The Enterprise’s team of reporters and editors do what they can to cover a lot of ground. The team covers local government meetings and events, and they share the stories and successes of neighbors and community members. The team also aims to write about, explain and dive deep into broader issues that impact the lives of those who live here.

Below is a list, curated by the Enterprise news staff, of the top 10 biggest stories in the Tri-Lakes region this year published on adirondackdailyenterprise.com. These are some of the most impactful stories that affected the Tri-Lakes.

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Josh Parnes, left, and Martin Schapira stand on a frozen Big Tupper Lake, with Mount Morris — on which the Big Tupper ski area is built — in the background on Feb. 14, 2021. The two own property on Big Tupper Lake and have been coming to the town for the past seven years. They purchased the Big Tupper ski area at auction for $650,000 in November. (Provided photo — Martin Schapira)

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1. Big Tupper is sold — Nov. 8: “Big Tupper auctioned for $650,000.” And Oct. 8: “Big Tupper auction date will be Nov. 7.”

(These stories were written by Staff Writer Chris Gaige. A portion of the latest story is included below.)

MALONE — The Big Tupper Ski area and three smaller nearby parcels were sold at auction by Franklin County here on Thursday.

Josh Parnes and Martin Schapira, two longtime friends who both live in Jackson, New Jersey, were the highest bidders for the Big Tupper Ski area, as well as parcels on Cranberry Pond and 1715 state Route 30.

A fire destroyed a home and workshop at 34 Main St. in Tupper Lake in June. Eleven fire departments battled the fire at the former Wheel Inn, built in the 1800s. (Provided photo — Jim Lanthier)

Parnes and Schapira plan on restoring the ski area for public access, without overdeveloping it. Parnes was happy and relieved when they learned they had the high bid for the ski hill.

“Our biggest fear, in talking to the town, was that we were going to have someone come in, not understand the local community,” he said. “Not understand the actual mountain and the physical beauty of it, and have a big developer come in and really screw it up.”

The Big Tupper Ski area sold for $650,000 after several bids lifted the price from its $468,873.71 starting ask. The initial amount was calculated based on the taxes and penalties owed to the county on the property from previous owners, according to Franklin County Treasurer Fran Perry.

Parnes and Schapira purchased the Cranberry Pond parcel for $45,000 and a separate plot of vacant commercial land on Tupper Lake at 1715 state Route 30 for $170,000. The Cranberry Pond had a starting bid of $15,912.93 and the 1715 state Route 30 land had a starting bid of $148,987.30.

Parnes said the 1715 state Route 30 purchase was unrelated to their Big Tupper ski area plans. He said they bought that parcel to have more direct access to the homes they already own — which are on islands and only accessible by boat.

Tupper Lake’s head coach Brian Bennett, center, high fives Garrett Pelkey after winning the Section X, Class C championship game at SUNY Potsdam’s Maxcy Hall on Feb. 23. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)

Anne Klimek — from Monroe, North Carolina — placed the high bid of $50,000 for a 300-square foot waterfront parcel along state Route 30. Parnes and Schapira bid on that parcel, but were ultimately outbid. They said they don’t have a connection to Klimek.

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2. Lake Placid named Plan B sliding site — Dec. 11: “Lake Placid moves to targeted dialogue as 2026 Olympic sliding backup.” Sept. 12: “ORDA, 2026 Olympic Committee bid process ongoing.” And June 18: “Lake Placid still in running for 2026 sliding bid.”

Dmitry Feld is seen here on Main Street in Lake Placid in early March 2022. (Enterprise photo — Lauren Yates)

(These stories were written by Sports Editor Parker O’Brien. A portion of the latest story is included below.)

LAKE PLACID — Lake Placid is the intended Plan B host site for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games sliding sports if the century-old Italian sliding track in Cortina d’Ampezzo is not completed by March 2025, according to state Olympic Regional Development Authority Communications Director Darcy Rowe Norfolk.

