More than 3,500 Capital Region residents are expected to attend this year’s event which will benefit The Addictions Care Center of Albany, Inc. (ACCA), a community-based non-profit substance abuse treatment and prevention education provider.

Festivities will kick-off at 10 am with a unique performance by ventriloquist Sylvia Markson, immediately followed by music from the ever-popular Zucchini Brothers. Entertainment on the main stage will continue throughout the day with comic juggling by The Incredible Larry, followed by a Karaoke Idol competition just for kids!

A number of face painters and balloon artists will be available throughout the entire day. At the ACCA booth, children will have the opportunity to take [...]]]> (ALBANY, NEW YORK) – The Addictions Care Foundation is thrilled to present the 6th Annual Northeast Family Chocolate Festival from 10 am – 5 pm on Saturday, March 20, 2010 at the Washington Avenue Armory & Sports Arena.

More than 3,500 Capital Region residents are expected to attend this year’s event which will benefit The Addictions Care Center of Albany, Inc. (ACCA), a community-based non-profit substance abuse treatment and prevention education provider.

Festivities will kick-off at 10 am with a unique performance by ventriloquist Sylvia Markson, immediately followed by music from the ever-popular Zucchini Brothers. Entertainment on the main stage will continue throughout the day with comic juggling by The Incredible Larry, followed by a Karaoke Idol competition just for kids!

A number of face painters and balloon artists will be available throughout the entire day. At the ACCA booth, children will have the opportunity to take part in marshmallow tossing and Oreo© stacking games with free t-shirts and book giveaways. The Schenectady Museum & Suits-Bueche Planetarium will have interactive science and math games for children of all ages. All of this is included in the price of admission!

With Easter only two weeks away, it’s a perfect opportunity to stock up on all of your chocolate and candy needs in one convenient location! This year’s festival will have over 40 exhibitors—more chocolate, specialty food and craft vendors than ever before! Come and purchase chocolate candy, chocolate bunnies, gourmet chocolate and nuts, fudge and confections, nut-free and sugar-free chocolate, and much, much more.

Tickets are available for purchase at any Price Chopper 24/7. Just like last year, our Value 4-Pak is available for $20 and includes admission for any four people! General admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 2-12. Tickets will also be available at the door.

The Northeast Family Chocolate Festival is the primary fundraiser for The Addictions Care Center of Albany, Inc (ACCA). For over 43 years, ACCA has improved the lives of men, women, families and children healing from the effects of alcoholism and substance abuse. Through intensive, proactive educational programs aimed at preventing substance abuse and through state-of-the-art treatment services customized to individual needs, ACCA helps thousands of people overcome addictions and touches the lives of more than 6,000 Capital Region residents every year.

The Northeast Family Chocolate Festival is supported by the following sponsors:

-Media Sponsors: The Times Union, BUZZ 105.7, Smilemonster.com
-Gold Sponsors: Energy Insurance Brokers, Legacy Banks, Meridian Capital Partners
-Silver Sponsors: AmWINS Group, Inc., Sandri Companies
-Bronze Sponsors: Chartis, DHA Holdings, Dreyer Boyajian, Express Mart, PRM Companies
-Festival Supporters: BankDirect Capital Finance, Chem Rx, Cool Insuring Agency, Gleason, Dunn, Walsh & O’Shea, LoVullo Associates, Pfizer, Star Roofing and Restoration, and TD Bank. Additional support provided by AFCO, AIC Imperial Credit, National Grid, Stewart’s Shops, Solutions By Design, Stulmaker, Kohn & Richardson, LLP, DeCrescente Distributing Co. and Total Events Management.

More information on the 6th Annual Northeast Family Chocolate Festival and the Addictions Care Center of Albany, Inc. can be obtained by calling ACCA at (518) 465-5829.

We are all about giving freedom to sellers and committed to help you sell your residential or commercial property at nominal fee. We also give you an option to choose traditional full brokers services. .

With Flat Fee MLS listing service the information will instantly be available to local Realtors and potential buyers just like any other listings you see in Realtor.com.

Since we are not a national company, we will provide you with local and direct customer service with New York State Real Estate regulation knowledge. We are committed to ease your selling and closing process of your [...]]]> We are NY licensed real estate Brokerage Company based in Saratoga, NY licensed as I Smart Realty offering listing services at nominal fee, helping for sale by owners to sell their houses, giving buyers a larger inventory to shop from and much more.

