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July Events at Johnson Hall State Historic Site
Johnson Hall State Historic Site will hold two programs which commemorate 18th events that occurred at the site.
On Sunday, July 10th, the historic house will be exhibited in mourning as it would have been in July of 1774 following the death of Sir William Johnson. Guided tours of the Hall will include interpretation of the mourning practices of the period and a wake with mourners in period dress. Tours begin at 1pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm. The Hall will then remain dressed in mourning through July 17. 
On Saturday, July 16th, Senior Interpreter Michael Perazzini will offer a lecture on “The 55th Regiment of Foot”. Raised in 1755 in Sterling, Scotland, the 55th Regiment of Foot fought in America during the French and Indian War, and members of the regiment were garrisoned at Johnson Hall. The lecture will follow their exploits up to the beginning of the American War for Independence. The lecture begins at 11am in the historic mansion, and will be followed by light refreshment. Tours on this day will begin at 1pm.
Tours of Johnson Hall are offered on Wednesday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm, and Sunday from 1pm to 5pm. Tours begin on the hour, with the last tour of each day beginning at 4pm. Site special events and pre-registered groups may alter this tour schedule.
Tours are $4.00 for adults, $3.00 for seniors and students, and free for children 12 years and under.
Johnson Hall was the 1763 Georgian estate of Sir William Johnson and Molly Brant and their family. Sir William (1715 – 1774) was the single largest landowner and most influential individual in the colonial Mohawk Valley. His success in dealing with the Six Nations had a lasting impact on their relationship with the English, and largely influenced England’s victory in the Anglo-French struggle for control of colonial North America. The main house and flanking stonehouses, originally surrounded by a 700 acre farm, now interpret the Johnson family through guided tours of the period room settings, educational programs and special events.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/johnsonhallstatehistoricsite, write JohnsonHall@parks.ny.gov, or call (518) 872-8712.
Johnson Hall Opens for 2016 Season
Johnson Hall State Historic Site has opened for the 2016 season, offering tours of the historic mansion on Wednesday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm, and Sunday from 1pm to 5pm. Tours begin on the hour, with the last tour of each day beginning at 4pm. Pre-registered groups and Site special events may alter this tour schedule.
Tours are $4.00 for adults, $3.00 for seniors and students, and free for children 12 years and under. Group tours are available by advance reservation.
Johnson Hall 2016 Calendar of Events
The Site begins its 2016 calendar of events on Saturday, June 4, with a lecture by Historic Site Manager Wade Wells on “The Price of Loyalty: The Confiscation of Johnson Hall”. The lecture begins at 11am in the historic mansion, and will be followed by light refreshment. In 1776 Johnson Hall would share the fate of confiscation with many properties owned by Americans who remained loyal to the Crown during the American Revolution. Wells will recount the events of Sir John’s flight to escape arrest, Lady Johnson’s detainment and the loss of Johnson Hall. Tours will begin at 1:00 pm on this day.
On Saturday, July 16 Senior Interpreter Michael Perazzini will offer a lecture on “The 55th Regiment of Foot”. The lecture begins at 11am in the historic mansion, and will be followed by light refreshment. Raised in 1755 in Sterling, Scotland, the 55th Regiment of Foot fought in America during the French and Indian War, and members of the regiment were garrisoned at Johnson Hall. The lecture will follow their exploits up to the beginning of the American War for Independence. Tours on this day will begin at 1pm.
On Saturday, August 20, tours of the mansion will begin at 1pm. On Sunday, August 21, a lecture will be given by Joscelyn Godwin and Christian Goodwillie on “Symbols in the Wilderness: Early Masonic Survivals in Upstate New York”.
The lecture begins at 1pm in the historic mansion, and will be followed by light refreshments. To mark August’s 250th anniversary of the first meeting held by St Patrick’s Masonic Lodge at Johnson Hall, the pair will discuss early New York Freemasonry and the surviving examples of masonic architecture and symbolic art work. An Open House, featuring an exhibit of the original jewels, minute book and charter of St Patrick’s Lodge, a book signing by the authors of their newly published book Symbols in the Wilderness: Early Masonic Survivals in Upstate New York, and light refreshments will follow the lecture.
