For immediate releaseContact: Carrie Gentile, communications coordinatorRegional Office of Sustainable TourismDirect: 518.621.3665 or 518.523.2445 ext. 123July 2019Lake Placid, N.Y. — The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) announces the launch of the new LakePlacid.com, a revamped, mobile-friendly website designed to promote tourism to the region.The site features extensive, easy-to-navigate listings of local lodging and dining options, special event listings, entertainment options and an emphasis on outdoor activities for all seasons. The user-friendly search options make that content easily accessible. Catherine Ericson, the Regional Marketing Manager for Lake Placid, noted that the site’s features make navigation for tourists better than ever, including direct hotel bookings, videos, and prominent event listings. “The all-new search feature makes it very easy for travelers to find exactly what they are looking for, with the option to refine the search to find specific types of activities,” said Ericson.Designed with mobile use in mind, the new site’s layout works as dynamically on a device as it does on a full-size screen, providing users with easy access to the stories and activities they are most interested in, including social media and hotel bookings.Business listings now feature free photo listings, helping to continue to drive tourist interest in local hotels, restaurants, attractions, and shops. Local businesses interested in being featured on the site should contact ROOST. ###

June, 2019 Tupper Lake, NY - The village of Tupper Lake will formally open its new bandshell in Flanders Park with aribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 2. All are welcome to attend.The Tupper Lake Bandshell was designed by architect Andrew Chary and constructed withfunding from the New York State Department of State under Title 11 of the EnvironmentalProtection Fund, donations raised by the Tupper Lake Lions Club and Tupper Lakeresidents and friends, and generous donations of labor and equipment by local contractorsand Lions Club members.At 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3, Tupper Lake will celebrate the opening of the newbandshell and Independence Day with the first concert of the 2019 Tupper Arts SummerSunset Series. Fireworks will follow at dusk.The full Summer Sunset Series program of events to be held at the new Tupper Lake Bandshell can be viewed at www.tupperarts.org. ###

For Immediate ReleaseContact: Carrie Gentile, communications coordinator; Regional Office of Sustainable Tourismdirect: 518.621.3665 or 518.523.2445 ext. 123 July 2019Jay, NY - An effort is underway to spur economic growth in the town of Jay through growing its tourism sector and by increasing the housing inventory in the region. Members of a newly formed Jay Task Force have been meeting since March to investigate and identify key initiatives to inspire growth in the town of Jay’s economy. “Our goals include attracting new residents, promoting the hidden gem businesses we have here already, and concentrating on the needs for housing,” said Spencer Reynolds, task force member and councilman for the town of Jay. The town of Jay is comprised of three Hamlets — Upper Jay, Jay, and Au Sable Forks, all located in Essex County. The town of Black Brook does share a portion of Au Sable Forks on the Clinton County side. Joining Reynolds are local business owners from all three hamlets, community members, representatives from the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, Clinton County Industrial Development Agency and the Housing Assistance Program of Essex County.The group is exploring the idea of Jay becoming a hub for housing and whether individuals or families who work in the Plattsburgh or the Tri Lakes region would consider the commute from Jay. “Early on, the task force recognized that the town’s housing stock was a valuable community asset and that developing a local housing strategy is key to its economic future,” said task force member Bruce Misarski, development director of the Housing Assistance Program of Essex County.Area business owners are being asked to provide information on how housing is affecting their workforce. The task force will be distributing an employee housing survey to employers within a 30 mile radius to ascertain if their employees housing needs are or are not being met. Pending the results of the survey, the hopes are it can be used as an incentive tool for developers to bring in housing and businesses to the area, Reynolds said. The survey is being sent out this week via email to area employers.Members:Spencer Reynolds, Town of Jay CouncilmanThomas McDonald, Town of Jay CouncilmanAnnie Stoltie, Adirondack Life Magazine, EditorMichelle and William Axtell, Adirondack Mountain Coffee CafeDavid Brunner, Asgaard Farm & DairyLloyd Brewer, Brewer BuildersSierra & Cory Hanf, Hollywood TheaterLynn Edmonds, Town of Jay residentRebecca Kelly and Craig Brashear, Tahawus Cultural CenterAlex Eaton and Margo Brooks, Sugar House CreameryJames McKenna, Regional Office of Sustainable TourismMaryJane Lawrence, Regional Office of Sustainable TourismRenee McFarlin, Clinton County Industrial Development AgencyBruce Misarski, Housing Assistance Program of Essex CountyElisha Bartlett, Housing Assistance Program of Essex County###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July, 2019 Wilmington, NY - The Adirondack mountain resort town of Wilmington is showcasing its rapidly growing web of mountain biking trails by hosting the 3rd Wilmington MTB Festival Aug. 30- Sept. 1, 2019 The three-day event capitalizes on Wilmington as a hub for over 25 miles of locally-built and rider-maintained single track. The town was recently named as one of America’s 20 Best Mountain Biking Towns by National Geographic. The weekend includes on-site camping, live music, local food and craft beer, group rides for all abilities, shuttles, and a kids’ mountain bike race. There are guided and self-guided group rides for beginners, intermediates and experts. Shuttles are available for these hour-long to full-day rides. The Trails Wilmington features miles of diverse single track riding at two large trail networks - the Flume and Hardy Road - as well as a screaming three-mile descent on the Poor Man's Downhill trail; a long, gnarly, backcountry tour on the Cooper Kiln trail, and 2,400 feet of lift-serviced vertical at Whiteface Mountain Bike Park. Whether you're looking for extreme downhill trails, technical mountain climbs or fast flowing single track, Wilmington is must-ride mountain bike destination. The Town Located in the middle of the Adirondacks, Wilmington is a destination for mountain bikers, hikers, skiers and fishermen, and those wanting to get close to nature. It is replete with gorgeous mountain views, beautiful waterfalls, an ever-expanding network of mountain biking trails and curvy paved roads through a scenic mountain notch. The Organizers The non-profit Barkeater Trails Alliance (BETA) is the event organizer. These volunteer riders and builders work to develop, maintain and advocate for a diverse, sustainable and interconnected system of trails for ski touring and mountain biking in the greater Adirondack High Peaks Region. In its 10 years years, the group has built 75 miles of trails, and is working on 30 new miles of trails to connect Lake Placid and Saranac Lake. Registration On-site camping is available in the Wilmington Town Park, which is serving as the basecamp for the festival. Pre-registration is the only way to reserve a campsite: http://www.wilmingtonmtbfestival.com/registration.html. On-site registration is available at the festival on Sept. 1; however, organizers cannot guarantee camp sites will still be available. For those who are interested in attending the festival but are not camping, lodging options can be found here: http://www.whitefaceregion.com/stay/lodging. Day passes are also available on-site or in advance on the website. For a full schedule of events or to register, go to wilmingtonmtbfestival.com. ###

