By Paul Post

One of Glens Falls’ oldest family-run firms has been sold to new operators who pledge to continue the same high-quality service customers have enjoyed for the past 108 years.

Schenectady-based Best Cleaners recently purchased Feigenbaum Cleaners, founded by Eastern European immigrant Herman Feigenbaum in 1917. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Plans call for rebranding Feigenbaum sites at Wilton Square and Quaker Plaza in Queensbury, but closing its store and cleaning production facility on Bay Street in Glens Falls.

Best Cleaners, owned by Tim McCann, already has production facilities at two of its five locations in Schenectady, Loudonville, Delmar, Glenville and Latham.

Spokesperson Hannah Brand said McCann was wanted to grow northward and Feigenbaum’s exemplified the same values his company is well-known for.

“We want to expand our delivery routes up there,” she said. “Until now, we didn’t have any storefronts close enough where it seemed possible.”

Feigenbaum Cleaners was sold by Todd Feigenbaum, a third-generation owner, and his wife, Julie.

“I turn 70 this month,” he said. “My wife and I decided it was a good time to retire. The folks who acquired the business do a really good job. I’ve known them for many years. Tim is a third-generation dry cleaner just like me. Our goal has always been to do right by the customer. I don’t think they’ll see much difference going forward.”

The Feigenbaum family legacy is somewhat of a classic American dream-come-true story.

Todd’s grandfather, Herman, was a tailor who learned the trade in London after moving there from Eastern Europe.

“He arrived in the U.S. in 1902 worked in sweatshops on the Lower East Side of New York,” Todd said. “He heard about a tailor’s shop in Whitehall so he put his family on a train. They had three kids at the time and my grandmother was pregnant with my father.”

“They stopped in Glens Falls to spend the night,” he said. “In the morning my aunt, who was 2 at the time, didn’t want to get back on the train and my grandmother wasn’t feeling well. So my grandfather turned to his friend who had come with him and said, ‘Is there room for another tailor in this town?’”

He said, ‘Yes,’ so they stayed.

Herman quickly discovered that there was no dry-cleaning business north of Albany. “Having worked in the garment industry of New York, he said, ‘I can do that, too.’ That was the beginning of the business,” Todd said.

The modern process of dry cleaning, which uses solvents instead of water, was developed in the early 19th century by Jean-Baptiste Jolly in France, and in 1821 was patented in the U.S. by Thomas Jennings, an African-American entrepreneur and civil rights activist.

“It really took off in the late 19th century and early 20th century,” Todd said.

Herman Feigenbaum had a tailor shop on South Street, Glens Falls, and ran the cleaning business out of his home at 3 Fulton Street, where people came to pick up their clothing.

Todd’s father, Louis, and uncle, Bill, took over the business after coming home from the service in World War II. In 1947, they purchased a building near the Fulton Street house and moved there.

In the late 19th century it had housed a livery where people could buy a horse for their horse and carriage. But it went out of business after 1910 when cars became more popular and was then home to a silk factory with a rare loom that used a process known as the Glens Falls weave to make silk and satin material for ladies’ undergarments.

The silk factory closed during the Great Depression.

Todd’s father eventually ran Feigenbaum’s by himself and Todd and his wife took over in 1986. Next February would have marked their 40th anniversary in business.

“We were doing great until COVID hit,” Todd said “When people stopped going to work we saw 80 percent of our business disappear in four days. We even closed our stores for a couple months. At least 25 percent of dry cleaners in the U.S. disappeared because of COVID.”

More recently, sales had finally been restored to pre-COVID levels.

Many customers are professional and business people.

“Even people who buy non-wrinkle shirts bring them in to be pressed because there’s nothing like a professionally pressed shirt,” Todd said. “We could do a much better job with the equipment we have than you can at home with an iron.”

In addition to dry cleaning, Best Cleaners “offers wash-and-fold subscriptions for people who want us to do their everyday laundry,” Brand said. “We have plans for singles, couples and families. We also do in-house leather cleaning.”

Alterations and tailoring are offered, too.

Best Cleaners, which had 60 employees prior to acquiring Feigenbaum’s, is one of three firms McCann owns. The others are CRDN, which does water and smoke restoration (20 employees); and Amazon Logistics, a delivery service (100 employees).

