By Paul Post

Five weekends of frosty revelry are on tap as Lake George Winter Carnival has a full slate of activities planned for North Country residents and visitors alike.

The fun starts Saturday, Feb. 7 with outhouse races, a Jeep parade and fireworks and continues through March 7-8 with a Chillin’ and Choppin’ lumberjack competition.

“We do it to give back to the community and to promote tourism,” said Jessyca Darrah, co-chair with Nancy Nichols, of the all-volunteer Winter Carnival Committee. “The intent is for local businesses to make money. We need more of the community to step up and get involved. We’re always looking for volunteers. We want to grow the committee, we want more people actively involved.”

Now in it’s 64th year, Winter Carnival is the mainstay of ongoing efforts to promote more year-round tourism not only in Lake George, but throughout Warren County. Recent efforts such as Ice Castles at Charles R. Wood Park, and Winter’s Dream at Fort William Henry, have had short-lived runs due largely to mild winters the past few years.

By Carol Ann Conover

Homeowners looking for personalized design guidance rather than off-the-shelf solutions now have a new local option with the opening of a collaborative home design and improvement showroom on Upper Glen Street.

Tim and Michelle Schultz are launching a multi-brand showroom at 704 Upper Glen St. that brings together custom window treatments, interior design services and energy-efficient replacement windows and doors. The space unites Gotcha Covered of Saratoga, Designs on Glen and Window Depot of the Adirondacks, offering what the owners describe as a consultative, one-on-one alternative to the stock selections and self-guided experience typical of big-box retailers.

The concept is designed to help homeowners make cohesive decisions that balance aesthetics, performance and budget, rather than purchasing products in isolation. Clients can work directly with experienced professionals to evaluate everything from fabric and light control to insulation value and window performance.

“We’re really focused on the personal side of design,” Tim Schultz said. “Big-box stores serve a purpose, but many homeowners want guidance tailored to their space, their home and how they live. That’s what we’re providing here.”

The Log Jam Restaurant, a longtime Lake George dining institution, will kick off its 50th anniversary celebrations with a special First Pour Celebration on Wednesday, January 21, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., marking five decades of locally owned hospitality, community connection and Adirondack-inspired dining.

The anniversary event will debut Log Jam Spruce Lager, a signature craft beer brewed locally in collaboration with Northway Brewing Co. in Queensbury. The First Pour event will be the public’s first opportunity to sample the spruce lager on draft.

Guests attending the celebration can expect live music by Jordan Dyer and Megan Houde, along with beer and appetizer specials. The spruce lager will be available year-round at The Log Jam, with cans and four-packs launching soon. The First Pour event offers an exclusive opportunity to taste it fresh from the tap.

“Reaching 50 years is a significant milestone for our restaurant and our team,” said Tony Grecco, Manager of The Log Jam Restaurant. “This event is a way for us to honor an exciting collaboration, celebrate with our amazing customers and kick off a year of 50th Anniversary celebrations.”

By Ann Donnelly

For James Lenhart, the path to business ownership in the fitness industry began not in a corporate boardroom, but in a small high school weight room in Ticonderoga, New York. Today, as the owner-operator of Anytime Fitness franchises in Glens Falls and Hudson Falls, Lenhart is using his background in kinesiology and professional strength training to help a new generation of Adirondack residents reach their physical goals.

Lenhart’s interest in fitness was sparked at age 14 when his physical education coaches suggested he visit the weight room to improve his performance in baseball and football. He quickly noticed the “positive impact” on his body and decided to pursue a career helping others experience similar changes.

“I thought I would love to do something like this and help people,” Lenhart said.

He attended SUNY Cortland, a school renowned for its physical education and kinesiology programs. He earned a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology, a field he defines as the “study of human movement.” During his college years, Lenhart secured a strength and conditioning internship with the New York Jets, followed by another internship at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

By Rod Bacon

Ownership of O’Connor Construction has passed to the fifth generation of the family.

On December 18, President Pat O’Connor finalized the purchase of the 120-year-old company from his uncles, Kevin O’Connor and Brian O’Connor.

“Several years ago my uncles came to me and said ‘You’re the next one to take over if you want to’ so I’ve been preparing for this for quite some time,” said Pat.

The $4 million transaction was brokered by Nic Ketter of Glens Falls-based Realize Brokers. Edward P. Fitzgerald of McPhillips, Fitzgerald & Cullum LLP represented the sellers. Kara I. Lais of FitzGerald Morris Baker Firth PC represented the buyer.

The sale included equipment and real estate at company headquarters at 147 Meadowbrook Road in Glens Falls.

Pat said he feels well prepared for his new role. He joined the company in 2014 after working for a few other contractors in the area. He rose through the ranks, eventually being named vice president. This required he take on more responsibility, which gave him additional experience and insight into company operations. He also earned an associate degree in construction technology from Hudson Valley Community College and a bachelor’s degree in construction management from SUNY Delhi.

By Ann Donnelly

For Jared Humiston, the journey from a rented apartment in Argyle to the cutting edge of the regional tech industry has been defined by a single, unwavering mission: to make technology work for the client.

As Adirondack Technical Solutions — known more commonly as ADKtechs — marks its 20th anniversary, the company is preparing for its most significant transformation yet. On March 1, the firm will relocate its headquarters from its longtime home in Washington County to the new Moreau Commons, a strategic move designed to fuel the next decade of growth.

The company’s origins are humble, born from a conversation between a landlord and a tenant. Humiston, now President and CEO, recalls that “literally how we started was with one customer, who was looking for consistent support services.”

“It started as kind of like a side hustle, and then he told somebody, then they told somebody,” Humiston said. Within four years, the business had scaled to 40 accounts through word-of-mouth referrals.

In those early days, the industry was tethered to hardware. “Most everything was built around hardware sales and physical on-premises solutions,” Humiston explained, noting that the company essentially built “small clouds” for individual firms, hosting their email and websites locally.