Albany Times Union (Albany, NY) articles from September 2000

Albany Times Union (Albany, NY) archives from September 2000

Troy, N.Y., Bakery Owner Talks of Running Family Business at College Forum.
September 29, 2000... Byline: Danielle T. Furfaro Sep. 29--When Phillip Morris Co. Inc. approached Charles Freihofer Baking Co. of Troy with a buyout offer in 1987, the fourth-generation family business was taken completely by surprise. The principals of...

New York Banks Formally Drop Failed Merger Plan.
September 29, 2000... Byline: Kenneth Aaron Sep. 29--A month after their merger attempt was shot down by shareholders, Cohoes Bancorp Inc. and Hudson River Bancorp Inc. have formally dropped the deal. As part of the termination, both banks have agreed to...

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Joins Engineering Research Project.
September 29, 2000... Byline: Keri P. Mattox Sep. 29-- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has joined with two other schools to create a $16 million engineering research center that will focus on the detection and imaging of objects underground, underwater or...

State Extends Cut-Rate Electricity Plan for Albany, N.Y.-Area Businesses.
September 28, 2000... Byline: Kenneth Aaron Sep. 28--Nearly a dozen Capital Region businesses gained renewed energy this week -- and it had nothing to do with vitamins. Rather, the New York Power Authority reallocated about 9,375 kilowatts of electricity...

Colonie, N.Y., Towing, Transport Firm Loses Top Financial Officer.
September 28, 2000... Byline: Danielle T. Furfaro Sep. 28--United Road Services Inc.'s chief financial officer resigned his post Wednesday, and the company embarked on a search for his replacement. Donald J. Marr, who had been with the towing and...

Albany, N.Y.-Area Home Builders Dispute Report on Decrease in Contracts.
September 27, 2000... Byline: Danielle T. Furfaro Sep. 27--While a year-to-year comparison of contracts for future residential building shows a 45 percent decline in August values, a sampling of local home builders indicates business is at least as good as it...

Jacksonville, Fla.-Based Rail Firm Plans Lawsuit, Lobbying to Get Tax Relief.
September 27, 2000... Byline: Keri P. Mattox Sep. 27--Frustrated by high property tax assessments and 99-year depreciation schedules on its rail yards and track, CSX Transportation is planning a two-front offensive -- litigation and legislation -- officials...

High Tech Firms Seek Addresses in Suburbs of Saratoga County, N.Y.
September 27, 2000... Byline: Danielle T. Furfaro Sep. 27--Not long ago, companies in the Capital Region felt the need to locate in Albany -- a place with a recognizable address -- so they would be taken seriously by the business world at large. But as...

Albany, N.Y., Protestors Join Global Rallies Seeking World Bank Lending Reform.
September 27, 2000... Byline: Kenneth Aaron Sep. 27--Protesters calling on international banking groups to forgive the debt of poorer nations marched downtown Tuesday afternoon. The Capital Region Alliance for Fair Trade protest was part of a worldwide...

New York's Catskill Financial Corp. Shareholders to Vote on Buyout Offer.
September 26, 2000... Byline: Kenneth Aaron Sep. 26--CATSKILL, N.Y.--Catskill Financial Corp. shareholders will weigh in on a proposed merger with Troy Financial Corp. on Oct. 17. Shareholders of record as of Sept. 15 are eligible to vote at the special...

Many New York State Brokers Wary of New Mortgage Banking Regulation.
September 26, 2000... Byline: Danielle T. Furfaro Sep. 26--A new state banking regulation slated to go into effect next week has several "subprime" mortgage brokers fearing for their future and one scaling back dramatically, anticipating a devastating drop in...

Northeast New York Companies Prepare for U.S. Fair-Disclosure Rule.
September 26, 2000... Byline: Kenneth Aaron Sep. 26--Glenn Epstein, president and chief executive officer of Intermagnetics General Corp., sat on one end of a speakerphone Thursday, dishing out his company's quarterly results. Professionals from several major...

MapInfo, Lucent Join Forces to Bring Directions to Cell Phone Users.
September 26, 2000... Byline: Keri P. Mattox Sep. 26--While a specific rollout date still is unknown, MapInfo Corp. and Lucent Technologies Inc. could be unveiling products in as little as three to six months that give cellular phone users the power to find...

