Ferrara Fiorenza adds Ithaca–area office

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ITHACA — The law firm of Ferrara Fiorenza PC expanded at the start of the year by opening a new office in the Ithaca area. The new office, the firm’s third overall, is located at 95 Brown Road, Suite 223, in the Cornell University Business and Technology Park in the village of Lansing. “The Ithaca […]

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FOCUS Greater Syracuse board of directors elects Reicher as president

Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — FOCUS Greater Syracuse announced that its board of directors recently named Rita L. Reicher as president of the board The organization also appointed her predecessor, Donald Radke, to the new post of immediate-past president, to ease in the transition. Reicher is a founder of the Syracuse–based marketing and consulting firm of KS&R. She

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Tioga County Chamber announces award winners at annual dinner

Regional News, Subscriber Only

OWEGO — The Tioga County Chamber of Commerce presented its Community Awards at its annual dinner on Feb. 13 at the Terra Cotta Owego Banquet Center. The awards offer special recognition to those chamber members who have made a significant contribution to the community and help promote the chamber’s mission to support and promote the

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Westelcom banks on expanded data center for Syracuse growth

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Small Business, Subscriber Only, Technology

SYRACUSE — After expanding its Syracuse data center nearly two years ago, Watertown–based Westelcom Networks is ready to continue that expansion with new clients in the Syracuse market. Westelcom has operated a data center in the State Tower Building on 109 S. Warren St. since about 1998, says Paul Barton, company president. In March 2018,

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SYRACUSE — After expanding its Syracuse data center nearly two years ago, Watertown–based Westelcom Networks is ready to continue that expansion with new clients in the Syracuse market.

Westelcom has operated a data center in the State Tower Building on 109 S. Warren St. since about 1998, says Paul Barton, company president. In March 2018, after maxing out the capacity, Westelcom acquired an additional 2,400 square feet of space. “That data center is set up as a carrier-neutral colocation center,” Barton says.

That means Westelcom works with a variety of service providers, which allows carriers to interconnect and offer wider coverage, he says. When the new center opened, it highlighted its wide range of options for dedicated internet access and regional connectivity as well as direct access to Google, Amazon, and Microsoft cloud platforms.

The next step, Barton says, is to begin offering internet and voice service in the Syracuse area.

Westelcom focuses on mission-critical level services — offering services that rarely if ever fail to businesses that need a connection at all times. The company’s networks are on rings so they can reroute if needed. Customers receive dual connections so there is a backup if one fails. Westelcom also offers a mission-critical app that allows customers to see network stats, submit tickets for issues, and receive threat-intelligence information.

“Our focuses are really on businesses that need highly reliable services,” Barton says.

Health care is a large market for Westelcom, which provides managed internet services to 10 hospitals, more than 120 medical facilities, and a number of telemedicine networks. The company also offers services to more than 70 school locations and several industrial parks in Watertown and Plattsburgh.

In preparation for offering internet and voice services in Syracuse, Westelcom is deploying software-defined large-area networks, which will help the company provide customers with two connections from two different carriers.

“It’s affordable for a smaller business or, say, a branch of a bank,” Barton says. “We can also integrate wireless connections into it.”

The connections do not need to be Westelcom connections, he adds. It can be any two connections from any two providers, which means customers have a wider array of options to choose from and can pick the carriers that work best for them. In those cases, Westelcom still installs the equipment and manages the connection for the customer.

“There’s a lot of competition in Syracuse,” Barton says. Westelcom will first focus its efforts on the greatest need and where the company can deliver services quickly.

The company, which has more than 50 employees, will reach out to businesses on existing infrastructure that need critical-level services and that it can serve immediately, he says. “We have been focused on and delivering successful mission-critical level services for 19 years.” That track record will speak for itself with potential customers, he contends.

Westelcom (www.westelcom.com) provides telecommunication services throughout Northern New York between Lake Ontario and Lake Champlain. Services over the company’s fiber network include telephone, long distance, high-speed broadband, dedicated internet, and private Ethernet network services. The company operates additional data centers in Watertown and Plattsburgh. Chazy Westport Telephone Corporation owns Westelcom.

