By Stefan Yablonski
“The magazine you are now reading is the first and only publication about business and economic development in Oswego County. Every other month, Oswego County Business will bring you feature stories and information that can be useful, even critical, to your business.” –
Publisher Wagner Dotto … issue 1.
And so began a journey that has lasted three decades so far.
Walmart coming to Oswego’s eastern corridor was the big buzz as the business magazine published its first issue.
Sithe Energies USA, Kmart, Smurfit, Interchem and others were also on the horizon for Oswego County.
Advertisers who helped launch the premier issue included Fulton Typewriter Store, Accent Awnings, Schoeller Technical Papers, DK Manufacturing, Sealright, Armstrong, Alcan, Nestle, Fireside Support & Answering Service, Goldberg’s Furniture.
Throughout the years, columnists such as L. Michael Treadwell, Doug Ververs, Brian Caswell, Tim Nekritz and others shared information and insights on the local economic scene. Several of them continue to this day. Austin Wheelock has taken over for Treadwell.
At the close of each year various business leaders share “what to expect in the coming year.”
In 1996 some movers and shakers featured included Joe Aiello, Fulton city administrator; April Andrews, Mexico chamber director; Mike Brower, Cornell Cooperative executive director; Bob Chetney,owner of Chetney Real Estate; Janet Clerkin of Oswego County Tourism Department; Rosemary Nesbitt, H. Lee White Museum; Tim Nekritz, Harborfest marketing director.
The 40 under 40 were also celebrated: Bill Greene Jr., Oswego Sub Shop and Ale House; Jennifer Hill, Oswego chamber; Nick Canale Jr., Canale’s Restaurant; Patrick Stella, Oswego Health; Phil Church, Oswego County administrator and a plethora of other entrepreneurs over the years.
The magazine has put the spotlight on businesses just starting like 6 Acres in Mexico and Roots Roll-Off Professionals in Pulaski as well as well as long-time businesses like Mimi’s Drive-in in Fulton where the third generation is at the helm of the family-owned business and Greene Point Marina on Sandy Pond; it has been run by the same family for four generation and 120 years.
Wide range coverage
Some of the other stories the magazine has covered over the decades include:
• The rise of online news — the decline of newspapers.
• The economic impact of tourism in the county and Central New York
• SUNY Oswego’s expansion under Deb Stanley and how the university continues to evolve under current president Peter Nwosu
• The evolution of BOCES into CiTi
• Rise and fall of the ethanol plant expected to be the third largest in the US
• The success of several businesses, including Laser Transit, 1995 – 2025; Mitchell Printing & Mailing, 1930 – 2025; and John DeRousie, Custom Marketing Solutions, 2000 – 2025.
• Oswego’s Midtown Plaza reborn as apartments
• Anthony Richmond builds an air dome on Route 481
• County budget woes early 2000s
• New owners for Oswego Speedway
• New CEOs at Oswego Health … Corte Spencer, Ann Gilpin, Chuck Gijanto, Michael Harlovic and Mike Backus building on over 143 years of care.
• The Children’s Museum of Oswego is born
• Cayuga Community College expands in Fulton
• Burritt’s Adventure opens
• BioSpherix moves from Lacona to Parish into former elementary school
• Hotels, a conference center and a splash park open
• A plethora of restaurants – Steamers, Tailwater, Rooftop, Southern Fare and more
• Novelis names first female plant manager
• The outlook for the region remains robust with Micron on the horizon.
“Oswego County Business wants to take part in what it sees as a turning-point period in the county’s economy. It wants to serve as a linkage between different businesses — it wants to work with you and grow with you,” according to publisher Wagner Dotto in his first editorial in the inaugural issue, August-September 1992.
The First 10 Covers
#1 Eugene Saloga and Walmart
#2 Executive women of Oswego County
#3 Family businesses (Mirabito on the cover)
#4 Economic outlook
#5 The ‘big guys’ of Oswego County (Head of Miller Brewery, Nestle and Alcan)
#6 Small successful businesses
#7 Tourism $100 million industry
#8 SUNY Oswego and the private sector
#9 Will new business owners succeed?
#10 Producing nuclear power at FitzPatrick.