ORDA has entered a “targeted dialogue” with the 2026 Milano-Cortina Organizing Committee, and will further develop the Plan B back-up plan for the sliding events. Lake Placid will now engage with stakeholders and partners to formalize the bid proposal into a detailed plan.

“So now we’re going to dig in and start to detail out the proposal to formalize a plan, and that will take obviously more dialogue with Milano-Cortina, as well as our partners here to further that,” Norfolk said.

This does not guarantee that Lake Placid will host the three sliding sports — bobsled, luge and skeleton — during the upcoming Olympic Winter Games, as work on the Cortina Sliding Centre is progressing rapidly, according to ORDA. The Milano Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee is “confident” that the Italian track will be completed on time. However, the Organizing Committee has always stated that it is working in parallel, according to the IOC, to identify a Plan B.

The Lake Placid girls cross country team pose with the Section VII championship banner on Nov. 8 in Elizabethtown. Pictured from left are Leila Fey, Kai McKinnon, Norah Francis, Maya Garrison, Jenna Fay, Holly Erenstone and Rose Wenzler. (Provided photo — Alicia Brandes)

The Associated Press reported last month that the Cortina Sliding Centre is progressing quickly, and begun to take shape.

“The work has accelerated,” government commissioner Fabio Saldini told The Associated Press in November following a visit by International Olympic Committee technicians. “The timeline is being respected.”

Norfolk said they’ve received similar feedback.

“But, the IOC did step in, and wanted to ensure that they had a backup. Because obviously, back then when we proposed, there wasn’t a construction company in place nor had they even started construction,” she said. “The feedback that we are getting from them (now) is that they are progressing rapidly and they’re confident in the work and that it will be completed on time.”

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3. The April 8 total solar eclipse — Coverage of the total solar eclipse in the Enterprise spanned many years as people in the Tri-Lakes organized events around the path to totality. This year, the event finally arrived, and Enterprise reporters were on the ground reporting on everything from the actual spectacle itself to people who ventured from all over the world to see the eclipse and even the science behind it. Among the biggest stories to come out of the eclipse are April 6: “Hamming it up at the eclipse.” April 10: “‘Astronomy is for everybody.'” April 9: “Celestial spectacle dazzles crowds.” And April 16: “Tens of thousands saw eclipse here.”

(Some of these stories were written by current Staff Writer Aaron Marbone, current Sports Editor Parker O’Brien, former Staff Writer Sydney Emerson, former Managing Editor Elizabeth Izzo and former Editor and Publisher Andy Flynn. A portion of the April 9 story is included below.)

Thousands of visitors arrived in the Tri-Lakes on Monday in hopes of experiencing more than three minutes of darkness as the sun was completely eclipsed by the moon. A solar eclipse of this scale has been called a once-in-a-lifetime event, especially in the North Country, where another will not be seen for centuries.

Eclipse-chasers were treated to a perfectly clear sky to photograph the rare occurrence, despite clouds covering portions of the sky at other times throughout the day. The eclipse seemed to exceed many people’s expectations. Some self-described cynics were moved to tears by the sight. First-time totality viewers were shocked that the sun’s corona was visible as much in person as in photos.

The influx of visitors to view the eclipse started earlier this past weekend. Some local businesses saw an uptick in traffic. On Monday, the foot and car traffic spiked.

Air traffic increased, too.

At the Adirondack Regional Airport in Lake Clear, owned by the town of Harrietstown, airport Manager Corey Hurwitch said the airport capped the number of incoming private planes at around 50 and the airport had to turn away “a couple hundred private aircraft.”

“This is probably, since I’ve worked here, the most requests we’ve received,” Hurwitch said. Hurwitch has worked at the airport for the past 16 years.

Thirty to 40 planes were also seen at the North Elba-owned Lake Placid Airport just before noon, with takeoffs happening shortly after totality ended.

