By Paul Post

Great Escape is gearing up for a new season of family-oriented fun as it returns to normal with COVID-19 restrictions hopefully a thing of the past.

The Six Flags-owned theme park never opened in 2020 and guests last year had to comply with numerous protocols such as mandatory face coverings, temperature screenings, social distancing and making online reservations prior to visiting.

All these have been eliminated, although one practice—a cashless payment system—has been adopted permanently. All purchases including entry tickets, concessions and souvenirs must be made with credit or debit cards, or some type of mobile phone platform.

For those who don’t have or forget to bring these, Great Escape has installed cash-to-card kiosks where people can turn cash into a prepaid VISA debit card. The cards can be used anywhere, just like a regular debit card, so people can spend what remains if there’s money left over after visiting the park.

“It gives people a third option if they don’t have a phone, or credit or debt card,” said Jason Lee, public relations and marketing supervisor.

Plans call for a May 21 opening.

Great Escape is one of the biggest engines in a tourism sector that accounts for up to 40 percent of Warren County’s total economic output, said Jim Siplon, EDC Warren County president. “They’re one of the driving forces,” he said.

An estimated one million people visited Great Escape and its adjacent year-round Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark in 2019.

The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) celebrated the community contributions of attorney Carl T. Baker, of FitzGerald Morris Baker Firth P.C., who received the 33rd Annual J. Walter Juckett Community Service Award on April 1.

Baker was presented the award at the ARCC Annual Dinner  at The Sagamore Resort in Bolton Landing. 

“I am truly honored to receive this award,” said Baker. “Since Sandy and I moved here to live, work and raise our family, we have never thought of being anywhere else. The people, the community, the area have always made our lives richer. We are forever grateful to the good fortune that brought us here.”

Thomas Murphy, president of Glens Falls National Bank/Arrow Financial Corp. presented the award.

“I was very proud to nominate Carl Baker for the 33rd Annual J. Walter Juckett Community Service Award, and to be able to present it to him at the ARCC award dinner. Carl makes our community a better place to live and work and he is most deserving of this recognition for his lifetime of community service,” said Murphy.

The ARCC was joined by almost 300 business and community members in celebrating  Baker’s accomplishments, as well as reflecting on how far the community has come over the last year.

“Carl Baker exudes all that the J. Walter Juckett award stands for. Carl’s passion, commitment, and leadership in our region is second to none. The ARCC is blessed to bestow this lifetime achievement award to Carl,” said ARCC President Michael Bittel.

By Paul Post

A new Glens Falls restaurant is specializing in farm-to-table dishes featuring fresh food sourced from throughout the region.

Johanna von Geldern and her daughters, Katriel and Cagney Houlihan, welcomed their first patrons to Mint, at 80 Warren St., on April 8. She previously owned Sweet Beet Bistro in Greenwich, which closed in March 2020 when COVID-19 hit.

Her focus on serving the highest quality, fresh food remains unchanged.

“With COVID, it just kind of re-emphasized the importance of healthy eating and knowing where food comes from,” von Geldern said. “We became part of the food revolution, reducing carbon footprint, and teaching people about ingredients we were learning about, too.”

“It kind of evolved organically because we’re surrounded by so many farms and artisans,” she said. “We saw this abundance of beautiful food around us.”

The eatery is housed in the former Mailings Made Easy building, owned by Glens Falls developer Peter Hoffman. Its elegant atmosphere reflects the owners’ commitment to providing a rewarding experience for each guest.

Updated business name correction – 4/19/22

by jill nagy

The Vested Veteran Grill at 126 Maple St. in Corinth honors the owners’ military service and helps other veterans and active duty service members.  

The grill has been open since last June and was preceded by a catering operation, still active, that started in April 2018.

Allen Lapelle and his wife, Kendie, and a staff of 10 operate the grill and catering service. Other partners are Jennelle Hoffman, Tyler Kirchoff—who is also the building landlord—and Jason Shippe. 

One-tenth of the profits from the catering business are donated to an organization that assists veterans with PTSD.  

Lapelle said he is “big on community.” He was especially pleased to host the Corinth High School girls’ basketball team when they celebrated winning the Adirondack League championship. In another bow to the community, the Grill serves locally roasted Engine 3 Coffee.

Lapelle was born and raised in the area. He spent five years in the U.S. Air Force, until 2014. Straight out of the military he took a job cooking. Then, he decided to learn more and signed on for programs at BOCES and the Culinary Institute. He served internships at Yaddo, in Saratoga Springs, and at a restaurant in New Orleans.  

Chimney Heroes, a chimney services company based in Ballston Spa,  has been experiencing a series of growth spurts over the past several years, according to president Jamie Wallace. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how people live in their homes. In turn, the home services industry has experienced a lot of record-breaking growth, he said. The latest iteration of Chimney Heroes’ growth trajectory is the completion of a 3,000-square-foot training facility and a new, larger warehouse.

Chimney Heroes provides chimney inspections, sweeping, repair, masonry work and installation of gas and wood fireplaces. Wallace said the secret to the company’s growth and strength is his commitment to education. 

All company technicians experience continuing education for excellence training, both internally and externally in an ongoing fashion. The construction of a dedicated training facility is the physical manifestation of years of investment in staff education and training. 

“We have a manager on staff whose sole responsibility is training technicians in the field,” said Wallace. “Our company’s core values include professionalism and leadership development and my promise to my team is that I will provide everything they need to succeed and thrive in the chimney care business. 

“We have a modern-day apprenticeship to tradesperson program, and we’re always looking to meet new serious candidates who’d like to study and work with us.”

Local restaurants, wholesalers, and other businesses looking to connect with local food and beverage producers will have a chance to meet face-to-face at the Taste NY Producer Showcase this month.

The Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce and Taste NY will present the showcase on Thursday, April 28, at SUNY Adirondack. It will take place in the Northwest Bay Conference Center at Adirondack Hall, 640 Bay Road in Queensbury.

This business-to-business expo event is intended to help farmers and agricultural producers in the Adirondack region and New York State grow their businesses and encourage hotels, restaurants, bars, retail locations, and institutions to purchase local products. In addition to the expo, businesses can also take part in educational workshops and a networking breakfast.

This showcase will be the third business-to-business food show organized by the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce. The Adirondack Region Food and Farms Business Expo was held at SUNY Adirondack in December 2019 followed by a first-of-its- kind Virtual Taste NY Producer Showcase in October 2020 which featured 60 producers in a fast-pitch virtual environment. 

The virtual format was a modification made to the event in response to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are pleased to return to the in-person format this spring with a showcase that offers 50 New York State producers an opportunity to connect with potential wholesale buyers and attendees from the Adirondack region,” said Gina Mintzer, Chamber executive director.