Chili, Chili Chili

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Right about now the chefs entering Saturday's 4th Annual Schroon Chili Cook-Off are putting the finishing touches on their creations, with names like  Ski-Doo, After Burner and Artery Choke 3.0!  This year will be 14 chilis to taste. All of the funds raised go to support the Schroon EMS Squad.

There’s unlimited tasting wristbands for  $15, or single tasting tickets for a  $1. The cook-off  -- an officials stop on the annual Schroon Lake-North Hudson Poker Run -- kicks off at 11.30 am.

Trophies will be presented for Best Meaty Chili, Best Veggie Chili, Best Chili by Fire/Rescue Squad and People's Choice Trophy. Presentations at 1:15 pm.

Judges include :Joe Steiniger,  Curtis Becraft, Carla Lynne Hall, John Sawyers, David Peterson, Tony Tenda and Anna Bentley Hay

The details: The event goes 1:30 pm  at the Mountainside Gym, 165 US Route 9, Schroon Lake, NY  12870.

Sledders: Start Your Engines

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As the snow falls this morning, we are reminded what an out standing season it has been for sledders. The greater Schroon trial system has been attracting snowmobilers from all over – bringing business to many local eateries on the trails, including Witherbee’s and Sticks and Stones, as well as The Paradox Brewery and Main Street.

And besides Mother Nature’s contribution to the season with several feet of the white stuff early on, members of the Schroon North Hudson Snow Mobile Club got a jump start on grooming the trails which has made them a joy to ride. This week those trail are going to get a work out with Club’s annual Poker Run.

Sign up begins this Friday, February 20 at Sticks & Stones Restaurant from 6 pm - 9 pm or Saturday morning at Timber Wolf Pub from 9 am - 11 am. The run ends at the Schroon Lake Fish & Game Club. Club President Leanna Welch is hoping for a big turnout.

“There are a lot of people still in town and the kids are out, so hopefully they will be able to ride this Saturday,” Leanna told Schroon Laker today.

The ride ends at the Fish and Game Club, where there will be a dinner of hot dogs, hamburgers and other dishes, drawing of prizes, and a Chinese raffle.

“We have a couple of amazing items – I don’t want to spoil the surprise, you have to be there,” Leanna said. Stops on the run include  Dave Whitty’s Sales and Service, The Mt. Severance Store, The Timber Wolf, Flanagan’s, Stewarts, The Fish and Game Club, DeCesare’s Pizza, Sticks and Stones, Witherbee’s Carriage House, The 4th Annual Chili Fest at the Mountainside Gym and the Black Bear Pub in Pottersville. 

Leanna, a few months into her Presidency, says she is enjoying the role.

“It has been an exciting time. The club has great volunteers, to whom I am grateful to for all their hard work”. 

The club’s current membership is 186 and Leanna hopes to grow that number. She encourages riders in this Saturday’s run who are not members to sign up. Fore more info call (518) 532-0253.

The Paradox Beer Bear in 3-D

You never know who might show up in Schroon Lake. This past weekend we hosted our good friends Albon Denoyel, his wife Victoria and newborn son William. Albon is the Co-Founder and CEO of a tech start up, Sketchfab, which has deals with some huge teach giants.

Sketch Fab has invented a very easy way to 3-D model just about anything – in just a few easy steps – not the hours it took in bygone years. So while visiting the the Paradox Brewery, Albon couldn’t resist making a 3-D model of the Paradox Beer Bear, using his iPhone 6. Take a tour of the bear by pressing the play button and using your mouse to check out the bear in detail. If you have a touch screen device, you can zoom into certain areas with the "pinch" move.

Albon's  business started in Paris in 2012 and now has an office in midtown Manhattan. Their philosophy is simple.

“We were frustrated to see so many artists spending hours on making great 3D models, but ending up sharing dull screenshots as there was no better solution to showcase their work,” Albon says.

“WebGL, the first open standard to display 3D graphics in a browser, had recently been released, so it was the perfect timing to start building the best platform to share 3D designs. Our community quickly grew to where we are now, a fruitful mix of artists, designers, architects, engineers, brands, museums, schools and more”.