local business

Breaking news: We've gotten word this morning that Amphenol, a high-tech manufacturer whose 1200-employee plant in Sidney was heavily damaged in the recent flooding, has decided to remain in Sidney rather than relocate the plant elsewhere. An announcement by the company is expected soon.

Background: Amphenol seeks to relocate Sidney manufacturing plant

Rob Ray, news director at WCDO 101FM in Sidney, shared some details on Amphenol's rebuilding plans with us, which he announced on the radio this morning:

They are building new facilities on property they now own, past the Sidney K-Mart on Delaware Avenue In Sidney. All office and the Manufacturing will locate there on the same side of the road. They also purchased acreage across the street, plans for that have not yet been determined. Plating will stay in present location, and will be barricaded against future flooding. construction 18 to 24 months to complete; weather permitting.  Read more

A decaying bathroom at former Borscht Belt jewel Grossingers. Photo taken in 2008 by Jonathan Haeber; published under Creative Commons license.

Dean Gitter, the developer whose Crossroads Ventures has spent over a decade trying to build a luxury resort on Belleayre Mountain, has a new plan for the Catskills: A $5 million marketing campaign to polish up the region's image downstate.

At a breakfast meeting of the Ulster County Chamber of Commerce yesterday morning, the Daily Freeman reports, Gitter minced no words in describing downstate attitudes about the Catskills:  Read more

Pink Pearl apple at Montgomery Place Orchards, an orchard and cidery in Red Hook, NY on the Cider Route. Photo from Montgomery Place's website.

The Apple Project, a scion of local farm advocacy group Glynwood, is sparking a revival of old-school cidermaking in upstate New York and the Hudson Valley. (And by old-school cider, we're referring to what the rest of the world outside of the United States thinks of when they hear the word "cider" -- a tart, effervescent, fermented elixir that bears little resemblance to the sweet brown stuff that comes in plastic half-gallon jugs at the supermarket.)

The Apple Project's founders hope that by encouraging a revival of traditional cidermaking in the Hudson Valley, they can spur the development of a high-value product for local farmers, help increase local apple biodiversity, and encourage farm tourism in the region.  Read more

Above: Flickr slideshow of photos from the reopening of the Boiceville Supermarket IGA, Thursday, October 13, 2011. Photos by Julia Reischel.

Shopping for groceries isn't generally one of life's more festive activities. But in Boiceville today, it felt like a birthday party.

It's been over a month since a cash register rang at the Boiceville Supermarket IGA, which was taken out of commission by a river of mud during the flooding from Tropical Storm Irene on August 28. Today, October 13, the supermarket finally opened its doors once more.

Store manager and co-owner Richard Occhi said that employees and customers alike were relieved to see the store open again.

"I've gotten handshakes and hugs," he said.  Read more