We are all about giving freedom to sellers and committed to help you sell your residential or commercial property at nominal fee. We also give you an option to choose traditional full brokers services. .

With Flat Fee MLS listing service the information will instantly be available to local Realtors and potential buyers just like any other listings you see in Realtor.com.

Since we are not a national company, we will provide you with local and direct customer service with New York State Real Estate regulation knowledge. We are committed to ease your selling and closing process of your house and save you thousands of dollars.

You can chat with us through our website or call 518-406-5073

Albany could be getting a convention center! The agency who plans to build the center has just purchased more land where the building would be built.

The Albany Convention Center Authority, has agreed to pay $550,000 for about a third of an acre. Gavin Donohue, who chairs the board said this purchase brings us “one step closer to seeing the convention center become a reality”

The center’s estimated cost is about $220 million, and is being planned for the southern part of downtown Albany and will be a 300,000 square foot center.

Some say the center would kick start additional development in the area and others say the project isn’t worth the cost.

What are your thoughts?

With only 500 total tickets for sale at $100 each, the class hopes to raise $25,000 for The Open Door, with another $20,000 going to the grand prize ticket holder, followed by $3,000 and $2,000 to the second- and third-place winners respectively. The team is giving itself until April 15 to sell all tickets, at which point a drawing will take place at the Adirondack Sports Complex.

“I am humbled by the show of support from the community as a whole,” said Chaplain Bruce D. Hersey, director of [...]]]> GLENS FALLS – The stakes are high; but so is the payoff — for the whole community, not just the winning ticket holders. That’s the message members of this year’s Leadership Adirondack class are spreading as they invite local residents to participate in a community raffle to raise money for The Open Door Soup Kitchen and Day Center in Glens Falls.

With only 500 total tickets for sale at $100 each, the class hopes to raise $25,000 for The Open Door, with another $20,000 going to the grand prize ticket holder, followed by $3,000 and $2,000 to the second- and third-place winners respectively. The team is giving itself until April 15 to sell all tickets, at which point a drawing will take place at the Adirondack Sports Complex.

“I am humbled by the show of support from the community as a whole,” said Chaplain Bruce D. Hersey, director of The Open Door. “The participants in the Leadership Adirondack class are a wonderful example for the community as they exhibit concern for the less fortunate in the greater Glens Falls area.”

Funds raised by the community raffle will be used by The Open Door to assist in purchasing new equipment or large capital assets that the organization otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford in its annual operating budget. Last year The Open Door served almost 60,000 meals to more than 800 individuals, all on a budget of only $140,000. The organization’s responsible practices have created an average cost of only $2.33 a meal. And while demand for meals and other services continues to grow, the center is limited by the size, capabilities, and condition of its current South Street location.

“Leadership Adirondack is proud to support Chaplain Bruce Hersey and The Open Door Soup Kitchen’s efforts as they give hope to hundreds of individuals each year,” said Craig Seybolt, credit analyst for Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Co. and Leadership Adirondack class member. “Not only does the facility provide a hot meal, but also an environment which provides strength and direction to those in need. It is our honor, as the class of 2009-10, to help provide the resources necessary to ensure the continued success of the organization.”

With a limited number of tickets remaining, the class is encouraging interested community members to act now. Tickets can be sold to individuals, or several individuals may join together and share the chance to win the cash prizes. Raffle tickets are $100 and can be purchased from any Leadership Adirondack team member:

• Whitney Bascue, NBT Bank
• Guinevere Forshey, Crandall Public Library
• Dr. Jonathan C. Gerber, Gerber Family Chiropractic/LiveWell ADK
• Robert Grugle, TD Bank
• Danielle Harris, Glens Falls Hospital
• Tyler Herrick, The Sagamore Resort
• Sandra L. Hoffis, Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Co.
• Carrie Java, Tribune Media Services
• John Marcantonio, Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Monique Marcil, Tribune Media Services
• Mark Parfitt, SUNY Adirondack Community College
• Scott Rogers, Associates of Glens Falls
• Craig Seybolt, Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Co.
• Jennifer Turcotte, Keena Staffing

While the team anticipates selling all 500 limited tickets, if fewer tickets are sold, the raffle will shift to a 50/50 grand-prize drawing based on the total number of tickets sold.

For nearly 20 years, Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Adirondack program has helped to develop local leaders by creating a team-based environment that allows annual class participants to explore and learn about the region, its economy, history, educational system, human services needs, and more.

