Free Whiteface-Lake Placid Hiker Shuttle Will Run Weekends through Columbus Day WeekendLAKE PLACID, NY - Autumn is one of the busiest times of year on the Adirondack mountains and trails. Families and guests visit the region from throughout the Northeast and around the world to enjoy the unparalleled splendor of the beautiful Adirondacks bursting with fall foliage. Avoid parking shortages at trailheads and use the new free shuttle service. Leave your car at home or at your hotel and ride the shuttle to six nearby family-friendly hiking trails. Beginning September 13 and running through October 6, and Friday through Monday during Columbus Day Weekend, Essex County will offer complimentary rides to and from the Whiteface Landing Trailhead, Copperas Pond Trailhead, Whiteface Mountain Ski Lodge, and Bear Den Trailhead at Whiteface Mountain. Essex County is undertaking this effort in collaboration with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Lake Placid’s Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) and the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA).“Essex County is proud to take the lead in this endeavor to relieve overuse and overcrowding on our gorgeous trails. By offering this transportation we hope that our hiking and back country enthusiasts will take advantage the opportunity to explore the breathtaking trails less traveled,” said Essex County Board of Supervisors Chairman / Town of Willsboro Supervisor Shaun Gillilland.“DEC appreciates and supports Essex County’s efforts to provide hikers and other visitors with safe transportation to these trails. This pilot shuttle is part of DEC’s ongoing, comprehensive efforts to promote sustainable tourism in the High Peaks region and protect this irreplaceable resource. The results of the pilot shuttle will inform our collective efforts to further expand a shuttle system in the future,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos.“ORDA and Whiteface are excited to be a part of this shuttle program. This is a great opportunity to showcase our two areas, Bear Den Mountain, and the Stag Brook Fall trails, while doing our part while helping to ensure the safety of families and all guests who visit the High Peaks during this exciting time of year.” --- ORDA President/CEO Mike Pratt.“The shuttle service will help expose our visitors and hikers to new trails and vistas that they may otherwise miss. The six trails are varied and offer exceptional mountain and lake views,” said ROOST CEO Jim McKenna. “The shuttle also provides a convenient and sustainable way for our visitors to enjoy our region during this fall season.”The shuttle service has two departing locations in Lake Placid, the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort (Shuttle stop 1) and Mirror Lake Park, across from the High Peaks Resort (Shuttle stop 2). Service runs each day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Shuttles are scheduled approximately every 60 minutes. The shuttle will stop transporting riders from Lake Placid after 2:47 p.m. to ensure hikers have enough time to enjoy their hike and not miss the last shuttle back to Lake Placid.Trail DescriptionsShuttle Stop 3 – Whiteface Landing TrailheadWhiteface Landing: The 3.25-mile trail ascends 310 feet from the trailhead to the shore of Lake Placid, where you can view McKenzie Mountain, Moose Mountain, Moose Island, and the surrounding wilderness lands across the lake. Round trip is 6.5 miles.Shuttle Stop 4 – Copperas Pond TrailheadCopperas and Owen Ponds: The trail ascends 450 feet in a quarter mile, then descends for another quarter mile to the clear waters of Copperas Pond before continuing 0.7 miles to the shore of Owen Pond. The trail provides views of the scenic wilderness ponds, their picturesque shorelines, 3,616-foot Stewart Mountain, and 3,892-foot Kilburn Mountain. Round trip is 2.4 miles.Shuttle Stop 5 – Bear Den Mountain TrailheadFlume Trail System: The trail system is comprised of approximately 10 miles of trails open to hiking and mountain biking. An approximately 1-mile scenic hike descends 220 feet along the West Branch of the Ausable River and accesses an overlook of a set of rapids on the river, making for a great family experience. Use the Lower Connector Trail from the trailhead to access the River Trail. Round trip is 2 miles.Bear Den Mountain: The trail ascends 1.6 miles and 1,160 feet from the trailhead to the 2,400-foot summit of Bear Den Mountain. The summit provides spectacular views of the West Branch of the Ausable River Valley, Sentinel Range, Stephenson Range, and the ski trails and summit of Whiteface Mountain. Round trip is 3.2 miles.Shuttle Stop 6 – Whiteface Mountain Ski LodgeStag Brook Falls Trail: Take the gravel service road to the right of the main lodge, pass to the left of the smaller building, and continue to top of the road and look for the trail marker on the power pole which marks the beginning of the trail. The trail proceeds through the woods past a 25-foot waterfall and ends on open ski trails which provide a scenic view of the river valley and the surrounding mountains. Round trip from the base lodge is 1 mile. West Branch Nature Trail: Take the service road to the top of Mixing Bowl Lift and follow the red trail markers along the West Branch of the Ausable River through hardwood forests to open ski trails. Return to the base lodge via the beautiful Stag Brook Trail. This loop is 1.9 miles long and climbs 335 feet in elevation.Please note that Whiteface Mountain’s annual Oktoberfest will take place on September 28 and September 29. During the two-day event, the Whiteface-Lake Placid Hiker Shuttle will be unable to access shuttle stops for Bear Den Mountain Trailhead (#5) and the Whiteface Mountain Ski Lodge (#6). Instead riders will be dropped off and picked up outside at a single stop along the entrance road. Riders will need to pay admission to hike and/or to attend the Oktoberfest. ($16 for adults and $14 for seniors and children at the gate.)The full schedule and map can be found here: https://www.lakeplacid.com/hiker-shuttle.###Bear Den MountainCopperas PondStag Brook Falls###

