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Discover Tug Hill is collecting information to be considered to be featured in the Discover Tug Hill Visitor’s Guide. The Visitor’s Guide provides tourists and community members with recreational opportunities in Lewis County, NY – the Tug Hill Region – across NYS. Upwards of 20,000 Guides are dispersed annually.

There is NO COST associated with submitting this form or being featured in the Visitor’s Guide. Information must be submitted by September 29, 2023.

This form is for those in industries supporting and directly related to tourism.


Discover Tug Hill is the designated Tourism Promotion Agency for Lewis County. Please note that businesses included in the Visitor’s Guide must directly contribute to tourism. Discover Tug Hill reserves the right to review each submission for accuracy and appropriateness for inclusion in the 2024 Visitor’s Guide.

Welcome to RiverFest!

A Black River adventure for kayakers and canoers.

PRE-REGISTRATION IS CLOSED!

Registration will still be available at Food Truck Friday in Croghan on 7/29/22 and at Riverfest from 7:30-10am on 7/30/22

PARTICIPANT RELEASE OF LIABILITY WAIVER
Print off this waiver and bring with you to the event. This will speed up your registration!

What is RiverFest?

RiverFest is an annual fun and relaxing paddle down the Black River – an event for families or individuals. Whether you’re a newcomer or someone who joins us each year – don’t miss out on this years camaraderie and adventure. This years route is on July 30th from Castorland to Carthage on the Black River – with a midpoint stop at the new boat launch in Deer River.

Participate in a trivia contest on their way with questions provided by Lewis County Soil & Water on large pool floats that are positioned along the river. There is a shuttle available in the morning so paddlers have their vehicles waiting for them at the end.

RiverFest is a fundraising event held by the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce and is sponsored by local businesses.

Details/Info

July 30, 2022 – This years route:
Castorland to Carthage – 10.3 mi.
Midpoint stop at the new boat launch in Deer River

Each paddler must complete & sign a waiver prior to participating. These will be available to sign at the Food Truck Friday event and at the start of Riverfest on Saturday morning.

Your entry fee of $10 goes towards the cost of event insurance (charged per person), purchase of trivia prize, the shuttle and restroom facilities.


Floaters Vs Paddlers

Although we understand that everyone enjoys the Black River in different ways, if you are someone who prefers a leisurely float on a tube or floatie during Riverfest please note that we are hoping to have a floating event later this summer. We ask that Riverfest be a paddler focused event. If you start at the beginning and are not at the midpoint by 11:30 you will need to depart there at that time.

Transportation

We will still have the shuttle available from 7:30-10 to drop your vehicle off at the end of the route and take you to your boat at the start. Please note the shuttle will not be available if you are asked to depart the river at the mid-point.

Riverfest Details

7:30 – 10am – Registration Available at the Castorland Boat Launch https://www.google.com/maps?daddr=43.895564,-75.504978 We will also have event shirts available to purchase!

7:30 – 10am – Shuttle Service Available – Participants can drop their kayaks in Castorland and then drive their vehicles to Turning Point Park in Carthage. There, they can catch the shuttle to bring them back to the start.

MidPoint Deer River Boat Launch – All participants must reach the mid-point by 11:30am or be asked to depart at that time. Please note that there will be no shuttle access after 10am to assist with transportation and participants that are asked to leave will need to find their own transportation.

The Carthage Area Chamber of Commerce has organized a great selection of things for participants to partake in at the end of their journey and Zero Dock has offered a discount on entrees for anyone who has participated in our event. Participants will just need to show their event bracelet to prove they participated!

Thank you for your patience as we changed our registration process this year. We have made note of what did and what did not work and will be making the appropriate changes for our *NEW* Fall Foliage Riverfest event that will take place in October 2022!

This month’s eNewsletter includes a letter from Board of Directors member, Calvin Campany, a featured trail on the LC33 Hiking Challenge, information about upcoming community events, and more! Don’t forget to check out our calendar for all upcoming events!


Letter from Calvin Campany, Chamber Board Member

I was so honored to join the Board of the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce last year.  

Having been raised in Croghan, I moved away for several years, eventually opening a business of my own in Rhode Island. I was an active member of my local chamber there, and the support I received as an inexperienced and very naive business owner cannot be measured. Much of my success was due to the other entrepreneurs and resources I was exposed to through that organization. 

