Archive: Business & Technology

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y.  – Tops Friendly Markets, the leading full-service grocery retailer in Western New York, Central New York, including Rochester, and Northwestern Pennsylvania, announced Wednesday that its newest fuel station in Lansing, N.Y. is open for business.  The addition of this fuel station is part of Tops’ ongoing $150 million capital investment plan.  

As a long time Windows user my Mac is still new to me in some ways, even after a year and a half.  It seemed like my Mac friends were always eager to update their operating system when new versions came out, so I've been following the announcements about Snow Leopard, the latest greatest OS X.  While there are no new dramatic features in Snow Leopard, the word is that it will speed things up, save disk space, and work more efficiently.  My little MacBook has been a tad sluggish, so I decided that a $29 upgrade (vs. what Microsoft charges for OS upgrades) it would be worth a try.

I gulped and put the CD into my computer.  A grey window came up with a big X symbol on it, and a progress bar that told me there was about 45 minutes left in the install.  Aside from the fact that 45 minutes was slightly optimistic (the last minute of the installation took at least three minutes), things seemed to go smoothly.  The installer rebooted, and my Mac seemed to work as it had before.  I did have more available disk space than I remembered having, though I can't say precisely how much because I forgot to check before I upgraded.

Cayuga Radio Group added something a little bit different to it's family of stations this week. 98.7 The Vine signed on at 3:30 pm on September 9, 2009. The Vine can be heard in analog at 98.7 FM, or in HD at 97.3 HD-3. The Vine's format is Adult Album Alternative, or "AAA".

Cayuga Radio Group General Manager Susan Johnston is thrilled about the new station. "We're really excited to introduce a format that's new to the market. We've got some great local plans for the future including specialty shows and an integration of locally produced music. Stay tuned!"

 

Alternatives Federal Credit Union members conceived creative ways to stretch a $10 donation into much more. With the ongoing recession in mind, Alternatives Federal Credit Union launched the contest “Pay It Forward,” giving members of Alternatives $10 to donate locally to a person, family or organization that would benefit from the donation.   Alternatives will make a $500 donation to the winning member’s cause.

Binghamton - In response to the increasingly competitive environment facing manufacturers in the Southern Tier, the Alliance for Manufacturing and Technology in Binghamton has created an eight-month training program that focuses on the process of reducing waste and streamlining operations.  The first session is on October 16th, with the seven remaining all-day sessions scheduled for the second Friday of the month, all at the Treadway Inn in Owego. 

“The two primary success factors for manufacturers today are innovation and continuous improvement,” said Ed Gaetano, AM&T’s executive director. “Implementing an ongoing structured process that squeezes out waste and inefficiencies is how a company becomes a ‘Lean Enterprise’, and hence becomes more competitive.”

Ithaca’s newest radio station, WFIZ-FM (Z95.5) has been on the air for less than a year but has already made a substantial impact on the radio landscape in Ithaca and Tompkins County.  In the just released Spring ’09 Arbitron ratings, WFIZ posted an 8.5 share, good enough for a second place tie with WIII-FM (a share is the percentage of those listening to radio in Tompkins County who are listening to a particular radio station). 

WQNY-FM (Q-Country) finished in first place with a 13.8 share.  WYXL-FM (Lite 97) posted a 7.4, placing the station in fourth place.  WFIZ performed even better with their targeted demographic of women.  The station ranks number one with women 18 – 34 years old, 18 – 49 and 25 – 54 (tied with WQNY).  Program Director Justin Wright says “It’s amazing the accomplishments we’ve made in less than a year”. 

The Lansing Star OnlineSaving for a down payment is one of the barriers facing renters who want to become homeowners.

Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS) now offers assistance through a matched savings program, funded through New York State’s Division of Housing and Community Renewal. Available to individuals and families, based on their income, the program offers a 4:1 match rate for every dollar saved over a 12 to 24 month period.

It was a battle of the legal eagles at the 2009 Downtown Ithaca Office Worker Olympics, as the team from Schlather, Stumbar, Parks and Salk defeated 2008 champions Miller Mayer LLP, to be crowned the team champions at this year’s event.

The Schlather, Stumbar, Parks and Salk team garnered 999.5 points and claimed first place in the team competition, while the “color coded” team from Miller Mayer scored 957 points, to take the runner-up position. Third place went to the “green and gray” team from Miller Mayer, with 949.5 points, while the Cornell University Donor Relations team took home fourth place with 917.75 points.

Retirement Essentials, Inc., a local Third Party Pension Administration (TPA) firm, is moving to the South Hill Business Campus, 950 Danby Road, Suite #140 effective August 1, 2009.  To celebrate this exciting relocation, they are hosting an open house at their new offices on Thursday, August 13, 2009 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM.  An official ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 2:15 PM.

Retirement Essentials, Inc. is owned by Kathy Larson and Roni Mays.  This coming March, the organization will celebrate 20 years in business providing quality retirement plan services for Employers across the country.  Over the past 20 years, Retirement Essentials, Inc. has formed strong relationships with various investment companies, accountants, and certified financial planners. Since Retirement Essentials, Inc. does not invest the plan’s assets, it affords the employer the opportunity to choose whichever investment company works best for them.  

The Hangar Theatre’s Business Office will be moving to the Center Ithaca building at 171 E. State Street, the Commons by August 1.  The business office will continue to manage season subscriptions, group sales, and the administrative functions of the theatre. The Ticket Center, also located in Center Ithaca, will continue to manage single tickets for the theatre. The Hangar Theatre Business Office will have convenient parking for visitors in the Green Street parking lot.

Wildfire-An American Bistro, represents the latest downtown Ithaca business expansion by local entrepreneurs who already own and operate a successful business in the city’s urban core.

Wildfire, An American Bistro, is owned by Teresa and Scott Miller, and will be located at 106 South Cayuga Street. The Millers plan to open Wildfire in early September with a menu that features a down to earth American cuisine, no fuss service, and décor that reflects the elemental name of the establishment… Wildfire.