September 24, 2008 04:00 am Southern Tier Alpacas will sponsor a tour Saturday and Sunday that includes some participating farms in Otsego, Delaware and Chenango counties. The seventh annual Autumn Alpaca Tour will feature open houses between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., according to the group's website. For details on locations, visit www.southerntieralpacas.com. The programs are part of the first National Alpaca Farm Day in the United States and Canada, a media release said. Visitors will have a chance to see alpacas and their fleece, plus clothing, yarns and other products, organizers said. The open houses are free. Alpacas, cousins to llamas, are native to the Andes Mountain of South America. The alpaca industry has grown steadily since 1984, the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association said, and more than 120,000 alpacas are listed with the Alpaca Registry Inc. in the United States. Adult alpacas stand about 3 feet at the withers and weigh between 150 and 200 pounds, the release said. The animals are shorn every 12 to 18 months and produce five to 10 pounds of fiber, which sometimes is compared to cashmere. According to the regional group's website, area farms participating include Gentle Breeze Alpacas, Martha and Kevin Cady, Burlington Flats, 965-8729, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wild Thyme Farm, Mike and Lindsay Butkiewicus, Morris, 783-9424; Big Hollow Feather & Fiber Farm, John and Sue Jackson, Deposit, 467-5217, open by appointment; Gunhouse Hill Alpacas, Matthew and Diane Taylor, South Kortright, 652-9660, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; HaSu Ranch Alpacas, Susan Muther and Hazen Reed, East Meredith, 432-1467, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Hilltop Alpacas, Scott and Kathy Young, Hancock, 637-4871; and Ideuma Creek Alpaca Farm, John and Denise Jacobus, Unadilla, 563-9174, open by appointment. NBT acquires Mang Insurance NBT Bancorp Inc. finalized its acquisition of Mang Insurance Agency this month, NBT officials said. NBT Bancorp President Martin A. Dietrich said in a prepared statement, ``We are excited to add Mang Insurance to our family of companies, as they will play an important role in our efforts to continue to diversify our revenue channels and strengthen our position as a full-service financial resource provider." Mang Insurance, headquartered in Binghamton, will continue to operate as an independent line of business, according to a media release from NBT. Rick Mirabito, Mang Insurance's president, will become chief executive officer. Bill Mirabito will serve as president of the benefits division, and Dennis Mirabito will be president of the personal lines division. Rick Mirabito said in a statement, "Our association with NBT will provide Mang Insurance with the additional resources to expand our products and services." NBT Bancorp. a financial holding company headquartered in Norwich, had assets of $5.3 billion as of June 30, officials said. NBT Bank has 123 locations, listed online at www.nbtbank.com/locations.html. Local firm designs memorial Cherry Valley Memorials has made a memorial honoring a 9/11 victim, according to a media release. Officials said the company was honored to receive the order for a marker for Jeremy Glick, of New Jersey, to be installed where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania. Glick was a passenger. The inscription read, ``The United States Judo Association promoted Jeremy Glick to the highest rank of black belt for living the principle of judo _ `mutual welfare and benefit,' sacrificing his life for our country September 11, 2001.'' The association paid for the memorial. John R. Vicosi and Mary E. Riznyk at the firm's Gloversville office designed the memorial, which was made at the plant in Cherry Valley. ___ 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.
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