The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) has developed an interactive, self-guided challenge to mark the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and the important contributions of the Adirondack region to the nation’s history. The Lake Champlain Revolutionary Quest invites visitors to follow a themed trail, using their mobile device to guide them along the route. Quest participants will have access to information about the attractions along the way as they are guided to key sites throughout the Lake Champlain region. The quest is scheduled to be available on May 3, ahead of the anniversary marking the capture of Fort Ticonderoga from the British on May 10, 1775. That pivotal event is considered by many historians to be the Continental Army’s first victory of the Revolutionary War. The Lake Champlain Revolutionary Quest can be accessed by visiting https://www.lakechamplainregion.com/revolutionary-quest. Those who sign up to take part will receive the information sent directly to their mobile device via text and email; there is no app to download. The Lake Champlain Revolutionary Quest allows users to receive “points” for each attraction and scenic landmark visited. Participants will be able to “check in” at each of those locations, using the quest’s interactive map; points can then be redeemed for prizes. As one of the pivotal fronts of the war, the Lake Champlain region played a crucial role in shaping the nation's fight for independence. According to Lake Champlain Regional Manager Isabelle Bureau, the Lake Champlain Revolutionary Quest invites visitors to learn about the history of Upstate New York by showcasing key attractions, events, and moments of how the American Revolution unfolded. “This self-guided trail brings to life the events that shaped America’s fight for independence,” she said. “Our region offers many locations that are rich in history, including battle sites, forts, historic sites, and natural attractions. We are excited to offer this unique product, challenging visitors to learn more about our beautiful area’s history.” Throughout 2025 and beyond, the Lake Champlain region will be offering a number of events that commemorate the region’s contributions to the birth of the nation. Community celebrations, special reenactments at Fort Ticonderoga, educational programs, and exhibits in various communities will honor the pivotal moments of this historic milestone. Visitors to the region can explore charming towns and immerse themselves in local history at interactive museums, historic forts, and scenic sites where battles and critical moments unfolded. ROOST has developed this “check-in challenge” encouraging visitors to engage with the region’s towns and area attractions through its self-guided trip and information about the region, accessible on their mobile devices. According to Mary Jane Lawrence, ROOST chief operating officer, the Lake Champlain Revolutionary Quest adds a fun, interactive element to the 250th celebration. “The quest is a great way to highlight the region’s history while supporting local businesses, lodging properties, and towns throughout the Lake Champlain Region,” she said. ROOST is encouraging Adirondack communities, organizations, and businesses to begin planning for the 250th Anniversary of the United States, and advocating for plans and activities that align with regional and nationwide celebrations.

The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) is anticipating increased interest in stargazing, planet viewing, and celestial phenomena travel among visitors to the Adirondack region of Upstate New York. The park’s six million acres are largely free from light pollution, making its villages and wilderness areas prime locations for stargazing. Visitors to the Adirondacks have myriad opportunities to take part in stargazing - as a casual observer with the naked eye, with binoculars, or with a personal telescope. People visiting the Adirondack Sky Center and Observatory, the Adirondacks’ only public astronomy-based organization, can experience close-up views of deep space through high-powered professional telescopes. The Adirondack Sky Center and Observatory has recently established its astronomy hub, featuring a portable StarLab Planetarium in downtown Tupper Lake. Visitors can take part in an exciting immersive planetarium experience each Thursday and Saturday. The organization is also proud to boast three NASA Solar System Ambassadors; part of a nationwide network of volunteers, helping to bring NASA’s groundbreaking work and discoveries to audiences across the country. According to Adirondack Sky Center and Observatory President Seth McGowan, the facility is preparing for increased interest in 2025, with events and viewing opportunities scheduled throughout the year. “Last year’s solar eclipse, the recent lunar eclipse, and publicity surrounding recent planetary alignments, along with the partial solar eclipse taking place just last week, have contributed to an increase in curiosity regarding celestial events,” he commented. “I believe that more people will seek out opportunities for stargazing and I am thrilled to be able to provide information and assist with making the universe more accessible to our visitors.” Public interest in astronomy after the 2024 solar eclipse, news about recent planetary alignments, additional celestial events throughout the upcoming months, and the region’s reputation as a prime stargazing location support the growing “noctourism” trend of travel to areas offering clear, starry skies and dark nights. 