Brand said the Feigenbaum’s Bay Street store will close this month. Front end employees are expected to be relocated to one of the company’s other locations.

But about 12 cleaning production workers lost their jobs because Best Cleaners has such facilities elsewhere. Todd said some employees have already found new jobs as many local employers are hiring.

He still owns the Bay Street property. There are no immediate plans for its sale, he said.

The post Glens Falls Fixture Feigenbaum Cleaners Sold After More Than A Century In Business appeared first on Glens Falls Business Journal.

By Paul Post

Morcon Tissue’s move from Eagle Bridge to a larger Greenwich site is expected to accelerate already fast-paced sales that have grown from $20 million to $125 million annually since 2013, when President and CEO Joseph Raccuia purchased the firm.

Morcon buys large rolls of paper—more than eight feet wide—from domestic and overseas suppliers and converts it into disposable napkins, towels and tissue for the away-from-home market, which includes restaurants, nursing homes, hospitals and sports arenas.

It recently secured contracts to supply all Applebee’s and IHOP restaurants across the U.S., as well as AMC Theatres and half of all Dunkin’ franchises.

Morcon is moving into 90,000 square feet of leased space at a former Essity paper company facility that Fort Miller Group purchased earlier this year.

“It just gives us room to grow,” said Raccuia, former president and CEO of both Finch Paper in Glens Falls and South Glens Falls-based SCA Tissue North America. “We’ve got an excellent workforce. If we moved any more than 15 or 20 minutes from that Eagle Bridge facility, we ran the risk of losing employees. This allows us to retain them and pull more from other places such as Schuylerville, Saratoga Springs and Moreau. It gives us more hiring options.”

Morcon began using its new site for storage and warehousing on July 1. Plans call for moving machines there in January.

Essity vacated its Greenwich converting facility in July 2023, at the same time its South Glens Falls paper mill closed, eliminating 300 jobs.

Morcon tried to buy the 230,000-square-foot Greenwich building, but Essity refused to sell to a competitor.

Fort Miller Group bought it for $4.5 million, despite being outbid by Morcon.

Fort Miller Group purchased the building to consolidate operations for two of its four subsidiary firms, Access Anvil Corp. and TYMETAL.

Access Anvil specializes in overhead doors, fence and gate installation, and the Scott System, which makes urethane formliners, concrete formwork and thin brick inlay systems for the construction industry.

TYMETAL is a leading manufacturer of perimeter security systems, including commercial, industrial and correctional gates, and crash barriers.

Access Anvil was previously located on Route 9 in Glens Falls and in Greenwich. “Now they’re all together in the same location,” said Rick Schumaker, Fort Miller Group director. “That’s the main reason for buying the building. It’s in spectacular shape. We didn’t have to do much at all. We renovated the offices and moved Access Anvil in right away.”

Likewise, TYMETAL is continually expanding, so the former Essity building gives it room to grow, too, he said.

Fort Miller Group also owns Fort Miller Precast, which manufactures precast concrete infrastructure for highways, bridges and utilities, and FM Service Corp., which makes burial vaults.

The group’s four companies employ 580 people.

After Access Anvil and TYMETAL moved to the former Essity plant, there was still a great deal of vacant space, which Morcon is now leasing.

Morcon buys paper on the open market from U.S. suppliers and others in Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, Turkey and Italy. About 80 percent of the paper it buys is recycled. The rest is virgin grade, mostly from fast-growing trees such as eucalyptus found in warmer climates.

“The U.S. is the number one user of disposable napkins, towels and tissue per capita,” Raccuia said. “This is the place everybody wants to come to sell paper. There’s plenty of opportunity for us to buy and convert paper.”

Morcon’s corporate headquarters are at 18 Division St., Saratoga Springs, where it employs 22 salaried workers. The converting operation has 48 hourly employees, and plans call for adding eight to 10 jobs there by the middle of next year.

In addition to upstate New York, the company has a converting facility in South Carolina. Paper purchased from overseas arrives in containers by ship, off-loaded in New York or Charleston, and trucked to converting plants.

Converting machinery cuts large rolls into finished products.

Raccuia said Morcon is finalizing plans for a warehouse in California and is also considering Texas.

Morcon’s Eagle Bridge facility is already listed for sale.

“I’m hoping that someone recognizes its potential,” Raccuia said. “It’s a beautiful building. If it’s not sold by the second quarter next year, we’ll use it to store paper or finished goods.”

