ANCA has had the honor of hosting several Fellows in recent years — young leaders who are eager to learn from others and engage with North Country communities. This summer, we were thrilled to welcome Colgate University student Alec Lethman to our team.

During his time with ANCA, Alec helped consolidate and investigate economic data that will inform the development of our small business programs. He also learned a lot about our region and experienced some of the places and people that make it so special.

Learn more about Alec's summer experience in the latest What's Up North blog, Connecting Data To Mainstreet: A Summer Fellowship with ANCA.

A Jailhouse Transformed

On July 11, we traveled to Lowville, NY to join Scott and Vanessa Gilbert and their Tug Hill Artisan Roasters team for the grand opening of Saint Drogo's Coffee and Bake House.

Located in Lowville's old jailhouse, the bakery and cafe are equipped with a new energy-efficient heat pump system that was supported by the ANCA CPR program in 2022, and both indoor and outdoor gathering spaces now feature thoughtful, stylish renovations that preserve the building's historic character. An ambitious dream come true, Saint Drogo's is breathing new life into the old jail and downtown Lowville.

Stop by for handmade pastries, fresh breads, and the artisan roasters' small-batch coffees!

Featured Business for Sale: Judge's Quarters B&B

Just a few minutes' walk down State Street, another Lowville business is ready to move on to new owners. Judge's Quarters Bed & Breakfast is a beautifully maintained historic home that has operated as a successful B&B for seven years.

Whether continuing as a lodging establishment or reimagined for events or mixed-use, this unique property offers exceptional potential for entrepreneurs and lifestyle buyers alike.

ANCA's Center for Businesses in Transition and our team of community liaisons and partners support the succession planning needs of North Country businesses. We connect owners who are preparing to sell with potential buyers and support buyers and sellers throughout the ownership transition process.

Learn more about the resources CBIT provides, as well as businesses currently for sale (like Judge's Quarters) on our website.

Schoolyard Toolkit for Educators & Caregivers

When a child is targeted due to their race, gender, religion, or identity, they deserve immediate protection from adults. However, many people are unsure how to respond effectively in these situations, leading to silence or delays in support, which can leave the child feeling neglected or unsupported.

Welcoming Spaces & Workplaces

ADI's Welcoming & Belonging Micro-credential offers local businesses, chambers of commerce, and community groups essential knowledge and best practices for creating welcoming spaces for all staff and clientele. This online, asynchronous course provides content and activities aimed at cultivating a sense of belonging in the workplace.

Learn more about course objectives, goals, modules, schedule and more on the ANCA website. Enrollment is rolling, so sign up anytime!

Nature Festival for People with Disabilities Set for August 16

Mark your calendar for the second annual Adirondack Nature Festival for People with Disabilities, set for Saturday, August 16 at Paul Smith's College VIC.

ANCA and ADI are proud to support this event and its focus on celebrating our differently-abled community members, providing accessible outdoor activities and spaces, and raising awareness about accessibility issues in our region.

ADI's Tamara Jolly will lead a special workshop that celebrates the richness of our diverse voices and unique experiences, knowing that every story matters and every perspective adds depth to our collective understanding. The festival will feature other special guests, nature programs, art, entertainment, food and more.

Free Food Waste Audits

Compost for Good (CfG) and Clarkson University's community compost liaisons have been conducting assessments of food waste generation at local restaurants, schools, universities and other institutions.

Reach out to ANCA Organics Recycling Coordinator Jennifer Perry to learn more and to set up a free assessment: jperry@adirondack.org.

Grants Support Farm Composting

CfG was recently awarded three grants from the Lake Champlain Basin Program and the Pollution Prevention Institute that will support the team's work with North Country farmers. We aim to increase overall interest, knowledge and access to resources while nurturing a robust peer network. 

Are you a farmer interested in connecting with CfG? Complete this brief form to learn more and to set up a site visit.

Sign up soon to save your spot for ANCA's 8th Bike the Barns. This year's ride will be based at historic Camp Dudley, on the shores of Lake Champlain in Westport, NY. Set for Sunday, September 21, the ride includes stops at local farms and food venues including Essex Food Hub, DaCy Meadow Farm, Echo Farm, and Barred Owl Brook Farm.

We aim to make this a zero-waste event complete with composting opportunities provided by Compost for Good and Camp Dudley. Read more the Adirondack Daily Enterprise.

Join Our Amazing Sponsors!

We are grateful for the support and enthusiasm of our Bike the Barns Sponsors.

Thank you to the growing list of businesses and organizations for helping make this annual event possible.

Want to support this year's ride? View the 2025 Bike the Barns Sponsor Prospectus, or contact ANCA's Caitlin Bottcher at cbottcher@adirondack.org to learn about sponsorship opportunities and benefits.

Double the Local Food Fun!

Two local food events in one weekend! Join our partners at Adirondack Harvest for the Adirondack Harvest Festival the day before Bike the Barns. Both events are based in Westport.

What: Adirondack Harvest Festival

When: Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, 12-5 p.m.

Where: Essex Co. Fairgrounds, Westport

Congrats to Clayton!

The Village of Clayton is now a Bronze Certified Climate Smart Community! Visit the Climate Smart Communities (CSC) website to see which actions were completed to achieve certification.

To learn more about how your community can participate in CSC, contact ANCA's CSC Coordinator Carlie Leary: cleary@adirondack.org.

Call for Vendors at Jay Fair

The Town of Jay is currently accepting vendors for their annual 2025 Sustainability & Energy Fair, set for Saturday, September 6 at the Jay Village Green. Hosted by the Town’s Climate Smart Task Force, attendees can explore electric vehicles, meet clean energy contractors, learn about composting, and more. Community organizations will be on site for youth-friendly programming and sustainability education. Sign up and share!

Meet Our Climate & Energy Fellow

In June, ANCA welcomed Climate & Energy Fellow Caroline Dodd to our team. A lifelong Saranac Laker, Caroline earned a master's degree in Environmental Policy from Clarkson University and holds a B.S. in Environmental and Sustainability Sciences and Music from Cornell University. Her master’s thesis explored challenges for rural communities pursuing climate action with a focus on New York's Climate Smart Communities Program. At ANCA, Caroline is helping to develop local climate adaptation and resilience plans.

Welcome to the team, Caroline!

Visit our jobs page for openings with member and partner organizations and regional nonprofits:

• Preschool Teacher: Northern Lights School
• Home Energy Career Pathways Program Manager: Clarkson University
• Community Resource Manager: LivingADK

Have an opening you want to promote? Send a web link to jobs@adirondack.org.