FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dec. 20, 2018 Carrie Gentile ROOST Communications Coordinator cgentile@roostadk.com 518-523-2445 Jon Lundin ORDA Director of Communications jlundin@orda.org 518-523-1655 Sarah Warren Community Bank, N.A. Public Relations Specialist Sarah_Warren@dixonschwabl.com 585-899-3271 Lake Placid, NY - The 39th running of the Empire State Winter Games, presented by Community Bank, N.A., will bring the spirit and excitement of traditional and adventure winter sports competition back to the North Country and Adirondack regions of New York state. “We are thrilled to once again be the title sponsor of the Empire State Winter Games, and all the tradition they bring,” said Mark Tryniski, CEO of Community Bank, N.A. “As our name suggests, we support our communities we serve, and these games bring tourism and provide economic support to the region. We’re proud to be a part of this almost 40-year tradition.” From Jan. 31 - Feb. 3, over 2,300 athletes of all ages from across the state and beyond are expected to participate in more than 30 sports, giving these amateur athletes the chance to compete on a world-class stage. Olympic alpine skier Andrew Weibrecht, lugers Chris Mazdzer and Emily Sweeney, biathletes Lowell Bailey and Tim Burke all competed at the ESWG early in their careers before earning their place on Team USA. “Competing in the Empire State Winter Games early in my career was such a wonderful experience for me. They have the feel of an Olympic Games, with the opening ceremonies and parade of athletes, a chance to meet athletes from all regions,” said Emily Sweeney, 2018 Winter Olympian. “It gave me a chance to push myself and test my skills on a large stage.” “It’s so important that young athletes have the support of their community, and these Games provide that to its athletes,” said Andrew Weibrecht, 2010, 2014, and 2018 Winter Olympian, and Lake Placid native. The opening ceremony on Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. is free and open to the public, and will be held in the Herb Brooks Arena in the Lake Placid Olympic Center. A live performance by the high-flying aerial and acrobatic duo, Elsie Smith and Serenity Smith Forchion of the circus-inspired theatrical act Nimble Arts will entertain the audience and set the tone for the ESWG as not only a competition but a celebration of winter. The arena will begin to glow as all the athletes parade in wearing LED bracelets that are timed to the music, a new addition to this year’s event. Spoiler alert: one bracelet will turn a different color than the rest. The wearer of that bracelet will be given the honor of lighting the cauldron, signifying the opening of the games. As the headquarters for the Games, Lake Placid will once again welcome the public to the ESWG Village, which has relocated to Mid’s Park on Main Street, drawing crowds to the heart of Lake Placid’s downtown district. The family-friendly village is open Thursday from 4-6 p.m., Friday and Saturday from noon-7 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Award ceremonies will be held there daily, along with free hot chocolate, s’mores, music, and games for the kids. While Lake Placid serves as the basecamp for the weekend, sporting venues throughout the region are being used for ESWG events, such as Paul Smith’s College, which will host the debut of Esports to the Games. The competitors will be playing Madden NFL on both PlayStation and XBox. “This provides us the opportunity to bring prospective students on campus and expose them to the beauty and assets of the college, while aligning the Gameswith the cutting edge innovation and rapidly growing movement of Esports,” said Molly Rose Mayer, director of the ESWG. Cross-country skiing has been expanded and will now be open to ages 7-11, with a mass start 1 kilometer freestyle race the night of Friday, Feb. 1 at Dewey Mountain Recreation Center in Saranac Lake. After the resounding success of last year’s torch relay, organizers announced this year’s version is expanded and will now include two routes — one beginning in Buffalo and one from New York City — that will meet in Malone, thus uniting the state of New York before traveling together to the opening ceremony. The torch run begins January 27, and ends January 31 when it