Watkins Spring--100 years of work, horse shoes to auto service

Congratulations on 100 Years.

Watkins Spring Company Inc. has been tending to your transportation since the 1890's when the crew was fixing horse shoes. Today, the business tends less to equine and more to align, offering front end service as well as springs and brakes for both cars and trucks. This year, Watkins celebrates 100 years in business--at the same location on Central, and even though the business has expanded over the years, the original blacksmith shop that started it all remains open and working.

The garage and parts store has built out in both directions from the original blacksmith shop, and it would take someone with know-how to lead you through the maze of garages that sit headquartered at 368 Central. Luckily, second-generation owner, Thomas Kingston has agreed to lead me through and tell me about his family's landmark business.

Watkins Spring Company was run by the Watkins family from 1908 until the early 1950s. Then, Owen Watkins, son of the founder, went into business with Samuel Kingston, Kingston's father. Samuel ran the business until his death in 1975. His son, Kingston has run the business since then.

"I never wanted to do anything else," he tells me of his decision to go into the family business.
Kingston grew up in these garages, and pedaled his bike up and down the Avenue to retrieve parts for his father and the other mechanics in the shop. In those days, Watkins Spring was in the center of Albany's automobile corridor, with dealerships and garages located on every block. Kingston recites the names that have all disappeared or moved away, DeNooyer Chevrolet, Windows Pontiac, and the list goes on. Today, Kingston said, many of those dealerships have closed or moved further up Central, but his shop is still going strong, doing as many as 20 alignments a day and working with many well-known entities including the City of Albany, Rotterdam, Halfmoon, Colonie Central School District, University at Albany, and the New York State Police.

Kingston's customers are loyal, and much of the business is word-of-mouth, he said. "We try to specialize in just a few things and really do them right," Kingston said.

Kingston leads me through his business with evident pride. The shop was at a busy hum, with mechanics moving trucks in and out of the alley behind the shop, and scrambling down into galleys beneath the cars. In the blacksmith shop, a mechanic is hard at work at ancient equipment. The shop doesn't manufacture as many parts anymore, but they do some, mostly for antique cars and trucks, Kingston said. Past the blacksmith shop is a storage area filled with springs. Watkins Spring caters to every kind of vehicle, from school buses to Cadillacs. The springs look like skis, varying in length and thickness and stacked sideways in racks. Kingston pulls a thick wedge of metal forward. It looks more like a fender than a spring. This is for a bigger rig, he says, something like a garbage truck. While further down the line, there are more delicate springs--delicate by comparison, that is. These are for smaller vehicles, he says, like jeeps.

Past the spring storage room, is another storage room, then the parts shop, then we emerge on Central half a block away from where we entered. Watkins extends from 368-372 Central, skirting the VFW. Parking lots abut the shop at each end.

We return to the front reception area, where Kingston's daughter Reagan runs the office, but on the way, we make a stop at the mural that's become a city landmark. The two-story bear has decorated the side of the VFW for 50 years, Kingston said, and has become a point of reference for people. "They say, 'Oh, by the bear?'" The smiling grizzly was part of a logo for Bear Alignment, a top-rate alignment system in the 1950s, and Kingston's father had the mural painting on the building to show that they used their products. The brand is now defunct, but the bear remains in its place of honor, greeting customers for the last half-century.

Back in the reception area, surrounded by historic photographs of Central Avenue, Kingston considered the business's longevity. The key to the business's long-term success is customer care, he said. "We got people who know what they're doing and they do it well." Kingston stresses that he also takes good care of his 16 employees, many of whom have been there for 20 years or more and have built a rapport with customers--and cars.

"They might forget the customers' name, but they remember what kind of car they drive," Reagan said. This makes customers feel comfortable with them. "Customers like to see the same faces," she said.

Francis Walter has been bringing his vehicles to Watkins Spring for 28 years. "I am absolutely confident in the work they go and the fairness of the price," he said. "They can handle any vehicle, and they know me. That's a nice added benefit."

The Central Avenue spot remains a good location for the business, he said, but parking remains an issue. Right now, vehicles waiting for repair are parked in the alley behind the shop, but sometimes the business is pressed for space, he said. Kingston wants to talk with surrounding businesses about how to negotiate the crunch.

Overall, Kingston is confident that the business will stick around for a long time to come. "We want to continue to grow," he said. Someday, he plans to pass the business on to one of his children or grandchildren, but he refuses to speculate too much about what the future holds, allowing that he's got plenty of time to decide. "That's some years away."