Johnson Hall’s final day for tours for the 2016 season in Sunday, October 9.
The annual Holiday Open House will be held on Friday, December 2 from 6pm – 8:30pm, featuring holiday decorations, period music, horse-drawn wagon rides, light refreshments and holiday gift-shopping.
Johnson Hall was the 1763 Georgian estate of Sir William Johnson and Molly Brant and their family. Sir William (1715 – 1774) was the single largest landowner and most influential individual in the colonial Mohawk Valley. His success in dealing with the Six Nations had a lasting impact on their relationship with the English, and largely influenced England’s victory in the Anglo-French struggle for control of colonial North America. The main house and flanking stonehouses, originally surrounded by a 700 acre farm, now interpret the Johnson family through guided tours of the period room settings, educational programs and special events.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/johnsonhallstatehistoricsite, write JohnsonHall@parks.ny.gov, or call (518) 872-8712.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees 180 state parks and 35 historic sites, which are visited by 60 million people annually. For more information, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com, connect on Facebook, or follow on Twitter.
TICKETS ON SALE FOR 22ND ANNUAL $10,000 BET ON FULTON COUNTY RAFFLE
New Rules and Cash Prizes for 2016
The Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce has announced that tickets are on sale for its 22nd annual fundraiser to help their work in promoting the Fulton County region to visitors. The $10,000 “Bet on Fulton County” Raffle drawing will be held on Friday, July 8, 2016, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Johnstown-Gloversville, 308 North Comrie Avenue, Johnstown, NY. Only 300 tickets will be sold and the top prize is $10,000.
“This raffle has helped us raise over $300,000 over the past 22 years,” said Gina DaBiere-Gibbs, Director of Tourism at the Chamber. “Funds raised from the raffle will be used by the Tourism Department for marketing and advertising Fulton County to prospective visitors throughout the year, and for promoting events that benefit our county and its businesses. It also allows us to advertise within the region to promote all the great things about our area to our own residents.”
The Bet on Fulton County raffle has always been a process of elimination raffle which means all tickets sold go into the raffle barrel. Tickets are then drawn from the raffle barrel and the numbers are announced to those in attendance at the event, and are taken down from a raffle board that shows any tickets that are remaining in the barrel that are still available for the top prizes.
New to the event this year are additional, exciting ways for ticket holders to win cash prizes throughout the evening, and to have a second chance at winning the top prizes. For every 25th ticket drawn there will be an opportunity to choose between a $100 cash prize or to be entered into a “second chance” drawing. If the second chance drawing is chosen, these tickets will be placed in a separate bin, apart from the raffle barrel. When the last five tickets remain in the raffle barrel, one ticket will be drawn from the “second chance” bin and placed into the primary raffle barrel. This allows the ticket holder another chance for the top prizes, including the grand prize of $10,000.
Tickets are on sale for $100 each and only 300 will be sold. Tickets are available at the Chamber office, 2 North Main Street, Gloversville; Partner’s Pub, 21 South William Street, Johnstown; and at the Holiday Inn Johnstown-Gloversville, 308 North Comrie Avenue, Johnstown. The Grand Prize is $10,000, and additional cash prizes will be awarded. Ticket holders are invited to enjoy entertainment, a free-of-charge picnic style dinner, and cash bar at the event on July 8. Please bring your lawn chairs.
For a complete copy of the new rules or more information, call the Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce at (518) 725-0641 or e-mail tourism@fultonmontgomeryny.org. Photos from last year’s event can be found on the Visit Fulton County, NY Facebook page.
Thank you to Partner’s Pub, Holiday Inn, & the Fulton Montgomery Chamber Staff who sold raffle tickets!