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4. Elise Stefanik nominated as U.N. ambassador — North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik accepted a nominated by President-Elect Donald Trump to serve as his ambassador to the United Nations. Stefanik, who has represented the region for the past decade, is set to move to the new position after Trump is inagurated, leading to a impending special election to fill her House seat. Coverage of her nomination and the election took place on Nov. 13: “Special election to be planned for NY-21,” and “Stefanik nominated as Trump’s U.N. ambassador.” Dec. 7: “Who is seeking a run in the NY-21 special election?,” and “NY-21 political parties plan nomination process.”

(These stories were written by Staff Writer Aaron Marbone. A portion of a Nov. 13 story is included below.)

North Country Rep. Elise Stefanik has accepted a nomination by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as his ambassador to the United Nations.

This comes less than a week after winning reelection for another two-year term to represent the North Country in Congress, but if the Senate confirms her appointment, she plans on resigning from the seat. Stefanik has been a staunch supporter of Trump through the second half of her time in Congress. She says she’ll bring an “America First” approach to the United Nations, an international body she’s recently called “antisemitic” for its criticism of Israel, and called for a “complete reassessment” of U.S. funding of the organization.

Stefanik’s appointment still needs to be confirmed by the Senate. Stefanik’s first day on the job would be Inauguration Day — Jan. 20, 2025.

Stefanik said she is honored by the nomination.

“During my conversation with President Trump, I shared how deeply humbled I am to accept his nomination and that I look forward to earning the support of my colleagues in the United States Senate,” she said in a statement, adding that she believes Trump’s recent victory “has given hope to the American people and is a reminder that brighter days are ahead — both at home and abroad.

“I will forever be grateful to my beloved constituents in New York’s 21st Congressional District for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to work my very hardest to serve and give them a voice at the highest levels of Congress,” Stefanik added. “Ten years ago, Upstate and North Country voters took a chance on a young, first-time, unknown candidate who very few believed could win. I was proud to be the youngest woman elected to Congress at the time and to earn their overwhelming vote of confidence in six general elections. … No matter where this journey takes us, Upstate New York — the cradle of the American Revolution — will always be my heart and home.”

Trump called Stefanik “a strong and very smart America First fighter.”

“She will be an incredible Ambassador to the United Nations, delivering Peace through Strength and America First National Security policies!” he said in a statement.

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5. Dmitry Feld dies — There were numerous deaths that impacted the Tri-Lakes region, but one of the biggest was the loss of Dmitry Feld. He was a community leader, loving husband and father, tireless humanitarian and friend to all. Nearly 11 months after his death, Feld was inducted into the Lake Placid Hall of Fame. The Enterprise covered countless stories on Feld throughout his life, but here are some of the big stories from this past year. Jan. 11: “Lake Placid legend Dmitry Feld dies at 68.” Jan 12: “Dmitry Feld honored.” And “Patriot … helper … friend.”

(Some of these stories were written by Sports Editor Parker O’Brien, former Staff Writers Sydney Emerson and Oliver Reil and former Editor and Publisher Andy Flynn. A portion of the Jan. 11 story is included below.)

LAKE PLACID — Dmitry Feld, USA Luge marketing manager and a community leader in Lake Placid, passed away early Wednesday afternoon at the age of 68.

Feld is remembered by his friends and colleagues as a loving husband and father, tireless humanitarian and friend to all.

“We are all shocked at this time,” USA Luge CEO Jim Leahy wrote in an email. “May this wonderful man rest in peace. Please keep his wife Linda and son Dima in your thoughts and prayers.”

Feld was the president of the Shipman Youth Center board and co-organizer of the annual I Love BBQ and Music Festival. Feld, a native of Kyiv, Ukraine who moved to Lake Placid in 1984, also became the local face of humanitarian efforts to aid Ukraine after Russia invaded in 2022, tirelessly organizing fundraisers and supply drives.

