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. ###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact:Carrie Gentile, Regional Office of Sustainable Tourismdirect: 518-621-3665 July, 2019 Lake Placid, NY – The 20th annual IRONMAN Lake Placid triathlon will take place from 6:25 a.m. to midnight Sunday, July 28. The triathlon route includes a 2.4-mile swim in Mirror Lake, a 112-mile bike ride through Lake Placid, Keene, Upper Jay, Jay, Black Brook, and Wilmington and a 26.2-mile run in and around the Lake Placid village. Temporary road closures will begin at 5 a.m. The following are all estimated times based on New York State Police traffic control. Please use caution and expect delays. Road closures (Route 86) Southbound in to Lake Placid from Wilmington beginning at 7 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Route 86 westbound from Jay to Wilmington will close from 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. Route 9N will close Northbound from Keene to Jay at 6 a.m until 5 p.m. Haselton Road will be closed in both directions from Bilhuber Road to the Black Brook town line from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Haselton Road from Route 86 to Bilhuber Road will be open only Northbound from 8 a.m -5 p.m. Road closures (Route 73) south/eastbound from Lake Placid to Keene beginning at 5 a.m. until 4 p.m. Notice to residents and businesses along the Wilmington Road from the traffic light to the Alpine Cellar: NOTE FROM IRONMAN TO WILMINGTON ROAD RESIDENTS: There are some changes to the bike course. Your home or business will be impacted as the cyclists will travel out and back on Wilmington Road/Route 86 from Northwood Road to the traffic light on Main Street at the Route 73 intersection. Thank you for your understanding and please use caution when exiting your residence as there will be bikes in both directions and they will be traveling in the opposite lane of traffic. Alternate Routes LAKE PLACID TO JAY From Saranac Avenue/Route 86, go left at Main Street at the High Peaks Resort to Mirror Lake Drive. Left on Northwood Road. Left on Cobble Hill Road. Left on Route 86 to Wilmington. Right on Route 86 to Jay. Expect delays in the Village of Lake Placid, in Wilmington, and in Jay from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. AUSABLE FORKS TO WILMINGTON North on Main Street at Stewart’s to stop sign. Left on Guideboard Road. Bear left at fork to Silver Lake Road. Left on Bonnieview Road to Wilmington. Expect delays at intersection in Wilmington. AUSABLE FORKS TO SARANAC LAKE/LAKE PLACID North on Main Street at Stewart’s to stop sign. Left on Guideboard Road. Bear left at fork to Silver Lake Road. Left on Union Falls Road to Route 3. Left on Route 3 to Saranac Lake. In Saranac Lake take Route 86 East to Lake Placid. AUSABLE FORKS TO KEENE Route 86 West, crossing Jersey Bridge to Sheldrake Road. Right on North Jay Road. (County Route 64). Left on Valley Road (County Route 58). Right on Trumbulls Corner Road. Left on Route 9N South to Keene. Expect delays in Ausable Forks and at Route 9N intersection. SARANAC LAKE TO I-87 SOUTHBOUND Route 3 West to Tupper Lake. Route 30 South to Long Lake. Route 28N to Newcomb. Route 2 East to Exit 29 on Route I-87 or Route 28N to Warrensburg. POINTS SOUTH ON ROUTE I-87 TO LAKE PLACID From Northbound Route I-87 take exit 29 to Route 2 West to Route 28N. Turn right on Route 28N to Newcomb. Route 28N to Long Lake. Right on Route 30 to Tupper Lake. Right on Route 3 East to Saranac Lake. Take exit 30 towards Keene. Follow route 9N to Rt 73. Expect delays at Keene. POINTS NORTH ON ROUTE I-87 TO LAKE PLACID From Southbound on Route I-87 take exit 31 to Route 9N North. Route 9N North to Elizabethtown. Route 9N North to Route 73. Right on Route 73 to Keene. Expect delays at the intersection in Keene. KEENE TO LAKE PLACID Route 73 Westbound lane open. Expect Delays at River Road/Ski Jumps intersection. Access Village of Lake Placid via Old Military Road. LAKE PLACID TO WILMINGTON/AUSABLE FORKS/I-87 NORTHBOUND From Saranac Avenue/Route 86, go left at Main Street at the High Peaks Resort to Mirror Lake Drive. Left on Northwood Road. Left on Cobble Hill Road. Left on Route 86 to Wilmington. Straight through intersection on Bonnieview Road (County Route 19). Right on Silver Lake Road and follow detour arrows to Ausable Forks. Expect delays in the Village of Lake Placid and in Wilmington from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ###

For Immediate Release Contact: Carrie Gentile, Regional Office of Sustainable Tourismdirect: 518-621-3665 Malone, NY - The 10 best days of summer are just around the corner as the 169th Franklin County Fair prepares to open its gates on Friday, Aug. 2 in Malone. With a midway packed with food concessions and rides; nationally-recognized bands and entertainers; a demolition derby; agricultural exhibits; tractor pulls and more; the fair remains as popular as ever. The following are some of this year’s highlights. The Australian soft-rock band Air Supply will be performing at the fairgrounds grandstand in on Aug. 9. Their hit “Lost in Love” was named song of the year in 1980, and, with the other singles, sold more than 10 million copies. Singles “Lost in Love,” “All Out of Love,” “The One That You Love,” “Sweet Dreams” and “Making Love Out Of Nothing At All” have each achieved multi-million plays on the radio. Tickets available online at www.frcofair.com and at the Franklin County Fair office in Malone. On Saturday, Aug. 3, comedian Larry the Cable Guy will be performing at the grandstand. Among other accolades, Larry has won Billboard’s 2005 Comedy Artist of the Year and Comedy Album of the Year, and he received the Billboard Top Comedy Tour Award in 2006. He is a bestselling author and his book Git-R-Done debuted at # 26 on the New York Times bestseller list. Bumper-to-bumper car chases, airborne motorcycles and Hollywood-style car crashes will keep the audience on the edge of their seats at the KSR Motorsports thrill show Hell Drivers. New this year, the show features two of the world’s most skilled stuntmen, Tonny Petersen and Doug Danger. Together they will lead a professional stunt team through a high-speed repertoire offering over an hours worth of thrill-packed adventure on Aug. 6. For a full schedule, visit https://www.frcofair.com/full-schedule.