Raccuia’s career in the Glens Falls-Saratoga region began more than 30 years ago, when he was named chief executive officer to lead a turnaround at the former Encore Paper Co. in South Glens Falls.

Encore was purchased by SCA Tissue in 2001, and Raccuia became president and CEO of SCA Tissue North America, leading the business to more than $1 billion in sales.

In 2009, he decided to stay closer to home and crossed the river to join Finch Paper in Glens Falls as president and CEO. He purchased Morcon four years later.

SCA Tissue was renamed Essity in 2017. In 2023, it ceased operating in upstate New York and Arizona and shifted all paper-making to Wisconsin, Kentucky and Alabama.

Essity is a competitor of Morcon’s, but Raccuia said he had bittersweet feelings about the South Glens Falls mill’s closure because that’s where he started out locally.

Essity has refused to sell its properties to another papermaking company. “That prohibits a lot of people from doing anything with it,” Raccuia said.

Similarly, Lehigh Hanson cement company refused to sell its Glens Falls plant to a competitor after shuttering the facility in 2023, leaving two large industrial sites vacant with questionable prospects for reuse.

The post Morcon Tissue Moves To Larger Greenwich Facility To Support Rapid Sales Growth appeared first on Glens Falls Business Journal.

The Adirondack Region, defined as Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Lewis and Warren counties, continues to rely heavily on tourism. Nearly 19 percent of all employment in the six-county area is generated by the industry. Warren County led the region in 2024, supporting 8,610 tourism-related jobs.

Visitor spending in Warren County increased from $887.8 million in 2023 to $928.2 million in 2024, a rise of 4.5 percent. Lodging showed the largest growth, climbing from $446 million to $467 million. Spending also generated more than $58.2 million in local tax revenue, up 2.8 percent, and $54.5 million in state tax revenue, up 5.2 percent.

Tourism remains one of the county’s most important economic drivers. Warren County Tourism Director Heather Bagshaw noted that without tourism revenue, each household would need to contribute an additional $3,750 annually to maintain current levels of government services.

Across the Adirondack Region, visitor spending generated $153.7 million in local tax revenue and $136 million in state tax revenue. Together, Warren and Essex counties accounted for more than three-quarters of the region’s $2.5 billion in visitor spending.

Statewide, visitor spending reached $93.99 billion in 2024, up 6.7 percent from the previous year and 27.7 percent higher than before the pandemic. Tourism remains one of New York’s largest industries, supporting close to 1 million jobs and generating billions in tax revenue that benefits communities across the state.

This article is based on information provided by the Warren County Tourism Department and the 2024 statewide tourism impact report compiled by Tourism Economics.

For more information, contact: Heather Bagshaw, Tourism Director, Warren County Tourism Department, bagshaw@warrencountyny.gov, 518-761-7653.

The post Warren County Tourism Spending Tops $928M In 2024, Bolstering Local Tax Revenues appeared first on Glens Falls Business Journal.

Dr. O’Connor is Board-Certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, with extensive training in the diagnosis and treatment of nerve and musculoskeletal conditions. He earned his undergraduate degree from Syracuse University and his Doctor of Medicine from Albany Medical College. He completed his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Rochester, where he served as Chief Resident during his final year. Dr. O’Connor also completed a North American Spine Society (NASS)–recognized fellowship in Interventional Spine and Musculoskeletal Medicine at the University of Rochester.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. O’Connor to our team,” said Todd Jorgensen, MD, a senior partner of Adirondack Rehabilitation Medicine. “His expertise in interventional spine and musculoskeletal medicine complements our existing services and strengthens our ability to provide exceptional, patient-focused care in the region.”

Dr. O’Connor is now accepting new patients. Adirondack Rehabilitation Medicine offers a wide range of services, including:

Sports Medicine

Electrodiagnostic Medicine

Neuromuscular Medicine

Musculoskeletal Ultrasound

Ultrasound-Guided Injections

To refer a patient or schedule an appointment, please call 518-798-0767.

*   *    *    *    *

Arrow Bank is pleased to announce that Emily Moore has joined the bank as Assistant Vice President, Business Banking Relationship Manager, a newly created position primarily serving its Northern Adirondack region and Plattsburgh market.