“He was a miracle man,” said Jason Hooker, director of the Shipman Youth Center. “Most of the community already knows all the work he’s done for Ukraine and everything with the humanitarian efforts for that, but for here at the youth center, from my perspective, he put so much on his back.”

“The work he did with the Shipman Youth Center and the luge will be greatly missed in the community,” Lake Placid Mayor Art Devlin said.

Leahy said in an email Wednesday that Feld, who had previously been treated for cancer, took ill during the Christmas holidays.

“The leukemia that had been in remission for a couple of years reared it heads again,” Leahy wrote. “He was really struggling during this time with his breathing. In the last couple of days he developed RSV and pneumonia. He was intubated last night with the hope of improving his breathing.”

Feld’s coworker, Gordy Sheer, said he was admitted to the Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake before being transported to the UVM Medical Center in Burlington.

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6. Fires — There were many fires this past year that separated people from their homes, lost pieces of history and in once case, was fatal. Among the top stories included: June 10: “A piece of history lost.” Feb. 18: “Firefighters knock down Grandview Avenue fire.” Aug. 28: “Gasoline-fed Goose Island wildfire injures campers.” Nov. 6: “Election Day blaze.” Feb. 25: “One dead in Saranac Lake apartment fire.” And Sept. 11: “Family sues landlord after fatal Elm Street fire.”

(These stories were written by Staff Writer Aaron Marbone and former Staff Writer Sydney Emerson. A portion of the Feb. 26 story is included below.)

SARANAC LAKE — The man who died in an apartment building fire on Elm Street Sunday has been identified as Michael Simmons.

Simmons lived in the building. His cause of death remains unclear. An autopsy will be scheduled for later this week in Glens Falls, according to Saranac Lake Police Chief Darin Perrotte. Perrotte said the fire started in Simmons’ apartment.

Seven residents, including two children ages 12 and 17, lost their homes in the structure fire at 11 Elm St. in Saranac Lake Sunday morning. Two cats also died in the blaze and an additional two cats are missing. One is a black and white male cat named Bootz and the other is a black and gray tabby male cat named Tom Tom.

The extent of the damage to 11 Elm St. is unclear, though Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department Chief Brendan Keough said it was “pretty significant,” with both smoke and water damage. Firefighters were on the scene for almost 10 hours, checking to make sure no fire remained in the attic and in spaces in the three layers of roofing.

Keough said the fire was first reported to authorities by a tenant of the building.

The cause and origin of the fire are under investigation by members of the state Office of Fire Prevention and Control and Saranac Lake village police. The Office of Fire Prevention and Control did not respond to a request for comment by deadline Monday. Perrotte said the fire’s origin has not been determined yet, but it appears to not be suspicious.

The displaced residents of the apartment building are being assisted by the American Red Cross of Eastern New York. Perrotte said some are living with friends and family.

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7. Saranac Lake’s turf debate — One of the biggest — and controversial to some — Saranac Lake school election propositions took place this year. The artificial turf field, lights and scoreboard was approved with just a 53.59% majority. With 1,478 total votes, 792 voted for the turf and 686 voted against it. A secondary proposition, to authorize the purchase of bleachers for this field at a maximum cost of $1.25 million, passed by a slightly larger margin — 58.8%, or 862 to 604. The school is hoping to have its new field this year. Among the top stories were May 10: “Saranac Lake residents debate turf field at high school ahead of vote.” May 21: “Turf field approved, incumbents re-elected in Saranac Lake.” Nov. 16: “Name game.” And Dec. 20: “Moving the ball down the field.”

(These stories were written by Staff Writer Aaron Marbone. A portion of a May 10 story is included below.)

SARANAC LAKE — A proposition on the Saranac Lake school ballot on installing a turf athletics field at the high school has spawned a lot of conversation and debate ahead of a vote coming up on May 21.

On Wednesday, numerous members of the public spoke in support and in opposition of the proposed turf project at a public hearing with the school board. It was already being debated in letters to the editor in the Enterprise, online and in conversations around town.

