New Trustco Bank: See what they have to offer

Last week, Mayor Jerry Jennings marked the grand opening of the new Trustco Bank on Central with a special radio broadcast from the conspicuous building's triage of windows. The spot offers a simultaneous views of Central, Washington Avenue, and Henry Johnson Boulevard, and provides a rare window on the world.


But as nice as the view is, the bank is less interested in looking, and more interested in being seen.



The Trustco branch was located at 163 Central, but wanted a location that would provide more exposure, said Patrick Strahan, Bank Manager. Trustco wanted a location that was "more open" and a spot that people would see going to and from work, he said. Since moving to the new location, with access to three major thoroughfares, "everything's picked up," he said. The bank celebrated its grand re-opening on October 7, and the ribbon-cutting festivities on October 14. The bank offers a full range of services, including checking, savings, CDs, and mortgages, Strahan said.



Trustco Bank is located at 40 Central Avenue.

Igniting the Lights: Meditation Center celebrates Diwali

On a cold, dark night, rows of flickering candles and hanging lights create a path to the Meditation Center on Central Avenue. Inside, men, women and children are joined together in joyful revelry to celebrate Diwali, a major holiday in much of the Indian world. The Thursday night event was marked with dancing, singing, prayers, and meditation. The celebration will extend through the weekend.

Diwali or "The Festival of Lights" is a major Hindu holiday that marks the start of the New Year. The holiday commemorates a number of significant figures and events including Lord Ram's return and coronation, Lakshmi the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity, and Lord Mahavira's attainment of Nirvana, making Diwali an important holiday for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jainists alike.

Spiritually, Diwali is the celebration of the "inner light" in all people, said Sister Ann Singh, Coordinator for the Center. This year marks the second celebration at the center, and this year's theme is "Igniting the Light of Spirituality."

"We hope people will leave from here with their own lights, and they will ignite others so that light spreads across the world," Singh said.

The evening began with a spirited talk by Pandit Jai Misir, a priest at a Schenectady temple, and professor at Hudson Valley Community College, who explained the importance of uncovering the light within. He talked of "clearing the fog" and pushing away the distractions that can block us from realizing our true nature. Next, there were Diwali songs sung by Mukesh Bhai, a large family band, and a traditional dance. The night culminated with a candle-lighting ceremony and refreshments.

The Meditation Center is part of the Brahma Kumaris Organization, which seeks to foster peace and non-violence through education and meditation, Singh said. The center offers a number of free programs that focus on discovering the peace that it believes resides within us, in an effort to build a community based on compassion and respect, she said.

Mala Khan, who owns the building where the center is housed, and runs MSK Tax and Accounting Service next door, said she hopes that the celebration, which is open to everyone, will help the larger Albany community become acquainted with this important Indian holiday. Khan, who has been a resident of the Capital Region for the last 20 years said the center is serving an important mission. Khan comes to the center every Thursday to meditate, and it has become her "home away from home," she said.

Sister Colleen, another member of the Brahma Kumaris, said the center has a sense of peace, that you feel as soon as you walk in the door. "It hits you right away," Colleen said. She said that it is her hope that that same sense of peace that pervades the center, will one day fill the world.

The Meditation Center is located at 184 Central Avenue. For more information about their open meditation or programs, please call 438-4180 or visit their website at www.bkswu.org

Art rocks: Local artists complete mural at Central Avenue nightclub

Local artists have painted a massive mural inside the Fuze Box, a Central Avenue hotspot.

"Everything was their canvas so they went to town," said Mike Vinci, General Manager of the Fuze Box. Last month, sculptor and painter Samson Contompasis approached the club about the project, and they thought it was a great idea, Vinci said.

Contompasis and nine other artists spent two weeks at the club, working nights to complete the floor-to-ceiling scenes to the bar-room, stage and loft. Today, winged bottles dance and weave through familiar building-scapes, including the Alfred E. Smith Building, Lark Street's rowhouses, and the long-abandoned downtown refrigeration plant, for a look that is both industrial and whimsical. Here and there, larger figures--a snowy owl, a photograph of a woman, large guns--appear in the landscape, providing texture. The project culminated in an art show at the club on October 1, with smaller pieces done by the artists exhibited on the freshly-painted walls, and sold.