In her new role, Moore will specialize in helping business owners find the right financing solutions to support growth, streamline operations and navigate new opportunities. She will be responsible for developing new business and strengthening existing customer relationships. Moore will manage a book of business, collaborate closely with business partners and support retail teams with business banking development.  

Moore is returning to Arrow Bank, where she began her financial career as a teller in 2014. She most recently served as Regional Loan Originator and Marketing Coordinator for North Country Savings Bank, where she played a key role in expanding the bank’s portfolio. Her previous experience also includes serving as an Account Clerk/Typist at the Clinton County Mental Health and Addictions Clinic. 

Originally from Keeseville, New York, Moore currently lives in Plattsburgh. She is actively involved in her community as a member of Plattsburgh Noon Rotary, Adirondack Young Professionals, the Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital Wish Fund Committee and the ADK Woman group. She is also a certified notary public.  

The post Personnel Briefs: September 2025 appeared first on Glens Falls Business Journal.

KeyBank has named Erica Choi Capital Region market president, effective immediately. A 10-year banking veteran with 25 years of leadership experience, Choi will continue to serve as sales leader for KeyBank’s Commercial Bank in the Capital Region. She will succeed Fran O’Rourke, who has announced her retirement after serving as Capital Region market president since 2021.

 As market president and Commercial Bank sales leader, Choi will drive collaboration and coordination of KeyBank activities and resources in the market, serve as the face and voice of KeyBank in the community and manage a team dedicated to providing expertise and financial solutions to middle market clients in the Capital Region.

 “Erica has played an important role in Key’s success in the Capital Region since joining the Commercial Bank team as a senior banker in 2020,” said Michael McMahon, executive for Commercial Banking in Upstate New York. “Her client-focused approach, reputation as a motivational and team-oriented leader and role in the local community make her well poised to assume the role of market president. Fran O’Rourke leaves big shoes to fill, and Erica is just the person to carry KeyBank into the future in the Capital Region.”

 Prior to joining KeyBank, Choi worked for Bank of America in Albany as Middle Market relationship manager. She has also worked as senior area manager for the U.S. Small Business Administration in Albany, N.Y., senior brand manager for Beech-Nut Brand in Amsterdam, N.Y., and senior associate brand manager for Kraft Foods in Glenview, Ill.

 Choi earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the United States Military Academy. She subsequently served in the United States Army from 2000 to 2005 as an intelligence officer, deploying in 2004 to lead a counter-terrorism team in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She holds FINRA Series 7 and 63 licenses.

 O’Rourke, who has an accomplished career in banking spanning more than 40 years, will retire at the end of 2025. She joined KeyBank in 2009, serving various roles in Key Private Bank, including market manager and regional sales executive.

 “Fran O’Rourke is one of the most well-respected business and community leaders in the Capital Region, due in large part to her leadership, compassion, and focus on both clients and the community that she loves,” said Catherine O’Malley Kearney. “Her effort to mentor and champion women in the workplace has been profound, both within KeyBank and the greater Capital Region. While we will miss Fran’s steady leadership and big heart, we wish her all the best as she transitions into retirement.”

The post KeyBank Names Choi Capital Region Market President; O’Rourke To Retire appeared first on Glens Falls Business Journal.

By Paul Post

Jon LaRock’s restaurant odyssey has taken him from a South Glens Falls pizza shop to America’s last orange-roofed Howard Johnson’s, which he ran in Lake George before its closure several years ago.

“I started out at Ernie Jacobie’s (currently Humbuggs) at the corner of Gansevoort and Bluebird roads in South Glens Falls,” he said. “I used to pump gas for him across the street. Then one day he said, Do you want to start doing dishes? I said, Sure! Then I got into cooking. I was 15 years old.”

Last spring, with more than a half-century of experience under his belt, LaRock opened The Diner House at the corner of Main and Beech streets in Hudson Falls. Open daily, it specializes in breakfast and lunch menu items.

“This goulash is delicious,” Charles Mahay, a regular customer, said between bites. “And he makes a great hot turkey sandwich. I’ve had all the breakfast choices. I like them all. The Lumberjack special is my favorite.”

LaRock said he spent $5,000 to renovate the small space, a former aquarium shop. Now, after developing a local customer base, he plans on moving to a larger site, the former Seeley’s Restaurant, just down the road on Upper Broadway in Fort Edward.

