CAPITAL DISTRICT PHYSICIANS’ HEALTH PLAN APPOINTS JOHN D. BENNETT, MD, FACC, PRESIDENT AND CEO
ALBANY, NY – May 6, 2008 - The CDPHP® Board of Directors has selected John D. Bennett Jr., MD, FACC, as its new president and chief executive officer. Dr. Bennett, currently chairman of the board of directors at CDPHP, will replace William J. Cromie, MD, MBA, effective July 1, 2008. When Dr. Bennett assumes the new position, he will relinquish his role as chairman. Dr. Cromie announced in March that he would step down due to health reasons.
“Our board of directors has made a great selection,” said Dr. Cromie. “Dr. Bennett’s experience as our board chairman, management in his own medical practice, and more than two decades as a local cardiologist allow him to understand the needs of the Plan and those of the local physician community. Furthermore, his guidance and work on our corporate strategy over the years will ensure the continuity of our success.”
“I have worked closely with Dr. Cromie for the past seven years to help transform CDPHP from a traditional health insurance company into a health value company that focuses on improving care while reducing costs. I look forward to the exciting challenges that this position will offer while continuing to pursue this mission,” said Dr. Bennett.
Dr. Bennett was named chairman of the CDPHP board in September 2003. Prior to that, he had served as vice chairman and has been a member of the CDPHP board since 1996.
He earned his medical degree at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, and a bachelor’s of science degree at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). Dr. Bennett completed an internship and residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in cardiovascular disease at Albany Medical Center. A practicing cardiologist in the Albany area since 1983, he is board certified by the National Board of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Internal Medicine with subspecialties in both internal medicine and cardiology.
Dr. Bennett currently practices with Albany Associates in Cardiology (a division of Prime Care Physicians, PLLC) and is chief of the division of cardiology at Albany Memorial Hospital. Prime Care Physicians is a multi-specialty medical practice with 110 providers in primary care, cardiology and radiology. In November 2007, Dr. Bennett became interim CEO of Prime Care. Since then, he has focused on reorganizing the structure and governance of the medical practice.
About CDPHP® (www.cdphp.com)
Founded and guided by physicians, CDPHP and its affiliates currently serve members in 29 counties throughout New York state and seven counties in Vermont. The four affiliated companies of CDPHP include a family of products: Capital District Physicians' Health Plan, Inc.—HMO, Healthy New York, Medicare Choice, Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and Family Health Plus. CDPHP Universal Benefits,® Inc. —PPO, High Deductible PPO, POS, and EPO. Capital District Physicians' Healthcare Network, Inc. —self-insured plans; and APA Partners, Inc. —third party administration (TPA). Visit CDPHP at www.cdphp.com.
Friday, May 23, 2008
New President and CEO
An Expansion & an Accolade
BURNT RIDGE MOUNTAIN EXPANSION PROGRESSES AT GORE ** GORE MOUNTAIN VOTED "BEST TERRAIN" IN NORTHEAST
Just two short weeks after the end of a banner 2007/2008 winter season, components of a new quad chairlift have already arrived and Gore Mountain is in full swing preparing for this fall's opening of the Burnt Ridge Mountain Expansion.
The new development will feature the debut of the high-speed Burnt Ridge Quad, servicing five new trails plus glades. The new terrain, with 1,436' vertical, will increase Gore Mountain's total vertical drop to 2300', the eighth greatest in the eastern United States. Burnt Ridge Mountain is one of Gore's four peaks of development.
The trails will be a unique mix of intermediate, expert, and gladed runs located among an array of various tree species and interesting geologic formations. Like the recently constructed terrain on Bear Mountain, Gore Mountain will continue to theme trail names after the Great Camps of the Adirondacks, introducing "Sagamore," "Cedars," "Hedges," and "Echo." Guests should also look for "Sagamore Glades" and "The Gully" connector trail.
The black diamond "Sagamore" is somewhat similar in pitch to Bear Mountain's "Topridge," except that it is wider and offers more vertical. "Cedars" will transport guests from the Gore Mountain base area to the bottom of the Burnt Ridge Quad, while the lengthy blue-square "Echo" trail neighbors "Twister Glades." "The Hedges" connects skiers from the top of the new chair to "Twister."
The Burnt Ridge expansion comes on the heels of landmark Gore Mountain improvements, including the December 2007 openings of both the Northwoods Lodge by Lincoln Logs and the new Village Chair at the North Creek Ski Bowl. The Northwoods Lodge improved convenience and service for every Gore Mountain guest, especially beginners and families, while making new space and services available in the Base Lodge. The North Creek Ski Bowl expansion brought the first-ever aerial lift, terrain park, and night skiing experience to the historic area.
Upon celebrating a record-breaking 2007/2008 season, it was recently announced that Gore Mountain was voted "Best Terrain" in the Northeast by visitors of OnTheSnow.com, a popular website of snow sports enthusiasts. Comments included "The lifts are top notch and the staff is always happy. Great location for kids, easy access parking...It boasts everything anyone could want in a mountain; short lift lines, gentle beginner runs, long intermediate cruisers, narrow expert trails, awesome glades, crazy steeps, gorgeous views and the best grooming..."