40th Games set for January 30 - February 2, 2020 in the Adirondack Region FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Carrie GentileROOST Communications Coordinatorcgentile@roostadk.com518-621-3665 Jon LundinORDA Director of Communicationsjlundin@orda.org518-523-1655 Sarah Warren Community Bank, N.A. Public Relations Specialist Sarah_Warren@dixonschwabl.com 585-899-3271 Oct. 1, 2019 Lake Placid, NY - Community Bank, N.A. will return as the Title Sponsor of the Empire State Winter Games for the next three years (2020-2022). The extended partnership begins this January when the ESWGs celebrates 40 years of competition in the Adirondack region. “We’re excited to continue our partnership with the Empire State Winter Games,” Community Bank Chief Executive Officer Mark Tryniski said. “At Community Bank N.A., we’re more than a bank. We are members of the community that live, work and play here in the North Country. We’re proud to sponsor the Games that gives us a chance to celebrate our state’s love of winter sports and cheer on local participants.” Throughout its more than 150-year history, Community Bank has remained committed to a community-focused approach that puts its neighbors and customers first, including offering financial support to its communities through in-kind donations and volunteer service. It has been the title sponsor of the Empire State Winter Games, which contributes to the North Country’s economy, for four consecutive years. The bank is based in New York State but has more than 240 branches across Upstate New York, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Vermont and Western Massachusetts. Over 2,300 athletes of all ages from across the state and beyond are expected to participate in the Olympic-style event as they join in the two legs of the torch relay, walk in a parade of athletes for the opening ceremony, and compete in more than 30 sports. The Games offer these athletes the chance to compete on a world-class stage in the largest annual amateur winter sporting events in the nation. Olympic alpine skier Andrew Weibrecht, lugers Chris Mazdzer and Emily Sweeney, and biathletes Lowell Bailey and Tim Burke all competed at the ESWG early in their careers before earning their place on Team USA. You do not have to be a New York state resident to participate in the Empire State Games and most sports are open to all levels. “We can’t wait to celebrate four decades of tradition, sport and community” said Event Director Molly Rose Mayer. “The Adirondack region’s Olympic heritage and legacy is alive and well and the ESWG brings participants as close as they can get to that feeling. The Games are an unforgettable experience for all that compete and moreover it’s an incredible opportunity for our athletes that come from over 15 states and three countries, to form lasting friendships and enrich their lives in a way that they never forget.” Athletes, clubs, families and spectators can use the ESWG website (www.empirestatewintergames.com) and social media (@eswgames) for event details and updates. 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. About Community Bank System Inc.Community Bank System Inc. operates more than 240 customer facilities across Upstate New York, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Vermont and Western Massachusetts through its banking subsidiary, Community Bank N.A. and has been serving its communities for more than 150 years. With more than $11 billion in assets, the DeWitt, New York-headquartered company is among the country’s 150 largest financial institutions. Community Bank, N.A. has consistently been ranked among the top 15 best banks in America by Forbes magazine for the past eight years running, and was most recently ranked third in 2019. In addition to a full range of retail and business banking services, the company offers comprehensive financial planning, insurance and wealth management services. Community Bank System Inc. subsidiaries/business units include OneGroup NY Inc., which provides risk management and commercial insurance, employee benefits and personal lines insurance; Community Bank Wealth Management, which provides investment advisory, personal trust and financial planning services, as well as personal, business and nonprofit portfolio design; and Benefit Plans Administrative Services Inc., which provides actuarial, retirement and VEBA/HRA plan administration, and collective investment fund, employee benefit trust and transfer agency services. Community Bank System Inc. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the company’s stock trades under the symbol “CBU.” For more information about Community Bank, visit cbna.com or ir.communitybanksystem.com. Community Bank N.A. is a Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender. ###

