Note: The following letter has been sent to the Editors of regional newspapers. To the Editor, Together, we all have an opportunity to use the current set of circumstances in Saranac Lake as a jumping-off point to move the dial on inclusivity in this region. Now is the time to recognize that there is racism in our region and that it needs to be addressed. The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism fully supports the Adirondack Diversity Initiative and values all the work Nicky Hylton-Patterson has accomplished thus far as the Executive Director. The education and leadership Nicky has provided is imperative to our region’s long term sustainability. We must acknowledge that racism is a significant issue as well as the need for our region to become more understanding and welcoming to a diverse resident and visitor population. This must happen. It will be a process that will need the commitment of all leadership, businesses, and residents. Let’s start now. Sincerely, James B. McKenna, CEO Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism

Stamford CT – July 2020 - Connecticut-based online training company Autism Double-Checked (ADC) has announced an initiative to help travel and hospitality staff in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut area by offering free training courses on a first-come-first-served basis through August 31st 2020. The training is designed to educate hospitality industry workers to better assist travelers with Autism needs. CEO, Alan Day, said, “Huge numbers of travel industry employees are out of work and are facing a very competitive job market. Our easy-to-take autism awareness courses will allow participants to acquire a new skillset from home that can be put to good use when they return to their jobs or look for employment. As many of the users may currently be struggling to make ends meet, these courses are being offered free of charge. On completing the course satisfactorily, enrollees will be able to print a certificate of learning valid for three years.” Participants will select the most relevant course to their job function: There are six options for hotel staff, eight choices for airport and airline workers, five choices for those at visitor attractions/theme parks and another course for restaurant staff. Sandy Burns, Director of inflight service for Flair Airlines of Canada said “Last year, Flair’s 150 cabin crew were all very excited to take the ADC course and I constantly get very positive feedback on how it has helped them assist special needs passengers. If I were to receive a resume where the applicant had personally taken the initiative to become certified as autism aware, it would certainly say a lot about that person and we’d definitely want to meet them.” All courses are online, can be accessed from any web-enabled device and are available in Spanish or English. Course lengths will vary from 30 to 60 minutes, all are self-paced and suited to any educational background. When the loosening of restrictions allows, families with autistic children and autistic adults, will be just as eager to travel as everyone else. When they do, they will want to know that the people assisting them understand the issues that arise when traveling with autism. According to Day, the size of the Autism market is about 10 million people in the United States alone. These people are eager to travel but face many challenges. Having Autism-trained staff can be an asset to encourage more travel in a time when all hospitality businesses are trying to recover. John Mason of Bedford, Mass, and father of a young autistic adult said, “Thank you. The work you are doing is so important. Travel with our son can be difficult, but it is not impossible. Some of our requests may sound strange to those who do not understand autism but are perfectly normal to people who know even a little about it. The more people in hotels, airlines, restaurants and attractions with that important knowledge the easier it will be for us to travel.” About Autism Double-Checked (ADC): Stamford CT-based ADC was founded in 2014 by two travel industry veterans: CEO Alan Day has over 20 years’ experience it retail travel and – as the father of an autistic son – he recognized the lack of special needs training in the travel industry. Co-founder David Tait OBE is a career airline executive and author, who started Virgin Atlantic Airways with Richard Branson in 1984 and ran the airline in the USA for 20 years. Together Day and Tait formed ADC with the mission of preparing travel entities to receive autistic guests while simultaneously readying the autistic guest for their destination – the latter is done by way of a customized Social Story and Visitor’s Guide. For more information about autism, travel with autism or training, contact Alan Day, Autism Double-Checked at (203) 750-0000. For enrollment, go to: www.AutismChecked.ORG For more information about courses, contact support@autismchecked.net ### Press Release provided BY FINN Partners/ILNY

Please help us collect data for so that the Adirondacks are all represented accurately at the Federal Level. Getting a complete and accurate count of our total population will have a lasting impact for the next 10 years. Federal funding – money allocated for schools, healthcare facilities, roads, public works, and other vital programs here in Essex County is based on the total population. Federal representation – the number of our state’s congressional representatives is based on population. During the 2010 census, NYS lost 2 seats… 2 fewer voices to advocate for the needs of the North Country region. Local government efficiency – budgets and planning at the local level, for roads, schools, emergency services, and other important public services, are more effective when based on accurate statistics. Federal grant opportunities – access to various federal and state grant and loan opportunities relies heavily upon population data and socioeconomic data that is collected through the Census and accuracy is crucial! The Census affects ALL OF US, regardless of age, race, cultural and ethnicity. Respond to the Census by: Web: 2020census.govPhone: 844-330-2020 Completing the Census is PRIVATE, SAFE, EASY & EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