Fresh-from-the-farm food and local brews meet beautiful lake and mountain scenery, along with options for active pursuits and water sports For immediate ReleaseContact: Carrie Gentile, Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism518-621-3665 July, 2019 ADIRONDACKS, N.Y. — From fresh meats to regionally-made cheeses to vegetables from local farms, and breweries crafting beer with homegrown hops, the Adirondack Coast region of New York has an abundance of agri-tourism opportunities for visitors. These activities are a growing trend in the region, paired with renowned outdoor sports and active pursuits. The Lake Champlain Valley has more than 240 farms set amidst the rugged shoreline of the 130-mile long Lake Champlain, with the backdrop of the Adirondack Mountains. The region offers a bounty to visitors and locals alike, with vegetable farms, dairies, meat farms, orchards and breweries. And this summer and fall, there are dozens of ways to enjoy a farming experience on the Adirondack Coast. The region offers family-friendly activities such as harvest events celebrating local crops, stopping in to a local farm store while on a scenic drive through the valley, or staying on a local working farm. A sampling of activities includes: Visit the bustling Agri-Alley on Mace Chasm Road, where young farmers and brewers have taken root. Surrounded by orchards, woods and pastures, you can visit Mace Chasm for grass-fed beef; Clover Mead Cafe and Farm Store serving food from the region; Fledgling Crow, the 42-acre organic vegetable farm; and Ausable Brewing, a family-owned nano brewing operation with 11 taps on 140 acres. There’s a pavilion for live music, and locally sourced food trucks each night. Stop by non-profit Hub on the Hill, a co-op facility open to local farmers looking to transform their harvest into frozen or shelf-stable food. There’s a commercial kitchen, warehouse and packing facility. The cafe and market is open to the public. Stay on a working farm for agriculture based lodging and dining experience where guests can unwind, hike the trails on the property, eat great local food and learn about farm life. Time your trip to coincide with the Adirondack Harvest Festival (Sept. 20-21) to meet with local growers, winemakers, experience agricultural demonstrations by farmers and beekeepers. The event also offers live music, breweries, food trucks, a mid afternoon round-table discussion, evening barbecue, a dance party and more. Horse lovers can check out the Heritage Harvest and Horse Festival(Oct. 5),whichincludesdemonstrations of equestrian sports and working horses, a harvest market and a six-acre corn maze for the entire family to enjoy. Experience the old-fashioned Essex County Fair (Aug. 14-18) or the annual Crown Point Corn Festival(Aug. 24) Exploring and Relaxing in the Outdoors: The Natural Beauty of Lake Champlain For active travelers, the Lake Champlain Region is an epicenter of outdoor activities amongst stunning topography. Ausable Chasm, a sandstone gorge that is often called the “Grand Canyon of the East,” offers 5 miles of scenic hiking and biking trails. The Ausable River flows from the canyon and spills into Lake Champlain, forming the region’s border in the region and providing amazing scenery and recreation. The rolling farmland and forests, scenic country roads, impossibly blue waters of Lake Champlain and Adirondack High Peaks in the distance make a nice companion to a ride. From sitting in an Adirondack Chair with expansive mountain and lake views, to kayaking and fishing, visitors can choose their own outdoor adventure level. Make a day trip or stay in one of several vibrant towns, including Westport and Essex, both on Lake Champlain. In addition to agri-tourism and outdoor exploration, visitors can enjoy lakeside fine dining, championship golf, the professional Depot Theatre (located in a historic, functioning 1876 train station) and concerts in the park. The region is famed for its B&Bs and historic inns including the 200 year-old, recently renovated Essex Inn. To learn more about agri-tourism, outdoor activities and accommodations in the Lake Champlain region, go to LakeChamplainRegion.com. For more information about the Adirondacks, AdirondacksUSA.com. ###