The show was so well-attended that club extended it, participating in Lark Street's First Friday and remaining open through the weekend. News of the show traveled fast, and mostly by word of mouth, and the club was filled through the art appreciators through the Monday. "People just love it," Vinci said.

The club, which has been open for seven years, has done art shows in the past and and hopes to do more, Vinci said. They also plan to continue participating in the First Friday monthly arts crawl.

The Real Deal: A.J. Wright opens new store in Westgate Plaza

A.J. Wright, a national discount clothing store opened a new location in Westgate Plaza. The store held its grand opening on October 16. The festivities began at 9am, with a ribbon-cutting, and the first 100 shoppers received gift cards. Shoppers also tried to be discovered, as part of the "Real Model Search," where they had the opportunity to be photographed in their favorite looks from the store.

A.J. Wright is a division of TJX Companies Inc., the parent company for T.J. Maxx and Marshall's. The new store will offer brand-name apparel and footwear for men, women, and children, as well as a selection of giftware. The store will employ about 50 people. Other A.J. Wright stores are located in Troy and Rotterdam.

New Move: Easy Home added to Hannaford Plaza

Easy Home, a furniture retailer and leasing business, has quietly unpacked and set up shop in Hannaford Plaza.

The store moved into the old CVS drugstore location (now in their new building across the street) on October 4, and personnel say that it's a very strong plaza, and has been very busy so far. The interior has been refitted and couches, washers and dryers stand where drugstore shelves once stood, and computers and flat-screen TVs line the walls.

The Canadian chain offers furniture, appliances, electronics and computers to rent or buy, with many flexible payment plans. Delivery and insurance are available.

Students Return to District: How local businesses can make the most of the growing student population

This area is home to a number of educational institutions, and every fall, students come rushing back to our city, pocketbooks and wallets in hand.

In the Central Business District alone, we have four college campuses including the downtown branches of SUNY Albany and Hudson Valley Community College, which attract thousands of students to the district. This year, Mildred Elley and Austin School opened a brand-new campus in the district, bringing hundreds of additional students to our neighborhood.

There are a number of ways that businesses can make the most of this opportunity and serve the student population.

Hudson Valley's Workforce Development Institute offered these tips for businesses looking to cater to college students:

1. Advertise in college and alternative newspapers. Don’t forget radio advertising on youth-orientated stations, including college radio stations!
2. Identify products/services you offer that fall within the 18-24 demographic and advertise sales/specials for said products/services.
3. Hire on-campus student representatives on a commission basis who can advertise/sell your products.
4. Offer to sponsor on-campus clubs.
5. Contact the student activities board for local colleges and inquire what events are coming up throughout the year that you can help to sponsor. They can also help you identify on-campus clubs and organizations.
6. Get copies of the academic and athletic calendars for the local colleges to plan sales, advertising and promotions around special events.
7. If the company is big enough, consider establishing an internship program with a local college. This will promote closer ties with the college community.

Mildred Elley opens doors to public-Mayor welcomes school to town

School's in! Monday, Mildred Elley and the Austin School of Spa Technology held their grand opening celebration at the new campus on Central Avenue.

Mayor Jerry Jennings and Mildred Elley President Faith Takes cut the ribbon at the tech school's new location at 855 Central Avenue, and ushered in a new era for the school. This marks the return of the school to Albany, and also the merging of the Austin School with the Mildred Elley School. The new facilities will also offer more space and expanded programming.

Jennings said he was pleased to welcome the venerable institution to Albany's Main Street, and said this was where the school belonged. He also thanked Anthony Capece, Executive Director for the Central BID, for all his help making the move possible.

The Central Avenue neighborhood turned out to welcome the new schools and give them a taste of What they can expect from our great restaurants on the Avenue. Shea's Restaurent from North Allen Street and Scenerio's Restaurant from the Clarion Hotel catered the event; serving geat treats from hamburgers and hotdogs to spinach puffs and an Ice Cream sundae bar . Gateway Diner even sponsered a entire table of cookies. Plato's Closet (818 Central; Same Plaza as Hollywood Video &  Carmines) was also on hand to provide students with information about their unique clothing store. Students from the Austin School's new massage therapy program offered the public free hand massages as a thank-you. Radio station Kiss 102.3 was broadcasting from the party, adding to the celebratory feeling of the event.