During 2007/2008, Gore Mountain hosted 23 family-oriented events, 18 NYSEF (New York Ski Education Foundation) events including freestyle skiercross and boardercross at the North Creek Ski Bowl, 23 adult ski and snowboard specialty clinics, and 6 Town of Johnsburg community events. The season offered various frequent skier discount products and promotional opportunities for guests to enjoy Gore affordably.
2008/2009 season passes are on sale, with the best rates in effect through July 11. Guests should inquire about the Gore Mountain Friends Program to save significantly on their next pass purchase. 
Bourn Soars
Sheri Bourn Named Business Development & Sales Manager at TD Banknorth Branch in Salem
Sheri R. Bourn has been named the Business Development & Sales Manager at the TD Banknorth branch at 204 Main Street in Salem . She is responsible for managing day-to-day operations of the branch, and developing and overseeing small business loans, deposit accounts, consumer lending, investment and insurance services provided to customers throughout a region that includes Washington County (NY) and southwestern Vermont .
Bourn joined TD Banknorth in 1991 and has 17 years of banking experience. She previously has served as an assistant branch manager in Granville, a branch supervisor and a personal banker. Bourn is a Notary Public in the State of New York .
A Granville resident and native, Bourn volunteers with a range of youth sports activities in her community. She is a 1991 graduate of Adirondack Community College in Queensbury, and a 1989 graduate of Granville Central High School .
TD Banknorth Inc. is a leading banking and financial services company headquartered in Portland , Maine , and a wholly-owned subsidiary of TD Bank Financial Group headquartered in Toronto , Canada . TD Banknorth is one of the 20 largest commercial banking organizations in the United States , with over $109 billion in assets. TD Banknorth's banking subsidiaries include TD Banknorth, N.A., Commerce Bank, N.A. and Commerce Bank/North, which combined operate banking divisions in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Virginia, and TD Bank USA, N.A. TD Banknorth and its subsidiary banks also operate subsidiaries and divisions in insurance, wealth management, merchant services, mortgage banking, government banking, private label credit cards, and other financial services, and offers investment products in association with PrimeVest Financial Services, Inc. For more information, visit http://www.TDBanknorth.com.
25 Minutes to Save a Life
May 25, 9am - 5pm
May 25 is National Missing Children's Day. Here at TreePaad we are honoring this day by joining forces with other local agencies to hand out information and safety tips on keeping all of our children safe. Won't you join us and take 25 minutes today to talk to your child about ways to be safer at home, on the internet and in the community. Together we can work to keep our children safe.
And..
TreePaad works with West Glens Falls EMS!
WFG EMS will be giving away little stuffed animals donated by TreePaad. All little passengers who are sick or hurt, will receive one of these stuffed animals to make their ambulance ride a little more comfortable.
Works of Young Art
The World Awareness Children's Museum announced today that 38 young United States artists have been selected as winners in the 21st Annual 2008 International Youth Art Exchange. Their work will now become part of the Museum's permanent collection, which includes over 6,000 pieces of children's art from 66 countries.
This year's theme was "This I Believe." As part of the Museum's permanent collection, the students' art will be available for loan throughout the United States.
In total, over 400 works of children's art was received from 11 countries this year. International works will also be selected from this 400 for the permanent collection. The following United States artists won first place in their age categories.
First place winner in the Kindergarten to Grade 2 category is artist Kelly Chen, age 8, from the Sharron Art Center in Piscataway, NJ. Her piece entitled "Peace Around the World," is pictured at left.
First place winner in the 3rd to 5th Grade category is Rachel White, age 10, from St. Mary's School in Ticonderoga, NY. Her piece is entitled: "Save the Oceans!" shown at right.
First place winner in the 6th - 12th Grade cateogory is Emily Zirimis, age 16 from William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach, NY, with her piece "Dispersions of an Artist," shown at left.
To view works by all 38 winners, please visit the Museum's Art Exchange page on the website.
Now in its 21st consecutive year, the International Youth Art Exchange is a global art share and exhibition program. Every year students in different countries submit art. For every piece received from overseas, the Museum sends back a piece of the best art we receive from American schools. Art submitted from U.S. students is judged in April for awards and inclusion in the Museum's permanent collection. This year's judges were Douglas Durning, a mixed media artist and Nancy Knapik, a ceramic artist and director of Gallery 100 in Saratoga Springs.
About the Museum
The Museum's permanent collection includes over 6,000 works of children's art from 66 countries and a 3000-plus piece collection of international artifacts, textiles and clothing. International youth art exhibitions travel to schools, educational institutions, museums and public venues across the United States.
Exhibits currently on display include: "World Music" in Glens Falls, NY; "International Sports" in Oklahoma, "World Fashion" in Mastic Beach, NY, "House & Home" in Moscow, PA "Traditions" in Encinco, CA, "Ceremonies & Celebrations," in Lawrence, NY and "World Music and Dance" in Stamford, Ct. Exhibits are available for loan, nation-wide, to businesses, hospitals, offices, libraries, schools and other public venues.
Founded to plant seeds of tolerance in children, the Museum seeks to create concrete connections for children to world cultures, using art conceived through the eyes of children to promote peace and understanding among people of the world.
Located in Glens Falls, NY, the Museum offers educational outreach and interactive cultural arts programming for children, students and families. Currently undergoing a Capital Campaign for renovations on a new building at 89 Warren Street in Glens Falls, slated for opening in 2009, the Museum currently offers children's exhibits at offsite locations and outreach educational programs for schools and other institutions.
