The Jefferson Project at Lake George is making real-time water quality and weather data from its unprecedented scientific monitoring and research program available directly to the public through a new digital Data Dashboard at jeffersonproject.live.
Founded in 2013, the Jefferson Project is the environmental research collaboration between IBM Research, RPI and the FUND for Lake George that is committed to preserving and protecting the lake’s legendary water quality through cutting-edge science and highly advanced technologies.
The new dashboard, the only publicly available display of IBM’s targeted weather forecasting technology, Deep Thunder, allows people to view hour-by-hour, highly localized forecasts for their current location on Lake George, or by searching for a specific address or clicking a point on the dashboard’s map, officials said.
Lake George Website Is Focused On Hiring
Lake George attracts thousands of visitors to its lakeside villages and towns each year and is currently the backdrop of a summertime Food Network reality series.
Combine that with the region’s commitment to providing a safe, clean and healthy environment, local officials are saying that the summer season in Lake George is booming and businesses are hiring.
Even during the virus pandemic.
A collaboration of local businesses, community and government leaders has launched LakeGeorgeIsHiring.com to present the many attractive job opportunities. The site features open positions for all levels of experience, including cooks, housekeepers, front desk staff, bussers, food runners, waitstaff, bartenders, maintenance, security, marketing, delivery drivers and more.
“Word is spreading quickly, said Gina Mintzer, executive director of the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce. “Lake George is a fun, safe and healthy place to work and vacation, and we take protecting the health of our employees, visitors, and community seriously. This is a great time to come to Lake George, earn some money and enjoy every minute of the experience.’’
Leadership Adirondack Awards 3 Scholarships
The Leadership Adirondack (LADK) class of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) has awarded scholarships to three students.
Each year, the class chooses a community project, which in past years consisted of raising money for a local nonprofit organization. This year the class of 2019-20 chose to partner with WSWHE BOCES and the Employment Training for Adults Program (ETA) to provide a scholarship to help increase the number of skilled trade workers needed in the region.
The scholarship is intended to help individuals 18 years or older to start or extend their careers within the BOCES Skilled Trades curriculum and will provide financial assistance to eligible students in the ARCC’s service area who wish to enroll in one of the skilled trades programs.
“These scholarships were 100 percent funded by our local business community. Many thanks to all those who donated to support individuals who want to live, learn and work in our region, said Michael Bittel, ARCC president and CEO.
Before completing the Leadership Adirondack program in February, the class designated a scholarship committee to review applications and determine recipients. Scholarships are awarded quarterly. The scholarship committee determines whether to award the whole amount to one recipient, or to split it among a few.
Business Report: COVID-19 Changes
By Michael Cruz
Your employees are working under new circumstances and new expectations. In fact, we all are, you included.
After years of working to ensure good culture, we now see each other less often. How are you ensuring that remote working and less meetings do not negatively affect your company culture? Locally, we have been able to pass through the crisis mode.
Yet, every time we watch the news, we are treated to doom scenarios. And as employees and coworkers hear those stories, it creates anxiety. We’re bombarded with messages like “new normal,” “social distancing” and, of course, “lockdown.”
In the face of that, it is hard to do back to (old?) normal.
Therefore, some of the changes are for a while. You can focus on that in your business. What makes sense for one business will not make sense for another. You will find ways to make your teams physically safe. Yet, what all businesses face is the need to keep everyone engaged. As leaders, we need to focus on keeping our people psychologically safe. There is a lot to react to right now.
Business Briefs: July 2020
After being closed for several months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Hyde Collection in Glens Falls will be open to visitors with appointments beginning on Aug. 1.
Hour-long appointments can be made on hydecollection.org, with 26 time slots available per day, Thursday-Sunday, museum officials said.
The Hyde will be reserved for seniors and high-risk individuals from 10 a.m. to noon, then will close for an hour for cleaning, and open back up from 1-5 p.m. for the general public.
Guests will be asked to arrive at The Hyde five minutes before their scheduled time, and will wait outside the museum until the lobby is clear of visitors.
Before arrival, visitors will be asked to access The Hyde’s “Guide By Cell” self tour. (text the word “Hyde” to 565-12 and follow the prompt. Message and data rates may apply per your provider).
Restaurants Open Outdoor Patio Sections For Dining, But Wonder About Limited Business
Courtesy Advokate LLC
By Christine Graf
After months of being allowed to serve takeout only, local restaurants were permitted to open for outside dining in June.