The Healthy, Joyful Heart program is our way of inviting and encouraging all of us to take good care of ourselves. Maybe that means to take time out to just sit, or to sew a little more, or to take a walk, or to be sure to take those vitamins every day. Whatever we need to do to take care of ourselves, sometimes a little reward helps to get it done. So here’s the reward we’re offering this year:

When you sign up for the Healthy, Joyful Heart program between now and April 15, and pay the program fee of $55, by [...]]]> The sun’s peeking out from behind the clouds and the air is a smidge warmer. At The Joyful Quilter, it’s time to start thinking about summer! And when we think about summer we think about having a Healthy, Joyful Heart.

The Healthy, Joyful Heart program is our way of inviting and encouraging all of us to take good care of ourselves. Maybe that means to take time out to just sit, or to sew a little more, or to take a walk, or to be sure to take those vitamins every day. Whatever we need to do to take care of ourselves, sometimes a little reward helps to get it done. So here’s the reward we’re offering this year:

When you sign up for the Healthy, Joyful Heart program between now and April 15, and pay the program fee of $55, by the end of the summer you will have all the fabric you need to make the quilt top pictured above in the throw size ( 62″ x 74″ ). Pretty cool, right? This pattern comes from Cozy Quilt Designs, and uses the same Strip Tube Ruler that we’ve used for the last 2 Healthy, Joyful Heart programs.

The program starts on June 1, when you come in to pick up a June calendar and some pretty stickers, and start (or continue) doing good things for yourself. Do at least 3 good things each week during June, and bring your marked calendar back during the first week of July. We’ll hand you a package of fat eighths, which you’ll be able to use for the scrappy colors in the pattern. We’ll also give you a calendar and stickers for July. Do at least 4 good things each week during July, and bring your marked calendar back during the first week of August. We’ll give you the light-colored background fabric for the center of your quilt, along with a calendar and stickers for August. Do at least 5 good things each week in August, and bring your marked calendar back during the first week of September. We’ll give you your quilt borders and a hearty CONGRATULATIONS! We’ll also let you know when we’ll be holding complimentary classes to get you well on your way to finishing this delightful quilt.

The event will be held at Sportsman’s Bowl, located at 1652 Crane Street in Schenectady, and runs in two shifts from 1 to 3 PM, and 3 – 5 PM that day with registration beginning 1 hour before each shift starts. Costumes are not mandatory to participate, but can be themed to a team’s chosen name, and be as simple as matching t-shirts, if desired. A cash prize will be awarded to the team who raises the most money through sponsors by the end of the event. [...]]]> Schenectady, NY – Habitat for Humanity of Schenectady Co., Inc. launches its Spring building campaign for six Habitat houses, 3 new construction and 3 rehabs, with the help of a fundraiser scheduled for Sunday, April 18th, entitled, “Costume Ball Bowl-Athon.” The event’s intent is to let people have a good time for a great cause – building Habitat homes in Schenectady County.

The event will be held at Sportsman’s Bowl, located at 1652 Crane Street in Schenectady, and runs in two shifts from 1 to 3 PM, and 3 – 5 PM that day with registration beginning 1 hour before each shift starts. Costumes are not mandatory to participate, but can be themed to a team’s chosen name, and be as simple as matching t-shirts, if desired. A cash prize will be awarded to the team who raises the most money through sponsors by the end of the event. Five strikes in a row, during the event, will earn a free slice of pizza and soft drink, compliments of Sportsmans Bowl.

Interested bowlers can register in three different ways to participate:

1. Registering through FirstGiving at www.firstgiving.com/SchenectadyHabitat will allow bowlers to set up a team, or individual bowlers to personalize their own event page and email it to friends in their Facebook account or email buddies to gather sponsors for their participation.
2. Or, go through the Habitat website at www.hfhscny.org and follow the Bowl-Athon prompts.
3. For those needing a hardcopy Sponsor Worksheet, they can either go on the hfhscny.org web site and follow the prompts to download, or call Habitat’s office (518-395-3412) to receive one by mail.

Jeff Clark, Executive Director, states, “This event allows the community to join together in a fun way to benefit Habitat in its mission to eliminate poverty housing for low income working families in Schenectady Co. who dream of owning a simple, decent home of their own.”