SARANAC LAKE, NY - The Saranac Lake streetlight banner program has a new addition to its lineup that celebrates the thriving local arts scene. The newest banners were designed by local artist Anna Kittle with the help of the volunteer Saranac Lake Arts and Culture Advisory Board. The Arts and Culture banners highlight writing, art, dance, theatre, and music, and include three of each of the five designs. The village has 15 light poles that banners are displayed on regularly. “The colorful, well-designed banners that line our downtown main streets are ageless, adding festiveness, purpose, and variety, while promoting our most treasured activities, events, connections, and special causes that make Saranac Lake decidedly different,” Kathy Ford, chair of the Arts and Culture Advisory Board said. “Soon to be added to the mix of paddling, hiking, and more will be striking new banners promoting the arts that are so vital to Saranac Lake. A special project of the Arts and Culture Advisory Board, these five banners capture our vibrant local arts community, representing music, creative writing, theatre, dance, and art. “I had the honor of working closely with talented local artist, Anna Kittle, who spent numerous volunteer hours creating the beautiful illustrations for each of these arts banners. The designs align with and incorporate the colors of our Saranac Lake brand and mosaic patterns. They will line Main Street and Broadway in the next month, catching the eye while sparking the imagination, sharing that Saranac Lake is also #decidedlyArts.” Other banners include the brand's mosaic design, the 6er hiking challenge, and Celebrate Paddling. Earlier this year, “Racism is a public health crisis” banners as well. “Banners are our village's calling card as they are the first things people notice and read when they come to our downtown, so they are key to our village's image and marketing,” Saranac Lake Mayor Clyde Rabideau said. “We work shoulder to shoulder with ROOST professionals in developing banner concepts, then their design, and even the printing of the banners. ROOST is a vital partner, with us every step of the way, making sure our image and marketing are on point.” “Working with the village and volunteers on the art banners was great because it highlighted how active and involved the members of the community are,” Justin Levine, ROOST’s Saranac Lake marketing representative, said. “The village’s program is excellent, and the banners - no matter which set - are a wonderful addition to the scenery. “While each set of banners is unique, ensuring they are in line with the village’s Decidedly Different brand allows the banners to promote Saranac Lake with distinct but cohesive messaging, and we look forward to continuing to move this program with the village.”

ADIRONDACKS, NEW YORK - The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) is pleased to announce the launch of Adirondack Wayfinder, a new website that showcases the Adirondacks through thematic road trip itineraries. Originally developed through the support of a DEC Smart Growth Grant awarded to Hamilton County, the goal of Adirondack Wayfinder is to help highlight the variety of experiences and the unique communities that make up the Adirondack region. At 6 million acres, the sheer scale of the Adirondacks can be intimidating for first-time visitors. Adirondack Wayfinder helps take out the guesswork by allowing travelers to search through a variety of curated itineraries that appeal to different interests. Once an itinerary or “trail” has been selected, it can be customized by adding and/or removing different attractions and amenities. Users enter their starting point and the website reorders the trail stops based on that location. Once the trail and starting point has been selected, the information can be pushed to Google Maps, allowing users to navigate via their mobile device or sync with their vehicle’s navigation system. “Our scenic roadways can connect visitors to a rich variety of experiences. The concept of the Adirondack Wayfinder is to help foster that connection and encourage people to spend additional time discovering more of what the Adirondacks has to offer,” states Bill Farber, Chairman of the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors. “In a year where people are looking to avoid congested areas, we look forward to leveraging the new Adirondack Wayfinder to help disperse people around the region.” “The visually impactful and easy to navigate website is designed to inspire travelers by showcasing the unique travel opportunities available in the Adirondacks,” says Michelle Clement, Director of Marketing at ROOST. “Road trips to close-by destinations with plenty of outdoor opportunities are the type of travel people are looking to experience at this time. The Adirondacks have this product and Adirondack Wayfinder is an excellent tool for telling this story.” For the initial launch, the website highlights topics relevant to traveling in the fall of 2020, such as motorcycle touring, breweries, farm trails, and family-friendly itineraries. Existing thematic trails, including the New York State Designated Adirondack Cuisine Trails, are also available on the website. Additionally, Adirondack Wayfinder features easy access to fall foliage reports and “Adirondack Travel Alerts,” which hosts information on what travelers should know about traveling in the Adirondacks and New York state during this time. As seasons change, and more businesses and attractions around the Adirondacks continue to return to regular operations, the types of trails highlighted will adjust and continue to grow. Additionally, businesses and communities are encouraged to create their own trails and itineraries. For anyone who has an idea for a new trail, a toolkit has been developed by River Street Planning and Development, in conjunction with ROOST and Hamilton County, to assist others in developing their own trails and itineraries. The toolkit is available at AdirondackWayfinder.com/about.ROOST is the destination marketing organization for Hamilton and Essex counties, along with the communities of Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake. The new Adirondack Wayfinder website can be found at AdirondackWayfinder.com. ### View/Download High-Resolution Fall Images View Travel Media Press Release