Costello, Cooney & Fearon readies HQ move to Armory Square

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — Syracuse–based law firm Costello, Cooney & Fearon, PLLC is preparing to move its headquarters from Franklin Square to Armory Square. The firm’s operations at 500 Plum St. and at 5701 W. Genesee St. in Camillus will move into the first floor in the Jefferson Clinton Commons, at 211 W. Jefferson St., across from

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SYRACUSE — Syracuse–based law firm Costello, Cooney & Fearon, PLLC is preparing to move its headquarters from Franklin Square to Armory Square.

The firm’s operations at 500 Plum St. and at 5701 W. Genesee St. in Camillus will move into the first floor in the Jefferson Clinton Commons, at 211 W. Jefferson St., across from the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology, or the MOST.

The law firm hopes to move to its new location by Oct. 1. Robert Smith, CEO of Costello, Cooney & Fearon, tells CNYBJ.

The firm had opened its Camillus location about a decade ago and “saw the value” in having all the local employees back under one roof.

“This new space that we’re going into gives us that opportunity,” says Smith, who spoke with CNYBJ on Feb. 17.

Costello, Cooney & Fearon has finalized a lease with Jefferson Clinton Commons building owner Washington St. Partners for 35,000 square feet of office space. The 80-employee law firm will be occupying the building’s entire first floor.

The firm will be vacating a 24,000-square-foot space in Franklin Square and an 8,000-square-foot space in Camillus, according to Smith.

John Clark and Brian Balash of Cushman Wakefield/Pyramid Brokerage brokered the transaction, the law firm says.

The Costello firm had looked at three or four other places in the downtown area before deciding on a location for which it signed a 10-year lease, says Smith.

“We determined we weren’t going to go to the suburbs. We determined we wanted to be in the city of Syracuse and wanted to be in the city center with proximity to court houses and other clients of the law firm,” he adds.

The firm’s move into the Jefferson Clinton Commons will require a buildout, but Smith declined to disclose the cost involved.

The firm will move more than 60 employees from the 500 Plum Street office, along with about 16 employees from the Camillus location.

Altogether, Costello, Cooney & Fearon has 39 attorneys, 18 of whom are partners in the firm, according to Smith.

Costello, Cooney & Fearon’s move to the Jefferson Clinton Commons will impact some of the building’s existing tenants. Mower, an anchor tenant and Central New York’s second-largest advertising agency (as measured by number of local employees), will move upstairs to the building’s second floor, Stephanie Crockett, executive VP and managing director, tells CNYBJ in an email.

CNYBJ, which also operates on the first floor, will be leaving the building this summer.

Headquartered in Syracuse and with an office in Albany, Costello, Cooney & Fearon provides legal services in the areas of litigation; labor and employment; environmental; estate planning; banking/commercial; real estate law; along with civil litigation, commercial litigation, and education law.

Kreuter to manage Syracuse Mets during 2020 season

Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — The Syracuse Mets on Feb. 8 announced that Chad Kreuter will serve as the team’s manager during the upcoming season. He takes over for Brian Schneider after the New York Mets named Schneider their quality control coach on Feb. 7, the Syracuse Mets said. This came just over one month after Schneider had

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SYRACUSE — The Syracuse Mets on Feb. 8 announced that Chad Kreuter will serve as the team’s manager during the upcoming season.

He takes over for Brian Schneider after the New York Mets named Schneider their quality control coach on Feb. 7, the Syracuse Mets said. This came just over one month after Schneider had been named Syracuse Mets manager for 2020. Tony DeFrancesco managed the team in 2019.

Kreuter spent the last three seasons as manager for the St. Lucie Mets, the Advanced-A affiliate of the New York Mets.

Kreuter is in his fourth season in the Mets’ organization. The 55-year-old previously managed the Modesto Nuts, the Advanced-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, to begin the 2006 season before he was named the head coach at the University of Southern California in June 2006. Kreuter managed the USC Trojans for four years, from 2007 to 2010.

The Santa Barbara, California native also worked in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization as the minor-league field coordinator in 2011.

As a player, Kreuter was a catcher for 16 seasons in the majors from 1988 to 2003, having played for the Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners, Chicago White Sox, Anaheim Angels, Kansas City Royals, and Los Angeles Dodgers. During his major-league career, Kreuter was behind the plate for 892 games and caught 36 percent of baserunners stealing.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity the Mets have given me to manage their Triple-A team,” Kreuter said in a statement. “One of the cool things about this opportunity is getting the chance to manage players in Syracuse that I also managed in St. Lucie over the last three years. I’m hearing a lot of great things about Syracuse with the stadium renovations, the fans, and both the coaching and front office staffs. The Mets are committed to putting a strong team on the field, and I’m excited to lead that team this season.”

