ANCA is honored to work with hardworking and innovative people across northern New York — farmers, small business owners, community leaders, nonprofit partners, elected officials, advocates — people who care as deeply about the Adirondack North Country as we do. Here are some of their stories:
Norliah Asma and Erwin Kalmar, owners of Four Maples Vineyard & Winery in Champlain, N.Y., are familiar with the risks that North Country food producers face: unpredictable weather, destructive pests, rising costs and labor shortages among others. With much of their revenue generated from their wine sales, tasting room and event venue, the pandemic created additional financial stress for their business. When faced with these challenges, the multicultural couple (Norliah hails from Singapore and Erwin is from Switzerland) got their creative juices flowing. They built an outdoor pavilion for wine tasting and started welcoming RV guests for overnight stays. Where...
A collaboration focused on strengthening relationships between people and place while promoting a sense of belonging, ADI’s Emerging Stewards Program is empowering young people of diverse backgrounds to become future stewards of this special place. Supported by powerful partnerships with the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Newcomb, SUNY Potsdam, Inclusive Woods & Us, and local organizations like Camp Dudley, Camp Eagle Island, and Camp Sagamore, the Emerging Stewards program provides opportunities for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and other minoritized groups to experience the region’s cultural, natural and recreational assets. "After returning from an amazing...
The 282 residents in the Village of Deferiet have a strong clean energy advocate at the helm. Eager to enroll in the CEC program and bring energy efficiency and renewable energy benefits to her community, Deferiet Mayor Janet Zando has been working closely with ANCA ECRs to complete High Impact Actions. Under Janet’s leadership, the Village is monitoring its energy use in its municipal buildings and has begun implementing clean energy project improvements like replacing its street lights with more efficient LEDs.
Julian Mangano started Della Terra (Italian for “of the earth”) in 2017 as a market garden with the goal of gradually expanding the Castorland, N.Y. operation, improving his five acres of land, and providing more “food with integrity” for his community. As the business grew, he sought ways to diversify its offerings — and his dream of creating a composting initiative took root. Now that New York State requires composting for businesses that generate an annual average of two tons of food waste per week, demand for this type of service is up. By investing in composting now, Julian stands...
As a child visiting the area with his family, Paul Budd would browse the aisles of the Silver Bay General Store with a pocketful of change to spend on penny candy and other exciting finds. Even in those early years, Paul recognized the important role the landmark shop played in the community. More than a convenience store, it is a central place for connection among locals and visitors alike. So when Paul and his wife Joanne learned the store was for sale, they were eager to purchase it. Paul met Matthew Courtright, Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce (TACC) Executive Director...