July, 2019Big Dipper over Adirondack chairs lit red by headlamps, Blue Mountain Lake, Hamilton Co., Adirondack Park & Forest Preserve, NYTupper Lake, NY - With its location within a protected state park, with low light pollution, low humidity and sitting at a high altitude, Tupper Lake provides ideal conditions for night sky viewing, some of the best east of the Mississippi. Local officials, university professors, and amateur astronomers have long recognized the community’s potential to become an astrotourism hub, and have banded together to build on the current Adirondack Sky Center and create a state-of-the-art AstroScience center here, tentatively slated to open in 2024, during another fabulous eclipse. In the meantime, Tupper Lake is holding stargazing and other events to raise funds and awareness about the planned opening of the new center aimed at exposing the public to the beautiful night sky. On Sunday, July 21, all are welcome to a community-wide celebration of the dark skies and stargazing at the first Adirondack Sky Festival. The day-long event is a mix of star and solar gazing at the current Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory (formerly the Adirondack Public Observatory) at 178 Big Wolf Road in Tupper Lake. Starting at 1 p.m., participants can take advantage of the Roll Off Roof Observatory, games and crafts, a scavenger hunt, scientific demonstrations and solar gazing through specialized telescopes. Experts will be on hand to talk about the stars and planets, and how to best see them, offering tips to the public. To date there are three lecturers: Al Nagler, a former optical designer at NASA known for designing lunar landing simulators and Tele Vue eyepieces for telescopes; Andy Andersen of the International Dark Sky Association discussing light pollution impacts on wildlife; and Gib Brown, former meteorologist at WPTZ and college professor, showing the Science on a Sphere. All of these events are taking place at The Wild Center. At the Tupper Lake High School, Bruce McClure will lead planetarium shows in the StarLab. The Adirondack Sky Center’s own professional astronomers, Aileen O’Donoghue, Jeffrey Miller and Joshua Thomas, all trustees of the organization, will be leading demonstrations and addressing questions throughout the day. Jeff Miller and David Fadden, Mohawk Artist and Storyteller from the Six Nations Museum in Onchiota, will also give a talk at the High School at 7:30 p.m. on Star Stories of the Haudenosaunee, Greek and Roman Traditions. There will be plenty of celestial-themed music at the Tupper Lake Bandshell, with local band Night School, from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.; and then stargazing at the observatory. David Levy, internationally known comet hunter and co-discoverer of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9. which impacted Jupiter in 1994, has just published his autobiography The Nightwatchman's Journey: The Road not Taken and will be discussing it and signing copies. In October, the Adirondack Sky Center will host a four-day astrophotography conference. Held October 3 - 6, it is aimed at astrophotographers of all levels looking to capture images with the aid of instructors and specialized telescopes. Spaces are limited so please contact the Sky Center office if you are interested. Members receive a discounted registration fee. Why Tupper Lake? This community sits squarely in the Adirondacks, six million acres that is permanently protected as “Forever Wild” by the New York State Constitution, which means the region will remain wilderness and not be threatened by urban lighting. The low humidity and high altitude add clarity to the dark skies. Local officials recognized early on the special nature of their dark skies and agreed to install down-facing streetlights, which help to curb light pollution. The region is also visited annually by an estimated 7-10 million tourists, and surveys say that up to half of tourists seeking outdoor experiences are interested in stargazing and learning the night sky. Emerging campaign for the Wilderness above The AstroScience Center museum, which organizers anticipate will open in five years, is the second building being constructed to comprise the Adirondack Sky Center campus. The Observatory was completed in 2013, and a third building housing a 24-inch reflecting Research Telescope will cap the project. The science center will provide astronomy-related experiences for visitors, day or night, in clear or cloudy weather, including a Planetarium, Lecture Hall, Interactive Classroom and much more. A limited range of fun, hands-on educational activities are now offered year-round in the Sky Center Activity Room at the organization’s Office and Gift Shop, 36 High Street in Tupper Lake, and stargazing at the observatory. The Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory appreciates the support of I Love NY and the Stewart’s / Dake Family Foundations. For more information, visit AdirondackSkyCenter.org. ###