November, 2019 Lake Placid, NY - The Adirondack alpine village of Lake Placid invites all to experience a festive start to the season as it hosts the 10th Holiday Village Stroll, complete with holiday shopping, family fun, arts and entertainment from Friday, Dec. 13 through Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. Lake Placid, New York is a popular year-round vacation destination situated between two lakes, ringed by Adirondack mountain peaks with a quaint and vibrant Main Street. The two-time Olympic Winter Games host holds the distinction of being America’s first winter resort, as the famed Lake Placid Club remained open for the winter season during the winter of 1904. The area has beckoned visitors to play in the snow for over 100 years! This December, the Holiday Village Stroll weekend is packed with plenty of activities for kids and families including a skating party, opportunities to visit with Santa, holiday movie screenings at the Palace Theatre, a tree-lighting ceremony, holiday crafts, story time and free sleigh rides around Mirror Lake. Adults will enjoy strolling Lake Placid’s quaint Main Street adorned with ice sculptures, holiday shopping deals, specialty drinks, local beer tastings, and live music throughout the village. In addition, the Jingle Bell Run/Walk is a fun race on a 2.5-mile course around scenic Mirror Lake, in which hundreds of visitors and locals compete; festive costumes are encouraged! In addition, dress as Santa and ski free at Whiteface Mountain. In addition to the weekend’s activities, area hotels are offering tremendous special package rates on accommodations. There are restaurant deals and shopping specials as well. Highlights of the Holiday Village Stroll weekend include: Free skating party at the Lake Placid Olympic Center, where Santa will make an appearanceSanta’s arrival by fire truck on Main StreetBreakfast with SantaFree classic holiday movies in the old-fashioned movie theatreTraditional Yule Log HuntMid’s Park Holiday Celebration with tree lighting and special performance with the Lake Placid school chorusSkating performancesCookie decorating, holiday card making, and gingerbread house making workshops“Golden Ladle” soup, chili and chowder competition with complimentary tastings for all, provided by local dining establishmentsLocal beer tastingsLive bands throughout the weekend at various restaurants Visit lakeplacid.com/perfect-holiday for a complete list of lodging options for the Holiday Village Stroll weekend and for the latest event updates. ###

For Immediate ReleaseContact: Carrie GentileRegional Office of Sustainable TourismLake Placid Celebrates 40th Anniversary of the 1980 Winter OlympicsThe Lake Placid Olympic legacy will be front and center during a weeklong celebration beginning February 14Lake Placid, NY – Forty years ago this February, the Adirondack village of Lake Placid hosted the 13th Olympic Winter Games. The heroics of the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team’s improbable win over the Russians, known as the “Miracle on Ice,” and speed skater Eric Heiden’s five gold medals helped make the 1980 Lake Placid Games one for the ages, one with an enduring legacy.The 40th anniversary of the 1980 Winter Games presents the perfect opportunity to celebrate Lake Placid’s rich Olympic legacy - past, present and future. From February 14 - 23, the two-time Olympic village is rolling out the welcome mat and is hosting a full slate of activities that will embody the Olympic spirit - from re-living the opening ceremony and torch lighting, ice skating around the historic Olympic Oval, to skiing with Olympic athletes. There will be opportunities to meet several Olympic medalists including speed skater Dan Jansen (1984,1988,1992,1994), alpine ski racer Andrew Weibrecht (2010, 2014, 2018), luger Mark Grimmette (1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010), figure skater Paul Wylie (1992) and many more. The entire village including the Olympic venues will be on full display during this community-wide celebration.The LegacyLake Placid is one of only two cities world-wide to have hosted two Olympic Winter Games, 1932 and 1980. Since then, it has played host to annual World Cup events and other large-scale sporting competitions.The village’s Olympic legacy is unmatched. Lake Placid has sent at least one athlete to every winter Games, and in total, has sent over 100 athletes to compete, since the first modern winter Games in 1924. Other area athletes have also claimed Olympic glory, including Andrew Weibrecht, a two-time Olympic medalist in Super-G; Billy Demong, a two-time Olympic medalist and Olympic champion in Nordic Combined; and Chris Mazdzer, an Olympic silver medalist in men’s singles luge. This is accomplished through Lake Placid’s commitment and support of its Olympic sports development programs. Recently, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo committed nearly $240-million in funding to support the Olympic Regional Development Authority properties. These unprecedented investments in capital projects are improving the infrastructure of Olympic venues to ensure they can continue to attract