April eNewsletter
Welcome to our April eNewsletter!
April is here and so is warmer weather, we hope! It’s time to tune up your OHV, untangle your fishing poles, and lace up those hiking boots for another great spring of exploration in beautiful Lewis County. Find a few suggestions on activities and events in this eNewsletter!
This month’s eNewsletter also includes a letter from the Second Vice Chair of our Board of Directors, Blaine Campany, the Adironduck Race, Lewis County Community Cup information, and more!
Letter from Blaine Campany, Chamber Board – Second Vice chair
My name is Blaine Campany and I’m currently serving on the chamber board as second vice chair. Most people know me through my business, the Croghan Meat Market, but I have also served on the Board of Directors at the Chamber for the last ten years. I’ve seen where the Chamber has come from, where it is going, and I’m very proud to be part of this organization of businesses and individuals seeking to further our collective interests, while advancing our community and region.
Typically, you can find me volunteering on behalf of the Chamber at local events such as the Cream Cheese Festival in Lowville, New York, or the Lewis County Fair. There is a web of individuals that I’ve worked with over the years that volunteer their time and energy to make events like these even possible. The Chamber has given me and many others the outlet to be a part of shaping our community through volunteer opportunities and is a great resource for anyone looking to get involved.
As a local business owner and chamber member, I see the importance of having an organization that not only connects businesses but connects businesses with tourism, our environment, local government, and nonprofits. The Lewis County Chamber of Commerce is much more than just a business hub and our director, Kristen Aucter, has done a wonderful job at highlighting the importance of all these moving parts working together to promote our area and economy. If you are interested in becoming a member or just volunteering, we would love to hear from you feel free to reach out to the chamber or myself at CroghanMeatMarket@gmail.com.
The Croghan Meat Market, Inc. is a specialty meat processing plant and retail store located in Croghan, New York. The plant operates to create traditional, quality meats for conscious consumers who take pride in their meats and eats.
Blaine Campany
Croghan Meat Market
Chamber Board – Second Vice Chair
New Member Spotlight
East Road Custom Concrete
East Road Custom Concrete can satisfy all of your residential concrete needs. They specialize is stamped concrete and have many stamp designs and colors to choose from. Sidewalks, patios, house and garage foundations, and restoring existing concrete, East Road Custom Concrete can do it all! Call or message (315)804-1485 for a free estimate!
AdironDuck Race at the Oswegatchie Educational Center
Its Back and In Person! On Sunday April 24th, 2022, the Oswegatchie Educational Center, Long Pond Rd., Croghan, NY will hold the 28th Annual AdironDUCK Race and Pancake Breakfast.The day begins with an “All You Can Eat” Pancake Breakfast. starting at 8 AM till 12:00 Noon. Breakfast will be served out of our new Sentinel Hall. The high point will be the dumping of as many as 10,000 rubber ducks into the chilly waters of the Oswegatchie River. The adopters of the first 15 ducks to cross the gates will receive cash prizes including a $2,000 grand prize. Ducks may be adopted the day of the race. Ducks are raced at 1 PM. Oswegatchie will also be holding the annual “AdironDUCK 6K Trail Run, Walk, or Ride” at 10 AM. Participants will travel around Long Pond on a mixed trail system with everything from single track, dirt road, and pavement. This is a self-timed event.
Registration is $10, but includes a free pancake breakfast. Our headlining entertainer is Troy Wunderle’s One Man Circus performing at 11 AM. Oswegatchie will also have other venues for entertainment on the property, plus the Adirondack Artisan’s Guild will be on exhibit. An ecumenical church service is also available at 9:30 in Getman Lodge.
CONTACT:
Bill Waite, Program Director
wwaite@oswegatchie.org, 315-346-1222
Robin Waite, Program Specialist
rwaite@oswegatchie.org, 315-346-1222
Lewis County Community Cup
Welcome to the 2022 Lewis County Community Cup! This is a multi-day competition among Lewis County organizations. To register for this year’s event, please have one member of your team complete the form below. Registration is open from April 1-30, 2022.
For more information about eligibility, event rules, scoring and t-shirts, please click HERE for the full event packet. For a schedule of the week’s events, click HERE. The format of some events cannot be confirmed until we know how many teams are participating. Team Captains will receive additional information the first week in May.
If you have additional questions about the event, please contact Anna Platz at annaplatz@lewiscounty.ny.gov or 315-376-5238.
The Lewis County Cuisine Trail
The Lewis County Cuisine Trail is a trail going through our beautiful region featuring local producers and their cuisine. On this trail you will find goat farms such as Cedar Hedge Farm, cow dairies, farmer owned cooperatives, Museums, famous Croghan Bologna, and more!
If you’re looking to find out more about the trail, visit the website and make your way through our delicious local cuisine: cuisinetrail.com
North Star Center for Professional Development
The North STAR Center for Professional Development provides professional development programming that maximizes limited resources, with a focus on building the capacity of individuals and organizations. We invite you check out our upcoming events!