For now, Kingston plans to keep doing what he's been doing since he was a kid--fixing vehicles. Kingston puts in 14 hour days at this garage, cramming two lifetimes of work into these 10 bays, and he's still going strong.

"I still enjoy it," Kingston said.

Saso's teaches the art of sushi

Making your own sushi is fun--and messy. At least that's what the beginners who joined Saso's make-your-own sushi lunch program are discovering.

Saso's Japanese Noodle House is teaching customers to make their own lunches this summer, and when students walk into class the first thing they want to know is why there's plastic spread across the floor, said Kathleen Saso, co-owner of the restaurant. "I say, 'Oh, you'll see,'" Saso says. These sushi-novices quickly learn the ropes, but not without some initial spills.

The first class, offered on the last weekend of July was well-attended, and students said they had a great time, Saso said. They began by mixing vinegar and adding it to the sushi rice to make it sticky. They also learn to slice cucumbers and other ingredients, and to construct and shape the fragile rolls with a bamboo mat, Saso said. Each student works with their own recipe, and the class fee covers instruction, the cost for ingredients, and a bamboo mat that each student can take home--not to mention lunch. "At the end, the students get to eat what they've made," Saso said.

The class is taught by Yasuo Saso, the restaurant's sushi chef and co-owner, who has been in the restaurant business for 30 years. Kathleen Saso said her sushi chef husband has a great deal of experience and makes sushi-making look much easier than it is. It's only when the students get to work that they realize the skill and talent that goes into it. "They say, 'You don't have to worry about losing us as customers,'" Saso said with a laugh.

Saso's has been a fixture on Central Avenue for 12 years. Business is always slower in the summer, and the Sasos hope these courses will reach some new customers, Saso said. The restaurant also offers private group lessons, she said.

Saso's is located at 218 Central Avenue. The next classes are being offered August 9 and August 23 from 11:30am-1:30pm. The cost of the class is $50. To register, please call 436-7789. Saso's is open Tuesday through Saturday for dinner beginning at 5pm.

Road construction reaches halfway point

The ongoing road construction project on Central Avenue has reached the halfway point, reports Deidre Rudolph, City Engineer. The $13 million road rehabilitation project that extends from King Road to the city line began last fall, and the city plans to wrap up by late spring or early summer of next year, Rudolph said. The project also encompasses parts of Everett Road.

The ambitious project includes repaving the roadway, adding new sidewalks and curbs, and installing new signage and drainage, Rudolph said.

In addition to making the road smoother and easier to navigate, the project will also make the area much more pedestrian-friendly. The new sidewalks will make it easier for walkers to get to and from the many shopping centers and other businesses in the area, and link adjacent neighborhoods to the Avenue. So far, crews have put in sidewalks on the south side of the street, and are currently working on the north side. These wide walkways with fresh curbs are appealing and make the area much more approachable. The work has gone pretty smoothly, and local businesses have been very supportive, Rudolph said.

Planning Bus Rapid Transit for the Capital District

Welcome to the fifth newsletter for the Capital District Transportation Authority NY5 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. CDTA is moving forward with BRT service on the NY5 corridor. This newsletter keeps you informed about CDTA’s plans for the new service, including opportunities to be involved and provide input. Federal Transit Administration Approves Stations Environmental Documentation CDTA received notification in June that the FTA has approved the environmental documentation for the station stops. Achievement of this milestone clears the way for final design and the beginning of construction!
Major Contract Awards -- July 2008

· Stations Advance to Final Design Creighton Manning Engineers, LLP will lead a team of design professionals in preparing final design documents. Stations will be built in groups, coordinated with road construction, and will integrate “green” solar powered trash compactors, efficient lighting and climate-sensitive design. There is a big technology focus, as well, with ticket vending machines, security cameras, and next bus arrival time signs. Keep your eyes open for the first signs “on the street”!
· Signal Upgrades and Queue Jump Lanes Working with NYSDOT and the municipalities on the corridor, three components of improving the NY5 roadway to accommodate better service are being advanced. Signal priority for buses, coupled with lanes that allow buses to jump traffic queues at major intersections will dramatically improve the reliability and speed of corridor bus service. The third road design element that will insure the success of the project in the long run is corridor access management for service roads, consolidated driveways, and site design with good pedestrian connections. Site Work for Stations Incorporated in Roadwork Projects A cooperative agreement with the City of Albany to construct foundational site work, such as sidewalk, crosswalk improvements and utility conduits, for station sites from the City line east to Quail has been reached. This work will be accomplished as part of the road construction now underway. NYSDOT has incorporated changes to bus turn outs from the Albany City line to New Karner Road and a center median at Colonie Center/Northway Mall into their road construction project.