After the ribbon-cutting, Takes lead Jennings and his staff on a tour of the school, showing them the brand-new classrooms and library, and introducing them to the students and staff. Students in the midst of a hair clinic were evidently surprised and delighted by the drop-in visit, and Jennings seemed to enjoy the opportunity to talk & laugh with them. "Do you want the mayor to finish that?" he asked one student in the middle of a haircut.

Jennings also encouraged the students to enjoy the new facilities, and to take advantage of the city and everything Central Avenue has to offer.

The school is enjoying a healthy boost in admissions this semester, said Maria Neal, Admissions Director. Currently, 500 students are enrolled.

Relics and Restoration: Architectural Parts Warehouse supplies hard-to-find pieces

Looking for a fireplace mantle? An antique light fixture? A cast iron radiator? What about a clawfoot tub? You're sure to find all this and more at the Architectural Parts Warehouse on Lexington Avenue.

"Our mission is to help homeowners restore vintage homes without breaking the bank," said Manager Mark Brogna.

Brogna and his staff salvage the pieces from demolition sites and old buildings, curbs and dumpsters, clean them up, and sell them to architects, interior designers, and do-it-yourselfers. The parts are sold for well below the prices you'll find in antique stores or supply warehouses, and the funds go to support local preservation efforts.

Walking into the warehouse just off Central Avenue on Lexington, which is located in the converted Capitol Staple Building, is like walking into a world of parts. Picture your home. Now picture your home in pieces. All its pieces. Not just doors, but door knobs. Not just windows, but shutters. And don't forget the plumbing--sinks, toilets, tubs, radiators. You'll also find all the pieces of a porch, from balusters to railings, neatly piled along one side.

There's also plenty of treasures, including the Wellington Hotel's copper cornice adorned with lion heads and a 1950's era-General Electric Galley Kitchen, complete with working stove and sink. And the surprises keep coming, Brogna said. "A lot of things that show up, I don't even know what they are," he said. The pieces might have been common in their day, but whatever purpose they served has become obsolete, and now they're simply interesting relics of a bygone era, he said.

As we talk in one of the old offices, piled with interesting artifacts, we are frequently interrupted by customers. One wants to thank thank Brogna for his help renovating a bathroom, another wants to see about an antique light fixture, and still another wants to let Brogna know that if any more pocket doors come in, he wants them. Brogna has worked at the warehouse for seven years, and in that time he has assisted countless customers rehab old houses, he has also helped artists, interior designers, and set designers with their projects. The Architectural Parts Warehouse is just one of three salvage businesses in the area, which puts Albany on the map as a mecca for people restoring their homes, Brogna said.

The warehouse is a program run by the Historic Albany Foundation, which specializes in identifying and protecting Albany's architectural resources. Brogna reminds customers that preservationists are not just stewards of history, they are stewards of the environment. Restoring homes using salvaged pieces is affordable and eco-friendly, because you're keeping these items out of the landfill, and you're not expending any additional manufacturing energy, he said.

"The greenest building is the one that's already built," he said.

Each year, the Historic Albany Foundation sponsors an event called "Built," which celebrates Albany's architecture by soliciting artwork from local artists. Artists are asked to create pieces inspired by Albany's buildings, and these in turn are exhibited and auctioned to raise money for the foundation, Brogna said. Initially, the event was called "Vacancy," and focused on Albany's vacant buildings, but now the event includes all of the city's built environment, he said. The exhibit and auction will take place on November 8 at the Cathedral of All Saints at 62 South Swan Street. For more information, visit the foundation's website http://www.historic-albany.org/built.html

The warehouse is always accepting donated pieces, and is also seeking volunteers to work at the warehouse, Brogna said. So whether you're looking for a hard-to-find fixture, or a new way to help the environment, or a treasure hunt, visit the warehouse and see what they have to offer.

The Architectural Parts is located at 89 Lexington Avenue, just off Central Avenue. For more information, call 465-2987.

