October08 e-newsletter

October e-newsletter

Chamber News

Best in Show Dog Gone! Gala Benefit Auction - October 12, 2008

Get ready for some fun as the Hounds of Hudson find their permanent homes at the Best in Show Dog Gone! Gala Benefit Auction on Sunday, October 12. These beautiful canines have graced the streets of Hudson all summer long and now are ready to be auctioned off to the highest bidder! The Dog Gone! Gala Benefit Auction will take place at 12:00 pm with a sumptuous cocktail brunch at Hudson 's hippest new venue, Helsinki on the Hudson located at 405 Columbia St. in Hudson. The Fallons of Copake Auction, Inc. find the dogs new owners at 1:00 pm, auctioning the colorful canines to the highest bidder. Tickets for the October 12 Gala are $30. Reservations can be made by contacting the Chamber at (518) 828-4417 or the Arts Council at (518) 671-6213. Seating is limited, so reservations will be required. You also have the chance to win the Best in Show Dog! Tickets are $10 per ticket or 3 for $25. You may stop into the Chamber office at 507 Warren Street or the Arts Council office at 209 Warren Street in Hudson to purchase your tickets today. Please click here for more information.

2009 Community Guide and Membership Directory - Last Chance Reserve Your Space Today!
In a tight economy, businesses can benefit from going "back to basics". Join over 70 Chamber members who find the Community Guide and Membership Directory an affordable way to reach new clients and to promote their products and services all year long. The Columbia County Community Guide and Membership Directory is the "go to" guide for doing business in Columbia County. It is a must have reference to the best that Columbia County has to offer, and is a comprehensive resource that showcases the County and our Chamber member businesses. This is why so many members participate each year. For more information contact Suzanne Johnson at 800-790-3511 or 828-4417 or by email at suzanne.v.johnson@cox.net.

Chamber Night Out at the Ghent Playhouse - October 9, 2008
The Ghent Playhouse is inviting all Chamber members to join them at a preview performance of the 2008-09 season opener, "Clue - the Musical" at 8:00 pm on Thursday evening, October 9th. The play, which premiered off-Broadway in 1997, features all the audience favorites, including Colonel Mustard, Mrs. Peacock, Professor Plum, and more. Admission tickets for the October 9th preview are just $10.00. Refreshments will be served at intermission. To reserve a seat, or for more information, call 392 6264. Please identify yourself as a Chamber member in order to receive the special pricing. Please click here for more information.

Buy Local Business Expo - October 23, 2008 - Only a few booths left! Call today to reserve!
Join us for the 3rd annual Buy Local Business Expo on Thursday, October 23 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. The Expo is free and open to the business community and the public. It will feature over 70 local exhibitors from both Columbia and Greene Counties. Highlights of the Expo will be free informational seminars, food tasting, fabulous exhibitor giveaways, networking with area businesses, and so much more. The Expo is produced by the Columbia and Greene County Chambers of Commerce and will be held at Columbia-Greene Community College located at 4400 Route 23 in Hudson. There are a limited number of booths still available. Booth prices start at only $149. Don't miss this opportunity to promote your business to hundreds of local residents. Please click here for more information.

Columbia Land Conservancy After Hours - November 6, 2008
The Columbia Land Conservancy will host a Business After Hours on Thursday, November 6 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. The Columbia Land Conservancy works in partnership with landowners and communities in Columbia County to protect wildlife habitat, farmland, and rural open space, and to encourage balanced growth. They also offer free education and recreation programs to children and adults. Business After Hours' offer excellent networking opportunities for area business people. All members of the business community are invited to attend this business event. Columbia Land Conservancy is located 49 Main Street in Chatham. Please click here for more information.

Women's Networking Luncheon - November 12, 2008
Kozel's Restaurant will host a Women's Networking Luncheon on Wednesday, November 12 from 12:00 to 1:30 pm. Additional networking will be available until 2:00 pm. Networking luncheons provide a great opportunity for area businesspeople to promote their business to other business professionals. Kozel's Restaurant is located on Route 9H in Ghent. The cost is $18 for members and $24 for non-members. The event is sponsored by First Niagara Bank, Kinderhook Bank, Taconic Farms, Inc, Clear Channel, Radio, Midhudsonmedia, The Register Star/Chatham Courier, Sierra Capital, and Prime Columbia Greene Medical Associates. Please click here for more information.