More Progress
· Clean-fuel Hybrid Vehicles Delivered to CDTA! Six new vehicles for the corridor add to the six deployed last year. They are already rolling in service. Check them out!
· Improvements to the #55 Schedule coming Fall 2008. Schedule changes to improve reliability and balance loads are in the planning stages. The corridor topped 3 MILLION riders last year, and continues to grow.
· Looking for More Shared-Use Park and Ride lots CDTA is actively seeking additional shared-use park and ride lots in the corridor. If your business, church, or agency has surplus parking capacity – let us know!
· Solar Central The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) awarded a joint funding application from CDTA and the Central Avenue Business Improvement District to make all the Central Avenue bus stops in the C-BID solar-powered!
Be Involved and Stay Informed

If you would like more information, contact Kristina Younger at CDTA (518-437-6582) or kristina@cdta.org.
Images above:

Colonie Center Station – looking west – artist rendering
Stueben South – west view, artist rendering

Whitney Young bus makes medical mobile

The Whitney Young's Mobile Health Unit will be parked in central spots all summer, offering free screenings to anyone who wants them.

"We believe very strongly in HIV testing for everyone, and s0 we provide free testing," said Mary Alice Russo, Director of Communications for the center. Free HIV testing is provided for anyone who walks through the door, she said. In this way, the center hopes to make HIV testing as normal as mammograms or prostate screening, she said. "We don't want there to be any stigma," she said.

The fully-equipped bus serves 5,700 clients annually, providing free HIV testing, other health screenings like blood pressure and heart rate, and outreach for substance abusers, said Steven Sawicki, Director of HIV Services at Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center in Albany.

The Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center is designed to meet disaparities in health care, "to provide help for people who don't get it from other places," Sawicki said. The mobile unit extends that idea one step further, taking care to people who can't get to the center, he said.

In the future, the bus could also provide diabetes testing and STD screenings.

The mobile health will be parked in several spots along Central Avenue, Sawicki said. Central is a great spot because it's active and diverse, and there are a number of other service providers in the area, he said. The bus also attends large public gatherings in nearby parks and at the Empire State Plaza.

Central's Flatiron building new home to Trustco Bank

Carrow Real Estate Services announced that one of the district's most unique buildings will soon be home to a Trustco Bank. The Flatiron-style building, located near the head of Central Avenue, has stood vacant for a long time, but is currently being transformed into a bank building.

Carrow leasing agent Rudy Lynch is excited about the new tenant. "It should really add to the growth in that whole area," Lynch said.

Trustco will occupy the first and second floors of the four-story building, which are currently being gutted and remodeled, Lynch said. "They started from scratch," he said.

Construction work is going along smoothly, and he anticipates that the bank will move in by the end of the summer, he said. The triangle-shaped building is set on a three-street intersection, where Henry Johnson Boulevard meets Washington Avenue and Central Avenue. This heavily-traveled corridor will be a great location for a bank, and the parking lot behind the building and the on-street spots provide ample parking for bank customers, Lynch said.

Carrow Real Estate, the company that owns and manages the property, has been looking to put a bank in there for some time, and finally made a deal with a local bank this year, he said.

Nia-Yoga Opens 'New Sky Studio'

The Center for Nia and Yoga, the restorative retreat in the heart of downtown Albany, has just added a second studio to its large facility on the corner of Lark and Central. The new studio, named the Sky Studio because of its aery location, houses the center's Kripalu and Ashtanga classes.

Casey Bernstein, the center's owner and director, opened the center 12 years ago, and chose the 4 Central Avenue location because she loved the urban setting, which was close to such a cross-section of people and the building's distinct architecture. "I love the building.. the old classic architecture, natural materials of wood, brick and natural light," Bernstein said.

The studio was opened as a preeminent home for Nia, an "eclectic, expressive fitness fusion program," said Bernstein. The center is also one of just three Nia teacher training centers on the East Coast. Nia combines yoga, tai chi, dance and martial arts for a practice that is both spiritual and physical. The courses are taught from the center's Studio 1, the original studio, which is a spacious, sunny space with hard wood floors and windows that overlook the busy cross-streets and the Washington Armory. The room is comfortable and soothing, the perfect place to stretch out and relax.

The center also houses Djumbe Drum lessons and Afro-Caribbean Live Dance and Drum classes. Bernstein also offers pro-bono community service classes serving Women of the Next Step, a long term drug rehab program, the Parson Children Center, and The Vanderheyden home for Children. The center has about 8-10 instructors and attracts 100-150 students per week.

For more information about the classes offered at The Center for Nia and Yoga, please visit the center's website at http://www.nia-yoga.com/ or call 518-463-5145.