Schenectady, N.Y.-Based Chemical Maker to Expand Albany Facility.
September 25, 2000... Byline: Kenneth Aaron Sep. 25--Schenectady International Inc. will put a $7 million addition onto its Balltown Road research center and leave its two Schenectady locations. Company officials announced a spring start for the...

Small Albany, N.Y., Electronics Stores Suffer from Presence of Large Chains.
September 25, 2000... Byline: Danielle T. Furfaro Sep. 25--How many bargain electronics stores are enough? "The more competition there is, the more people shop around to see who has the best price," said Anthony Zenobio, store manager at Rex TV and...

New York Grocery Store Experiments with Self-Scan Checkout.
September 25, 2000... Byline: Danielle T. Furfaro Sep. 25--As Price Chopper unveiled its new Easy Scan self-checkouts Friday morning, curious shoppers marveled that another of life's inevitabilities -- long lines at the register -- soon might be a thing of...

Albany, N.Y., Biotech Firm Opens Research Center at Area University.
September 22, 2000... Byline: Keri P. Mattox Sep. 22--When dedicating its newest research facilities, officials with Albany Molecular Research Inc. chose the person who helped secure funding for the 23,600-square-foot, two-story laboratory center and other...

Troy, N.Y., University Names Alumnus Entrepreneur of the Year.
September 22, 2000... Byline: Keri P. Mattox Sep. 22--Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has named alumnus Curtis R. Priem its William F. Glaser '53 Entrepreneur of the Year. The honor is given by RPI's Severino Center for Technological Entrepreneurship. ...

Albany, N.Y.-Based Business Institute Stops in Troy, N.Y., on Membership Drive.
September 22, 2000... Byline: Keri P. Mattox Sep. 22--After a summer of interviewing college-aged entrepreneurs as part of its "E-Tour" project, the New York State Institute for Entrepreneurship pulled into the campus of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in...

Albany, N.Y.-Based Electromagnets Firm Posts Record Profits, Revenue.
September 22, 2000... Byline: Kenneth Aaron Sep. 22--Intermagnetics General Corp. (Amex: IMG) posted both record profit and revenue in its first fiscal quarter, reflecting strength in its core business segments. The company rang up profits of $2.4...

New York Energy Execs Look to Avoid California-Style Problems.
September 22, 2000... Byline: Kenneth Aaron Sep. 22--BOLTON LANDING, N.Y.--"Remember San Diego" seems to be the new rallying call for energy-utility executives. Utility officials said that more power plants are a way to avoid the high-priced power woes...

Biggest Shareholder in Colonie, N.Y., Fuel Cell Maker to Sell Stock.
September 21, 2000... Byline: Kenneth Aaron Sep. 21--Plug Power Inc.'s largest individual shareholder recently notified the Securities and Exchange Commission his intent to sell up to 1.12 million shares of his stock. Michael J. Cudahy declared his plans...

Creditors Join Bankruptcy Proceeding against Halfmoon, N.Y., Lender.
September 21, 2000... Byline: Danielle T. Furfaro Sep. 21--Two more creditors have joined an involuntary bankruptcy proceeding against National Finance Corp., the Halfmoon lender that closed its doors in December. Fleet National Bank of Boston and...

Former Owner of Colonie, N.Y., Business School Sues Brewster, N.Y., Owner.
September 21, 2000... Byline: Danielle T. Furfaro Sep. 21--The former owner of the Mildred Elley Business School has sued the school's current owner, claiming breach of contract and failure to make payments on a promissory note. Touchstone Applied Science...

Grocery Chain to Launch Self-Scan Checkout Lanes in Albany, N.Y.-Area Store.
September 20, 2000... Byline: Danielle T. Furfaro Sep. 20--Following the national trend, the Capital Region's first self-scan checkout lanes will open in the Shopper's World Price Chopper store this Friday. With the U-Scan terminals, manufactured by...

Albany, N.Y., Energy Expo to Explore, Offer Alternatives.
September 19, 2000... Byline: Kenneth Aaron Sep. 19--The electric pedicabs and scooters sold by Zev Technologies of Syracuse are probably not the future of transportation. Fun, sure, and the slinky 8-mile-an-hour Zappy! scooter is peppy enough when hanging on...

