Meeting Minutes: March 9, 2012

• The idea of having local artists paint the benches that are put out in Chestertown each summer was discussed and John Holman, owner of the Art in Chestertown Gallery, will be contacting local artists regarding this. Year round town banners in all three towns was also discussed and the group will be presenting the idea to the Town Boards for approval. The banners would be sponsored by local businesses and if approved by the town, designs will be submitted for review and letters sent out for sponsorships.
• The sign committee continues to work with Fred Monroe and Betty Little on additional Northway signage and the one hour parking signs in front of the old health center are being asked to be removed as they’re no longer needed and they affect surrounding businesses. The town will also be cutting back trees and shrubbery that is currently covering some of the current informational signs.
• The alliance will be submitting a letter to the town requesting additional lighting at the Route 8 and Schroon River Road intersection.
• There will be a mixer with the North Warren Chamber of Commerce and the North Creek Chamber at the Panther Mt. Inn on March 15^th with live music and door prizes. All are encouraged to attend.
• With the new Price Chopper coming to Warrensburg, there is concern about the Chestertown Grand Union closing and leaving a void in the community. Loss of jobs and convenience would result from this and ideas are needed for a solution.
• Suggestions for taking advantage of the influx of people the Americade and the Warrensburg Garage Sale bring into the area were discussed and hopefully events can be coordinated by our towns to tie into these busy weekends.
• There will be an Economic Development Conference on April 10, 2012 at the Tannery Pond Community Center in North Creek with representatives from key State and local economic development programs.
• Chestertown Farmers Market is off to a successful start with vendor applications and Friends of the Market donations coming in. Garnet Signs has offered to make the signs for the Market at a considerable discount, andHawazin Harijan will be the Entertainment Coordinator for the Market and will provide the musicians, schedule and sound system. A stipend of $50 will be paid to musicians on the day they perform, and musicians can place a tip bucket. There will also be a couple amateur days with students from the school. Anyone interested in participating can contact Hawazin at [email protected] .
• There are some great ideas coming from this Alliance, but more people are needed to volunteer their time and work on committees, write letters and attend Town Meetings. Please pass the word.

Meeting was adjourned at 10am.
Next meeting: Friday, March 23, 2012 ~ 9am ~ at the Panther Mountain Inn.

Meeting Minutes: February 24, 2012

• Sign Committee reported on their meetings with Fred Monroe and he has been given approval by the Town Board to write a letter to Betty Little requesting signage on Exits 25 and 26 for Gore Mountain. Because of APA regulations, only the brown and yellow information signs are allowed within the blue line, but the committee will also be working on getting our exits on the sign below Exit 17 of the Northway. The North Creek Business Alliance has offered to join forces with us on this and Monroe recommended we write to the DOT regarding signage on Route 8.
• Tri-Lakes Business Alliance Mission Statement was presented and accepted. It will be posted on the webpage.
• Members are still working on developing a trail system for ATV’s in our area. Permission is needed from National Grid.
• The North Creek Chamber and North Warren Chamber will be having a mixer March 15^th at the Panther Mountain Inn. Around the 1^st week of June, the Centurion Bicycle Race will be passing through our area and businesses are urged to take advantage of the influx of people as family members following the cyclists will be looking for things to do.
• The Wine Tasting Fundraiser was again discussed – date and time to be decided.
• Chestertown Farmers’ Market: A contest was held for art students at the North Warren high school, and votes from the Chestertown Farmers’ Market’s Face Book page helped the committee choose a design drawn by Martha Torres as their logo. Martha will receive a $25 prize and the top four runners up will receive ice cream cone certificates donated by Main St. Ice Cream. Letters are being sent out to local Vendors to reserve a space at the Market and applications are also available online at www.chestertownfarmersmarket.com. Stall rates are available from $109 for the 17 week season to $69 for an 8 week commitment. This will be a “producer’s only” market and all products sold must be grown or made by the vendors themselves. Business owners and individuals are also invited to become a “Friend of the Market” by donating funds to help with advertising, insurance, signage, postage and group affiliations. Donations may be mailed to P.O. Box 257 – Chestertown, NY 12817 and more information regarding donor levels is also available on the website.
• It was agreed that Thom Randall from the Adirondack Journal can continue to use our Meeting Minutes to report on our projects and goals.

Guest Speaker: Bethanie Baker – Aflac Agent regarding supplemental insurance for business owners.

Meeting was adjourned at 10:00 am
Next Meeting: Friday, March 9, 2012, 9am, at the Panther Mountain Inn.

Meeting Minutes: January 27, 2012

Guest Speaker: Edward Bartholomew – Adirondack Gateway Council

Old Business

• Signage Committee has come up with proposals to have new matching signs at the entrance to all three villages with a theme of historic signs in our area. They’re meeting with Chester Supervisor Fred Monroe and with Betty Little to discuss funding. Their aim is to keep them consistent for all three towns with a possible theme of “History Lives Here”. Signs would have the name of the town with local businesses and points of interest placed at I87 exit ramps and town entrances. Adding Exit 25 to the NYS Thruway signs as an exit for Gore Mountain is also being addressed. They’re also looking into streetlight banners, which could be sponsored by businesses in the respective towns.
• It was explained that every signature we get at our meetings gives $15 an hour to the Main Street Enhancement project and the Town will match that amount.
• Farmers Market committee is gathering information and is moving forward. Becklers of Stone Bridge and Caves had planned to host a similar event in Pottersville this summer, and committee will work on coordinating the two markets. Possible Chestertown sites are in front of the Town Hall and at the barn/fields at Main Street Ice Cream Parlor.

New Business

• A suggestion was made to look into changing the speed limit to a consistent speed at the entrances (Routes 8 & 9) to the towns. Petitions need to be submitted to the Town Boards who then present to the County and State.

Guest Speaker

Mr. Bartholomew explained that the Adirondack Gateway Council is doing what our group is doing but on a larger scale. This council can provide assistance on town sewer projects and loans for new businesses through their Micro Enterprise Fund. In 2006, our area was designated a National Heritage Area through 2021 and Wayne Monthe will be looking into what this designation can do for our towns.

Meeting was adjourned at 10:00 am

Next meeting February 10, 2012 @ 9am at the Panther Mountain Inn