Supporters say a turf field would be a boon for young athletes, extending their abilities to practice and play outdoors in the spring and fall, increasing the use of the field by more teams, reducing maintenance and providing an overall better playing space.

Opponents have health and environmental concerns about turf, which can contain PFAS “forever chemicals” with numerous health risks, and are known for causing more injuries in professional sports.

The issue is a complex one.

“This is more people than we’ve had in years and years and years at our public hearings,” Saranac Lake Central School District Superintendent Diane Fox said on Wednesday.

The propositions and prices

Proposition 3 would authorize the district to convert the grass athletic field at the high school — inside the new track between the building and state Route 3 — into an artificial turf field with lights and a scoreboard. It would be used for soccer, lacrosse, football and flag football games, as well as outdoor practice space for other teams.

This project would not increase taxes, Fox said.

The total estimated cost of the project could not exceed $4 million, according to the proposition. The project will use $2.8 million of the district’s $3.8 million Capital Reserve Fund — a construction fund for borrowing money — along with $397,563 in additional capital funds.

Fox said state aid would offset the cost of borrowing, leaving no local taxpayer impact. She said the district would get a 6.5% interest rate on a $782,000 bond.

If approved, Fox said the project could be complete by the fall of 2025.

Proposition 4, which would install bleachers and a press box at the turf field, could only be approved if Proposition 3 is approved. Though this proposition would include a cost to taxpayers, it was much less controversial.

The total estimated cost of the project could not exceed $1,250,000, according to the proposition.

Voting to approve it would authorize the district to take out a $1.25 million loan to be paid off over 15 years.

Fox said this would have an $8 per year impact for someone who owns a $200,000 home in the district. Property owners with STAR exemptions would have a $7 impact and those with senior exemptions would have a $4 impact.

Fox said her husband asked her “How the heck can bleachers cost $1.25 million?” The majority of the cost — $823,000 — is for the bleachers themselves, which she described as a “big box of steel.” Steel has been at high prices since the pandemic.

Fox said they chose to not put the turf and lights at the Wilson-Raymond Field at the nearby Petrova School because that property is in a neighborhood and because the high school has better parking.

Fox also said they chose to not move the bleachers from Wilson-Raymond field because the cost would be around the same as building new, and while those bleachers have been grandfathered in to new regulations, if they moved them, that could become an issue.

The Wilson-Raymond field would be used for baseball games, as well as the “home field” practice space for modified sport, which is not allowed currently. She also said the village shares a deed with the district for Wilson-Raymond field.

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8. Rail Trail — Work on creating the Adirondack Rail Trail progressed this year, with new phases opening up, businesses cropping up to support and benefit from the trail, and lots of discussion about safety. Some of the news on the trail ran on Jan. 23: “Businesses bet on the rail trail.” Oct. 5: “Rail trail grant program seeking small businesses.” Sept. 18: “‘They couldn’t see that car coming.'” And Aug. 27: “Rail trail’s second phase wraps up.”

(These stories were written by Staff Writer Aaron Marbone. A portion of the Aug. 27 story is included below.)

LAKE CLEAR — Around 60 people, many of them wearing helmets, filled a clearing at a junction of the Adirondack Rail Trail near Little Green Pond on Monday to mark the official opening of the second phase of the 34-mile trail — a former railroad corridor connecting the villages of Tupper Lake, Saranac Lake and Lake Placid.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation gathered people there to announce that the portion of the trail from Saranac Lake to Floodwood Road is now complete, and that work on the third phase — from Floodwood to Tupper Lake — is starting immediately. The first phase — from Lake Placid to Saranac Lake — opened last year.

After the press conference on the trail, a cohort of state officials, cycling enthusiasts and bike advocates took a 3.5-mile ride down the trail to eat lunch at Charlie’s Inn in Lake Clear.

Interim DEC Commissioner Sean Mahar said this section of the rail trail is opening early, which he said is the result of good construction weather and a great construction team.