Chocolate Gecko A Rare Find-that's easier to find!

Where can you find Chocolate Geckos, Salty Iguanas, Galapagos Turtles, and Chai Buddha Truffles? Right on Colvin. The Chocolate Gecko, the well-known Capital District confectionary has relocated to 21 Colvin Avenue. Since their grand opening Saturday co-owner Chris Migliaro says that the crowds have been queuing up for a taste of these idiosyncratically-named goodies.

The Chocolate Gecko was started eight years ago on Delaware Avenue by Lissa D'Aquini, who wanted to make award-winning gourmet chocolates using the finest ingredients and minimal packaging.

Migliaro and his co-owners Terra Stratton and Esti Zarza were lifetime customers of Chocolate Gecko, and stopped in often to grab the delicious treats, particularly the Kimodo Crunch candy. Then a year-and-a-half ago, the trio decided to purchase the candy company from D'Aquini who was looking to sell. Migliaro said the trio saw an opportunity, and looks forward to making this candy company into an even bigger success. The first step they took was to remodel the Colvin storefront and move the business to its more centrally-located location. "We're really excited to be here," Migliaro said. The next thing will be to revamp the company's website, Migliaro said.

The company specializes in chocolate dipped fruit, molded truffles, and offers handmade gift baskets.

All candy is made right on premises, and then sold at the shop and through mail-order. Chocolate Gecko is also available at local merchants like the Spectrum 8 on Delaware Avenue.

Stop in and visit their chocolate menagery at 21 Colvin Avenue Monday through Friday 11-6pm or Saturday 10-2pm. For more information, please call 436-0866.

Salsa Latina adds South American Spice to Central Avenue

Luis Uzhca and his family opened their restaurant Salsa Latina on Central Avenue because they wanted to introduce Albany to South American food, said Uzhca. The Latin American restaurant offers Mexican favorites, but also a mix of South American specialties, including treats from Columbia, and Uzhca's native country, Ecuador. "We wanted everyone to try our food and see something different."

The top-selling item on the menu, and also Uzhca's favorite, is Bandeja Typica. The dish includes grilled steak, pork tips, chorizo, fried egg, white rice, beans rancheros, avocado, and arepa, a thick bread made with corn meal, "a little bit of everything, so you can try it all," he said. The dish has been incredibly popular, especially for deliveries to Albany Medical Center, St. Peter's Hospital, and the DMV, Uzhca said. "I didn't think it would be a big hit, but it has been."

The other big hit has been the homemade bread, sold fresh from the bakery counter in the restaurant. Uzhca had such trouble finding good bread when he moved to Albany five years ago--"You can't find any Mexican bread here"--he had to pick up loaves in Boston and New York when he traveled. He decided to open a bakery in the restaurant for others who might be in the same position. The loaves range from 50-90 cents--that's right 90 cents, and right now, the restaurant is running a special--15 loaves for $10.

With its ceramic tile and the colorful tissue paper flags dangling from the ceiling, the Latin American and Mexican grill feels like an outdoor marketplace, and the tile roof that extends over the bakery case of homemade breads only adds to that atmosphere.

Uzhca likes the Central location, and has said surrounding businesses including WAMC, have been very supportive of the new restaurant. Lots of businesses are coming to the area, especially international restaurants, and Uzhca hopes Salsa Latina will benefit from this influx of customers. Uzhca was born in Ecuador and grew up there, before immigrating to Queens at 15. In 1998 he returned to Ecaudor to live, and then in 2003, he and his family moved to Albany to open Salsa Latina. Uzhca owns the restaurant with his cousin, who is a chef, and with another long-time family friend who was a professional chef in Manhattan before coming on board at Salsa Latina.

Visit Salsa Latina today at 315 Central Avenue and can be reached at 426-7050, or visit the website at www.misalsalatina.com

Word on the Street: Summertime and the livin's easy

Summer is here, and life just feels better. Here, district neighbors share what they like best about summer:

"Hiking at Thacher Park, Alive at Five, swimming in the Mohawk, outdoor dining, going to ballgames in New York, and barbeques."

--Rosanna Borden, Waitstaff, Saso's Japanese Noodle House

"The weather. Being able to canoe and hike. Watching nature in action."

--Alan Lasker, President, National Business Promotions, Inc.

"The weather. Summer is off to a good start."

--Shafi Muhammed, Owner, Medina Mart

"Everybody's attitude changes. It's a positive attitude. People are smiling more and you go out and see your neighbors more."

--Adrienne Scherzer, Co-owner, Rosen's Uniforms