If all goes well, he hopes to move in this fall.

“I think it will be a good spot,” LaRock said. “It’s across the street from the (Fort Hudson) nursing home and next to Dollar General. I plan to start serving dinners again. We’d be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days per week.”

Downtown Fort Edward has suddenly become somewhat of a mecca for people in search of good food.

The long-standing Ye Old Fort Diner and Mamma’s Café were joined earlier this year by Kerrie’s Diner, whose owner Kerrie Leclair moved into 70 Broadway after closing the former Northway Diner in Queensbury.

More recently, Grumbellies Eatery, previously located in Fort Ann, renovated and took over a former branch bank building at 159 Broadway, in front of Fort Edward Yacht Basin.

The former Seeley’s building is about a mile from downtown, giving LaRock a slightly different market to draw from.

 “I’d love to have a restaurant open across the street because it brings more people to that area,” he said. “The more the merrier. I love competition. It’s great.”

After learning the restaurant business from Jacobie, and full of entrepreneurial ambition, LaRock opened his own eatery, Victoria’s, near Lamplighter Acres in Moreau. Next came a pizza shop at Exit 17, which he later sold to Cumberland Farms.

LaRock then went to work for the DeSantis family, which owned several Howard Johnson’s restaurants from Clifton Park to Lake George. “Wherever they got busy I ran and helped them out,” he said.

In 2015, he leased and reopened the Lake George Howard Johnson’s, which had closed four years earlier. The company’s restaurants, with orange roofs and blue spires, were popular with post-World War II travelers across America during the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

But competition from fast-food and other sit-down restaurants led to their demise. The Lake George Howard Johnson’s closed for good in June 2022 and is now home to Sushi Wa.

LaRock could retire if he wanted, but has no such plans.

“You run into a lot of nice people in the restaurant business,” he said. “That’s why I’m doing it. What are you going to do when you retire, sit home and watch TV all day? I’m not ready for that. I’m a go-er. Go, go, go!”

The post The Diner House Serves Up Classic Comfort As Owner Eyes Larger Location appeared first on Glens Falls Business Journal.

Janice Durant established New Trails Business Consultants, Inc. in Queensbury a year ago. With more than 20 years of experience in franchising, she founded the company to help individuals transition from corporate careers to business ownership. She is passionate about empowering people to control their futures through entrepreneurship. “They might have always had that dream of being their own boss and working for themselves, maybe developing a family-owned business,” says Durant, “and I help them to explore opportunities.”

Durant’s own entrepreneurial journey began with a Sandler Training franchise in Albany, which she co-owned with her sister, Lorraine Ferguson, for 11 years. The experience provided her with firsthand knowledge of the benefits of franchising, including a standardized methodology, marketing support, and a pre-existing brand. After selling the franchise, she worked at Sandler’s corporate headquarters, where she led the franchise department and assisted new owners in getting started.

Durant, however, yearned for the independence of being her own boss again. “I was raised in a family of entrepreneurs—generations of business owners, including father-and-son teams, brothers, and married couples, all collaborating.” She felt a strong inclination towards consulting, a career she discovered through attending franchise conventions.

For individuals seeking to become a franchise owner, Durant’s services are complimentary. The franchisors compensate her for bringing them qualified leads. She begins by understanding the prospective owner’s “why”—what motivates them to seek business ownership. She looks for individuals with an entrepreneurial spirit and a willingness to follow a proven process.

“Many times during the conversations, we may uncover that they are more well-suited for starting their own independent business,” explains Durant. “Or maybe they just need to stay in the corporate world. So together we explore, really uncover, what they’re looking to achieve in their life, and I just guide them down the right path.”

Durant continues, “To operate a franchise, you have to be a bit of a unique individual. You have to have that entrepreneurial spirit. You have to really have that ambition, that drive to own your own business, go out, do sales, make it successful, and engage in your community. However, at the same time, you must also be willing to follow someone else’s process.”

Joining a franchise offers a clear blueprint for business setup and operation, including a proven methodology, essential resources, and marketing backing. However, success hinges on strict adherence to their established methods.