Thank you to Brilliant Design & Print for donating the raffle tickets!
SUMMER AT THE RICE HOMESTEAD
Beginning on June 11, the Mayfield Historical Society’s Rice Homestead will be open every Wednesday and Saturday from 12- 4pm through Saturday, September 3. Located at 328 Riceville Road in Mayfield, admission is free for the house and garden with a picnic area available.
Opening day is also the annual Strawberry Festival at the Rice Homestead featuring strawberry shortcake, ice cream, and beverages. There will be music by Gary VanSlyke, tours of the home and weaving demonstrations. Donations are $4 for adults and $2 for children under 8 years of age. For additional information call (518)661-5576.
The Mayfield Historical Society will hold its annual Summer Concert and Ice Cream Social on Thursday, July 14, from 6-8 pm. The concert will feature “The Saints Jazz Quintet Plus One” an easy listening swing, Dixieland, and standard ballads band. The price for ice cream, choice of cake, and a beverage will be $3 per adult and $2 for children under 8. Attendees are asked to bring lawn chairs; however, some picnic tables are available.
The Mayfield Historical Society presents the life and adventures of Mayfield’s Civil War Captain David Getman Jr., on Monday, August 15, at 7pm, at the Central Presbyterian Church, North Main Street, Mayfield. Captain Getman enlisted in the Civil War and was commissioned Captain of Company 1, 10th New York Cavalry, on October of 1862. He was wounded and captured in June 1863 and confined in Libby Prison and escaped in February of 1865.
For additional information about Rice Homestead and its events call (518)332-0538.
Maple Open House Weekends in Fulton County
The Upper Hudson Maple Producers Association will once again host Maple Open House Weekends, March 19, 20, 26 and 27, and April 2-3, allowing the public to take a free tour of area sugarhouses and see maple syrup made onsite. 
Families are invited to experience first-hand the sights, smells and sounds of maple sugar-making. Past events have been so successful they have been expanded to multi-weekends, giving more opportunities to visit sugarhouses.
Signs will be placed along roadsides over the course of the weekends to direct motorists to the sugarhouses. The sugarhouses will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Most sugarhouses will offer samples and demonstrations. Many of the locations will be serving pancake breakfasts as well.
Participating Fulton County sugarhouses:
Brower Road Sugar House, Gloversville, (518) 848-7685
Frasier’s Sugar Shack, St. Johnsville, (518) 568-7438
Mud Road Sugar House, Ephratah, (518) 863-6313
Peaceful Valley Maple Farms, Johnstown, (518) 762-0491
Maple season generally runs from now through the beginning of April. The Upper Hudson Maple Producers Association is a trade organization representing maple producers in Washington, Warren, Saratoga, Montgomery, Fulton and Rensselaer Counties. The Upper Hudson region is among the biggest syrup producing areas in New York State. To find more information about the event, local sugarmaking, and maple recipes, visit www.upperhudsonmaple.com.
For more Fulton County agritourism information call Fulton County Tourism at (518)725-0641 or logon to www.44lakes.com.
Upcoming Events at Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center
Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center will host a women’s-only cross country ski program Saturday, January 23 from 9:30am – 2:30pm. Pre-registration is required. The popular five-hour ski program, “Lapland Ladies Love to Ski”, is geared to first-timer through intermediate skiers ages 18+. Focus is on classic ski technique.
Cost for the program is $50.00 or $73.00 if participants need rental equipment. Included is a day-long facility use pass, instruction, lunch with equipment & clothing discussion, social group ski with instructors, group wrap-up, hot beverage and discount coupon for new equipment purchase. The program is led by Lapland Lake’s PSIA-certified instructors Sherry Dixon, Susan Henriksson and Jan Mares. Program is pre-paid and 100% refundable if there is no snow.
“Come learn to classic ski or come to improve your skills in our supportive, non-competitive environment. This program is ability grouped and taught by women, for women,” according to Susan Henriksson. 