Health Insurance Open Enrollment for Sole Proprietors - November 1-30, 2008
The month of November is Open Enrollment month for sole proprietors. If you need to make changes to your plan, please remember to do so during this time. Changes will go into effect January 1, 2009. You may make changes or additions to your current health or dental insurance. New rates and any plan changes will be mailed by the Chamber's health insurance administrator EP Nevins Insurance Agency as soon as they become available from the insurance carriers. Things to look for are new Medicare Advantage products and a new product offering from MVP Healthcare. Erin Nevins of EP Nevins Insurance Agency will be available to schedule appointments in Columbia County every Monday in November. To setup an appointment or for more information contact Erin Nevins at (518) 464-0400 or erin@epnevins.com.

Chamber Board Nominations
The nominating committee of the Chamber, which consists of John Maiuri, Mauri Mechanical; Rick Bianchi, Shallo, Galluscio, Bianchi & Fucito, CPAs, PC; James Galvin, Columbia Hudson Partnership; Martha Keeler, The Bank of Greene County and Patti Stockman, The Executive Connection has recommended the following candidates for the Board of Directors Class of 2011: Fred Hickman, Ed Herrington, Inc.; Clayton Van Kleeck, Van Kleeck Tire; Martha Keeler, The Bank of Greene County; David Paciencia, Hudson City School District and Doug Thorn, First Niagara Bank. To alter the slate, members may file a petition with the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce no later than 5:00 pm on October 17, 2008. If you would like to discuss the nomination process, please call David Colby at 828-4417 or dcolby@columbiachamber-ny.com.

2008 Sponsorship Opportunities
The Chamber is pleased to announce creative ways to promote your business in 2008. 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 2008 Sponsorship Form.

Promote Your Business in the January 2009 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 of your investment. The next mailing will go out in January 2009. The deadline for materials is December 15. Please contact the Chamber if you are interested in promoting your business.

Chamber Stats
During the month of September the Chamber answered 515 phone calls, sent out 12 relocation guides and welcomed over 100 members to events. The Chamber website was visited over 13,658 times or an average of 421 times daily. For more information about your Chamber of Commerce contact the staff at mail@columbiachamber-ny.com.

Ribbon Cuttings

Saturday, October 18 at 9:30 am
Hudson Park Restaurant
3521 Route 9, Greenport

Saturday, October 25 at 9:00 am
Germantown Library
Palatine Park Rd, Germantown

Member News

The Columbia-Greene Diabetes Coalition, a program of the Healthcare Consortium is pleased to have Ruth Charne, an A1C Champion, present to the monthly education and support group Friday, October 3 from 3:00 to 4:00 pm in the Greene County Office Building in Catskill. The A1C Champions Program is a unique, inspirational program that brings together individuals with diabetes who are successfully managing their diabetes with other individuals striving to do the same. The program has organized a group of people around the country who are well versed in the management and care of their diabetes. Ms. Charne will speak about her experiences with the group. For more information about the Healthcare Consortium call (518) 822-8820 or visit their website at www.columbiahealthnet.org.

From October 3rd through November 3rd, Hudson retailer Lili and Loo will be exhibiting and selling the scarecrow works of Plainfield, MA artist Michael Melle in their courtyard at 259 Warren Street in Hudson. The sculptures, inspired by artists as disparate as Hieronymus Bosch and Jean Francoise Millet, are both eerie and majestic. For example, Melle's first creation was an 8-foot tall straw creature with a pig's skull for a head. Long straw tendrils draped from each extended arm. And a scrawny foot was positioned as if the creature were stepping forward. In other words -- not your basic Straw Man from the Wizard of Oz. For more information about Lili and Loo call (518) 822-9492 or visit their website at www.liliandloo.com.

In the spirit of the Halloween season, the Hudson-Chatham WInery will host a Psychic Fair on Saturday, October 18. Two trusted psychics will be on hand to do tarot card readings that are sure to be revealing! Tasting room hours are 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, and the psychics will be there between 12:00 and 4:00 pm. Also, on Saturday, October 25 the winery will be decorated for Halloween and will be offering a special "witch's brew" cocktail. Visitors in full costume will be rewarded with a special treat. For more information about the Hudson-Chatham Winery call (518) 392-WINE or visit their website at www.hudson-chathamwinery.com.