The Syracuse Mets open the 2020 season on the road on April 9 against the Pawtucket Red Sox. Syracuse’s home opener is on April 17 at NBT Bank Stadium against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

N.Y. manufacturing index rises in February to highest level since last May

Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only

The Empire State Manufacturing Survey general business-conditions index rose 8 points to 12.9 in February, “its highest level since May of last year.” New York manufacturing firms reported that business activity “grew at a faster pace than in recent months,” the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said in its Feb. 18 report. The February

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The Empire State Manufacturing Survey general business-conditions index rose 8 points to 12.9 in February, “its highest level since May of last year.”

New York manufacturing firms reported that business activity “grew at a faster pace than in recent months,” the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said in its Feb. 18 report.

The February reading, based on firms responding to the survey, indicates “business activity picked up in New York,” the New York Fed said.

A positive index number shows expansion or growth in manufacturing activity, while a negative reading indicates a decline in the sector.

The survey found 34 percent of respondents reported that conditions had improved over the month, while 21 percent said that conditions had worsened, the New York Fed said.

Economists had expected a reading of 4.0 for the February general business conditions index, according to a survey by Econoday, a California company that tracks economic reports. So, the report exceeded expectations.

Survey details

The new-orders index climbed 16 points to 22.1, its highest level in “well over a year, indicating that orders rose significantly,” the New York Fed said.

The shipments index rose 10 points to 18.9. Delivery times were longer, and inventories “climbed.”

The index for number of employees edged down to 6.6, indicating that employment “grew to a small degree.” The average workweek held near zero, a sign that the average workweek was little changed.

The prices-paid index moved down 7 points to 25.0, pointing to a slower pace of input price increases this month, while the prices-received index edged up 2 points to 16.7.

Indexes assessing the six-month outlook suggested that optimism about future conditions was “somewhat restrained.”

The index for future business conditions was little changed at 22.9. The indexes for future new orders and future shipments edged lower. Employment and hours worked are expected to grow “modestly” in the months ahead.

The capital-expenditures index came in at 22.0, and the technology-spending index was little changed at 21.2.

The New York Fed distributes the Empire State Manufacturing Survey on the first day of each month to the same pool of about 200 manufacturing executives in New York. On average, about 100 executives return responses.

Coming Soon

Banks & Credit Unions, Construction, Design & Real Estate, Subscriber Only

Pictured is the new branch office that Empower Federal Credit Union is getting ready to open in Central Square. The new office, located at 3056 East Ave. (Route 49) in the village of Central Square, is slated to open in March, Empower said in a recent newsletter to its members. Empower currently has 22 branches

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Downtown Dining Weeks continue through March 1

Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — The Downtown Committee of Syracuse Inc. says Downtown Dining Weeks, which started Feb. 17, will continue through March 1. This year’s event — now in its 16th year — includes 46 locally-owned restaurants. In all, 29 eateries are dishing out three-course lunch specials for $10 (or less), while 35 restaurants serve up three-course

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SYRACUSE — The Downtown Committee of Syracuse Inc. says Downtown Dining Weeks, which started Feb. 17, will continue through March 1.

This year’s event — now in its 16th year — includes 46 locally-owned restaurants. In all, 29 eateries are dishing out three-course lunch specials for $10 (or less), while 35 restaurants serve up three-course dinner specials for $30 (or less).

Several restaurants have dinner options featured at a $20 to $25 price point. As menus are received, they will be uploaded to DowntownSyracuse.com, per a news release.

Those interested can visit website DowntownSyracuse.com/DiningWeeks where users have the option to sort their preferences according to “Lunch,” “Dinner,” or “All.” Menus are clickable underneath the website link for each respective restaurant, the Downtown Committee said.

Downtown Dining Weeks was designed to generate business during what “typically tends to be a slower dining season.” It typically attracts as many as 50,000 diners from Onondaga, Cortland, Madison, Oneida, and Oswego counties.