Also on Saturday, January 23, Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center will offer a Full Moon Guided Evening Snowshoe Tour.
Package includes snowshoe rentals and guided, gently paced night time snowshoe tour to a lakeside campfire. Roast s’mores and enjoy light snacks at the campfire. The tour begins at 6:30pm and runs until 8:30/9pm. Arrive early and enjoy a complimentary pre-tour appetizer at the resort’s Tuulen Tupa Grill.
Cost for the tour is $34.00 ($28.00 if you provide your own snowshoes). Ages 18+, please. Space is limited; reservations are a must! Please bring headlamps if possible. We have a limited number to loan on a first-come, first-served basis.
A complete cross country ski and snowshoe facility celebrating its 38th winter season, Lapland Lake offers fully equipped rental and retail shops, a comfortable two-story warming lodge with snack bar and trailside Tuulen Tupa Grill. The trail system has 50km of trails for all ability levels. 38km are marked, mapped and snowcat groomed with trackset and skating lanes; 12km are ungroomed, marked, mapped snowshoe trails.
In addition to cross country skiing and snowshoeing, other resort activities include ice-skating, tubing on two junior hills and visiting with the resort’s domesticated reindeer!
Lodging is available in private rooms and 10 housekeeping cottages. Lodging packages include use of trails each day and evening including days of arrival and departure, use of the Finnish wood burning sauna and discounted ski lessons. Attractive lodging discounts are offered midweek.
Lapland Lake has been presented with numerous awards:
- North America’s Top 10 Snowshoe-Friendly Nordic Centers (#4), Snowshoe Magazine
- The Adirondack Regional Tourism Council’s Private Sector Tourism Partnership Award
- Tourism Partner Award, Fulton County Regional Chamber of Commerce & Industry
- “Best XC Ski Resort in the Mid-Atlantic Region” and “Best XC Ski Resort for Families”, Best XC Ski Resort Poll
- “Top Ten XC Ski Resorts Catering to Families”, xcskiresorts.com.
Located in the south-central portion of the Adirondack Forest Preserve, Lapland Lake is just over an hour’s drive from Schenectady; only 60 miles from Albany and Utica; four hours from New York City and Boston.
Lapland Lake may be contacted at 518-863-4974, vacation@laplandlake.com and online at www.laplandlake.com.
LAPLAND LAKE NORDIC VACATION CENTER’S ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE
Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center will host its two-day annual Open House Saturday and Sunday, November 21 and 22 from 9:00am – 4:30pm each day.
During the two-day Open House all in-stock merchandise, which includes ski equipment, apparel, specialty foods and gifts, is 10 – 60% off. Season-long ski equipment rentals ($80 – $180 plus deposit) will be available. Receive expert advice from our staff including resort founder and former U.S. Olympian Olavi Hirvonen.
Lapland Lake Season Pass Memberships will be available at normally reduced early-season rates; regular Membership rates will go into effect Tuesday, December 1st.
At 11:30am and 2pm each day Pat Ferri, PSIA-certified instructor and Assistant Nordic Director, will offer free hour-long wax clinic and ski care tips sessions. All are invited!
Hourly door prizes will be drawn.
Attendees may visit with Lapland Lake’s pet reindeer, Viima, at his new trailside home and enjoy complimentary cookies, hot chocolate, coffee and tea at the resort’s Kuuma Feeding Station located in the Finnish Line Ski Lodge. Visitors are welcome to tour the Lodge, rental-retail shops, tupas (housekeeping cottages) and authentic Finnish sauna.
Open House is free of charge. Facility use fees will be half-price both days for those wishing to ski, snowshoe and tube (conditions permitting). If there is no snow, visitors are welcome to enjoy complimentary hiking on the resort’s 50km trail system.