Olana State Historic Site will hold the 2nd annual Reception and Pumpkin Walk on Saturday, October 18. This year is special as the Mental Health Association celebrates 50 years of community service. All proceeds will support programs that serve children and families in Columbia and Greene Counties. From 4:00 to 6:00 pm enjoy delicacies from Good Food Catering, while sipping wine from the Hudson-Chatham Winery. Beginning at 6:00 pm experience the Pumpkin Walk, take a magical stroll along a path of lit jack-o-lanterns artistically carved by children from the community. This culminates with apple cider and donuts in a field of dreams, overlooking the sparkling lights of the Rip Van Winkle Bridge. For tickets or more information about the Mental Health Association call (518) 828-4619 ext. 302 or visit their website at www.mhacg.org.

The Hudson Area Association Library will host the 7th annual Ghostly Gallop 5K run on Sunday, October 26 at 9:00 am with registration beginning at 7:00 am. The run will take off from the Library located at 400 State Street in Hudson. Walkers are welcome and the registration fee is $20. All participants will receive a Ghostly Gallop t-shirt and the Big Read book "The Call of the Wild". A one mile kids fun run will begin at 9:45 am and is free for children. For more information about the Hudson Area Association Library call (518) 828-1792 or visit their website at www.hudson.lib.ny.us.

Leaf Peeper Concerts, Columbia County's longest continually performing arts organizations, celebrates its 27th season with two October concerts. Leaf Peeper Concerts bring classical music to the public during the county's most colorful season, fall. The concerts will be held on October 11 at 7:30 pm at the Spencertown Academy Arts Center and October 25 at 7:30 pm at St. James Catholic Church in Chatham. Tickets are $20 per show. For tickets or more information about the Leaf Peeper Concerts call (518) 325-3805 or email leafpeepers@taconic.net.

Community Events

The annual Columbia-Greene Chili Cook-Off and Riverfront Fair will be held on Saturday, October 4 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at the historic Catskill Point, rain or shine. This one-day fun-filled festival highlights the best of the local farm bounty as more than a dozen contestants go head to head across Columbia and Greene Counties. The event will feature a farmer's market, live music, food vendors and activities for children all indoors in addition to the chili tasting. Boat rides will also be offered between Hudson Waterfront Park and Catskill Point. Admission is $5, children under 12 are free. For more information about the Columbia-Greene Chili Festival call Liz Beals at Beth's Farm Kitchen at (518) 799-3414 or visit the Columbia County Bounty website at www.columbiacountybounty.com.

The Austerlitz Historical Society will present the 12th annual Autumn in Austerlitz on Sunday, October 12 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at the site of Old Austerlitz on Route 22 in Austerlitz. The event will include a variety of activities designed to portray an early 19th century theme, which is the time period of the reconstructed Old Austerlitz. Exhibits demonstrations, music, fun and food will abound. Admission to the event is $6 per adult and children under 12 are free. For more information about the Austerlitz Historical Society call (518) 392-0062 or visit their website at www.oldausterlitz.org.

FilmColumbia returns for its 9th festival season on Thursday, October 16. Hosted by The Chatham Film Club the festival will screen more than 35 independent films, documentaries, shorts and animations from around the world. FilmColumbia unfolds with award-winning screenings and sneak previews. The festival will be held at the historic Crandell Theatre along with the Morris Memorial Community Center and Tracy Memorial Hall. Tickets go on sale to the public on October 3rd. FilmColumbia runs for four days from October 16-19. For tickets or more information about FilmColumbia call (518) 392-3445 or visit their website at www.filmcolumbia.com.

Check out the Chamber's Ten Things To Do This Month in Columbia County on the homepage at www.columbiachamber-ny.com. If you would like to add an event to the November list, please contact Cheryl Meenagh at cmeenagh@columbiachamber-ny.com.

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

October and November Chamber Events

October Events
Chamber Night Out at The Ghent Playhouse
October 9
8:00 pm

Ghent Playhouse
6 Town Hall Place, Ghent
Tickets are discounted to $10 for Chamber members.

Call 392-6264 for reservations.

Best in Show Dog Gone! Gala Benefit Auction
October 12

12:00 pm
Helsinki on the Hudson
Columbia Street, Hudson
Tickets are $30
Reservations are required.

Buy Local Business Expo, October 23

4:00 to 7:00 pm
Columbia-Greene Community College
4400 Route 23, Hudson
Booth prices start at $149.
Contact the Chamber for a registration form.
Space is limited.

Click here to view the 2008 Chamber Calendar.

November Events
Business After Hours, November 6
5:00 to 7:00 pm

Columbia Land Conservancy
49 Main Street, Chatham
Reservations are not required, but appreciated.

Women's Networking Luncheon, November 12

12:00 - 1:30 pm
Kozel's Restaurant
Route 9H, Ghent
The price is $18 for members
Reservations are required by November 7