After the officials pedaled away from the junction, Rifenburg Construction foreman Francis Riley and employee Connor Dyn — who have been part of the crew building the $8.75 million section of the rail trail through the woods over the past year — adhered reflective tape to the yellow gates at the intersection. Riley said the work went faster this year that last.

“Just hard work, bud,” he said.

Despite the rainy summer this year, he said the crew didn’t take rain delays and worked in downpours as often as they could. Riley and Dyn both said they are proud of the work and enjoyed seeing so many people enjoying their trail on Monday.

Kubricky Construction of Saratoga County has been awarded the $7.4-million state contract to construction the last phase of the rail trail from Floodwood Road to Tupper Lake.

Sean Mahar was hesitant to give an end date for this section, but said he hopes it is ahead of schedule, too. Completion of this phase has been scheduled for 2025.

Use of this third phase is currently prohibited while work starts on it, for the safety of the public and construction crews. A pause of this prohibition will occur during snowmobile season, from Dec. 9 through March 31.

Mahar said the rail trail fits in to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s new “Get Offline, Get Outside” campaign. The trail ensures the outdoors are accessible for everyone, he said, and he hopes it will bring all sorts of people into “this amazing part of the (Adirondack) Park.”

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9. FCI Ray Brook goes on lockdown … again — The federal prison in Ray Brook was on lockdown for many weeks this year, following fistfights, attacks on staff and contraband deliveries by drone. These lockdowns disrupt life and work in the prisons, stalling visitations, limiting inmate privileges and exacerbating staff who say they are already understaffed. Stories on the lockdowns ran on Jan. 17: “Drone package triggers FCI Ray Brook lockdown.” Feb. 7: “Two fistfights trigger FCI Ray Brook lockdown.” May 7: “Fights sparked prison lockdown.” Aug. 6: “FCI Ray Brook on lockdown again.” Oct. 10: “FCI Ray Brook lockdown to last through next week.” And Dec. 3: “FCI Ray Brook on lockdown.”

(These stories were written by Staff Writer Aaron Marbone. A portion of the Dec. 3 story is included below.)

RAY BROOK — FCI Ray Brook has been on lockdown since before Thanksgiving after staff discovered an internal security device had been deliberately damaged.

Federal Bureau of Prisons spokesperson Randilee Giamusso said the medium security prison started its modified operations and suspended visitations on Nov. 26. Giamusso said the prison will return to normal operations “as soon as possible,” but could not say when that will be.

Giamusso could not divulge what was damaged, “for safety and security reasons.”

The lockdown comes with reduced services, programs and movement for inmates.

During this time, visitations are suspended, inmates are kept in their cells for most of the day and their access to phone calls and email is revoked. Inmates can still send paper mail. Giamusso said they still have access to unit teams, medical care, food, water and other programs.

The incident is being investigated and the lockdown is meant to ensure safety of the staff and inmates, according to Giamusso, who added that the warden is monitoring the events and will decide when to return the prison to normal operations.

Updates on visitations can be found at the FCI Ray Brook website at tinyurl.com/bdhkpu9h.

The prison has been on lockdown, on and off, over the past year for several reasons — mostly inmate fights and one drone delivery.

Union leaders for corrections officers have been saying low staffing levels at the prison leads to stress for staff and inmates, especially during lockdowns like this one. Lockdowns mean overtime and augmentation — which can lead to corrections officers working double shifts four or five days in a row and non-correctional staff getting pulled away from their jobs to do custodial supervision.

FCI Ray Brook currently has 771 inmates and is staffed at 86%, according to Giamusso.

In October, the prison had a two-week lockdown after an inmate shoved a staff member.

In August, the prison was on back-to-back lockdowns amid a string of fights and contraband deliveries. The fights did not involve weapons. One, was described as an emotion-driven attack on a staff member who was not injured. Another was described as targeted and allegedly gang-related and one inmate suffered “significant injuries” after being assaulted by several inmates in the recreation area.

