February 2012 Enews

February e-newsletter

Chamber Announces Crystal Apple Award Finalists

Columbia County Chamber of Commerce President, David Colby is pleased to announce the five finalists for the 23rd Annual Crystal Apple Award. The official slate of nominees for the 23rd annual award includes Cafe Le Perche, Camphill Ghent, Columbia Dental Street Group, Grazin' Farm To Table - Direct and The Community at Bells Pond. The Crystal Apple Award is presented to a Chamber member business to recognize an extraordinary contribution to economic progress, community improvement, and the quality of life in Columbia County during 2011. The Award Gala will be held on March 9 at Helsinki Hudson from 6:00 – 9:00 pm. The cost to attend is $85 per person or a table of eight for $650. Please call the Chamber at (518) 828-4417 to reserve.

Business After Hours @ Ed Herrington, Inc (Hudson) - February 23, 2012

Join the Chamber as Ed Herrington, Inc. hosts a Business After Hours on Thursday, February 23 at 1 Graham Ave in Hudson. The event will run from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Business After Hours’ offer excellent networking opportunities for area business people. All members of the business community are invited to attend this business event. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be offered during the After Hours. There is no cost to attend, but guests are encouraged to contact the Chamber at (518) 828-4417 if they plan to attend.

Business BEFORE Hours @ Questar III - February 29, 2012

Join the Chamber as Questar III hosts a Business BEFORE Hours on Wednesday, February 29 at 131 Union Turnpike in Hudson. The event will run from 7:30 to 9:00 am. Business Before Hours’ offer excellent networking opportunities for area business people. All members of the business community are invited to attend this business event. Breakfast snacks and beverages will be offered during the After Hours. There is no cost to attend, but guests are encouraged to contact the Chamber at (518) 828-4417 if they plan to attend.

Chamber Ski Nite at Catamount Ski Area – March 9, 2012
The Columbia County Chamber and Catamount Ski Area will host a night of discounted skiing and snowboarding for Chamber members and the public on Friday, March 9 from 3:00 – 10:00 pm. Lift tickets are $15, rentals $15 and lessons $10. We hope you will join us for this fun event and support business in Columbia County. Catamount Ski Area is located on Route 23 in Hillsdale. Contact the Chamber to find out where to purchase tickets.

Agricultural Business Brunch - March 14, 2012
The annual Agricultural Business Brunch will be held on Wednesday, March 14 at the Chamber Office from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. The brunch will feature a panel of speakers focusing on what is happening on the local agricultural scene. Enjoy a palette of local foods. The cost is $18. Call the Chamber to reserve today.

Image, BRANDING & Hospitality - Business Development Panel - March 15, 2012
On Thursday, March 15 at Space 360 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm there will be a Business Development Panel Discussion on Image, BRANDING & Hospitaltiy sponsored by the Chamber, Space 360 & Destination Bride, LLC. Food and beverage will be provided. This event is free to members, but reservations are a must. Please click here for more information about the event.

Legislative Breakfast - March 30, 2012
Come meet your local and state legislators at the Chamber's Annual Legislative Breakfast on Friday, March 30, 2012. Congressman Chris Gibson, Senator Steve Saland, Peter Lopez and Steve McLaughlin and Columbia County Board of Supervisors Chairman Patrick Grattan have been invited to speak at the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce annual Legislative Breakfast. This event offers Columbia County’s legislators an opportunity to outline their plans for 2012 and beyond to the local business community. The breakfast will be held in the Student Center at Columbia-Greene Community College from 7:30 - 9:00 am. The cost is $18.

2012 Sponsorship Opportunities
The Chamber is pleased to provide creative ways to promote your business in 2012. Don’t miss this opportunity to promote your company to the Columbia County business community. Event sponsorship enables us to provide high quality programming for our members and promotion for your business. Click here for a 2012 Sponsorship Form

Promote Your Business in the April 2012 Chamber Connection Mailing
Are you looking for new connections? The Chamber Connection is a great way to promote your business to over 1,000 Chamber members for only a $150. Promote your business this winter and get a great return on your investment. The next mailing will go out in January 2012. The deadline for materials is March 26, 2012. Please contact the Chamber if you are interested in promoting your business.

Community Events

Tousey Winery invites you to kick off Valentine’s Day weekend with a special “Art and Wine for Lovers” event with a celebratory opening reception on Friday, February 10 from 5-8pm. Current works by local artist Thomas Cale will be on display beginning that evening and the event, which will feature wine tastings and expert recommendations for unique art and wine pairings, will continue for approximately six weeks thereafter. See www.facebook.com/touseywinery for more details. For more information about Tousey Winery visit their website at www.touseywinery.com.

