Lake George hotel revenues up this summer
A pandemic silver lining may be Lake George area tourism. The Albany Business Journal is reporting that hotel revenue in Warren County totaled $98.2 million for June, July and August, a 57% increase compared with the summer of 2020. [The summer of 2020 was a great year for boating and outdoor activity.] Hotel occupancy was only 55% in July 2020 but 74% in 2021. It rose to 79% in August this year, the story says. The nationwide staffing crunch pushed down hotel and restaurant sales, as companies could not open fully with the staff available.
Carney’s Tavern foreclosed
Carney’s Tavern in Ballston Lake may go on the sales block as a credit union opened foreclosure proceedings in Saratoga County court, the Daily Gazette is reporting. Latham-based Sunmark Federal Credit Union alleges that property owner Rosemary Carney defaulted on a $692,000 loan, of which she owes $520,000 in principle. The pub had closed in July when the operators, who are not part of the property ownership, announced plans to start another venture, the story says.
Nursing staff crisis worsens
Some nurses are being forced to work 24-hour shifts, especially in locations that help people with developmental disabilities, and it could get worse next week when all nurses in the state must have their vaccinations against the coronavirus or lose their jobs, the Times Union is reporting. The New York State Department of Health estimates that 81% of hospital employees have been fully vaccinated, but many others have declined or put it off, the story says. Roughly 200 nurses at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn and about 100 nurses at Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse are unvaccinated.
GOP avoiding LWV
The election cycle is entering full swing in Saratoga Springs, and just one one of the city’s seven Republican candidates asked to participate in the League of Women Voters discussion forums, a story in the Times Union is reporting. Incumbent Commissioner of Public Works Anthony “Skip” Scirocco asked for time but the other six did not, said co-chair of the League’s Voter Services Committee, Charlotte Druschel in the story. Democratic and the independent candidates are willing to participate, the story says, and there is time for the GOP if candidates change their minds.