Circuit City to Hold Grand Opening of Albany, N.Y., Store.
September 19, 2000... Byline: Danielle T. Furfaro Sep. 19--Circuit City in Crossgates Commons held its soft opening Monday, in preparation for its grand opening celebration Friday. The electronics store was open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday. District...

Albany, N.Y.-Area Colleges Are in Midst of Internet Wiring Boom.
September 18, 2000... Byline: Keri Mattox Sep. 18--Many of this year's college freshmen were born in 1982, the same year the term "Internet" was used for the first time. Coincidence? Judging from the technical savvy shown by members of the class of...

Plan Envisions Economic, Cultural Revitalization of Albany, N.Y., Strip.
September 18, 2000... Byline: Kenneth Aaron Sep. 18--New York City has Silicon Alley. Seattle has its Public Market Center. Countless places have artsy neighborhoods with cinemas and cafes. So why not Central Avenue, Anthony Capece asks. Capece,...

Albany, N.Y., Pharmaceutical Research Firm to Buy Cicero Facility.
September 18, 2000... Byline: Keri P. Mattox Sep. 18--Albany Molecular Research Inc., a pharmaceutical research and development company, is spending $5.7 million to buy and renovate a facility in Cicero, near Syracuse. The project, slated to begin by the...

Albany, N.Y.-Based Supermarket Chain Denies Unfair Discipline of Worker.
September 18, 2000... Byline: Kenneth Aaron Sep. 18--A union that just wrapped up a hearing with Golub Corp. regarding practices during a recent organizing drive has filed new charges against the supermarket chain. United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1...

Albany, N.Y., Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Centennial.
September 15, 2000... Byline: Kenneth Aaron Sep. 15--One hundred years ago, the Albany Chamber of Commerce was concerned about downtown redevelopment, transportation improvements, lower taxes and attracting businesses. Now, as it celebrates its...

Albany, N.Y., Health Care System Launches New Name with Ad Campaign.
September 15, 2000... Byline: Kenneth Aaron Sep. 15--Mercycare Corp. is changing its name to St. Peter's Health Care Services as part of an effort to put its most familiar face forward. Mercycare was created in 1986 to oversee a multiheaded health care...

Five Potential Sites for Microchip Plant Seen in Albany, N.Y., Area.
September 15, 2000... Byline: Keri P. Mattox Sep. 15--As many as five potential sites for a microchip fabrication plant have been identified in four Capital Region counties by the Center for Economic Growth, working in conjunction with local officials in...

Connecticut Bidders Would Preserve of Warren County, N.Y., Property.
September 15, 2000... Byline: Kenneth Aaron Sep. 15--A Connecticut couple that wants to buy Albert and Barbara Lawrence's sprawling Lake George camp would turn part of the land over to conservationists. Tighe and Carter Anne Sullivan of Darien have...

Growing Rensselaer, N.Y., Mapping Software Company Eyes Larger Headquarters.
September 15, 2000... Byline: Keri P. Mattox Sep. 15--Rensselaer Technology Park is moving forward with plans to expand some of its buildings -- especially the world headquarters of mapping software and business information heavyweight MapInfo Corp. Tech...

State Invests $75,000 in Albany, N.Y., Port's Railroad Tracks.
September 14, 2000... Byline: Kenneth Aaron Sep. 14--The state's $750,000 investment in the Port of Albany's railroad tracks likely will lead to a 50 percent increase in the amount of cargo handled here, not to mention additional jobs for longshoremen,...

Real Estate Agents Settle Lawsuit with Former Employer in Colonie, N.Y.
September 14, 2000... Byline: Keri P. Mattox Sep. 14--A $225,000 settlement has been reached by former agents at three Re/Max real estate franchises in Colonie and the franchise owner, Reddy Lane Inc. Almost 30 former agents sued Reddy Lane and its owner,...

Northeast U.S. Electrical Workers Union Elects Business Manager.
September 14, 2000... Byline: Kenneth Aaron Sep. 14--A union formed through the merger of three locals has settled on a business manager, after an earlier election was invalidated. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 236 elected...

