Ø  As of January 1, 2020 the TLBA will now be the TRI-LAKES COMMUNITY ALLLIANCE, a not for profit 501(c)3 which will give us the opportunity to apply for various grants and hopefully increase our membership as the group was never really intended for businesses only. A huge Thank You to Vanessa Hutton and the committee for doing all the paperwork and filings to make this long discussed goal a realty! Vanessa is a new attorney in town, and her office is in the Carol Theatre Building so give her a wave when you walk by!!!! Meetings will still be the 2nd Friday of every month, 9 AM at the Panther Mt. Pub and rules are still the same! 1) Meetings last for only one hour. 2) Only one person talks at a time, so please try to attend if you want to get a little involved in our community happenings.

Ø  Taste of the Tri-Lakes: Great turnout!!! +/-250 in attendance! Thank you to the following restaurants for attending Red Wagon, The Bull House, Main Street ICP, OP Fredericks, Panther Mt. Inn, Jimbo’s, Adirondack General Store and Sticks ‘N Stones (and an extra Thanks for those 6 who donated ticket monies received back to the TLBA!

Ø  Brant Lake Fishing Tournament: January 25th. The profits from this event go toward $1,000 scholarships for both NW Central School and Rensselaer School.

Ø  Brant Lake Winter Carnival: February 15th * meeting being held Jan.7th @ 9AM at Jimbo’s for anyone who wants to help out (we can always use some extra hands!). There might be a few additions this year so stay posted!

Ø  Downhill Derby: February 22nd – get your sleds ready!!!

Ø  YMCA has lots of new programs this year… “Kids night out”, an after school program and Friday night activities for teens on 3 out of 4 Friday nights during the month.

Ø  Rotary did an amazing job with Santa giving out gifts in the town hall this year and special Kudos to Rotarian Gary Confer for the winter scene sets spread throughout the room!

Ø  North Creek Alliance and other groups are working on and seeking input for Warren County’s “Railroad Abandonment” (not the best word). More info can be found at https://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/local-news/2019/09/warren-county-railroad-negotiations-progressing/   Railroad is not really being abandoned, the county just has a different level of service and responsibility for the rails.

Ø  TLBA will be donating $2,000 to the Chestertown Helper’s Fund. A reminder that ALL monies donated to Helpers Fund remain in our North Warren Community to help families with heat, food, medical expenses and other local needs.

Ø  A discussion was held with Craig Leggett (so great that our Town Supervisors and/or Town Councilmen/women attend our meetings!!!) on the progress of a Dog Park and an improved entrance to Chestertown at the Rte 8/9 light.

Ø  Kudos to NW Central School to for opening up the school for indoor walking from 6:00 -7:45 every evening the school is open. It’s a pleasant, safe environment and appreciated by many!

Ø  Stone Bridge & Caves  and Greg & Dee Beckler & Family have been ‘rocks’ in our community for many, many years, always there with a donation for fundraisers, opening their doors one weekend a year with free admittance for ‘locals day’, employing area high school students and residents every summer, involvement with our Chamber of Commerce …. the list goes on and on….

This past rain storm totally wiped out ‘The Caves’ and damage was devastating…. they’ve faced this hurdle Mother Nature has thrown at them in the past, but this time, there is absolutely NO insurance monies covering any portion of the damages. One video:    https://www.facebook.com/naturalstonebridgeandcaves/videos/1044819809196396/

To help out the Becklers, and to ‘give back’ a little of what they have given to our community over the years, a group will be organizing a fundraiser that will be looking for ‘man power’ (or women!!!!) to volunteer for a day or two one weekend this spring to do what machines can’t to put this natural wonder back in shape!  More information will forthcoming so please stay tuned for updates…