and support large-scale, global events, while transforming these areas facilities into year-round attractions.The CelebrationThe following highlights just some of the events planned. More activities are being added on a weekly basis. For more information, schedule, and updates, visit https://www.lakeplacid.com/the-40th-anniversary-of-the-1980-winter-olympics. - Torch run with 1980 Olympic Winter Games torchbearers and local athletes, followed by lighting of the 1980 Olympic Cauldron on the grounds of the Opening Ceremonies. State and local officials and past, present and future Olympians will be part of the ceremony. - speaking engagement and meet and greet with speed skater and medalist Dan Jansen- First tracks at Whiteface Mountain with Olympic medalist Andrew Weibrecht - Learn to Luge with Olympic lugers and coaches - Be a Biathlete! Experience the sport of biathlon with Olympic biathletes - Athlete forum on Lake Placid's Olympic Legacy with a Q&A featuring some of Lake Placid's Olympians- Screening of the Disney movie Miracle at Lake Placid’s Palace Movie Theatre- Cross-country or downhill ski with Olympians at Whiteface Mountain and Mount Van Hoevenberg - Book signing by Wayne Coffey, author of The Boys of Winter, an account of the “Miracle on Ice” - 80s Family Fun Party at the Olympic Ski Jumps and other venues - 80s themed trivia night - Learn the sport of curling on Mirror Lake - Vintage wine tasting at Terry Robards Wine & Spirits - Olympic-themed crafts for kidsEnjoy the “fun zone” on Main Street each evening between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. where visitors can enjoy hot chocolate, s’mores, games, music and more. Restaurants, bars and shops will be celebrating too with live music and events. Lake Placid as a winter destinationAlong with these special events, guests can experience Olympic-themed activities by skating on the Olympic Speed Skating Oval or barreling down the Mt. Van Hoevenberg bobsled/luge/skeleton track. Adventurous guests can ride a toboggan down a 30-foot high slide that’s specifically designed to launch riders across Mirror Lake’s icy surface. Situated between two lakes and ringed by Adirondack mountain peaks, Lake Placid beckons travelers to play outside all winter long with pursuits such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, pond hockey, dogsled rides, sledding and ice fishing. In addition, visitors can also ski and ride the greatest vertical in the east at iconic Whiteface Mountain.###

For Immediate ReleaseContact: Carrie Gentile, Regional Office of Sustainable Tourismdirect line: 518-621-3665New Snow Tubing Center Prepares To Open at Titus Mountain Family Ski CenterMalone, NY - Already a popular upstate New York venue for skiing and tubing, Titus Mountain Family Ski Center is raising the bar by replacing its current tubing area with a larger, faster, more convenient and more fun center to accommodate increased demand for tubing. Titus Ski Center in Malone, NYIt is slated to open this Thanksgiving weekend, should the weather cooperate.Visit the newly constructed tubing park and breeze down multiple runs that are now 800 feet long, and steeper for an added adrenaline rush. The runs have been widened as well to accommodate double tubes holding two people at a time. When tubers have reached the bottom, skip the hike back up and step on New York State’s newest 550-foot conveyor magic carpet lift. A new lodge on top of the tubing hill with views of the lanes will be open to the public as a warming hut. Additional rooms can be reserved for birthday parties, corporate events, or any occasion. Season tubing passes are $149 and there are no restrictions or black out dates. “Tubing is gaining in popularity and is both an alternative to skiing, or an additional amenity to the skiing experience at Titus,” said co-owner Bruce Monette. “It’s a fun, affordable way to get people outside and active all winter long.”Not only is the tubing at Titus fun for the whole family, but as the name implies, Titus is big on being beginner and family-friendly. It delivers a kid-friendly experience from the moment the car doors open. In fact, last season, it earned the #1 resort for beginners in North America, the #2 most family-friendly resort and #3 best value resort in North America in Liftopia's 2018/19 Best in Snow awards.Voters consistently applaud its "great grooming" and note there are "always chairs available," with a "perfect slope for beginners" and an "over-the-top family friendly" atmosphere. The "Best Kept Secret" program allows their ski school to create programs centered around skiers' needs, rather than making them fit their needs into a pre-made program.The 2,025-foot summit mountain is home to 50 trails and glades over three inter-connected mountains accessed by 10 lifts, as well as the tubing center. Titus also has some built-in advantages, such as easy commutes from major cities with little or no traffic and short lift lines. Located in Malone, NY, it is just an hour south of Montreal, two hours from Ottawa, three hours from Albany, and about 5 1/2 hours from the New York City metro area."We make skiing with kids easier by offering plenty of easily-accessible beginner and intermediate terrain, an advantageous resort layout with short distances from the parking lot to the slopes, and ski-in and ski-out lodging," said Monette.###