The Adirondack Thunder has announced its promotional schedule for the 2017-18 season.

The Thunder’s 2017-18 home schedule, which consists of 36 home games, will begin on Saturday, Oct. 14, as the Thunder take on the Brampton Beast at Cool Insuring Arena at 7 p.m.

Opening Night will feature a magnet schedule giveaway as well as an outdoor party on the plaza to kick off the Thunder’s third season, the first that the Thunder will open at home.

The season will feature additional giveaways, including a Capital Region Hockey poster (Oct. 20), a Bill Dineen magnet banner (Dec. 9), a Christmas ornament (Dec. 23), a 2017-18 team poster, presented by Glens Falls Printing (Jan. 27), a youth jersey, presented by Glens Falls Hospital (Feb. 24) and a green Thunder T-Shirt (March 17).

“We’re excited to introduce our first promotional schedule as new owners of the Adirondack Thunder that features new themes, giveaways and some other special events,” Adirondack Thunder President Jeff Mead said. “We’re especially thrilled to honor the legendary Bill Dineen with a night of his own as he rightfully takes his place in the rafters of Cool Insuring Arena. Bill has contributed so much to our area and has earned the honor of being only the second individual to have his name in the rafters.”

Giveaway sponsors and additional giveaway nights will be announced closer to the season, team officials said.

The colorful and multi-themed hot air balloons will take to the skies again in the Glens Falls/Lake George area when the Adirondack Balloon Festival takes place Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 21-24.

It will be the 45th annual event.

It kicks off at 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 21 at Crandall Park in Glens Falls. Events continue through the weekend at Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport in Queensbury.

Some of the unusual balloons will include Owlbert Einstein, Scortch the Dragon, Smiley the Scarecrow and Pokey the Turtle. An American Flag balloon piloted by Barry Delibero will appear for the first time at the festival. It is 70 feet tall and 78 feet wide, organizers said.

Scortch the Dragon also makes his first appearance, piloted by Keith Sproul. He stands 145 feet tall.

This year’s event has band performances during the weekend by the Master Cylinders, North and South Dakotas, Buckeye Rooster, the Old Main and Across the Pond.

The Board of Directors of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) announced today that longtime area human resources, human services and workforce development professional Marti Burnley has been named interim president.

In August,  the Chamber announced that Tori J.E. Riley decided to leave her position. As of Sept. 11, Riley returned to a job she held previously, taking the position of vice president with the Saratoga Economic Development Corp.

Burnley, who retired from Hudson Headwaters Health Network in January after six years as vice president of human resources, has more than three decades of experience in leadership roles in both the private and public sectors.

“Marti brings an outstanding array of professional experience, leadership skills, and a tremendous knowledge and love of our region to her new role,” said Dianne Shugrue, ARCC board chairwoman and president of Glens Falls Hospital.

“Her great familiarity with the Chamber and the regional business community allow her to hit the ground running and keep the organization moving forward as we prepare for the next phase in the ARCC’s history. We are fortunate that she was willing to take a hiatus from her well-deserved and short-lived retirement to help us out,” Shugrue said.

Burnley said she was surprised and humbled when she received the call asking her to consider the interim assignment, but knew right away that she wanted to accept.

The Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce announced the appointment of Gina Mintzer, CMP, as its new executive director, replacing Michael Consuelo, who is retiring.

Mintzer began her new role under the tutelage of Consuelo on Sept. 11. Consuelo announced in April that he was retiring at the end of September.

Mintzer has served as the director of sales for the Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACCVB) for 19 years. In this role, she assisted in the stabilization, expansion, and evolution of Albany as a visitor destination despite economic and national conditions throughout the last two decades.

She managed a team of six convention sales and services professionals dedicated to quality client, colleague, and community customer service, officials said. She was the information resource for meeting and sports event planners working closely with the Times Union Center, Empire State Plaza Convention Center and all the Albany County hotels on client events ranging from the NCAA tournament to the Maccabi Games.

Mintzer also assisted efforts to ensure strong business for the new Albany Capital Center.

She managed programs, activities, and connections to build and sustain a healthy meetings and convention visitor industry.

“When it comes to tourism, meetings, and events, she knows the marketplace, organization and brings years of education and experience,” said Fred Vogel Jr., Chamber board of directors president “She loves Lake George and wants to help show it off to our target markets. She has my complete confidence,.”