 to 27. The chamber is hosting an all-inclusive, nine-day trip to China. The trip includes Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou with tours of the Great Wall, the Ming Tombs, Tian An Men Square, Sozhou Silk Factory, Yu Garden and more.
Tour members will also have the opportunity for a side trip to see the Terra Cotta Warriors. A free information session will be held at the chamber office at 5:30 p.m. Feb 7. Attendees will learn more about the trip, meet the tour operator and have the opportunity to speak to a few of the people who went on the 2011 tour of China.
To register for either free information session, call the chamber at 563-1000. For more information, visit www.northcountrycham ber.com.
Cell phone drive
TICONDEROGA — The Ticonderoga Federal Credit Union (TFCU) will host their third annual cellphone drive this January and February. Cellphones donated at TFCU branches will be given to the STOP Domestic Violence Center in Essex County where they will be turned into Emergency 911 phones for domestic-violence survivors. More than 200 phones have been collected through TFCU's previous drives.
To participate, bring old cellphones, chargers and accessories in any condition from any provider and drop them in the collection bins at any of the Credit Union's three branch locations in Ticonderoga, Port Henry and Elizabethtown during regular business hours. Donations of toiletry items including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, as well as women's clothing and blankets will also be accepted.
Business mixer
PLATTSBURGH — The North Country Chamber of Commerce invites area business people to Business After Hours on Thursday. Co-sponsored by Cumberland 12 and Eagle Country 97.5, the event will be held at Cumberland 12.
Attendees will receive one free admission ticket at the end of Business After Hours. And, everyone is welcome to stay for a free movie immediately after the event. Tours of the theatre and projection booth will be available along with food and door prizes.
Business After Hours is an opportunity to expand business networks and is open to all chamber members and their employees. Future members are encouraged to contact the chamber for a special-guest pass. The fee for Business After Hours is $3 with an advance reservation and $4 without.
For more information, or to make reservations, call the chamber at 563-1000.
Award received
SARANAC LAKE — Gauthier's Saranac Lake Inn in Saranac Lake is the recipient of the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association's 2012 Good Earthkeeping award. The inn will be recognized at the association's 2012 Stars of the Industry Gala & Awards Banquet at the Hotel Albany (formerly the Crowne Plaza Albany) on March 5.
The awards program honors employees of the hotels, motels and tourism-related businesses throughout the state who best represent the quality service and spirit of the hospitality and tourism industry.
"Every year, the state's hospitality industry nominates its most outstanding properties. After reviewing all of the nominations submitted, the judges agreed that Gauthier's Saranac Lake Inn was the best of the best," said association President Jan Marie Chesterton.
The Good Earthkeeping award recognizes a property that has developed a culture toward integrating superior environmental-management practices.
Since 2009, the owners of the inn, Nicole, Danny and Doug Brownell, have been committed to implementing measures at their property to help protect and sustain the environment, as well as provide exceptional experiences for their guests.
"We've made it our mission to reduce our environmental imprint," said Nicole Brownell, who is also director of marketing.
Flood relief
JAY — Fuller Excavating has joined Ward Lumber to match donations for Tropical Storm Irene relief efforts in the towns of Jay and Keene.
Ward Lumber has been challenging donors to make a tax-deductible gift for Irene relief with a match pledge up to $5,000. Fuller Excavating has offered a $5,000 match challenge also, in effect doubling the match. Ward Lumber and Fuller Excavating have also challenged their employees and will double their donations.
The goal is to raise an added $15,000 in combined donations and matching funds through the gifts of customers, friends, employees and venders.
Checks may be mailed to the Jay Flood Relief Fund or the Keene Flood Recovery Fund at Adirondack Community Trust, Ward /Fuller Challenge Match, P.O. Box 288, Lake Placid, 12946, or contribute at www.Help JayNY.org or www.keene floodrecoveryfund.org.
Indicate the gift is meant for the Ward /Fuller Challenge Match so it can be designated correctly. Gifts must be received by Jan. 31 to be eligible for the match.