National Business Equipment & Supply: New President Brings Know-How to New Acquisition

As a partner at ProSource in Cincinnati, Scott Mueller helped his business go from $9 million to $29 million, in just seven short years. Now, the Guilderland-native is going to do the same thing, right here in Albany.

This June, Mueller purchased National Business Equipment & Supply, and he plans to take this business machine company right to the top.

"I did it in Cincinnati. The only difference is now I'm going to do it right here in my hometown," Mueller said.

Mueller purchased the business machine side of the business from National Graphic Supply, a national corporation that markets products including printing supplies. The new business will specialize in multifunctional processors that copy, print, scan and fax, and will be the only locally-owned and operated business equipment supply company in the City of Albany.

Other major competitors are located in Philadelphia, Miami, and Cleveland and that gives Mueller's business the edge when it comes to serving Capital Region customers, he said. "We can get to our customers quicker," he said.

The new company is also undergoing a radical remodeling project, adding a new showroom and the very latest in technology and software. "We feel that we'll be better able to serve our customers with these state of the art facilities," Mueller said.

Mueller was attracted to the company because of its strong tradition, and it's talented staff, he said. National Business Equipment & Supply will build on that solid foundation. "The thing that makes us a great company is that we have state of the art products and we complete the package with great service and support," he said.

Eventually, Mueller plans to expand the Bradford Street offices, which encompass about 60,000 square feet and hire additional employees. Mueller hopes to grow his current staff of 20 to well over 100, and the company is currently hiring for several positions in sales, service, and administration.

Mueller also wants the company to be community-oriented, and plans to be very active in local business and community organizations. NBES wants to support local schools and the city. "Our vision is for a strong regional organization that will show a presence in upstate New York, Connecticut, Vermont and Massachusetts," he said.

Mueller is no stranger to this kind of success. He has been working in the Business Systems Industry for 20 years, 11 of which he's owned a business. During his time with ProSource, his company was awarded National Dealer of the Year, Top National Sales Program, Major Account and Software Solutions Dealer of the Year. At his Cincinnati company, he employed 140, and places a high premium on honesty and integrity. His philosophy has always been strong customer service, and he understands that this is the key to a company's long-term goals. "We recognize that our future is dependent on the success of our customers, and we understand that we need to respond to their needs with a sense of urgency," he said.

National Business Equipment & Supply is located at 505 Bradford Street in Albany. For more information, call 724-6455 or visit their website at www.nationalbes.com.

Townsend Park Bakery Open for Business: Bread Speaks for Itself

For the first week, Mark Smith didn't have an "Open" sign for his new Townsend Park Bakery, so did the next best thing--he put a basket of his bread in the windows. "And the next thing you know, people started showing up," he said with a laugh.

No doubt about it, the organic sourdough loaves are appealing. Smith makes the bread on premises in a large wood-fired brick oven, and the large loaves are golden and crusty.

The fire in the brand-new Helderberg bluestone oven burns brightly, and warms the already cozy interior. Anyone who knows Smith, knows he is adept at designing warm, inviting spaces. He formerly owned the Antica Enoteca on Lark Street, better known to its customers as simply, "the Wine Bar," a popular basement-level restaurant retrofitted with European-style brick walls and fireplaces.

The inspiration for the new bakery came from his travels in Italy. He wanted a bakery that felt warm and relaxing, like the cafes he visited in Rome, he said. And the big draw? Great bread.

"Let's face it, bread in the states can be pretty awful," he said.

He tried to work on the new bakery alongside operating the wine bar, but eventually decided to sell the wine bar, and concentrate his efforts on the new enterprise. He doesn't regret giving up the old business, "For every moment I miss it, there's two that I don't," he said.

The new bakery will serve gourmet pizza alongside the organic loaves, and Smith is seeking a beer and wine license, too. The restaurant is comprised of two giant rooms, both of which overlook the bread oven. On another wall, he has constructed a community bulletin board, using 5,000 corks. There are already two notices posted, and Smith said he wants to put more up. He envisions the restaurant as a hive of community activity, he said.

Townsend Park Bakery is located at 238 Washington Avenue, across from Townsend Park.