Now in our 4th year, we are proudly growing by leaps and bounds. Our analytics (web speak for how many readers we have and page views) are off the charts. Our loyal readers continue to spread the word about ‘the LAKER.

And as we grow, you will find more coverage of all things in North Warren County, where there is A LOT happening. You will be hearing a lot about the Tri-Lakes Business Alliance in the future.

The Alliance encompasses Chestertown, Brant Lake, Pottersville and the hamlet of Adirondack. The Alliance is a driving force in promoting tourism and boosting commerce in the area which covers much of our readership – south of Scaroon Manor – on both sides of our precious lake.

The Alliance’s goal is to bring fun and exciting events and other improvements to our community.  The Alliance is a not-for-profit organization of business owners and individuals who take pride in their towns -- all working together to promote their lake communities.

What we like about the Alliance? It complements and works with other organizations supporting their communities, including the North Warren Chamber of Commence, Chestertown Rotary, town governments and other groups.  Here’s the best part: the Alliance is well known for getting projects off the ground quickly. Meetings are held every other Friday at 9am at The Panther Mountain Inn. You do not have to be a business owner to attend! We only have two rules:  Meetings last for only 1 hour. Only 1 person speaks at a time!
Read the minutes from their latest meeting right here:

General Board Meeting Minutes: October 17, 2014

• Wine & Beer Tasting Fund Raiser will be held November 12th from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Suzie Q’s in Brant Lake. Jonathan Newell will be entertaining us with music, Saratoga Eagles will be serving their Craft Beer and wine will be provided by Wildman. Donations are needed to raffle off so call Linda at #494-4898 or drop off items at Gallo Realty if you’d like to give a basket or gift certificate. This is one of the few fund raisers the TLBA has every year to offset expenses of our events, insurance, advertising, etc. so please give graciously and plan on stopping by for a great evening!
• Electric Sign for Town Events:  Committee is working on a donation letter to help purchase a digital information sign to be installed in front of the Chamber of Commerce to announce town events (similar to the one in front of the NW School). Cost is around $7,000 and as the tax year is coming to a close, what a great write-off for business! $50 to $250 – it will all help meet our goal and have the  sign up by next summer! Checks can be made out to the Tri-Lakes Business Alliance and mailed to PO Box 56 – Chestertown, NY 12817 Attn: Digital Sign.
• The End of Prohibition was December 5, 1933 and a committee was formed to organize a small celebration of this historic day. Monica Herrington has volunteered to head this committee with Randy Berg, Jane Smith and Don Butler.
• Thank you letters were received from The Town of Horicon Historical Society for our contribution to the Adirondack Shindig to expand the Historical Museum to the village of Adirondack.
• Taste of the Tri-Lakes and Rotary Memory Tree will be held December 2nd in the center of town.  Cindy Mead, Mary Jane Dower, Randy Berg, Don Butler and Jim McDermott volunteered to be on the committee. This is the 4th year the Rotary has had the Memory Tree and the 3rd year for the Taste of The Tri-Lakes so we’re looking forward to another great evening. Restaurants will be contacted to participate again this year and tree bulbs can be purchased in memory of a loved one or anyone you want to recognize, for $5 apiece or 5 for $20. This year’s tree was donated by Larry & Jodi McAvey.
• CD’s of the Vaudeville Show at Rum Runners are now available and can be purchased for $10 at Main St. ICP, the Lazy Moose and at future TLBA events. Thank you to Brandon Himoff for making these hour long videos and donating profits to the TLBA!
• Woof Stock : To be held over Father’s Day weekend (June 20-21, 2015) in the field behind Main Street Ice Cream Parlor, it will be a Weekend of Peace, Paws, and Music. Applications have been submitted to Warren County for  bed tax monies to help fund this event.
• Toys for Tots : there is a bin at the Panther Mt. Inn for new, unwrapped toys so bring one to the next meeting or drop off at the Inn so we have a full basket of toys to donate!
• 2015 Calendar of Events: Brant Lake Ice Fishing Tournament: January 24th. Brant Lake Winter Carnival; February 21st.         St. Patrick’s Day Parade: March 7th. Rum Runner’s Weekend: September 18th – 20th. Car Hops: May 15th, June 12th, July 10th, August 14th, September 18th with rain dates on the following Friday. Bike Nights: May 27th, June 10th & 24th, July 8th & 22nd, August 12th & 26th, September 9th with National POW/MIA Recognition Day being celebrated on September 18th.
• Brandon Himoff attended an informational meeting with the town of Schroon Lake to brainstorm ideas to bring more commerce to our area. The Chamber will be having a “North Warren Shop Outside the Box” on December 12th & 19th to promote local businesses.  Stores are invited to come up with ideas and should contact the Chamber office for more information.
• A member asked if we could do a recognition night for Bill Orluk to thank him for his contributions to our community over the years. Mary Jane Dower will be organizing this event.
• Randy & Patty Berg are again collecting donations for the Winter Carnival Out House Races in honor of their son. Their goal is to reach $1,000 this year (all monies to be awarded as Out House prizes!) so donate if you can!
• We’d like to remind you all to refer to the community calendar for everything that’s happening in our tri-lake area!

