Adirondacks, U.S.A. - The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) and local leaders are inviting residents to register for the 11th annual Great Adirondack Garage Sale. For 2021, the event is moving back to its historic Memorial Day weekend schedule. The dates this year are May 28 - 30. The garage sale stretches over 200 miles through Adirondack communities, including Old Forge, Inlet, Raquette Lake, Indian Lake, Blue Mountain Lake, Long Lake, Tupper Lake, Piercefield, Newcomb, and Speculator. Registration is free online and listings on the website include dates and times for each sale. Each community will also receive paper maps of local sale locations to hand out. To register and find more information, visit www.GreatAdirondackGarageSale.com. The interactive website showcases sale locations and allows unlimited photos of the items for sale to be uploaded. “Finding hidden gems at garage and yard sales is such a fun part of summer,” Christy Wilt, Director of Hamilton County Economic Development and Tourism said. “We look forward to the Great Adirondack Garage Sale every year. The date was pushed to August last year due to COVID-19, but we’re back in May this year and are anticipating a safe and healthy event. It’s a great opportunity to upcycle things we don’t use anymore, connect with our neighbors, and, of course, spend some time outdoors.” Garage and yard sales are permitted in New York State. Masks and social distancing are still required. Shoppers should continue to wash their hands, sanitize, and be respectful during the Garage Sale. For more information, contact ROOST’s Hamilton County and Tupper Lake Marketing Manager Katie LaLonde at katie@roostadk.com. The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism is the destination marketing and management organization for Hamilton and Essex counties, along with the communities of Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake, all located within the Adirondacks in New York State. ###

Lake Placid, New York. - The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) in partnership with the Lake Placid Business Association (LPBA) has developed a “Perfecting Placid” toolkit available for businesses to utilize during the construction on Main Street Lake Placid. This toolkit is a collection of resources that will help promote and share a consistent message, that Main Street is open for business. It also offers support to local businesses through local co-op advertising opportunities. “We encourage our local businesses to use these materials as they communicate with customers and promote their business,” Bethany Valenze, ROOST’s Lake Placid Marketing Manager, said. “It’s important that we all share the same message so residents and travelers receive consistent information. Construction can be a confusing time but we want people to know that Main Street is open; it’s just undergoing some perfecting.” The toolkit provides a variety of materials businesses can use, including images of Milton the Moose donning a hard hat and the message “Pardon the dust. Perfect in progress.” There is also a flyer with a QR code that brings people to the Perfecting Placid website. The website has up-to-date information on road detours, parking, and Main Street upgrade updates. Discounted co-op advertising is available to businesses as part of the toolkit. This was made possible by ROOST in conjunction with the LPBA, the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, the Lake Placid News, WSLP (93.3 fm), and Adirondack 105. Businesses can fill out the sales sheet available in the toolkit to learn more about how to take advantage of this great opportunity to gain exposure at a fraction of the normal cost. All items are available digitally, and some are available physically. Businesses should contact ROOST for window clings and flyers if they’d like them for use during construction. To access toolkit materials, visit www.RoostADK.com/Perfecting. “A message is only successful through its amplification. ‘Perfecting Placid’ is a creative way to show locals and visitors that things might be messy right now, but it’s all about creating a more sustainable Main Street Lake Placid,” Lori Fitzgerald, President of the LPBA, said. “If we can all share the messages behind Perfecting Placid, we’re helping each other navigate through this period of construction and highlighting that the best of Main Street has yet to come.” The construction on Main Street has already begun and will continue through the end of June. July - August will bring a pause to the main street construction and will resume in September. For more information, contact ROOST’s Lake Placid Marketing Manager Bethany Valenze at bethany@lakeplacid.com. The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism is the destination marketing and management organization for Hamilton and Essex counties, along with the communities of Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake, all located within the Adirondacks in New York State. ###