In May, two simultaneous, targeted and potentially gang-related fights caused no serious injuries and put the prison on lockdown.

In February, a similar case of two simultaneous fistfights put the facility on lockdown two weeks after the previous one ended.

The prison was on lockdown for around three weeks in January after the discovery of a drone-delivered package of drugs, phones and chisels.

In September 2023, a gang-related stabbing put the prison on lockdown for several weeks.

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10. High school sports champions — This year area high schools had another successful season as the four schools the Enterprise covers — Keene, Lake Placid, Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake — combined for seven sectional titles, a couple individuals and eight finished as runner-ups. Among the biggest stories to come out of the games are Feb 26: “Lumberjacks hoops claim Section X, Class C title.” Nov. 12: “Bomber girls run to Class D crown.” And Feb. 17: “Red Storm Nordic skiers sweep sectional titles”

(These stories were written by Sports Editor Parker O’Brien. A portion of the Lake Placid cross country story is included below.)

ELIZABETHTOWN — The Lake Placid girls cross country team brought home another piece of hardware to its already dominant season, capturing the Section VII, Class D crown on Nov. 8.

After winning the Champlain Valley Athletic Conference title last weekend, the Blue Bomber girls cruised to another team title at Cobble Hill Golf Course in the Section VII state qualifier meet after placing all seven of its runners in the top 11 in the Class D race. Lake Placid finished with a team score of 15 points, topping the Ticonderoga Sentinels with 44.

Meanwhile, Lake Placid’s Aidan Fay captured the Section VII, Class D boys individual title for the second year in a row. However, the boys team had to settle for second place after falling to the Sentinels. Ticonderoga won with 25 points while the Blue Bombers combined for 35.

Lake Placid’s Leila Fey, a seventh grader, won the Class D girls race Friday with a time of 19 minutes, 10.3 seconds. She also finished fourth overall in the Section VII girls race, and said she was happy with her time.

Fey was followed by teammates Kai McKinnon (19:21.4) in second, Norah Francis (19:35.4) in third, Maya Garrison (19:51.3) in fourth and Jenna Fay (21:21.7) in fifth to solidify the sectional crown.

“We just had to all try our best honestly,” Garrison said. “And do our own race, and focus on ourselves.”

The Sentinels’ top runner was Aubrey Hayes (22:09.5) in sixth place in Class D. Hayes’ teammate Haley Sutphen (22:17.0) was seventh.

Lake Placid was rounded out by Holly Erenstone (22:29.4) in eighth and Rose Wenzler (24:24.7) in 11th. All seven runners later competed in the NYSPHSAA Cross Country Championships at Queensbury High School on Nov, 16 and placed second overall.

The girls season was nothing short of dominant. This year, along with the Section VII, Class title and the CVAC crown, the squad won the Division I Burnt Hills Invitational on Oct. 12, and the Division 2 race McQuaid Invitational race on Sept. 28, both were against some of the top teams in the state.

The last time the team won both the CVAC title and their respective sectional title, in 2021, the squad finished fourth overall in the state.

While the Blue Bomber boys did not win their sectional championship, the team will send a trio of runners in Aidan Fay, Colin Francis and Connor Mannion, to the state meet.

Fay took home the individual Class D title in 15:37.7, edging out Seton Catholic’s Colby Chase (15:58.2) who placed second overall. Lake Placid’s Colin Francis (16:30.8) was third.

While Fay was happy, earning both a state qualifier spot and the Class D individual title, he was hoping to earn the Section VII overall title — something a Lake Placid boys runner has never done before. His plan was to either stay with the top pack of runners or slightly behind them.

Interim state Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Sean Mahar straps on a helmet before biking on the second phase of the Adirondack Rail Trail in August. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Team USA two-women bobsled athletes compete in a North American Cup on March 10, 2024 in Lake Placid. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)

The total solar eclipse is pictured here in Lake Placid on April 8. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)