BIG SALE! April 9 & 12

If you love a bargain and haven't visited the Riverside Thrift Shop, you don't know what you're missing. Clothing, shoes, furniture, kitchen items, books and much more at great prices. Take advantage of their Big Sale on Wednesday, April 9 and Saturday, April 12 from 9am-2pm. Fill a 13-gallon bag for only $5.

The Riverside Thrift Shop is operated by the Whiteface Community United Methodist and is located behind the church at the corner of Route 86 and Haselton Road.

Ski Passes for 2008-2009 Available March 28

Season passes for skiing at Whiteface Mountain next winter will go on sale March 28. A non-holiday pass starts at $399 for adults if purchased by May 28. A full season pass (including holidays) is $690 if purchased by July 11.

There are all sorts of programs and add-ons available as well. Call Whiteface Mountain for all the details (518) 946-2223.

JEMS Events

On Friday evening, March 28, the Jay Entertainment and Music Society (JEMS) presents Crossing North: Uncontrived Acoustic Music with a Spare Sweet Sound. At 7:00pm the Covered Bridge Coffee House located inside the new Amos and Julia Ward Theatre (town of Jay, at the Village Green - Route 9N at Route 86 intersection). Admission $5.

On April 18, it's Karen Glass & Too Human: Stories , Jazz, Swing and Food!

For more information and other upcoming performances, call JEMS at (518) 946-7963.

Fishing Season Almost Here!

Happy Last Day of Winter! It's time to think Spring, and here in the Wilmington/Whiteface Region, Spring means Fly Fishing. The legendary Ausable River provides some of the best fly fishing in the northeast.

On Saturday, May 17, the Annual Two-Fly Challenge will be held in Wilmington. Coupled with the myriad natural wonders of the Adirondacks, the Ausable and its productive pocket water offer the solitude and challenge no fly fisher can resist. Each year this event attracts fishermen from all over the country.

Register online at Active.com or visit the Visitors Bureau's Ausable Fly Fishing website. You can also call the Visitors Bureau toll free at 1-888-944-8332.

For expert information about fly fishing, contact the Adirondack Sport Shop at (518) 946-2605 or the TCO Fly Shop at the Hungry Trout (518-946-2117).

Awards Presented to Some Local Favorites

For those of you who know anything about fly fishing, you may have heard of Francis Betters, especially if you have fished the Ausable River here in Wimington. Fran is world-renowned for his knowledge on fly fishing as well as some of the flies he has designed, particularly the Ausable Wulff. Fran has also authored many books on fly fishing and fly tying and has attracted fisherman from all over the world to his Adirondack Sport Shop for many years.

On Tuesday, March 11, Fran Betters was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Whiteface Mountain Regional Visitors Bureau. Fly fishing has been one of the region's greatest tourism attractions, and Fran's enthusiasm and dedication to the sport has been a big reason why.

On the same evening, Mary Preston was named Wilmington's Citizen of the Year. In addition to the community service she has provided over many years, Mary is also a great asset to the Visitors Bureau. On most peak summer and fall weekends, you can find Mary at the information center helping visitors and answering their questions. Anyone who has ever met Mary considers her an absolute delight, and the Visitors Bureau thanks her for all her efforts!

Photos courtesy of Al Armstrong

Spring Skiing at Whiteface Mountain

Spring is almost here (and most of us can't wait!). Although it has been a long and snowy winter, this has meant a tremendous ski season at Whiteface Mountain. There's still plenty of snow on the ground and probably more snow will fall before it's all said and done. So come on out and enjoy Spring Skiing at Whiteface Mountain.

Starting March 18, the lift ticket rates drop to $50 per adult per day (even less for kids, teens and seniors). Most lodging properties in the town of Wilmington (the town at the base of the mountain) offer stay and ski packages that provide even greater bargains. Just visit http://www.whitefacenewyork.com/ and click on the Packages and Hot Deals button.

Welcome to our new blog!

This is the first posting for the new blog created by the Whiteface Mountain Regional Visitors Bureau. We hope this site helps visitors and residents keep informed of what's going on in the Whiteface Region, including the towns of Wilmington, Jay, Lake Placid and the surrounding areas.

First of all, we hope you check out our new website, www.whitefacenewyork.com. Although it was launched just under a year ago, it is a completely new website and web address from what we had been using previously (which still exists at www.whitefaceregion.com), so we are still getting the word out about the new site.

Check out the new site for information on lodging, dining, activities, events and more in the Wilmington/Whiteface region.