2025 brings opportunities to see planets, meteor showers and auroras or “northern lights.” This year, the increased number and intensity of sun flares and activity contributes to frequent and stronger displays. Even during periods of high solar activity, clear skies and minimal light pollution are crucial for optimal viewing, both of which the Adirondack region offers. Most of the Adirondacks are a Class 2 on the Bortle Scale, which is described as a "typical truly dark site." The region offers minimal light pollution, relatively low humidity, and elevation – all important factors for viewing the stars. The Adirondacks’ clear, dark skies, weather conditions, solitude, and wide open spaces provide the perfect conditions for celestial observation. The moon’s phase also impacts viewing experiences, with the “new moon” offering the darkest skies; as the moon is hidden from view, reducing the amount of ambient light. This year, “new moons” will take place on April 27, May 27, June 25, July 24, August 23, September 21, October 21, November 20, and December 20. This month, the Eta Aquarids and Lyrids meteor showers will be active at the same time. The events overlap for six days, between April 20 and April 26, giving stargazers in the Northern Hemisphere the opportunity to see twice as many meteors in the night sky. Additionally, during the peak (April 21 - 22), the moon won’t be visible until about 3:30 am; the sky will remain dark, offering the best chance to see the show. Other locations and activities throughout the Adirondack Park are offering noctourism adventures, including: Great Camp Sagamore in Raquette Lake offers stargazing events for visitors. Local paddling outfitters such as Raquette River Outfitters and St. Regis Canoe Outfitters in Saranac Lake offer nighttime excursions by request - see the stars reflected on the water for an even more spectacular view. The eastern edge of the Adirondack Park, along Lake Champlain offers wide-open vistas, perfect for nighttime sky viewing. Climbing one of the CATS trails leading to a lower elevation peak such as Belfry Mountain or Big Hollow, offers beautiful nighttime views. Nighttime photography classes/outings are hosted by some of the region’s most prominent photographers, including Carl Heilman and Mark Bowie. Camping is an activity that allows people to sleep under the stars; often providing amazing views of the Milky Way and millions of stars. In the winter months, many cross-country skiing / snowshoeing venues such as John Brown Farm, Cascade Welcome Center and Scotts Cobble Nordic Center and the Paul Smith’s Visitors Interpretive Center offer nighttime ski and snowshoe events. Many Adirondack-based guide services such as High Peaks Mountain Guides can also develop and plan nighttime adventures for individuals and group outings. Learn more about guided night time trips at the New York State Outdoor Guide Association. According to Jane Hooper, communications manager at ROOST, the Adirondack Park is known for its scenery, day or night. “The Adirondacks is an exceptional location for viewing the nighttime sky,” she said. “While it is known for its mountains, lakes, lush green trails and spectacular foliage, the nighttime sky is equally beautiful - it’s an incredible place to stargaze. Clear, cool nights offer millions of bright twinkling stars set against ink-black skies. Even something as simple as watching a full moon rise in the distance, over the mountains or over a dark, still lake in the evening is a beautiful thing to see. The Adirondack region offers incredible views, day or night.” Staggering statistics indicate that light pollution is increasing at 10 percent each year globally; and it’s estimated that eighty percent of Americans cannot see the Milky Way, due to the glow of artificial light. One way to measure the darkness of the night sky for a particular location is the Bortle Scale, a nine-level scale that quantifies light pollution with Class 9 being the most extreme amount of light pollution typically found in a big city. The Adirondacks offer some of the best opportunities for outdoor recreation in a beautiful, natural setting; it is within a day’s drive for 25 percent of the entire North American population. Stargazing is certainly one of the region’s most beautiful experiences. Celestial activity in 2025 includes: T Coronae Borealis to Produce a Nova - TBD 2025 (possibly April/May)One of the most anticipated events is the potential for a star named T Coronae Borealis to erupt. Known as the “Blaze Star,” this system eventually creates a thermonuclear explosion (a nova) producing a dramatic brightening. While the exact timing of the event is unknown, scientists anticipate this in 2025. Mercury's Greatest Elongation - April 21Mercury will be at its greatest elongation from the sun on April 21, making it the best time to spot the planet in 2025. Lyrids Meteor Shower - peaks on April 21 - 22The Lyrids offers about 20 meteors per hour at its peak; produced by dust particles left behind by comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher. The shower takes place annually from April 16-25. In 2025, it peaks on the night of April 21st and morning of the 22nd. These meteors can produce bright trails that last for several seconds. The thin crescent moon will not offer much light, ensuring a good show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower - peaks May 6 - 7 The Eta Aquarid shower, produced by Halley’s Comet, is capable of producing up to 30 meteors per hour in the Northern Hemisphere, beginning on April 20 and 21. The meteor shower will peak during the night of May 6 and the morning of May 7. 