Lake Placid, NY – If you live, work, or volunteer in Lake Placid, you are invited to the third annual Community Day Celebration on Sunday, September 12, 2021, from 1 - 4 p.m. at the North Elba Horse Show Grounds. This event is a celebration of the community and its rich legacy of volunteerism with a picnic and party, including live local music, kids’ games, food, and beverages — all of it free to attendees. “The Community Day Celebration is a wonderful way to highlight the incredible work volunteers do in our region and a way to say ‘thank you’ for their dedication,” Val Rogers, Community Day Committee Chair, said. “In addition to celebrating volunteers, this celebration will also showcase the many opportunities available throughout the area. It truly is an event for volunteers past, present, and future.” Local organizations are invited to showcase their work and inform the public what they’ve been up to. Part of the Community Day Celebration is the presentation of the Distinguished Volunteer of the Year award, given in recognition of a lifetime of activity and effort on behalf of the town of North Elba and/or the village of Lake Placid. This will begin at 3 p.m. on September 12. “Nominating a volunteer is a great way to show someone how much their hard work is appreciated. Volunteers are unpaid, but we want every volunteer to know their contributions to the community do not go unnoticed,” Bethany Valenze, Lake Placid Regional Marketing Manager for the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST), said. “There is even a youth category for the volunteerism award for those who are 18 years of age and under. North Elba is such a magnificent place; it’s great to see so many active volunteers of all ages!” Valenze said. To nominate someone for the North Elba / Lake Placid Distinguished Volunteer of the Year, contact Bethany Valenze by email at bvalenze@lakeplacid.com or phone (518) 621-3662. Nominations are due by July 15, 2021. Any previous candidates may be re-nominated. The committee also retains and reviews all past nominees. The nomination criteria is as follows: Any individual or organization may nominate one or more candidate(s).The organization and the volunteer work must be within the boundaries of North Elba.Previous nomination does not disqualify a person for another year.Please keep nominations confidential. All nominees will not necessarily receive an award.Include as much pertinent information to support your nomination as you can.Please provide at least one contact in support of your nomination. Be sure to include a name and a number where the support person can be reached.Additional letters of support are encouraged. The Community Day Celebration is a joint initiative of the Lake Placid / North Elba Community Development Commission and ROOST. For more information, please visit the Lake Placid Community Celebration Facebook page or email lakeplacidcommunityday@gmail.com. The Lake Placid / North Elba Development Commission facilitates the implementation of the Lake Placid / North Elba Comprehensive Plan, which was developed in 2014. The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism is the destination marketing and management organization for Hamilton and Essex counties, along with the communities of Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake, all located within the Adirondacks in New York State. ###

Troy, NY – The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) wins three honors during the 2021 New York State Tourism Excellence Awards, recognizing the work the organization accomplished during 2020. Destination marketing organizations, museums, attractions, and other tourism-related businesses from around New York State gathered virtually at 11:30 AM on Thursday, May 6 for the annual awards ceremony, hosted by the New York State Tourism Industry Association (NYSTIA). The awards were juried by an impartial panel of industry experts under the auspices of NYSTIA. This year, nominations for the awards were up 250% over 2019 and the judges were challenged by both the volume and the caliber of the entries. “Working collaboratively in New York State’s tourism community enables you to network with some of the best minds, most experienced individuals and trendsetting thought leaders in the global tourism industry,” states Bob Provost, President of the New York State Tourism Industry Association (NYSTIA). “The individuals, campaigns, initiatives and projects being honored are world-class. I am humbled by their achievements and service to their communities in 2020.” During the ceremony, ROOST was recognized for how they redirected their efforts in 2020 to support local communities, while rising to the occasion to meet unprecedented health-related guidelines and special needs for both residents and travelers. James McKenna, CEO of ROOST, said, “2020 was a challenging year for all. Working together with our regions, businesses, communities, and travelers, we were able to implement programming centered around health protocols and safety procedures that allowed for our region to maintain its tourism economy.” ROOST’s “Pathway Forward Strategy” took home awards in the categories of “Best COVID Response Marketing Effort to Pivot to Success” and “Most Significant COVID-Related Impact in Support of A Community and/or Local Businesses.” Additionally, ROOST was recognized for “Excellence In Tourism Marketing” in the Public Relations category for the “Politely Adirondack” campaign. "We have a really fantastic team and over the last year they've shown so much willingness to use their creativity to adapt our messaging and support our communities," said Mary Jane Lawrence, ROOST