converges at the soccer field at Franklin Academy in Malone before continuing on to opening ceremonies that evening. Minutes from Malone’s downtown is Titus Mountain Family Ski Center, home to the ESWG Ski Festival at Titus. The day will begin with a competitive downhill race and will follow with an opportunity to watch the Terrain Park Rangers put on a rail jam exhibition and Ride with a Ranger, which is a chance to learn how to hit rails from the professionals. More about the ESWG The Empire State Winter Games is a community-driven event, courtesy of a partnership between the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST); the towns of North Elba, Wilmington, Tupper Lake, Harrietstown, Malone, and Brighton; the villages of Lake Placid, Tupper Lake, Paul Smiths, Malone, Wilmington, and Saranac Lake; the counties of Essex and Franklin; the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority, and New York State Senator Betty Little. Sport venues are located in Lake Placid, Wilmington, Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake, Malone, and Paul Smiths. Venues include: Lake Placid Olympic Center Herb Brooks Arena, Lake Placid Olympic Jumping and Sliding complexes, Mid's Park in Lake Placid, Whiteface Mountain, Paul Smith's College, Paul Smith's College VIC, Saranac Lake Civic Center Ice Rink, Dewey Mountain Recreation Area, Tupper Lake Memorial Civic Center, Olympic Cross Country and Biathlon Center, Titus Mountain, and Mount Pisgah. ###

For immediate release January 2, 2019 Carrie Gentile ROOST Communications Coordinator cgentile@roostadk.com 518-523-2445 Jon Lundin ORDA Director of Communications jlundin@orda.org 518-523-1655 Lake Placid will host the International Children’s Games January 6-11, 2019 Public welcome to attend events and competitions Lake Placid, NY - The eighth International Children’s Winter Games will bring the spirit of friendship through competition and the excitement of winter sports back to Lake Placid, N.Y. Jan. 6-11, 2019. Modeled after the Olympics, the International Children’s Games were created 50 years ago with the goal of promoting peace and friendship through sport and competition. Lake Placid’s multi-sport and cultural event serves to maintain that tradition, operating under a tagline and mission statement that embodies that spirit: “Friendship and Sport Move Mountains.” Over 450 athletes ages 12 to 15 from 33 cities spanning 14 countries from around the world will compete with their peers in eight sports: alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, biathlon, long track speed skating, figure skating, and hockey. The events are held at Whiteface Mountain, Lake Placid Olympic Jumping Complex, speed skating oval, and the Olympic Center. When not competing, athletes will get acquainted with fellow competitors from other cultures through free-time activities aimed at inter-cultural learning and fellowship. The students will gather together each night at in the Conference Center at Lake Placid where there will be learning activities and presentations including a snowshoe expo, an Olympic athlete meet and greet, team-building games by Experience Outdoors, and much more. “We are incredibly excited to welcome the world to Lake Placid and provide a platform for these children to be able to compete on a world-class stage while building friendships,” said ICWG Executive Director Eileen Mowrey. Public Welcome All are welcome to be a part of the Games and pageantry by attending the opening ceremonies, the athlete parade and fireworks, and watching the daily competitions. The opening ceremony on Jan. 7 at 7:30 p.m. is free, open to the public, and will be held in the Herb Brooks Arena in the Lake Placid Olympic Center. A live performance by the Montreal-based contemporary circus group THROW2CATCH will entertain the audience with their eclectic mix of acrobatics, dance, theatre and music. A local Adirondack choir composed of 150 local students will perform, and there will be the lighting of the cauldron, signifying the opening of the Games. New York City based magician and mentalist Gary Ferrar will be master of ceremonies. Doors open at 6:30. Tickets are not needed. The athlete’s parade is Tuesday, January 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Conference Center (2608 Main Street) and