“It’s amazing to see how much Downtown Dining Weeks has grown since its 2005 inception,” Merike Treier, executive director of the Downtown Committee of Syracuse Inc., said in the release. “Each year, we field inquiries earlier and earlier about when we’ll be posting our menus to our website. It’s exciting to see how the community looks forward to planning their Downtown Dining Weeks experience(s). The two-week-long celebration of high-quality, locally owned restaurants presents unique opportunities for our community to ‘eat their way’ through the center of our city. Whether they’re trying a new restaurant for the first time, or looking forward to returning to a favorite place, there really is something for everyone.”

Title sponsor, promotion

Endwell–based Visions Federal Credit Union is the title sponsor of Downtown Dining Weeks for the fourth year in a row. The nonprofit has more than 210,000 members across New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, including more than 5,000 members in Onondaga County.

The Downtown Committee and Visions are bringing back the “Spot the Chef’s Hat Promotion.” Each participating Downtown Dining Weeks restaurant has one chef’s hat placed somewhere in its dining area.

Diners are encouraged to spot the chef’s hat, take a picture of it, and email the picture — or a thorough description of its location — to mail@downtownsyracuse.com. All correct guesses will be entered into multiple drawings for gift cards/gift certificates. Winners will be notified via email.

Klemanski sees Helio’s new Clay facility as a community asset

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Health Care, Subscriber Only

CLAY — Jeremy Klemanski, president and CEO of Syracuse–based Helio Health, calls it a “community asset.” “[It’s] a facility that is going to be a place that provides an opportunity for an awful lot of people … people who have dedicated their lives to working with folks with substance-use disorders, but also to the folks

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CLAY — Jeremy Klemanski, president and CEO of Syracuse–based Helio Health, calls it a “community asset.”

“[It’s] a facility that is going to be a place that provides an opportunity for an awful lot of people … people who have dedicated their lives to working with folks with substance-use disorders, but also to the folks that may be experiencing that in their life and are looking for support and care and a place to live while they begin their recovery journey,” Klemanski said in his remarks describing a new residential-treatment facility.

Helio Health on Feb. 12 formally opened the $14 million, 75-bed residential treatment facility in the town of Clay. The program — called Elements of Central New York — is located at 4567 Crossroads Park Drive.

The residential program is a multi-level of care approach to treatment for substance-use disorders, offering three levels of care. They include stabilization, rehabilitation, and reintegration, Helio Health said.

“This is a really important day because after today when we all leave for 20, 30 … years to come, at different times of the day, people will come here to get a healthier start on their recovery journey,” Klemanski added.

The 44,000-square-foot residential program includes 55 stabilization and rehabilitation beds and 20 reintegration apartments. It will be staffed by 28 people.

Salina–based Parsons-McKenna Construction Co. handled the renovation work on the building.

When Helio Health was looking for a site for this facility, the nonprofit looked “high and low and far” to find a place that could accommodate a program “of this magnitude,” according to Klemanski.

“When we approached the Town of Clay, I’ll never forget the first experience because we had a work session with some of the town board [members] so they could explain to us the processes and we could explain to them what this is all about … They couldn’t have been more receptive, open to this,” he added.

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) contributed $14 million for the renovation of the building and is providing more than

$1.1 million in annual operational funding for the new facility, the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a separate news release.

OASAS has worked with Helio Health for a “very long time” now and this facility really represents “the next step in this important leadership,” Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez, commissioner of OASAS, said in her remarks at the event.

“This new 75-bed facility will provide stabilization, rehabilitation, and reintegration services together all under one roof, letting people enter treatment at the level that is most appropriate for their specific needs and move them through the treatment process at the speed that is right for them,” said Gonzalez-Sanchez.

Gonzalez-Sanchez co-chairs the governor’s heroin-opioid task force with Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who also spoke during the formal-opening event. Hochul noted how addiction has impacted her own family.

“I only wish that a place like this had been available five years ago when my nephew had reached rock bottom with his addiction started by a doctor prescribing opioid-based drugs that led to heroin on the streets and led to a very different life than our family had expected for this bright young man. He overdosed after seeking treatment facilities. There just were not enough beds for him,” said Hochul.

Helio Health provides health services and support for individuals in detox, inpatient rehabilitation, integrated outpatient treatment and a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, residential services, and housing.

Helio Health also provides substance-use disorder assessments 24/7 at its Regional Open Access Center for Addiction at 329 N. Salina St. in Syracuse in addition to its peer outreach Center of Treatment Innovation at 610 N. State St. in Syracuse to meet the needs of the opiate epidemic.

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