Lapland Lake has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors including Number Four among the Top Ten Snowshoe-friendly Nordic Centers in North America by Snowshoe Magazine;
Best XC Ski Resort in the Mid Atlantic Region and Best XC Ski Resort for Families, Best XC Ski Resort Poll; Top Ten XC Ski Resort Catering to Families, xc ski resorts.com; Adirondack Regional Tourism Council’s Private Sector Tourism Partnership Award; and Fulton County’s Tourism Partner Award.
A complete cross country ski and snowshoe facility, Lapland Lake offers fully equipped rental and retail shops, a comfortable warming lodge, food service and overnight accommodations in private housekeeping cottages. The trail system has 50km of trails for all ability levels. 38km are marked, mapped and snowcat groomed with trackset and skating lanes; 12km are ungroomed, marked, mapped snowshoe trails. Cross country ski lessons are offered daily by the resort’s staff of PSIA-certified instructors. Other activities include ice-skating, tubing, sledding, kicksledding and wilderness ski touring. A full winter Calendar of Special Events is also offered.
Located in the south-central Adirondacks, Lapland Lake is conveniently located just over an hour’s drive from Schenectady; 60 miles from Albany and Utica; four hours from New York City and Boston. Interested individuals may visit online at www.laplandlake.com or contact Lapland Lake for information at 518.863.4974 or vacation@laplandlake.com.
Soroptimists 2015 Craft Fair
Soroptimist International of Fulton County has announced the 34th Annual, pre-Thanksgiving Craft Fair that will support their mission to improve the lives of women and girls. The Craft Fair, which continues a tradition begun by the Hadassah organization 34 years ago, will be held on November 22, 2015, at the Gloversville Middle School from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
According to Soroptimist spokesperson, Sandra Peters, Fulton County Soroptimists are pleased to offer over 125 professional crafters and their diverse, handcrafted merchandise for our shoppers. “While we (Soroptimists) are seeking ways to improve on various facets of the Craft Fair, “patrons will find all the usual, great features of this event, including easy parking, inexpensive admission ($2.00 – children under 12 free), yummy food at the kitchen concession and bake sale, and gifts, gifts, gifts of all kinds, GALORE!” Again, this year, “there will be a raffle and lots of themed baskets for a chance to win!”
“This craft fair offers something for everyone! So add this annual event to your family’s ‘must do’ list to get in the mood for the upcoming season or even to find that something special just for you. So join your neighbors, they are all going to be there, between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 22nd at the Gloversville Middle School, 234 Lincoln Street, Gloversville, NY!”
Fulton County Foliage Report: Week of October 14-20
I LOVE NY started the “New York Fall Foliage Report” on September 9 and continue until the end of the foliage season, around the first or second week in November. Fulton County has its own “foliage spotters” to participate in this annual report. 
Reporting station: Gloversville
Percent of trees predicted to have changed by the coming weekend: 90%
Brilliance: Average
Predominating colors: Yellow, Red, Orange, Rust, Purple, some green in lower elevations
Rating: Near Peak to Peak
The leaves are fully changed in higher elevations with red, orange, and yellow being the predominating colors. Lower elevations still have hints of green and leaves are starting to fall in some locations. This weekend may be the last good viewing weekend before more leaves fall.
Call for Harvest Tour, Great Sacandaga Lake, and Route 29A Chain of Lakes Maps
1.800.676.3858
Fulton County Foliage Report: Week of October 7-13
I LOVE NY started the “New York Fall Foliage Report” on September 9 and continue until the end of the foliage season, around the first or second week in November. Fulton County has its own “foliage spotters” to participate in this annual report. 
Reporting station: Gloversville
Percent of trees predicted to have changed by the coming weekend: 50-60%
Brilliance: Average
Predominating colors: Yellow, Red, Orange, Rust, some Green
Rating: Midpoint
Leaf peeping will be ideal for this weekend and possibly into next weekend. More colors have come out over the past week. Higher elevations such as Caroga Lake and Pine Lake are reporting a lot of beautiful colors.
Call for Harvest Tour, Great Sacandaga Lake, and Route 29A Chain of Lakes Maps
1.800.676.3858