Almanack Contributor Community News Reports

The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) has received two awards from the New York State Tourism Industry Association (NYSTIA).

The awards were announced on May 5, in observance of National Travel and Tourism Week, recognizing outstanding initiatives and achievements of New York state’s destination marketing organizations, attractions, and other tourism-related businesses. Categories included marketing campaigns, destination management initiatives, location stewardship, innovation and leadership.

The NYSTIA “Economic Development & Destination Improvement” award recognized ROOST for its transition from a destination marketing organization (DMO) to a destination marketing and management organization (DMMO). “The distinction is significant,” according to James McKenna, CEO of ROOST. “Historically, the role of organizations like ROOST has simply been to boost the economic impact of tourism for the region. While ROOST continues to do that, it is also focused on its partnerships with local governments, businesses, organizations and community members. These partnerships help to ensure that we develop and support initiatives that enhance the lives of community residents while contributing positively to tourism infrastructure and the tourism economy. ROOST and its partners have forged this partnership to encourage sustainability of the region – economically, socially and environmentally.”

Monday, May 23, 2022

The Hyde Collection Announces 31st Annual High School Juried Art Show & Showcases Winners

Best of Show: Kyla McByrne, Queensbury High School, “Sticky Situation,” acrylic painting.

The Hyde Collection is excited to announce its 31st Annual High School Juried Art Show showcasing the artistic talent of young artists from Warren, Washington, Saratoga, Hamilton, and Essex counties. This year’s high school artists employ diverse media, including drawing, painting, digital illustration, photography, jewelry, sculpture, and ceramics. The Hyde Collection is honored to
support promising young artists and students in the capital region.

“The High School Juried Art Show is an amazing opportunity for area high school student artists to learn and experience the finer points of a professional competitive exhibition process. As one of the nation’s longest-running high school juried shows, we are proud to continue providing this opportunity for our region’s amazing young artists,” said The Hyde Collection’s Director of Curatorial Affairs, Jonathan Canning.

In an extensive jurying process, judges selected 100 pieces of artwork for the exhibition from 443 submissions from 182 students in 13 schools. The entries were judged by a panel of jurors featuring three professional artists from our region: Anne Diggory, Doretta Miller, and Victoria van der Lann, each of whom has a work in The Hyde’s permanent collection.

Winners were announced May 7 at the opening reception, attended by 170 people in The Helen Froehlich Auditorium. Awards were given to the artwork in categories of Best of Show, Curator’s Award, Juror’s Awards, and Honorable Mentions. The Visitor’s Choice Award will be awarded at the conclusion of the exhibition. All winners received a $250 scholarship for an art class at SUNY Adirondack and every student artist received a prize pack.

Sunday, May 22, 2022

Save the Date: Great Camp Sagamore’s Annual Gala & Benefit for Historic Preservation on Aug. 6

Great Camp Sagamore staff are excited to welcome the community back, in-person, on August 6, 2022 for their Annual Gala & Benefit for Historic Preservation. Join the festivities for an evening of great food, exciting live & silent auctions, and even better company in the heart of Forever Wild.

This year staff are celebrating the many dedicated members of the community – visitors, volunteers, donors, artisans, musicians, and local business owners and residents – who keep Great Camp Sagamore the treasured place it has been for 125 years.

Stay the Weekend:

Enjoy more time at camp! Join in from August 5-7, 2022 for Gala weekend programming. Weekend packages will include lodging and meals for Friday & Saturday. Gather with friends and enjoy special activities on Friday night, including music and gourmet s’mores around the campfire, a picnic lunch on Saturday, and many other activities before the Gala & Benefit.

Weekend packages do not include Gala & Benefit Dinner tickets for Saturday night. Lodging availability is limited and reserved on a first-come-basis. Booking information will be available on the Great Camp Sagamore webpage soon.

Consider Becoming an Event Sponsor:

Sponsorships allow Great Camp Sagamore staff to continue providing quality, diverse programming that serves and uplifts a wide range of people, while maintaining reasonable prices and increasing scholarships amid rising costs. Deciding to sponsor this annual celebration also provides you with tangible benefits, which can be found through this link.

Great Camp Sagamore opens to the public on Memorial Day Weekend, May 27.

Find more information about Great Camp Sagamore here: https://www.sagamore.org/

Photo at top: A previous Great Camp Sagamore Annual Gala & Benefit for Historic Preservation. Photo courtesy of Great Camp Sagamore.

