Published: January 07, 2009 09:53 am      

Business Beat: Family bakery makes bread with original recipe

Foti’s Italian Wholesale Bakery is making bread according to its traditional recipe, said Allen Fassler, who recently purchased the business at 42 River St., Oneonta.

The Foti family started the business in the 1920s and originally delivered bread via horse and buggy, Fassler said. He bought the business Dec. 15 for an undisclosed amount. A cafe at the site had been closed, he said, and he reopened it Dec. 23 as Foti’s Cafe. Catering services also are available.

Fassler has owned several businesses during the past 30 years, including the Sip and Sail and the Copper Fox taverns in downtown Oneonta. He and his wife, Paula Fassler, own House of Brides on Southside.

Fassler said he was interested in running an established business that offers ``a great product.’’

``I was looking for a turn-key business that I felt would be good in today’s economy,’’ he said. ``I want to keep up the tradition and quality of Foti’s bakery and its products.’’

Foti’s Cafe, which sells freshly baked muffins, cinnamon rolls and breakfast sandwiches, and serves soups, salads and sandwiches, is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 432-3871.

Fox makes administrative changes A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital has made changes to meet financial and communications challenges in the health-care field, a hospital official said Tuesday.

Alan Donovan, retired president from the State University College at Oneonta, started Jan. 1 as director of planned giving at Fox.

Donovan, who will be working as a consultant under a one-year contract, said he was on the hospital’s board of directors for seven or eight years. His job will be to seek grants, government funding, and gifts from foundations, businesses and from individuals, such as through charitable annuities or bequests, Donovan said.

``It’s nice to be back in the Fox family,’’ he said.

In other changes at the hospital effective Jan. 1, Maggie Barnes, previously director of community affairs and hospital spokeswoman, became director of special events and advertising, said Alisha Barbera, director of quality management at Fox. Barnes, who moved from the hospital building to an office at the FoxCare Center on state Route 7, will continue working on the Fox Gala fundraiser, along with developing the hospital’s website and internal communications, Barbera said.

Barbera said she has become the media contact, and the hospital no longer has a specific director of community affairs. As director of quality management, Barbera said her responsibilities include monitoring patient satisfaction, safety and medical services.

Restaurant opens in Garrattsville Taters Restaurant is serving meals in an Adirondack-style club house at Tsuga Links Golf Course, located off Route 51 north of Garrattsville, according to a media release.

Taters Restaurant and Tsuga Links Golf Course are ventures of the Elliott family, the fourth-generation owner of the property, which has been used for farming and recreation.

Gary Elliott runs the project with his wife, Janet, and their daughter Katie specializes in advertising and planning events such as weddings, golf outings, reunions and holiday parties.

Elliott’s Hill Grown Potatoes family business and Gary and Janet’s first dog, Tater, inspired the restaurant’s name. ``Tsuga Canadensis’’ is the genus name for the Eastern hemlock surrounding the clubhouse. Spoken “suga,” the “t” is silent.

Chef Karolyn White prepares foods from a menu featuring steaks, soups, seafood, Italian, sandwiches and homemade desserts. Taters opened in November, and hours are 3 to 9 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and from noon to 6 p.m. Sundays. In winter, Taters has space for about 50 people, and in the summer, the site has a pavilion.

Tsuga Links Golf Course opened May 31 after more than a year of construction. The first nine of 18 holes will reopen in the spring under maintenance of course superintendent Ryan Wing. For more information, call Katie at 965- 2380 or visit www.tsugalinks.com. Bridal event set for Sunday The first Foothills Bridal Expo will be in Oneonta from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. The event at the Foothills Performing Arts Center, 24 Market St., will feature a fashion show at 3 p.m. by Rainbow’s End Weddings and More. Tours of the facility, promotions and prizes will be presented. For more information, call Rainbow’s End at 432-6324.

Otsego IDA to meet The Otsego County Industrial Development Agency plans a regularly scheduled meeting at 7:30 a.m. Thursday at the Economic Development Office, 242 Main St., Oneonta.

_____

To suggest a business story, announce a new business or changes to an existing one, e-mail drichardson@thedailystar. com or call Denise Richardson at 432- 1000 or (800) 721-1000, ext. 213.