Next meeting is Friday, October 31, 2014 at 9 AM @ the Panther Mountain Inn. General Board Meeting Minutes from the October 3, 2014 Meeting are here:

Tim Davis of Superior Plus Energy Service gave a presentation of their services and offered a propane proposal for a TLBA Co-Op for fuel. Company is based out of Gansevoort and they have an office in Warrensburg. Propane Rate for Customer Owned equipment is .55 over terminal cost, Company provided equipment .70 over terminal cost. If you are receiving these emails you are a member of the TLBA and eligible to be part of the Co-Op. Call Tim Davis at (W) #584-3050 or (Cell) #222-7264 for more information.

ATV Poker Ride for Toys for Tots  held on September had 143 riders and made $2,786 for Toys for Tots as well as 8+ bags of toys. A few riders didn’t respect the rules and this behavior could jeopardize future events so we ask all who participate to ride accordingly, and feel free to use peer pressure toward those who don’t abide by the rules. These are great fundraisers for great causes and we’d hate to see them end because of a small number of people.

Wine Tasting Fund Raiser will be held November 12th from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Suzie Q’s in Brant Lake. Donations are needed to raffle off so call Linda at #494-4898 or drop off items at Gallo Realty if you’d like to give a basket or gift certificate.  It was voted to give the committee $150 for advertising, etc. This is one of the few fund raisers the TLBA has every year to offset expenses of our events, insurance, advertising, etc. so please give graciously and plan on stopping by for a great evening!

APAC: No news.

Electric Sign for Town Events:  Garnet Signs has quoted +/- $6,900 for a two sided digital electronic informational sign like the one in front of the NW School to advertise community events. Committee is meeting to discuss funding for this in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce. Cost of sign is significantly lower than what we were quoted last year and county funding will be researched and/or a fund raising event to raise monies for this much needed advertising medium.

Chestertown Farmer’s Market had over 9,000 people come through the gate this year in 15 weeks (compared to about the same number of people in 17 weeks last year!). Thanks to everyone who has helped make this such a successful event in our town!

Town Signs : a few months ago we submitted designs to the Chester Town Board for new entrance signs and a vote was taken by the Board to proceed. It was questioned where these signs are and why haven’t they been put up?

Woof Stock : To be held over Father’s Day weekend (June 20-21, 2015) in the field behind Main Street Ice Cream Parlor, it will be a Weekend of Peace, Paws, and Music. Seeing we all like dressing up for the 1920’s, now we’re going back to 1969! Committee has been formed, and monies from both towns and Warren County as well as sponsorships from pet related industries will be researched.

Road Side Signs: A letter to the Chester Town Board was reviewed, approved, and will be sent to the Town addressing the current zoning laws and the unsightliness of temporary road side advertising signs. It was voted to cc the letter to the Town of Horicon.

The End of Prohibition was December 5, 1933 and a committee was formed to organize a small celebration of this historic day. Monica Herrington has volunteered to head this committee with Randy Berg, Jane Smith and Don Butler.

Thank you letters were received from the Class of 2017 for letting them help out at Rum Runners and keep the left over ‘foods’ to sell throughout the year at school events.

The Rotary is now selling ‘lights’ for the Rotary Memory Tree to be lit, in conjunction with the TLBA Taste of the Tri-Lakes on December 13th in the center of town. Bulbs can be purchased in memory of a loved one or anyone you want to recognize, for $5 apiece or 5 for $20.

CD’s of the Vaudeville Show at Rum Runners are now available and can be purchased for $10 at Main St. ICP, the Lazy Moose and at future TLBA events. Thank you to Brandon Himoff for making these hour-long videos and donating profits to the TLBA!

Wayne Rizzo will be the featured artist for Autumn Artistry at The Art in Chestertown from October 3 thru November 8. The Art is now open on weekends from 11-5 so make sure you stop in to view some great local talent!