Thursday, May 19, 2022

The Fort William Henry Museum Introduces New Augmented Reality Exhibit

The Fort William Henry Museum, a major cultural destination and landmark located on the southern shore of Lake George, nestled amid New York’s Adirondack Mountains, opened May 1 for its 2022 season and is introducing a brand-new Augmented Reality (AR) exhibit inside the North Barracks.

The new AR experience, created by Frameless Technologies, puts the viewer directly into the siege of Fort William Henry. It features a bird’s eye view of The Fort, the Entrenched Camp, and the French siegeworks firing at The Fort itself. Viewers can manipulate the AR by moving their phones to explore more of the surrounding area. The stylized AR image reflects one day of the siege, August 8, 1757. Instructions on downloading the app and viewing the AR are available onsite at the museum.

The Fort William Henry Museum is now open daily, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Lake Placid and North Elba Destination Management Plan Developed

The Town of North Elba, the Village of Lake Placid and the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) have collaborated to develop a destination management plan. This plan will guide efforts of local government, tourism organizations, environmental agencies, economic development initiatives, community organizations, residents and other organizations within the area. Its purpose is to establish regional priorities and guide efforts to balance community, resident and business needs, while enhancing the visitor experience.

Local leaders will be meeting this week to begin discussions regarding implementation of the plan. “This plan offers a guide,” says Derek Doty, Town of North Elba supervisor. “It ensures that North Elba, Lake Placid, and organizations within the area understand and support an overall, long-term plan for the region. The destination management plan helps each entity make its plans in a very deliberate manner based on the agreed upon vision.”

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Adirondack Paddling Symposium returns with new presenters, new host

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The Adirondack Paddling Symposium will return this June with new organizers and a new host community.

The Symposium is a comprehensive weekend of paddling instruction for beginners and intermediates, and includes course tracks for kayaks, pack boats, stand-up paddleboards and canoes. The event was put on hold in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic; this year, it will be held June 17-20 in Saranac Lake at the Symposium’s host site, the Hotel Saranac, with water-based activities happening at Lake Flower and Lake Colby.

Originally founded by NRS and hosted by Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company out of Old Forge, this year, it will be presented by the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT) and NRS.

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Emmy Award-winning trio to perform at Lake George Music Festival

The Lake George Musical Festival announces the Emmy Award-winning trio Time For Three (Tf3) will be in residence and perform with the Lake George Music Festival Orchestra at Lake George’s Shepard Park Amphitheater on Wednesday evening, August 10 at 7:30 pm. This event is free to the public.

This event serves as the opening night for the world-class Lake George Music Festival’s 2022 Season and is presented in Partnership with Lake George Arts Project as part of their 2022 Summer Concert Series.

Bonded by an uncommon blend of instruments and vocals, Tf3’s Charles Yang (violin), Nick Kendall (violin), and Ranaan Meyer (double bass) have found a unique voice of expression. The groundbreaking trio transcends traditional classification, forming a blend all its own with elements of classical, country western, gypsy, and jazz idioms. The members carry a passion for improvisation, composition, and arrangements, all prime elements of the ensemble’s playing. Earning praise from NPR, NBC, The Wall Street Journal, and the Chicago Sun-Times, the band has become known for its charismatic and energetic performances.

Monday, May 16, 2022

‘The Bakery’ concert series: Four performances in Keene Valley this Spring

‘The Bakery’ concert series ‘Music for Contemplation’ will present four performances this Spring featuring musicians from Keene Valley, New York City, Rochester, and Chazy. Each performance will
center on music composed post 1900 including original works and improvisation. The series will be presented in collaboration with Old Mountain Coffee in Keene Valley and will be curated to present music which is meditative, relaxing, and experimental.

Each ‘Bakery’ concert is carefully curated to focus on sharing music and musicians from a wide variety of backgrounds including classical, pop, avante-garde, jazz, and improvisation. ‘The Bakery’ indicates the involvement of Gene and Esther BAKER, but also the idea of a place one can peruse a variety of musical treats and find something new to experience. Past performances have included music by Maurice Ravel, Ornette Coleman, Sun Ra, and Steve Reich, together with graphic scores, microtones, kitchen matches (yes, you read correctly!), improvisation with text, electronic music, cello duos and more.

Monday, May 16, 2022

Watch for Flaggers on Route 86 in Wilmington Notch

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) is advising motorists to watch for daytime alternating flows of traffic directed by flaggers on State Route 86 in the Town of Wilmington, in the area locally known as the Wilmington Notch southwest of the entrance to Whiteface Ski Center, starting today, May 16 for drainage work for the next several weeks.