Join Stageworks/Hudson on February 11 at 8:00 pm for an exciting new one-hour, one-woman play by Juliane Hiam. Anne Undeland will bring to life an infamous courtesan and the clueless but ambitious cancan dancer who threatens to dethrone her as the city's reigning grande horizontale. Tickets include a champagne and chocolate post show reception. Snow date is Feb. 18. For more information contact Stageworks/Hudson located at 41 Cross Street, Hudson. Call (518)822-9667or visit www.stageworkshudson.org

On Saturday, February 11 at the Hudson-Chatham Winery, come enjoy nibbles, wine and music. Music is by internationally renowned flamenco guitarist Maria Zemantauski and a book signing by local author Claudia Ricci, "Seeing Red". The winery hours are 12:00 - 5:00 pm. Maria will be playing from 12:30 - 3:30, and Claudia will be signing books from 12:30 on. there is no admission fee. For more information about Hudson-Chatham Winery call (518) 392-9463 or visit their website at www.hudson-chathamwinery.com.

Member News

Join us at Hudson Barbell, Hudson's newest and only CrossFit certified gym, for a special open house

Feb 4th from 1pm - 4pm. Meet our staff, learn about how CrossFit can work for you and tour our facilities.

99 South 3rd St, Hudson, NY, Door 14 in the old LB Furniture warehouse, behind The Basilica. For more info see us online at www.HudsonBarbell.com

Get your Chocolate Covered Strawberries for your Valentine at Vasilow's Confectionery, Inc. Vasilow's will have individually hand-dipped strawberries in your choice of their delicious milk, dark or mixed chocolate, packaged in a gold trimmed presentation box for your Valentine. A full pound is just $16.95. for more information or to place your order for Valentine's Day, call Vasilow's at (518) 828-2717 or visit their website at www.vasilows.com.

A frozen fundraiser will be held on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 1pm to support COARC programs and services for individuals with disabilities. Plungers jump into the icy water of Upper Rhoda Pond to earn pledged donations. The Polar Plunge is free to the public and donations at the event are appreciated. Hot drinks and snacks will be served. To sponsor a swimmer, volunteer to plunge for pledges, or get directions please visit www.coarc.org or call (518)672-4451

Excel Physical Therapy offers you the latest on-line issue of The Rehab Report to help you recover, restore and regain: http://tinyurl.com/rehabreportwinter12. Applying a variety of manual techniques and education for your particular dysfunction can enable your body to restore itself to the pre-injury condition. An Excel therapist has the knowledge to recogize your problem and the skills to apply the appropriate treatment. To learn more about Excel Physical Therapy, call (518) 828-7101 or visit www.excelptny.com.

On February 7, 2012 at Hilton Garden Inn in Clifton Park from 4:00 - 7:00 pm (Registration and seating begins at 3:30 pm), Yellowbook360 is hosting a free informational seminar that will provide an overview of smart online strategies for local business success. Register today to attend and you will learn about your local online visibility, website design, search engine optimization, social media, local listings and maps, pay-per-click advertising, mobile search, reputation management, and more! Each guest will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win an iPAD! (No purchase required, Must be 18 year of age.) In addition each guest will also receive a free profile page on yellowbook.com and a personalized website visibility analysis! Must Register. To register call Antoinette Vleming at 518-862-0000.

The Claverack Free Library has received a challenge grant of $20,000 from the Bob and Marilyn Laurie Foundation. This grant will be directed to the art and community space on the proposed new library's ground floor. "The proposed new library will not only serve our parons in the ways they've come to expect - free and nearly unlimited book loans, access to the Internet and educational and cultural programming for all ages - but will give their community an arts exhibition and gathering space. For more information about the new Claverack Free Library, contact Susan Roberts or board president, Jennifer Post at the Claverack Library at (518) 851-7120 or visit their website at www.claveracklibrary.org.

If you would like to submit information for the member news section please email to akneller@columbiachamber-ny.com.

February and March Events

February Events

Business After Hours - February 23, 2012
5:00 - 7:00 pm
Ed Herrington, Inc.
1 Graham Ave, Hudson
Reservations are not required, but appreciated.

Business Before Hours - February 29, 2012
7:30 - 9:00 am
Questar III - Columbia-Greene Educational Center
131 Union Turnpike, Hudson
Reservations are not required, but appreciated.

March Events

Ski Nite - March 9
3:00 - 10:00 pm
Catamount Ski Area
Route 23, Hillsdale
For where to purchase tickets, please call
the Chamber.

23rd Annual Crystal Apple Award Gala - March 9
6:00 - 9:00 pm
Helsinki Hudson
405 Columbia Street, Hudson
Tickets are $85 per person or $650 per corporate table of eight. Reservations are required by March 2.

Agricultural Business Brunch - March 14
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Chamer Office
1 North Front Street, Hudson
Cost is $18
Reservations are required by March 9

Business Development Panel Discussion on Image, BRANDING & Hospitality - March 15

5:00 - 7:00 pm

Space 360

360 Warren St, Hudson

Free to Chamber Members, $25 for Non-members

Sponsored by Chamber, Space 360 & Destination Bride, LLC

Reservation required by March 12

Legislative Breakfast - March 30
7:30 - 9:00 am
Columbia Greene Community College
4400 Route 23, Hudson
$18 members/$22 non-member
Reservation deadline: March 26, 2012

Please click here for our 2012 Chamber Calendar.