On Monday, August 12, 2019, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a major expansion of the state’s workplace harassment and anti-discrimination laws. The amendments continue to expand employer obligations to prevent and prohibit all forms of harassment based on protected characteristics. The mandatory sexual harassment and discrimination training, together with headline news around the country read more
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How Mortgage Brokers Help with Financing
In the world of home buying, life used to be simple. Savings and loan associations would take in savings deposits and lend that money out to finance a home purchase. Savings and loans, or thrifts, provided straight amortized loans, with regularly scheduled payments on both interest and principal, set up over a 20- or 30-year read more
We Are Family
Paul Calkins was an anchor in the North Country business community. Beginning in the 1950s he founded and ran an auction house, an insurance business and a realty brokerage with his wife Florence. Sadly, in 1980 Paul died unexpectedly. Suddenly widowed, Florence made the decision to focus on the real estate business. While building Calkins read more
Small Business is a big Chamber Priority
From restaurants and hospitality businesses to contractors, professional services and even manufacturers, small businesses have always made up the great majority of the North Country Chamber’s membership and they always will. And our many direct business support services as well as activities, such as our advocacy efforts in Albany and Washington, reflect this. As we read more
Out on a Limb
Steve Frazier is a professional climbing arborist. He owns and operates Arbor-Ops LLC, an expert tree service, out of Keeseville, NY. “By the nature of my job I am considered an industrial athlete, my gym is your yard,” said Frazier. He acknowledges that tree climbers are a breed apart, and he may just be more read more
A Legacy of Service
When you ask Kevin Broderick how long he has been in business, you had better pull up a stool because it’s not a short story. It can’t be, because it goes back almost three quarters of a century. “It all started with my dad, Maurice,” Broderick began. “He was honorably discharged from the Navy during read more
Service Equals Success
“This community has always been friends telling friends,” said Ray Guay from the well-organized showroom at Ray’s Appliance Sales and Service in Rouses Point, New York. “We work only with appliance manufacturers who support us as dealers and therefore support customers. As we become more of a ‘throwaway’ society, we want to sell products that read more
Mitigating Risk
Asbestos and mold are common in our environment and have the potential to cause serious diseases. How to address these issues, as well as other environmental concerns, can be a complex problem that requires guidance from experts. Plattsburgh is home to a consulting firm, KAS, Inc., whose specialists can help you navigate the laws and read more
50 Years of Service
Golden’s Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning earned $2.60 in its first month in business in 1958. Since then the company has flourished but the modest initial income still amuses the current owners, Justin and Gretchen Rabideau. Gretchen’s grandparents, the Goldens, founded the business and operated it until they turned it over to their daughter and her read more
Staying On Top of Our Most Important Dynamic
The last couple of months have been eventful in the context of our all-important U.S.-Canadian economic partnership. And the North Country Chamber of Commerce has been acting and engaging at all possible levels in multiple ways. It’s simply what we do. In mid-May, we welcome the long-delayed lifting of U.S. tariffs on Canadian aluminum and read more