ends at Lake Placid’s Mid’s Park on Main Street. Included in the parade are heads of delegations, athletes, ICWG committee members, and representatives from each city. At 7:45 p.m., a fireworks display begins over Mirror Lake. Main Street will be closed to traffic during the parade. All the competitions are open to the public and are free, with the exception of the freestyle and snowboarding events, which requires a Whiteface Mountain lift ticket. Competitions take place Monday, January 7 - Thursday January 10. Visit LakePlacid2019.com for a complete schedule. Support for the International Children’s Winter Games 2019 is provided by Market NY through the I LOVE NY/New York State’s Division of Tourism as a part of the Regional Economic Development Council awards. ###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 25, 2019 FOR MORE INFORMATION Carrie GentileROOST Communications Coordinatorcgentile@roostadk.com518-523-2445 Jon LundinORDA Director of Communicationsjlundin@orda.org518-523-1655 The Empire State Winter Games bring a festival atmosphere to Lake Placid Jan. 31-Feb. 2 Public invited to opening ceremonies Jan. 31 LAKE PLACID, N.Y. - The 39th running of the Empire State Winter Games, presented by Community Bank and supported by I LOVE NY, will bring the spirit and excitement of traditional and adventure winter sports competition back to the North Country and Adirondack regions of New York state. From Jan. 31 - Feb. 3, over 2,300 athletes of all ages from across the state and beyond are expected to participate in more than 30 sports, giving these amateur athletes the chance to compete on a world-class stage. The opening ceremony on Jan. 31 at 6:30 p.m. is free and open to the public, and will be held in the Herb Brooks Arena in the Lake Placid Olympic Center. A live performance by the high-flying aerial and acrobatic duo, Elsie Smith and Serenity Smith Forchion of the circus-inspired theatrical act Nimble Arts, will entertain the audience and set the tone for the ESWG as not only a competition but a celebration. The arena will begin to glow as all of the athletes’ parade in wearing LED bracelets that are timed to the music, a new addition to this year’s event. Spoiler alert: one bracelet will turn a different color than the rest. The wearer of that bracelet will be given the honor of lighting the cauldron, signifying the opening of the Games. Olympic ski jumper Nick Farrell is the keynote speaker and Lake Placid Mayor Craig Randall will welcome the athletes. As the headquarters for the Games, Lake Placid will once again welcome the public to the ESWG Village, which was relocated to Mid’s Park on Main Street, drawing crowds to the heart of Lake Placid’s downtown district. The family-friendly village is open Friday and Saturday from noon - 7 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Award ceremonies will be held there daily, along with free hot chocolate, s’mores, music, and games. After the resounding success of last year’s torch relay, organizers announced this year’s version is expanded and will now include two routes — one beginning in Buffalo and one from New York City — that will meet in Malone, thus uniting the state of New York before traveling together to the opening ceremony. More about the ESWG The Empire State Winter Games is a community-driven event, courtesy of a partnership between the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST); the towns of North Elba, Wilmington, Tupper Lake, Harrietstown, Malone, and Brighton; the villages of Lake Placid, Tupper Lake, Paul Smiths, Malone, Wilmington, and Saranac Lake; the counties of Essex and Franklin; the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority, and New York State Senator Betty Little. Sport venues are located in Lake Placid, Wilmington, Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake, Malone, and Paul Smiths. Venues include: Lake Placid Olympic Center Herb Brooks Arena, Lake Placid Olympic Jumping and Sliding complexes, Mid's Park in Lake Placid, Whiteface Mountain, Paul Smith's College, Paul Smith's College VIC, Saranac Lake Civic Center Ice Rink, Dewey Mountain Recreation Area, Tupper Lake Memorial Civic Center, Olympic Cross Country and Biathlon Center, Titus Mountain, and Mount Pisgah. For more information, visit EmpireStateWinterGames.com.

