—Photo from the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce
Cornea Consulting of Albany cut the ribbon April 11 on its new offices at 9 Vista Blvd. in Slingerlands. Holding the scissors, at center, are doctors Robert A. Eden, M.D., left, and Robert L. Schultze, M.D., right, who welcomed a full house of town, chamber, and community officials and members.SLINGERLANDS — Cornea Consultants of Albany, the only practice in northeastern New York dedicated to corneal disease, cataract surgery, and laser vision correction, has opened a 15,000-square-foot facility at 9 Vista Blvd. in the Vista Technology Campus.

“Our goal has been to provide world-class eye care to the people of upstate New York and surrounding areas in a patient friendly and comfortable environment,” said Dr. Robert Schultze, founding partner of Cornea Consultants of Albany, in a release.

The facility serves as the Division of Cornea, Cataract and Refractive Surgery at the Albany Medical College Lions Eye Institute, and has been outfitted with the latest technology for diagnosis and treatment.

Doctors Schultze and Robert A. Eden are board certified, fellowship trained, and fellows of The American Board of Ophthalmology, with Schultze serving as associate professor of ophthalmology and Eden, assistant professor at Albany Medical College.

Physicians at Cornea Consultants of Albany pioneered revolutionary techniques in corneal transplant surgery and have been invited to participate in investigational trials of new technologies and treatments for various eye conditions. Together, Cornea Consultants surgeons have performed over 12,000 successful procedures.

“Our new facility will allow us to continue to serve the community with the best quality of patient care in an innovative atmosphere,” said Eden in the release.

Cornea Consultants of Albany office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Both Schultze and Eden are accepting new patients.

Shari FoxBETHLEHEM — Realtor Shari Lynn Fox, who has a background in the restaurant industry, has joined the sales team of the Delmar office of Weichert, Realtors - Northeast Group. A nine-year resident of the area, she will serve homebuyers and sellers in Bethlehem.

She is a member of the Greater Capital Association of Realtors, Inc.; the New York State Association of Realtors, Inc.; and the National Association of Realtors. She lives in Glenmont.

Tim ManicciaTimothy M. Maniccia, founder of Policy Innovation, Inc., in Albany, was accepted for membership in the Consulting Alliance, an association of the Capital Region’s leading independent consultants focused on professional learning and business development. 

Policy Innovation, Inc., is a consulting firm specializing in public policy design, finance, and implementation.

Maniccia is a Prosci Certified Change Management Practitioner. He holds a master’s degree in public administration from Maxwell School at Syracuse University and a bachelor of science degree in business education from the University at Albany.  He studied public policy analysis in the doctoral program at the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill.

Formerly, Maniccia was deputy secretary for the New York State Senate Finance Committee, director of operations for Albany County, director of operations for the Rensselaerville Institute, and executive director of the New York State Government Finance Officers’ Association.

Maniccia lives in Slingerlands.

GUILDERLAND — Oliva!, which offers extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars from around the world, will open at Stuyvesant Plaza this spring.

It will take over the space formerly occupied by Londonderry Café. As many as six new employees will be hired to staff the operation.

The Stuyvesant Plaza store marks the second Oliva! location for owner Kathy Connolly, who opened the original store in Clifton Park Center Mall in September 2012. A Capital Region native, Connolly’s interest in operating an olive oil boutique began five years ago after visiting a similar store on a trip to Maine.

The 900-square-foot location at Stuyvesant Plaza is being renovated and designed to resemble the Oliva! operation in Clifton Park, where shoppers can sample the selection of olive oils, vinegars and other products.

Oliva! olive oils are purchased in bulk from around the world and stored in stainless steel fustis — olive oil dispensers — to be bottled fresh for customers. The olive oils in stock at the store hail from Spain, Portugal, Italy, Tunisia, Australia, Greece and Chile, among other counties, and include award-winning Spanish Picual, Australian Hojiblanca, and Blood Orange-Infused Extra-Virgin Olive Oil as well as Dark Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar.

Beyond fresh olive oils and vinegars, Oliva! also offers artisan pastas, gourmet salts, Italian dipping dishes, and olive oil-based skin care products.