Judge Clears Way for Syracuse, N.Y., Chain to Buy Bankrupt Troy, N.Y., Eatery.
September 13, 2000... Byline: Tim O'Brien Sep. 13--A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge rejected an effort Tuesday to continue a battle for possession of the former Castaway restaurant in Troy, clearing the way for a Syracuse-based chain to purchase it. Mark...

Stock of Colonie, N.Y., Fuel Cell Maker Soars on News of California Vote.
September 13, 2000... Byline: Kenneth Aaron Sep. 13--Plug Power Inc. stock had its best day in months Tuesday -- likely spurred by developments unrelated to the company. A 26.9 percent increase in the company's stock probably rode the coattails of other...

Guilderland, N.Y.-Based Entertainment Firm Buys Kentucky-Based Music Chain.
September 13, 2000... Byline: Keri P. Mattox Sep. 13--Music and video retailer Trans World Entertainment Corp., which owns and operates the Camelot, Record Town and F.Y.E. chains, will buy Disc Jockey Music Stores, adding another 113 locations to its retail...

Albany, N.Y., Science, Tech Law Center Hopes to Expand with Grant Money.
September 12, 2000... Byline: Keri P. Mattox Sep. 12--As the only one of its kind in the state, Albany Law School's Science & Technology Law Center faces the uphill battle of keeping pace with a rapidly changing legal landscape -- the tech business community...

Albany, N.Y., Medical College Gets Grant to Fight Side Effects of Chemotherapy.
September 12, 2000... Byline: Kenneth Aaron Sep. 12--A pharmaceutical company's $1.8 million grant will help Albany Medical College researchers learn which patients are more likely to get seriously ill from cancer treatment. Once doctors know that, they...

Group Sues to Halt Athens, N.Y., Power Plant Project.
September 12, 2000... Byline: Kenneth Aaron Sep. 12--A grass-roots group is taking two state agencies to court over their support of a proposed 1,080-megawatt power plant in Athens, Greene County. Citizens for the Hudson Valley wants to block PG&E...

Long-Time Albany, N.Y., Management Consultant Announces Retirement.
September 10, 2000... Byline: Keri P. Mattox Sep. 10--After 14 years as managing partner, M. Bruce Cohen has retired from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, a Big 5 accounting firm in Albany. Partner Richard Grant has stepped into the top slot after 19 years at...

New York Court Hears Case of Intrigue, Money, and Truelove.
September 10, 2000... Byline: Kim Martineau Sep. 10--An associate who helped boost revenue at an Albany investment banking firm is trying to collect his $160,000 bonus, even though he quit before receiving most of the money. The company, Northeast Capital...

Ex-Volunteer Rescue Worker Hosts Safety Expo for Former Comrades.
September 10, 2000... Byline: Kenneth Aaron Sep. 10--As a volunteer firefighter and EMT, Jeffrey Malo has seen his share of workplace training problems. "You go in these situations and you say, `Gee, if they only had this,'" he said. That's why, as...

Rotterdam, N.Y.-Based Grocery Firm Survives in Troubled Times for Supermarkets.
September 10, 2000... Byline: Danielle T. Furfaro Sep. 10--ROTTERDAM, N.Y.--From his office in Golub Corp. headquarters in Rotterdam, Lewis Golub, who last week passed the crown of chief executive officer to his cousin Neil Golub, rattles off a laundry list...

Judge Dismisses Lawsuit over Deal between Albany, N.Y., Bank, Insurance Firm.
September 8, 2000... Byline: Kenneth Aaron Sep. 8--UTICA, N.Y.--A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit stemming from a stock deal between part of the former Lawrence insurance empire and First Albany Cos. Inc. Barbara C. Lawrence, Lawrence Group Inc....

Morrisville, N.Y., College Leads Area into Future of Wireless Computing.
September 8, 2000... Byline: Keri P. Mattox Sep. 8--Following the lead of pioneers like the State University College at Morrisville, representatives from Capital Region businesses, colleges and government offices gathered Thursday morning at The Desmond to...