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For further information, contact Park 19 Cookies at 877.7.PARK19

“The teeth whitening procedure is quick and painless, with excellent results,” explains Dr. Lieberman, a Crown Council dentist located in Schenectady. “Most importantly, a few minutes in the chair can help touch a child’s life forever.”

The Smiles for Life Foundation is the children’s charity organization of the Crown Council, an organization of leading-edge dentists throughout North America. Each year over a four-month period, Crown Council dentists participating in the Smiles for Life campaign offer professional teeth whitening services at a [...]]]> Smile! It’s time again for the Crown Council’s Smiles for Life campaign. This March through June your local Crown Council dentist, Dr. Shiloh Lieberman, is offering teeth whitening services at a significantly reduced price- and 100 percent of the proceeds are donated to help children facing serious health and educational problems in communities throughout North America.

“The teeth whitening procedure is quick and painless, with excellent results,” explains Dr. Lieberman, a Crown Council dentist located in Schenectady. “Most importantly, a few minutes in the chair can help touch a child’s life forever.”

The Smiles for Life Foundation is the children’s charity organization of the Crown Council, an organization of leading-edge dentists throughout North America. Each year over a four-month period, Crown Council dentists participating in the Smiles for Life campaign offer professional teeth whitening services at a considerably reduced price and donate 100 percent of the proceeds to children’s charities. The Crown Council’s Smiles for Life Foundation has raised more than $27 million since 1998, benefiting nearly 500 children’s charities across North America. Since joining the campaign, Dr. Lieberman, has raised nearly $15,000.

“Smiles for Life allows a person to help children in need by doing something that benefits them as well,” explains Greg Anderson, director of the Crown Council. “Dr. Lieberman and team donate their time and expertise, while Discus Dental provides all supplies. You receive a brighter smile, and, best of all, provide children with a brighter future.”

Half of the donations are earmarked for a local children’s charity partner, and the balance goes to the Smiles For Life Foundation to be distributed to worthy and approved children’s charities across the U.S. and Canada. Participating charities includes Children’s Miracle Network, Children of Romania, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, CURE (in Cambodia), Smiles For Hope, and the Kids Cancer Care Foundation.

Gift certificates for teeth whitening services are also available at the offices of Dr. Lieberman. These certificates are a perfect gift idea for loved ones for birthdays, wedding showers, and other special occasions—AND, they help needy kids at the same time. Call (518) 374-0317.

“We are very pleased to have Renee join our team of insurance professionals,” said Chris Hagen, Vice President of Cool Insuring Agency, Inc. “Renee’s background and education offer Cool Insuring the right combination of skills and experience to provide excellent service to our current and prospective accounts in Upstate New York.”

Covering the Greater Capital District, Saratoga Springs, as well as the North Country, Bast will be responsible for analyzing the effectiveness of current coverage, obtaining renewal data, generating requests for proposals, and aggressively negotiating rates for experience rated and self-funded plans.

Previously employed by Empire BlueCross, Ms. Bast specialized in working with large municipalities and school district consortiums.

Ms. Bast holds an MBA with a [...]]]> February 24, 2010 – Latham, NY Renee Bast has been named to the position of Account Executive at Cool Insuring Agency, Inc.

“We are very pleased to have Renee join our team of insurance professionals,” said Chris Hagen, Vice President of Cool Insuring Agency, Inc. “Renee’s background and education offer Cool Insuring the right combination of skills and experience to provide excellent service to our current and prospective accounts in Upstate New York.”

Covering the Greater Capital District, Saratoga Springs, as well as the North Country, Bast will be responsible for analyzing the effectiveness of current coverage, obtaining renewal data, generating requests for proposals, and aggressively negotiating rates for experience rated and self-funded plans.

Previously employed by Empire BlueCross, Ms. Bast specialized in working with large municipalities and school district consortiums.

Ms. Bast holds an MBA with a concentration in Health Systems Administration from Union College. She resides in Wilton with her fiancé, Orson Klender and their five children.

About Cool Insuring Agency
Cool Insuring Agency’s rich history and dedication to its clients has helped Cool grow into one of the largest and most innovative corporate and small business insurance agencies in the industry. Cool’s 110 employees are located in full-service insurance offices in Glens Falls, NY (where the firm was founded in 1857) and in Latham, NY (Albany County). Cool offers a broad array of Property and Casualty products to personal, commercial, institutional, and governmental clients throughout the country, as well as throughout the world. For more information visit www.coolins.com.

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