To determine the right fit for a prospective owner, Durant conducts a four-part assessment. First, she evaluates the timing, considering personal circumstances such as raising young children, to ensure the commitment aligns with their lives. Next, she analyzes the territory to confirm that the market can support the franchise concept based on demographics. Third, they discuss financials, including the client’s comfort level with investing, credit scores, and

income replacement goals. Finally, and most importantly, they assess the fit. This emotional and cultural alignment is crucial as a franchise is a long-term partnership that requires a belief in the brand, its products, and its leadership.

Durant notes, “There are 4,000 franchises in the US – a pretty big pool to select from. And it can be overwhelming because they’re in 70 different industries. Many times when I talk to people about franchising, McDonald’s or Subway are the first to come to mind. But there is a wide variety of industries from home services to pet care, senior care, child care, entertainment, and event planning, among others.”

Durant’s expertise is not limited to helping prospective owners. She also assists existing businesses that are considering franchising their model. She conducts a Franchise Assessment Study to determine if a business is “franchise-able.” If the study shows the company is not ready, she provides a report with suggestions for improvement. If the business has strong potential, she offers a step-by-step process for franchising, which includes creating franchise disclosure documents, developing an operations manual, and providing support in legal, sales, and marketing areas.

Franchising is not about working for someone else; it’s about leading, growing, and scaling your own business. Contrary to popular belief, prior industry experience isn’t necessary; franchisors provide extensive training. The model also fosters a sense of community, with many owners describing their fellow franchisees as a professional family.

Durant is a strong advocate for franchising as a way to support local economies. She notes that franchise owners are often community members who hire local people, keeping business and money within the area. She aims to continue growing her business and becoming more involved in the local community, where she sees significant development opportunities.

Get more information on New Trails Business Consultants, Inc. at https://newtrailsbusiness.com.

The post New Trails Business Consultants Blazes A Path for Aspiring Entrepreneurs appeared first on Glens Falls Business Journal.

By Nancy Nissen, Esq.

With back-to-school now underway, New York state Gov. Kathy Hochul’s smartphone ban, included in her “distraction-free school” policy approved as part of the New York State Fiscal Year 2026 state budget, took effect this fall for the 2025-2026 school year. Gov. Hochul’s goal builds on earlier actions targeting social media, like the SAFE for Kids Act, which limits addictive feeds, and the Child Data Protection Act, which restricts companies from collecting minors’ data. The phone ban continues this agenda, helping to protect and care for students’ mental health and promoting student success in the digital age.

Hochul’s “bell-to-bell” smartphone ban requires that districts ban all personal internet-enabled devices including smartphones, tablets and smartwatches on school grounds for the entire school day. This requires all devices to be switched off and stored throughout the day. Districts must submit plans on how they will manage devices.

There are exceptions for the use of devices to manage a medical condition, language translation, specific educational purposes, and the use of devices as part of a child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 plan. The plan, passed by both the New York state Senate and Assembly, and was signed into law by Hochul as part of the 2026 state budget, applies to public school districts, charter schools, and BOCES schools. Private schools and higher education institutions are not covered by the law.

What’s Included the Smartphone Ban

The smartphone ban prohibits unsanctioned use of smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices on school grounds in K-12 schools for the entire school day. Districts have been allowed to create their own plans for storing smartphones and other devices, with all schools and BOCES programs required to submit their policies by Aug. 1.

The governor’s plan includes $13.5 million in funding for schools who need to purchase storage solutions, and also requires that schools provide parents a way to contact their children during the day when necessary. However, it is currently unclear how districts will ensure that is possible.

Specifically, the statewide standard for distraction-free schools in New York includes the following:

• No unsanctioned use of smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices on school grounds in K-12 schools for the entire school day (from “bell to bell”), including classroom time and other settings like lunch and study hall periods.

• Allows schools to develop their own plans for storing smartphones during the day — giving administrators and teachers the flexibility to do what works best for their buildings and students.

• Secures $13.5 million in funding to be made available for schools that need assistance in purchasing storage solutions to help them go distraction-free.

• Requires schools to give parents a way to contact their kids during the day when necessary.

• Requires teachers, parents and students to be consulted in developing the local policy.

• Prevents inequitable discipline.

• Students will still be authorized to have access to simple cellphones without internet capability, as well as internet-enabled devices officially provided by their school for classroom instruction, such as laptops or tablets used as part of lesson plans.

“New York was the first state to target addictive social media feeds — and now we’re the largest state to restrict smartphones in schools throughout the entire school day,” Hochul stated in May 2025, when the ban was announced. “I know our young people succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling — and that’s why New York continues to lead the nation on protecting our kids in the digital age.”