Sunday, May 15, 2022

Ausable River Association announces Spring series of free guided watershed tours

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The Ausable River Association (AsRA) has announced the schedule for their free, guided interpretive outdoor programs in the northern Adirondacks this spring.

“We are excited to grow our popular guided watershed tours this year,” said Kelley Tucker, AsRA’s Executive Director. “We’re offering guided tours in all seasons this year, and our spring tours will focus on native wildflowers, birds, bats, and other Adirondack species.”

“This year’s programs include 15 guided trips to locations in the Ausable, Boquet, and Saranac River watersheds,” said Tyler Merriam, Donor Outreach Manager.

Three spring programs kick off the season. The first is a birding walk in a private preserve along the West Branch Ausable River. Dr. Larry Master, conservation biologist/zoologist and past Ausable River Association board chair, and Derek Rogers, ace birder and Stewardship Director with the Adirondack Land Trust, will lead this tour.

Thursday, May 12, 2022

Adirondack Foundation awards more than $900K in Generous Acts grants to benefit Adirondack communities

Adirondack Foundation this year awarded a record $900,000 in Generous Acts grants to meet pressing needs and drive positive change in local communities across the Adirondack region. This represents an eightfold increase in Generous Acts grant dollars from five years ago.

Of the 110 grant recipients, 60 percent are serving people who are living at or below the federal poverty level. Three-quarters of the successful applicants indicate that receiving a Generous Acts grant will help them leverage additional funds for their work.

Committees made up of Adirondack Foundation board members, community members and staff reviewed and evaluated the applications.

“It is clear that our local communities are still addressing fallout from the pandemic,” said Nancy Monette, Adirondack Foundation trustee and grants committee chair. “We saw lots of applications related to mental health counseling, food assistance, summer programs for teens to reconnect with their peers, as well as heightened emphasis on vital community connections and hubs.”

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Crandall Library to Showcase Artwork Created by Veterans with PTSD

During the month of May, the Crandall Library of Glens Falls will be showcasing an art display featuring artworks made with magnets by Warren County-area Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). All are invited to attend a public reception on the evening of Thursday, May 19 from 4 to 6 p.m. Members of the Veterans Plus group will be on hand to answer questions and describe how the inspiration and creativity inspired by this artwork has had a therapeutic effect in helping them to deal with these issues. A survivor of the Pentagon attack on 9/11 will also be in attendance and will talk about the benefits he received while creating this artwork. The Veterans Plus groups’s artwork will be on display through the month of May at the Crandall Library, located at 251 Glen Street in Glens Falls.

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

New York Recycles! Poster Contest Now Open

Calling all students in New York State! Enter your poster design in the NYSAR3 New York Recycles! poster contest. The winners will receive the honor of having their artwork featured in the 2023 New York Recycles! calendar, a framed copy of their winning poster, and other prizes. Posters must be received by email for judging no later than May 27, 2022.

Eligibility

All students in kindergarten through 12th grade in NYS public and private schools, youth organizations, or home schools are welcome to participate.

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Clean Water, Safe Roads Partnership” Launched to Reduce Road Salt Contamination in the Lake Champlain Basin

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New York communities within the Lake Champlain Basin are invited to join a new Clean Water, Safe Roads Partnership to reduce road salt use by adopting improved winter road maintenance techniques. The Clean Water, Safe Roads Partnership will address the threat to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, water quality, and the safety of drinking water caused by the excessive use of road salt, while maintaining safe winter roads. The partnership is funded by a $50,000 grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program and the New England Interstate Pollution Control Commission and is part of AdkAction’s decade-long effort to reduce road salt use in the Adirondacks.

This project builds on AdkAction’s Pledge to Reduce Road Salt, developed in 2017 for municipal partners, which demonstrates a community’s commitment to work to reduce the levels of road salt application. The Partnership will implement a comprehensive, personalized outreach and education program for communities which have already signed on to the Pledge to Reduce Road Salt, and add additional municipalities.

Monday, May 9, 2022

Award-winning mystery novelist, J.E. Irvin, to offer book signing event on May 28 in Wanakena

J.E. Irvin, a career educator and the award-winning author of five mystery novels, will visit Wanakena at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 28, 2022, for a book talk about her latest novel – BROKEN – which is set in the hamlet. Irvin will speak about her writing process as well as the local activities and events that inspired the novel. Hosted by Ottos’ Abode, the presentation will take place in the gazebo (weather permitting) or inside the store. Books will be available for purchase and signing, and each attendee will receive a goody bag of book-related items.