For immediate release Malone's Franklin County Fairgrounds on tap for East Coast Snocross, presented by Woody's Traction and FXR Malone, NY — After a few years away, the sights and sounds of snocross racing are returning to Upstate New York. East Coast Snocross (ECS) will present two days of high-flying action at the Franklin County Fairgrounds on Saturday and Sunday, March 9-10. Spectator gates open at 10 a.m. each day. Tickets are $12 per day for adults or $20 for a weekend pass. Children age 7 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Pit passes for those wanting an up-close look at the teams as they work on their machines are available for an extra $10. Leading the charge into Malone is pro rider Mike Pilotte. The Team Southside Polaris racer from Fall River, Mass., won the first six finals this season and says he's having more fun than ever in 2019. He'll have to fend off hard chargers like Dylan Roes (D&D Racing/Arctic Cat), a successful grass drag racer who is starting to turn some heads in snocross. Some of the riders to watch in the Pro Lite class include Dalton Jacquier, Adam Ashline, Adam Levi and Wade Acker. Jacquier and Acker already have a pair of wins each in 2019, while Ashline notched his first career Pro Lite victory in Warrensburg, NY, in early February. Other riders to watch in Pro Lite include Tucker Kierstead (D&D Racing/Arctic Cat) and Ryan Dupont (Team Southside/Polaris). All of these young athletes will be contenders in Malone. Along with a full slate of racing in pro and pro lite, the Malone event will also include some good battles in the sport, women and junior divisions. It takes support classes to fill out any card of racing, and the East Coast Snocross series is blessed with strong participation across the board. This event will also feature a Trail Stock class for those looking to give snocross a try for the first time. Aggressive trail riders with a desire to compete can test their skills in a safe environment. The weekend will also include races for children ages 6 to 10 riding 120cc machines on a separate, smaller track. This is where future stars of the sport learn what racing is all about. Malone is known as the gateway to the Adirondacks, and for good reason. Malone is a great destination for snowmobiling, downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, shopping and dining. It's a busy town with lots to offer, including the Titus Mountain Family Ski Center. To plan your trip to this northern New York gem, go to www.visitmalone.com. The East Coast Snocross series, presented by Woody's Traction and FXR, is an ISR-affiliated sanctioning body for snowmobile racing in the northeastern United States. ECS maintains a regional circuit intended to keep grassroots snocross racing healthy in this part of the country, while also cultivating new talent for tomorrow's factory-backed national pro teams. For more information, please go to www.eastcoastsnocross.com. ###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE contact: Carrie Gentile, communications coordinatorRegional Office of Sustainable Tourismdirect: 518.621.3665 or 518.523.2445 ext. 123 Tupper Lake, NY — This village’s annual Brew-Ski returns this Saturday, Feb. 23, and participants can expect plenty of fresh snow this year. With a several-inch base and more expected before Saturday, the James C. Frenette Sr. Recreational Trails, located at the Tupper Lake Golf Course, will provide participants an optimal Brew-Ski experience.For $10, embark on a craft-beer-and-skiing tour and glide along the growing network of groomed trails, stopping along the way to sample the region’s best brews. The 2019 Tupper Lake Brew-Ski will highlight eight local breweries that will be serving their craft beers along the one-and-a-half miles of beautifully maintained ski trails at the Tupper Lake Golf Course. Kids 12 and under are free. Breweries will bring their hops to the snow at several tasting stations along the trails, pouring samples as skiers and snow showers gather and mingle at fire pits along the way.The event will include the following North Country and Adirondack breweries: Raquette River Brewing, Big Tupper Brewing; Lake Placid Pub & Brewery, Big Slide Brewery and Public House, Blue Line Brewery, Oval Craft Brewing, Valcour Brewing Company, and Great Adirondack Brewing Company. High Peaks Cyclery will be on site with free ski and snowshoe rentals, as well as fat tire bikes. MAC’s Safe Ride will operate from noon-4 p.m. to provide transportation to participants.This year, there will be more kid-friendly activities including a hot chocolate bar, The Wild Center pass giveaways, an adjacent sledding hill, and kids’ ski and snowshoe rentals.Also occurring simultaneously is the Fire & Ice Golf Tournament from noon-4 p.m on the golf course. Three-person teams will play two rounds at the five-hole course. The cost is $60 per team with the proceeds benefiting the Lion’s Club community projects.###