Impact on IEP, 504 Plans

Moving forward, it will become necessary to address the use of technology regarding a student’s individualized education plan (IEP) or 504 Plan. There is already significant litigation over the funding of devices and technology regarding IEPs, and it is expected that this litigation will increase with the smart phone ban. Additionally, it is expected that this ban will significantly impact the duration and frequency of suspensions and detentions over smartphone usage. Parents are encouraged to review their district’s code of conduct to learn about their district’s smartphone discipline policy.

The New York state education law attorneys at Tully Rinckey can help you achieve your goals when it comes to your child’s academic well-being and future. If you have questions about IEPs or transition planning, our team of attorneys is available to assist you today. Please call (888) 970-4076 to schedule a consultation or schedule a consultation online.

Nancy Nissen, Esq. is a Partner at Tully Rinckey, PLLC’s office in White Plains, New York, where she primarily focuses her practice on family and matrimonial law, with an additional  concentration on labor and employment law. Nancy also has experience in Education Law, assisting family law clients in the areas of IEPs, 504 plans, and dealing with grievances for college students.

The post New York’s Statewide Smartphone Ban Is Now In Effect For The 2025–26 School Year appeared first on Glens Falls Business Journal.

By Susan Elise Campbell

Compact heat pump systems are gaining popularity in the northeast as manufacturers make them increasingly efficient, and efficiency means savings on rising energy costs, said Ron LaDue, a BPI certified estimator and project manager with Jack Hall Plumbing and Heating. The family-owned company dates back to 1984 and is based in Glens Falls.

LaDue said about 20 percent of business involves the sale, installation and service of split heat pump systems for new construction, home renovations, and commercial buildings. But that percentage is “slowly increasing.”

“Five years ago very few brands of these systems ran efficiently, as far as capacity of the unit and energy usage,” he said.

Mini split systems involve wall units in selected rooms, which serve as heating and cooling zones, LaDue said. They make minimal noise and operate with a remote or smart phone.

Heat pumps pull heat from outside air to warm a residence and cold air to cool it. The system involves one or more exterior pumps that operate on electricity and have been especially efficient where weather is not extremely cold.

“Technology is getting to the point where the units are more suitable for single-digit temperatures and below,” said LaDue. “Every major brand today can run at -13 degrees and some claim as low as -22 degrees.”

“At these temperatures, heat pumps will provide 60 percent of their advertised capacity, which make them viable in areas like Scroon Lake,” he said.

If there are only a few negative double-digit days a year, oversizing the unit could cover those days, but up-front costs would be higher, he said.

“Some days there literally isn’t enough heat for the units to pull inside,” said LaDue. “The coil in the unit begins to ice up and the system shuts down. Modern technology allows them to defrost themselves, but at a certain point they cannot defrost fast enough.”

“Customers on the lake have accessories installed that protect the fan and coils from wind and snow,” he said. “But if temperatures sustain the negative twenties, the equipment will shut off until it is warm enough to come back on.”

Homeowners need a secondary heat source like a pellet stove or fireplace when the pump cannot, he said.

No such issues when it comes to cooling in summer. Split systems are more efficient than central air and thus cheaper to run.

Most customers are retrofitting an older home, LaDue said. Their numbers are growing, and the market is changing.

Next year all new residential construction in New York must be specced for a geothermal or heat pump system, he said. Lawmakers are eliminating oil, natural gas, and propane heat and appliances for home use.

“You’ll be seeing more houses with mini split systems, which are an easy installation for a smaller house,” said LaDue. “Homes more than 1,200 square feet need more than one pump.”

“A popular option now is a heat pump that uses the same outside unit as a mini split. It connects to an indoor air handler similar to a furnace, but is all electric,” he said.

LaDue said legislative change will nearly double the cost of new HVAC. But system efficiency over time offsets the cost.

While the U.S. Department of Energy claims “ductless heat pumps can reduce electricity use for heating by up to 30 percent compared to traditional electric resistance systems,” LaDue said savings are difficult to quantify because there are many variables.

Meanwhile, energy incentives help offset costs, but check a tax advisor. The federal tax credit, due to expire in 2025, is limited to income tax liability. Individuals should also investigate rebates at NYSERDA.ny.gov and their power company.