CEO of Rotterdam, N.Y.-Based Grocery Chain Hands Hands Reins to His Cousin.
September 8, 2000... Byline: Danielle T. Furfaro Sep. 8--Lewis Golub, longtime Golub Corp. chief executive officer, stepped aside Thursday to allow his cousin, Neil Golub, to fill the position. Neil Golub has held the titles of president and chief operating...

Albany, N.Y.-Area HMOs Earn Watchdog's Approval.
September 8, 2000... Byline: Kenneth Aaron Sep. 8--Four out of five health maintenance plans that serve the Capital Region got high marks for providing information to consumers when asked, a watchdog group and state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer said...

New York Supreme Court Orders Debt-Reduction Lawyer Disbarred.
September 8, 2000... Byline: Danielle T. Furfaro Sep. 8--Embattled debt-reduction lawyer Andrew F. Capoccia, who has been hit with hundreds of sanctions and lawsuits focused on his unorthodox litigation tactics, has been disbarred by the Appellate Division...

Second Lake George, New York, Marina to Go on Auction Block.
September 8, 2000... Byline: Danielle T. Furfaro Sep. 8--Another Lake George marina will go on the auction block this fall. Dunham's Bay Lodge, a 135-acre lakefront resort, has become the second marina on the lake to schedule a sale by auction. The...

Albany, N.Y.-Based Bank Ends $16 Million Stock Buyback.
September 7, 2000... Byline: Kenneth Aaron Sep. 7--First Albany Cos. Inc. has finished a $16 million stock buyback that was a key part of a deal it completed last month with First Union Securities. First Albany bought back 814,000 shares of common stock...

Mechanicville, N.Y., Building Contractor Files for Bankruptcy.
September 7, 2000... Byline: Danielle T. Furfaro Sep. 7--Nine months after it went out of business, a Mechanicville-based commercial building contractor has filed for bankruptcy, claiming more than $1.8 million in debts. Dominick Dan Alonzo Inc. filed...

Bidding War to Own Albany, N.Y., Waterfront Restaurant Isn't Over.
September 6, 2000... Byline: Tim O'Brien Sep. 6--The battle to own The Castaway is about to resume. Closed since July 1999, the once-popular waterfront restaurant is in the middle of a bankruptcy court battle between two prospective purchasers. On...

Rates for Niagara Mohawk Power Customers Still Unclear after Merger Deal.
September 6, 2000... Byline: Kenneth Aaron Sep. 6--Niagara Mohawk Power Co. customers wondering about the company's future can be certain of one thing: They'll still have to pay bills every month. What happens to the rates they pay is unclear. What...

Bad Labor Day Weather Drives Hordes of Shoppers into Albany, N.Y.-Area Stores.
September 6, 2000... Byline: Danielle T. Furfaro Sep. 6--Local retailers were recovering Tuesday after hordes of back-to-school shoppers raided their stores the day before, when dreary Labor Day weather drove holiday revelers into the malls. "It totally...

Troy, N.Y., Grocery Store Wins Regional Award for Corporate Citizenship.
September 5, 2000... Byline: Danielle T. Furfaro Sep. 5--Hannaford Bros. Co. will be this year's recipient of the Van Rensselaer Award, given each year by the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce for corporate citizenship. David Fazioll,...

Albany, N.Y., Economic Growth Center, Consulting Alliance Join to Help Firms.
September 1, 2000... Byline: Kenneth Aaron Sep. 1--ALBANY, N.Y.--Businesses turning to the Center for Economic Growth for help might end up at the Consulting Alliance. After several months of collaborating informally, the two organizations reached an...

Troy, N.Y., Wound Care Center to Close.
September 1, 2000... Byline: Kenneth Aaron Sep. 1--TROY, N.Y.--Seton Health System Inc. will close its Wound Care Center at the end of September because of a contract impasse with the center's manager. While Curative Health Services Inc. of Hauppauge has...

Albany, N.Y.-Area Creditors Take Legal Action against Telemarketing Center.
September 1, 2000... Byline: Elizabeth Benjamin Sep. 1--ALBANY, N.Y.--Hoping to recoup more than $210,000 in unpaid bills, three creditors have taken the first legal steps to force a subsidiary of the Urban League of Northeastern New York into involuntary...