2025 Delta Aquariid Meteor Shower: July 28-29. The Delta Aquarids can produce up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by debris left behind by comets Marsden and Kracht. It peaks this year on the night of July 28 and morning of July 29. The crescent moon will set early in the evening, leaving dark skies for what should be an excellent show. Perseids Meteor Shower - peaks August 12 - 13 The Perseids is one of the best meteor showers to observe, produced by the Swift-Tuttle comet. It offers 60 meteors each hour, from July 17 to August 24; peaking during the night of August 12 and morning of August 13. The bright moon may obscure viewing, but darker locations may offer a good show. Saturn - September 21The ringed planet will be at its closest to Earth on September 21, its face fully illuminated by the sun. The planet will be brighter than any other time of the year, and visible throughout the night. A medium-sized telescope will allow stargazers to see Saturn's rings and a few of its brightest moons. This will be the best time to view and photograph Saturn and its moons. Orionids Meteor Shower - October 21 - 22 The Orionids, produced by dust left behind by Halley’s Comet, produces up to 20 meteors per hour. It takes place throughout October, peaking on the night of October 21 and the morning of October 22. This year, the moon will be absent all night, providing excellent viewing. The best view will be after midnight. Leonids Meteor Shower - November 17This meteor shower takes place throughout most of November, with 15 meteors per hour, resulting from the Tempel-Tuttle comet. This meteor shower is unique in that it has a 33-year cycle when hundreds of meteors per hour can be seen - the last peak was in 2001. This year, the thin crescent moon will ensure that the skies will be dark enough - offering a great show. The best viewing will be after midnight. Geminids Meteor Shower - December 13 - 14The Geminids is considered the best meteor shower for viewing, with up to 120 multicolored meteors per hour. The event takes place each year from early to mid-December; in 2024 it will peak during the night of the 13th and morning of the 14th. The new moon ensures a dark sky, perfect for viewing. Ursids Meteor Shower - December 21-22The Ursids is a minor meteor shower producing about 5-10 meteors each hour. The shower runs annually from December 17-25. It peaks this year on the night of the 21st and morning of the 22nd; the thin, crescent moon will set early in the evening, leaving dark skies and the best viewing just after midnight.

The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) Board of Directors approved four new members at its recent annual meeting. Board Chair Nick Politi introduced Rebecca Kelly, Juliet Cook, Dan Rivera, and Andrea Crisafulli as the most recent additions to the board. “We’d like to welcome these local business leaders to the ROOST board of directors,” he said. “Their varied backgrounds, industry-specific expertise, and local knowledge will provide significant benefit to our organization. Representation from various communities and industries is exceptionally valuable as we continue to focus on ROOST’s destination marketing and management work.” Rebecca Kelly, artistic director of the Tahawus Cultural Center and founder of Rebecca Kelly Ballet, will serve as the Whiteface Region representative. Her experience working with local arts and cultural organizations, event management, and fundraising provides her with an understanding of business challenges and Adirondack cultural initiatives. Ms. Kelly co-founded Rebecca Kelly Ballet in 1979 in New York City; her organization was invited to begin a summer residency program at Lake Placid Center for the Arts in 1987 which ultimately led to a 33-year relationship with Lake Placid. Rebecca trained at the Washington School of Ballet and holds a degree in History of Religion / Asian studies from Bryn Mawr College. She has served on the board of the Essex County Arts Council since 2015. Juliet Cook, an attorney with Cook and Breitenbach Law Firm, has provided her expertise to those within the Adirondack region since 2017. Her experience spans property and estate law, along with general law practice. Ms Cook brings a diverse background and varied professional experiences to the ROOST board of directors including law, retail, and environmental protection. She attended Skidmore College in Saratoga, NY along with the University of Vermont Law School before settling in the Adirondacks. Ms. Cook represents the Lake Champlain Region. Dan Rivera, owner of Triple Green Jade Farm in Willsboro represents the Lake Champlain Region. He and his wife launched their farm-based business in 2014, offering milk, eggs, small-batch dairy products, meat, fresh-baked artisan bread and other bakery goods made with local flour milled onsite. Dan is also the co-owner of Trigo and The Harvest Market, retail sites that sell locally produced bakery and farm products. His work with the region’s agricultural community led the way for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to be accepted by local farms and farmers markets, ensuring that fresh food is available to all. Dan holds an associate’s degree from Orange County Community College. His marketing and digital design career allowed him to work with organizations in Norway, France, New Zealand, and England. Andrea Crisafulli, co-owner of the Lodge at Schroon Lake, is an Adirondack Hub Region