Daily Star
---- — Economic conditions have forced Khala-Marr Stables in Otego to close after 18 years in business locally, owner Cindi Marciano said this week.
The stable relied on fees from boarding horses and riding lessons, Marciano said, and struggled for about two years before deciding to close.
"It was a hard decision," she said. "We thank all our past and present customers. We're like a family here."
Marciano said she has made arrangements for horses to be moved to Springbrook Stables, a "sister stable" in Wells Bridge owned by Doug and Donette Loitsch, and probably about 15 horses will be moved there. Liz Graves, a riding instructor who has given lessons to children at Khala-Marr, will be at Springbrook, said Marciano, who will also continue giving lessons in Wells Bridge.
Khala-Marr has been in business since 1984 and formerly was in Treadwell, Marciano said, and in Otego since 1992. The stable held a summer camp since 2004, which was well received, she said, and another success was hiring through the CDO Workforce office.
According to the stable's website, the property has 37 stalls, seven paddocks for turnout, an outside riding ring, an outside jumping ring and an outside shower stall.
The future of the facilities is unknown, but Wilber National Bank has been more than cooperative in working with her, Marciano said. For more information, call her at 988-9419,
IDA to meet
The Otsego County Industrial Development Agency will meet at the Economic Development office, 242 Main St., Oneonta, at 7:30 a.m. Thursday.
The Otsego County Capital Resource Corp. will meet immediately after the IDA session.
Edward Jones ranking reported
For five of the last six years, Edward Jones has ranked highest in investor satisfaction among full service brokerage firms, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Full Service Investor Satisfaction Study, Sarah Manchester, Edward Jones Financial adviser in Oneonta, said.
The study measures overall investor satisfaction with full service investment firms based on several factors, including portfolio performance, account offerings, commissions and fees, website and problem resolution, a media release said. The J.D. Power and Associates study found that Edward Jones "performed particularly well across the two highest weighted factors: investment adviser and investment performance."
Edward Jones' overall score climbed 10 points throughout last year, when it also was ranked highest among the 12 largest firms rated. The study was based on responses from 4,460 investors and was conducted in May.
Edward Jones ranked highest in investor satisfaction by J.D. Power and Associates in 2009, from 2005 through 2007, and tied with another firm in 2002, when the study began.
The organization, which ranked No. 2 on FORTUNE magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2010, is headquartered in St. Louis. In Oneonta, the office is at 18 Fair St., and the telephone number is 432-1510.
Community projects sought
Price Chopper is working with Pepsi in Make a Change Closer to Home, a project that will provide $30,000 in grants to organizations with ideas to make a difference in their communities, a media release said.
Area residents can submit an idea as to how they would spend $2,000 to improve their neighborhoods at www.pricechopper.refresheverything.com through Sept. 28.
Provided they meet the eligibility requirements, the first 300 ideas received will be reviewed by Price Chopper's Golub Foundation. The top 15 ideas will be awarded a $2,000 grant to develop their ideas. Grant winners will be announced Oct. 26 on www.pricechopper.refresheverything.com.
Price Chopper has stores locally in Oneonta, Delhi, Cooperstown, Sidney, Richfield Springs, Norwich and Cobleskill.