For the most control, look into the mini split. Each outdoor pump controls up to five head units, although one head cannot be heating while another is cooling, he said.

LaDue said the firm has several manufacturers they prefer to work with, but may consider another brand at the customer’s request.

“Our focus is on quality systems and workmanship,” said LaDue. “I tell people, go get three estimates and do the homework so someone doesn’t sell you a system that doesn’t work for you.”

“We won’t be the cheapest of the three and probably not the most expensive,” he said. “We will make sure that the customer is educated and prepared, because trends come and go and technology constantly changes, but our old-fashioned work ethic does not.”

The post Heat Pump Technology Advances Make Mini Splits A Viable Option For North Country Homes appeared first on Glens Falls Business Journal.

By Susan Elise Campbell

When Mike Feeder of Assured Home Inspections is hired for a home inspection, he does three jobs. 

He investigates the entire structure of the house and its systems. He detects what might be missing or done improperly. And he evaluates the current and future health and safety of the home.

This will take Feeder about three hours, whereas some competitors spend one and a half. So when customers ask, “How much is this going to cost,” he says they’re asking the wrong question.

“A home is probably the biggest investment they ever make,” said Feeder. “They should be asking themselves if this is a good time to cut corners on that investment.”

“I’ve been in this business for 35 years and used to build homes,” said Feeder. “I’m doing inspections for prior clients’ kids and in some cases, their grandkids. And I just inspected one house for the fourth time over the years.”

All home inspectors have licensing and educational requirements, plus continuing education, to meet standards set by the state. This means the licensed inspector demonstrates a basic knowledge of how the underlying systems in a home work, said Feeder. 

“A home buyer or homeowner should want to know where their inspector got their training,” he said. “Was it a correspondence course, which was allowed years ago, or did they go to a school?” 

“What matters most is the kind of information they are learning, because that is what can save a person from buying a money pit,” he said. “My job is not to save them money now, but later on.”

Long before it was required, Feeder drove out of state on Sunday nights and came home Fridays until he had enough credits to earn a full inspector’s certificate. 

He’s still going to classes, twice the hours required for continuing education, to learn about new plumbing and heating systems, new electric systems, and safety updates. There is always new equipment and technology to learn, such as thermal imaging, on-contact moisture meters, sewer scopes, and drones for looking at a roof, he said.

“My tool pouch was much smaller 35 years ago,” said Feeder. “But the benefit to clients is we find things they would never be aware of without a home inspection.”

Feeder has several markets: home buyers, which is the largest group; home sellers preparing to put their house on the market; and homeowners who have lived in their home a long time and want to know if it is safe and how long it will last.

“The reason I got into home inspection is it’s my opportunity to introduce somebody to their new home,” said Feeder. “What do they need to know that could negatively or positively affect the value of that house, and what to keep an eye on for deferred maintenance.”

Inspectors look from the foundation to the top of the roof and everything that comes in and out, such as water and sewer line. They test for mold, pests, water flow, plus radon, irrigation, pools, and more.  Feeder said he looks for signs of aging and for something that was either never installed correctly or needs servicing or updating. Inspectors must be, Feeder said, knowledgable and objective. 

“Sometimes during a walk-through people get very emotional about a space,” he said. “My job is to take the emotion out of the decision.” 

If informed of a problem, the home buyer can decide to negotiate the purchase price, ask the seller to share in the cost or replacement or repair, or move on to the next property. When home sellers have a pre-listing inspection done, they have the same valuable information at hand to anticipate what might come up and what they may wish to repair before putting their home on the market, Feeder said. 

“I can tell you when it’s a buyer’s market because more sellers call for an appointment,” he said.

Any long-term homeowner who wants to prevent a minor problem from evolving into a big expense will get value from periodic maintenance inspections.

“Houses change like children grow,” he said. “Just as I didn’t notice reaching 6’1”, what starts out small in the home grows slowly over time and you don’t notice the incremental changes.”

“Whether inspecting a million dollar home or a shack, when my report is complete I want to be comfortable saying, I would let my kids live here,” Feeder said.

Assured Home Inspections serves all of the Capital Region and North Country. 

Visit www.asrdhome.com for more details.

The post Assured Home Inspections Focuses On Thorough And Trusted Service Delivery appeared first on Glens Falls Business Journal.