representative. She is the third-generation owner and president of Crisafulli Bros. Plumbing and Heating Contractors, Inc., one of the largest mechanical contracting firms serving Upstate New York. Andrea’s experience spans business and building trades, along with hotel infrastructure management and business planning. Andrea’s passion for the Adirondacks was developed over many years, as her family visited the region each summer. She is a graduate of Russell Sage College, serves on a number of boards of directors and served as chair of the Capital District Chamber of Commerce. Elizabethtown Town Supervisor Cathleen Reusser has been appointed as the Essex County Board of Supervisors representative, a position held in 2024 by Favor Smith. According to Board Chair Nick Politi, the ROOST board of directors has been fortunate to have representatives from the Essex County Board of Supervisors serve in an ex-officio capacity, providing real-time information exchange between ROOST and the county’s board of supervisors. “We have been extremely fortunate to work with Favor throughout 2024,” he commented. “The county’s commitment to our organization along with the supervisors’ professional insight, expertise, and unwavering service has been incredibly valuable.” According to ROOST CEO Dan Kelleher, the board of directors is responsible for defining the organization’s long-term goals, fiscal oversight and ensuring that plans support its mission and vision. “ROOST board members focus on the organization's strategic direction and ratifying its high level initiatives,” he said. “ROOST’s mission and vision, along with the direction of its overall program of work, is always at the forefront of decisions and plans that are developed and implemented. We look forward to working with all of our board members, old and new, as we seek to improve the lives of our region’s residents.” The ROOST board of directors also elected its officers for 2025, three of whom will serve for a second year including: Nick Politi, chair; Chandler Ralph, vice chair; Garrick Smith as treasurer. Lisa Hess-Marks will serve as Secretary. ROOST officers serve in their executive role for one year; each board term is three years, with a maximum of three terms. Each board member represents a different industry and region of the Adirondacks. Additional ROOST board members include: Jodi Gunther from Saranac Lake, Leslie Karasin from Saranac Lake, Hillarie Logan-Dechene from Hamilton County, Alex Madden and Jon Donk representing Lake Placid, Mariann Rapple representing the Lake Champlain Region and Matt Stanley, ex-officio, representing the Essex County Board of Supervisors.

The Olympic Regional Development Authority (Olympic Authority) and the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) are hosting a business after hours event on Wednesday, May 14 at Roamers Café in the Olympic Center from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. The event is free and open to business owners, managers, administrative team members and frontline staff at businesses throughout Essex County. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet and reconnect with fellow business owners, offering an opportunity to discuss summer plans and upcoming business activities. Representatives from the Olympic Authority and ROOST will share information and updates about a variety of projects, attractions, activities and events taking place this summer and fall. Information will include: Olympic venue attractions and activities Summer and fall events Lake Placid summer marketing update The event features hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Those wishing to attend should pre-register by emailing Kristin@ROOSTadk.com.

The legendary Brimfield Antique Shows, known nationwide for its vintage markets and curated dealer experiences, is heading to the Adirondacks this summer. North Hudson will host a traveling edition of the famed antique market from Friday, July 25, through Sunday, July 27. This event offers an opportunity for local collectors, shoppers, and vendors to take part in a nationally recognized event. Conveniently located just off Exit 29 of the I-87 Northway, North Hudson offers easy access for visitors traveling from the Capital Region, New York City, and beyond. Its central location makes it an ideal host for a destination event of this scale. Brimfield has been a destination for serious collectors, casual treasure hunters, and vintage lovers alike, for more than 60 years. Best known for its flagship events in Brimfield, Massachusetts, taking place each May, July, and September, the show attracts tens of thousands of visitors along with some of the most experienced antique and vintage dealers from around the globe. The upcoming North Hudson event brings that same spirit of discovery and community to the heart of the Adirondacks. “We’re thrilled to bring the Brimfield Antique Show to the region this summer,” said Isabelle Bureau, Southern Essex County regional manager, “It’s an exciting opportunity for local and regional vendors to showcase their finds, and for area residents and visitors to experience one of the most celebrated antique shows in the country.” Vendor registration is available at brimfieldliveonline.com/become-a-vendor. The two-step application process involves an application form that can be completed online. Organizers will review the preliminary application and, if accepted, the vendor will then be able to complete their registration and receive show information. For additional information, visit brimfieldliveonline.com.