Here are links to a few upcoming events:
April 7 – 1pm-3pm, Building a Cohesive Team
April 21 – 9am – 11am, Supervisor Essentials
April 27 – 11am – 12pm, Balance, Burnout and An Organization’s Way Forward
Companies are taking the initiative or feeling the tension to prioritize the employee experience through flexibility, benefits, sense of purpose, and creating a culture of belonging. Organizations that have always had the employee experience at the center of their work may be better positioned to retain talent, however, most organizations are impacted by the attrition we are seeing in the workforce today.
The United Way of Northern New York’s North STAR Center for Professional Development Spring 2022 Townhall sought to contribute to the conversation around connectivity, employee engagement and belonging, and balance in response to burnout. Speakers shared what opportunities exist to address each challenge given the current context of our organizations and where our world is going, and three tactics leaders can employ to start making changes today. Learn more.
70% Increase in Industries Eligible for Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting Program
The U.S. Small Business Administration today published an updated list of eligible industries for federal contracting set-asides for the Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting Program (WOSB Program) based on a recent study analyzing industry gaps for women-owned businesses. The study, commissioned by the SBA, showed that women-owned businesses are underrepresented or substantially underrepresented in the federal marketplace across hundreds more North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) industries.
The updated list will support agencies in allocating set-asides for WOSB and economically disadvantaged women-owned small businesses (EDWOSBs) across more industries, potentially resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in additional set-aside opportunities for women entrepreneurs.
For more information, visit the SBA website or contact:
Katrina Ballard
Outreach and Marketing Specialist/Public Information Officer
Syracuse District Office
U.S. Small Business Administration
Office: (315) 295-1475
Cell: (202) 941-8091
Katrina.Ballard@sba.gov
North Country Arts Recovery Fund
North Country Arts Recovery Fund grants support eligible organizations and jobs in the arts sector that have been impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic. This grant funding is provided through the National Endowment for the Arts American Rescue Plan (NEA ARP) Subgranting for Local Arts Agencies program and is administered by the St. Lawrence County Arts Council, SLC Arts. For more information check out our website here.
River Area Council of Governments (RACOG)
The River Area Council of Governments (RACOG), invites you to attend the RACOG Economic Visioning Summit. It will take place at Zero Dock Street restaurant on April 28, 2022 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. There will be some light refreshments served. To register for this free event, click here.
Lewis County Hospital Foundation Golf Tournament
DEC Announces Seasonal Road Closures
Effective immediately, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Region 6 is closing all mud gates to snowmobile trails and seasonal access roads on Forest Preserve, State Forest, and Conservation Easement lands due to spring thaw and muddy conditions. Gate closures are expected to be completed by Tuesday, March 29.
Motor vehicle use during the spring mud season damages roads, resulting in road opening delays. DEC will reopen the roads once they are dry enough to safely handle motor vehicle traffic and necessary maintenance is completed. For up to date information, check here.
Updates from our Members
Our Members also have plenty of information to share! See updates on events, business meetings, business initiatives and more in this section of our eNewsletter!
The Volunteer Transportation Center Foundation has announced the return of its annual Posh Purse Palooza. This event will take place Thursday, May 5, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Garland City Beer Works, 321 Howk St., Watertown. The event will be preceded by an online auction component.
“Wine Down After Hours” is one of the many enjoyed pop-up public dining events held at the Tug Hill Estate’s main hall. Live music, a curated lite dinner menu, and a bar stocked with fine wine, beer, and specialty cocktails guarantee an enjoyable evening on the Tug Hill. Doors open at 5, Kitchen open from 5-8, Live music 6-9.
The Tour de Lewis is a non-competitive Metric Century Ride through Lewis County’s scenic Adirondack Park, Black River Valley, and Tug Hill Plateau. Participation is open to recreational and competitive amateur cyclists alike. Riders of all abilities can participate in one of the three distances.
Spring in Lewis County
There are plenty of things to do in Lewis County this time of the year!
Whether you’re more of an outdoor person or an indoor person – we have suggestions for you!
Hiking
Lewis County is home to many State Forests and Wilderness areas. There are many beautiful local parks and state parks with trails for hiking and enjoying the outdoors!
Need a Challenge?
Hike thirty three miles of our approved hiking trails (follow the link) and turn in your form and the $5 submission fee when you’ve finished to receive your letter of completion and LC33 award!
Landscaping / Gardening
It’s that time of year when we all start thinking of spending more time outside!
Make your yard an oasis that you won’t want to leave. From trees, shrubs, fruits, veggies, lawnmowers, tools, supplies, and more, Lewis County businesses have your landscaping / gardening needs covered!
Find information on nurseries and garden centers by clicking the button below.
Looking for regular updates on what’s happening for the Chamber and our Members?
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! See a sneak peak of our latest Instagram posts below.
Looking for more upcoming events in the area?
You can find our events and other local events in our calendar!
What else has been happening on our website? Check out our latest posts below!