When time and circumstances brought me back to the North Country, I was thrilled to “pay it forward” by supporting an organization that supports the business community here at home. This has been a great way to be reintroduced back into Lewis County. Our area is alive with vibrant small businesses: from family farms, fine craftsmen, to retail and services, (and so much in between!). So many entrepreneurs are taking advantage of everything that the North County has to offer. The hard work and all their efforts are making our community better and better, each day. 

Initially working on the Tour de Lewis: Oswegatchie to Osceola Bike Ride, I am now helping with River Fest and New Member Benefits committees. I feel like I am getting back so much more than I am giving. I encourage everyone to get involved with the Chamber. Like so many things in life, you get what you put into it. We have a terrific resource with the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce, with friends and neighbors pulling together to make our home a great place to do business.  

Thank you, 

Calvin Campany 


 Upcoming Events

Registration Deadline is May 12th

The Volunteer Transportation Center Foundation is excited to announce the return of the Black River Trail Run, a 5K/10K/15K race on the Black River Trail in Jefferson County. The event is hosted by Willow Running.

The Black River Trail Run will be held May 14 on the Black River Trail, beginning at the trailhead off State Route 3, just outside the village of Black River. It will begin with its 5K and 15K portions beginning at 9 a.m. The event’s 10K will begin at 9:35 a.m. Those wishing to participate in any of the races virtually may do so.

Online Registration Deadline is May 25th

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.

Rail bike rides and chicken BBQ- May 21st

The Railway Historical Society of Northern New York will be offering rail bike rides and speeder car rides from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Croghan Depot museum on May 21st. Chicken barbecue starts at 11:00 a.m. and goes until it is gone. A $5 individual or $10 family donation is required to ride and includes a free tour of our historic Croghan Depot museum. Donations benefit the Railway Historical Society of Northern New York. More information is available here.

Come join in on an evening of fun! Saturday, May 7th from 4-8pm at Garland City Beer Works in Watertown. The Kentucky Derby Social is an event filled with food, drinks, a silent auction, wine pull, 50/50 raffle, live music, and the horse races!


Professional Development Opportunities

Naturally Lewis is excited to host the Lewis County Economic Development Conference with the theme, Shift Back to Rural on Wednesday, June 15th at 3 Willows Event Center in Lyons Falls, NY! We are shifting the conversation to focus on successes in our rural economy, coming back to community and coming back to the humanness of working together as a means of growth. We are looking forward to a full day filled with leadership development, economic development updates, community building, and networking!

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!

Chamber members, check your email for discount coupon codes for these events!


LC33 Featured Trail

Looking to break in your hiking shoes on a family-friendly trail? Or maybe do a little fishing AND catch up on your local folklore? Green Pond Trail is a 1 mile out and back trail located in Bonaparte’s Cave State Forest in the town of Diana. Local legend, along with some historical fact, has it that Napoleon Bonaparte’s brother and his family escaped from Europe to this area after his famous brother was arrested. 

The Green Pond Trail allows motorized access for people with mobility impairments. A permit is required through MAPPWD. There is an accessible fishing pier on the pond.

Learn more about Bonaparte’s Cave State Forest
Check out the other LC33 Trails
Don’t forget to tag @adirondakstughill in your outdoor adventures!


Looking for regular updates on what’s happening for the Chamber and our Members?

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! See a sneak peek 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!

ATTENTION MEMBERS:

Does your business want to participate in this year’s Lewis County Community Cup, but you don’t have the numbers for a full team? We would love to have you join ours! We welcome any of our member businesses to sign up using the form below. You can check the eligibility requirements here before signing up and we’ll take care of the rest!


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!

eastroadconcrete@gmail.com

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!

Launch Lewis County

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.

Tour de Lewis

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!

low section of man standing in forest

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! 

hikingchallengelc33

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!

person in blue denim jeans holding white stick

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!

Three new members join us this December! Read up on our new Members in the eNewsletter as well as updates on Chamber events, a review of 2021, and more.

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November's eNewsletter includes features a new Member- Adirondack Outpost, upcoming Open Houses, Annual Meeting wrap up, Leadership Academy, & upcoming events!

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