John Carr, owner of Lake George’s Adirondack Brewery, is concerned about the long-term impact the extended closure will have on local restaurants.
“It’s been very frustrating for us,” he said. “I think we could have followed other states like Vermont and Connecticut and opened sooner. In places where the restaurant industry relies on tourism, we have a very fragile and very short season.”
Jane Schmidt, owner of Bank Café in Lake George, typically hires 10 international students for the summer. She currently has just two employees and has been unable to fill open positions. High unemployment payouts are discouraging people from returning to work.
West Mountain Set To Open July 4; Social Distancing, Health Safety Rules Are In Place
Courtesy West Mountain
By Christine Graf
In accordance with the state’s four-phase reopening plan, West Mountain in Queensbury will open for its summer season on July 4.
“The good news for us is that our activities are outdoor activities that have social distancing baked into them to begin with,” said West Mountain co-owner and on-site operator Spencer Montgomery. “We think there is just an enormous pent up demand to get outdoors.”
The mountain offers numerous outdoor activities including a high ropes course, mountain biking, hiking, scenic chairlift rides, and mountaintop picnicking.
When the mountain opens for business, all employees will follow social distancing and sanitary guidelines issued by the state as well as the CDC.
“The exact guidance is changing daily, so I don’t know exactly what the end game will be,” said Montgomery. “I’m expecting that as we move forward in the summer that the guidance will be continually updated. I just know we will be able to open and that we will conform to anything that is required. We’ve just been in a wait-and-see pattern and letting people know that we will be open on July 4. We will do whatever we have to do to be open.”
Although the mountain will be open for outdoor recreation, weddings will not be able to take place there until pandemic gathering restrictions had been lifted. Weddings are a new addition to West Mountain for the 2020 season, he said.
Lake George Unconventional Start To Summer Season Has Some People Optimistic
By Susan E. Campbell
The long Memorial Day weekend at the end of May marks the beginning of summer each year and with it, traditionally, comes an influx of consumers on which many Lake George businesses depend.
But this year has been overshadowed by coronavirus pandemic. Village Mayor Robert Blais was concerned about whether the community, one of upstate’s most popular tourist areas, would draw its usual surge of visitors.
“I wondered if people would take the time and expense to come here and rent a room and then find enough to do,” he said.
The weekend proved to draw good-sized crowds and hotels were busy. The mayor attributed the success of the weekend to Lake George itself.
“The water is consoling and mesmerizing,” Blais said. “Never before have we learned how important it is to have that lake. What saved us was the state opening up Million Dollar Beach.”
“People came from other parts of the state as if it was going to be different here, but we had to explain that we were still in Phase I” of the state’s reopening, said Gina Mintzer, executive director of Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce.
COVID-19 Pandemic Grounds Adirondack Balloon Festival For September 2020
Courtesy Adirondack Balloon Festival
The board of directors of the Adirondack Balloon Festival has announced the cancelation of this year’s event due to restrictions involving the COVID-19 pandemic.
The board “is disappointed” to lose the popular festival that was slated for Sept. 17- 20, it said in a new release.
“The most important part in planning in an event of this magnitude is safety. Safety is not only for our balloon pilots, but also includes our spectators, law enforcement, public works, fire and rescue staff, vendors, volunteers, musical acts, and our landowners in the region,” said Mark Donahue, board president.
“This is an unprecedented decision for us and one we did not take lightly. Our decision process included discussions with state officials and the Federal Aviation Administration officials as well,” he said. “This event is for the community by the community. We have a responsibility to make certain social distancing occurs and we do not feel we could make that happen with the tens of thousands of people who attend our event.”
Fort William Henry Historic Hotel In Lake George Opens Its Doors For 165th Season
Courtesy Fort William Henry Hotel and Conference Center
The oldest resort on Lake George, the Fort William Henry Hotel, opened for business in May for its 165th season.
“Since before the Civil War, people have come to the southern end of Lake George for rest and relaxation, warm hospitality, fresh air, swimming, boating and hiking in our beautiful mountains,’’ said Sam Luciano, president of the Fort William Henry Corp. “Because the world has changed, things will look a little different this year. But our long tradition of Adirondack hospitality, taking care of our guests and looking out for their wellbeing and that of our staff and community, will be more visible than ever before.’’
This year, the focus at Fort William Henry will be protecting the health of its staff, guests and community, Luciano said. The hotel has adopted rigorous standards of sanitation informed by the guidelines of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state Department of Health and leading hoteliers.