COO. "We live here, we're personally invested, and it means a lot to see the hard work rewarded." The “Pathway Forward Strategy” The “Pathway Forward Strategy” was first rolled out during a “Community Update” call in April of 2020 and outlined a four-phase strategy for reopening the region. Through its implementation came campaigns such as “#WeWillBeHereADK,” which carried the “pause now, play later” message, encouraging travelers not to visit the region until the time was right; “Politely Adirondack,” which communicates health and safety guidelines in a friendly way; and “Love Your ADK,” which focuses on educating backcountry users on Leave No Trace Principles. The “Politely Adirondack” Campaign As New York navigated through the phases of reopening, the North County was one of the first regions to reopen. With reopening, we released the “Politely Adirondack” campaign. This campaign focused on setting expectations for the traveler as to new health guidelines that were required, presented in a friendly, approachable Adirondack way. Milton Moose, Rezzie Raccoon, Buster Bear, Otto Otter, and the YardBirds became the unofficial mascots for this message in the Adirondack region. About New York State Tourism Industry Association The New York State Tourism Industry Association (NYSTIA) advances economic growth, job creation, community revitalization, quality of life and pride of place by realizing the potential of New York State's tourism industry and facilitating the success of its members. We serve New York State's tourism industry through collaborative initiatives, research, legislative awareness, and exceptional marketing. About The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) is the destination marketing and management organization for Hamilton and Essex counties, along with the communities of Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake, all located within the Adirondacks in New York State. ###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Lake Placid / North Elba, NY - Summer 2021 major events will be hosted in Lake Placid / North Elba with restrictions that will keep the safety and economic stability of the community as a top priority. These events will include IRONMAN and the Summit Lacrosse tournament. “The North Elba Town Board approved the 2021 IRONMAN Lake Placid triathlon and Summit Lacrosse events following in-depth written and oral presentations from Summit Lacrosse and IRONMAN representatives, which included assurances of a reduction of athletes by 20% and that eligible athletes, coaches, officials, vendors, staff, volunteers and spectators in designated event areas will be required to provide proof of vaccination,” said Jay Rand, Town of North Elba Supervisor. “We thank the organizers for exceptional efforts to conduct these events with the highest degree of safety, and we wish safe and successful events to both IRONMAN and Lacrosse organizations.” Volunteers for IRONMAN Lake Placid Triathlon are the responsibility of the Regional Office of Sustainability Tourism (ROOST.) The full-distance IRONMAN triathlon race which consists of swimming, biking, and running a marathon is scheduled for July 25, 2021. IRONMAN’s bike loop includes the towns of Keene, Jay, and Wilmington. Each of these communities, alongside Essex County, support these protocols. Summit Lacrosse Youth is scheduled for June 28 - 30, 2021 and the Lake Placid Summit Classic Tournament August 2 - 8, 2021. IRONMAN Lake Placid is scheduled for July 25, 2021. “Both organizations have done a great job of complying with State, County, and Local requirements. This, along with their willingness to reduce their fields and require proof of vaccinations for their athletes, staff, officials, volunteers, vendors, and spectators, has allowed both the Town and the Village to welcome IRONMAN and Summit Lacrosse back to Lake Placid,” said Art Devlin, Lake Placid Mayor. “I would like to thank IRONMAN, Summit Lacrosse, the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, and the Village and Town Boards for all of their efforts to make these events possible.” The event organizers agree that all requisite athletes, staff, officials, volunteers, vendors, and spectators, who are eligible for the vaccine will show proof of vaccination in designated event areas / venues. All event organizers are responsible for providing a system to ensure proof of vaccination at all entry points to designated event areas / venues. Specifics on this procedure will be approved by Town and Village officials prior to the event. “I have owned a home here for more than 30 years and am proud to be part of the community. Like many other small businesses, we have had two very difficult years due to the pandemic and hope that this summer signals the beginning of a return to stable and sustainable operations,” said George Leveille, owner of Summit Lacrosse. “Many of our participants consider this their annual family vacation, so we are proud to join the Lake Placid community in ensuring a safe and healthy environment, not only for our participants, but for the greater Lake Placid community as well.” Both Summit Lacrosse and IRONMAN have been staples of the community for many years. Summit Lacrosse has been hosting tournaments at Lake Placid since 1990 and 2021 marks the 22nd year of IRONMAN races in Lake Placid. ###