This year’s Adirondack Park Local Government Day Conference, sponsored by the APA, was held in Lake Placid on Wednesday and Thursday, April 9 and 10th.
Prior to the Conference, all municipalities, civic organizations and not-for-profit groups within the Blue Line were invited to submit entries for the Adirondack Park Excellence Awards.
These awards were created to showcase successful community-sponsored events.
Judging was done by the Adirondack Regional Tourism Council Board of Directors. At the Conference luncheon on April 10, awards were presented to representatives of the winning communities.
John Frey, Inlet’s Town Supervisor, was kept busy collecting the Town’s awards, which included three first places, one first runner-up, and three honorable mentions in the eight award categories, as follows:
1st Place in Best in Winter for “Frozen Fire and Lights.” The award reads in part: “Most visitors and locals know the Adirondacks are a great three season destination. What sets this event apart is that it highlights the variety of winter events the area offers…This event lets both locals and visitors know that the Adirondack Park can be a truly great four season destination.”
1st Place in Best on Water for “One Square Mile of Hope.” The judges said: “One idea… 1,900 boats and $80,000 towards breast cancer research! It is absolutely amazing what inspiration and total community involvement can accomplish. Inlet earns a worthy title for this one.”
1st Place in Most Adirondack Quirky Event for “The Cardboard Sled Race Circuit.” Inlet shared this award with the other participating communities: Indian Lake, Long Lake, Old Forge, and Speculator. (By the way, the LaPorte family of Inlet won the trophy for this event in 2014 after taking part in all five races.)
1st Runner-up in Best in Spring/Fall was awarded to Inlet and Indian Lake for hosting the “Black Fly Challenge” bike race between the two communities which sees over 400 cyclists testing their stamina on a 40-mile course through the Moose River Recreation Area. The two towns alternate start and finish points annually.
The three Honorable Mentions were for Best in Summer, the popular Ping-Pong Ball Drop at Fern Park; Best in Winter for the “Adirondack Ice Bowl” pond hockey tournament; and Most Authentic Adirondack Event for “Adirondack Kids Day” in October, based on the “Adirondack Kids” book series by Gary and Justin VanRiper.
Frey was a very proud Supervisor as he gathered the accolades for Inlet, which has been dubbed “The Little Town That Could” by writer Stan Ernst. (No wonder the title has stuck!)
As an aside, The Best on Water Event, “One Square Mile of Hope” will take place for the third time on September 13, 2014 at Arrowhead Park in downtown Inlet at the head of Fourth Lake. You’re invited to participate in this Guinness World Record breaker, presented this year in partnership by Town of Inlet and Kiwanis Club of the Central Adirondacks.