New York State officials have established Disaster Assistance Service Centers in response to the damage caused by the Halloween storm. Dan O'Hara, the State Office of Emergency Services Director, emphasized the goal of restoring normalcy and reducing bureaucracy for affected residents. The centers offer a range of services, including emergency assistance, health and housing support, and insurance and labor issues. The article lists the locations and operational dates of the various centers across New York State. The centers are part of the state's transition from preparedness and response to recovery, with ongoing damage assessments to apply for federal disaster aid.

In the small Adirondack town of Lake Pleasant, Betsy Bain has been appointed as the new town supervisor after a tie in the election votes with Dan Wilt. The Town Board voted 3-1 in favor of Bain for a one-year term. Bain's focus is on reducing friction within the town government and improving the community's poor internet and cellular service, which has been highlighted as a significant issue during emergencies, such as a recent snowstorm incident. Bain, who owns the Oxbow Lake Motel and has previous experience on the Town Board and in the Motor Vehicle Department, emphasizes the importance of every vote in the small community. Another election is scheduled for November for a two-year term.

The Town of Long Lake has engaged Crafting a Brand, a marketing and branding company, to produce a promotional video using drones to boost tourism through social media marketing. The video, which showcases aerial views of Long Lake and Raquette Lake, has garnered thousands of views since its release in November. The town's director of parks, recreation, and tourism, Alexandra Roalsvig, believes in the importance of marketing the Adirondacks for tourism, which supports local businesses. The town uses a mix of traditional and social media for marketing, contributing to regional tourism efforts. Despite the increase in tourism, there is a challenge in finding local people to fill job vacancies, a gap that retirees are starting to fill.

The article by Greg Hitchcock discusses the future of Plum Island, a federal land off the coast of Long Island, which is up for sale. The island, once home to Fort Terry and later the Plum Island Animal Disease Center, is a potential site for wildlife conservation or development. The Trump Organization has shown interest in developing a golf course on the island. Conservationists, led by Louise Harrison of Save the Sound, are advocating for the island to be preserved for wildlife, with support from various environmental groups and government agencies. They are seeking legislative action to prevent the sale and preserve the island's rich biodiversity, which includes rare plants, bird species, and a habitat for seals. The Preserve Plum Island Coalition aims to protect the island's natural and cultural resources, with a proposal to dedicate most of the island as a National Wildlife Refuge or equivalent conservation area.

Southern Adirondack communities are dealing with the aftermath of a severe Halloween rainstorm that caused significant damage, including road closures and utility outages. The storm, described as the worst since the late 1940s by some residents, has led to federal disaster assistance considerations. Hamilton County's Emergency Manager, G.L. “Don” Purdy, compared it to Hurricane Irene in 2011. Towns like Wells and Lake Pleasant experienced flooding, power outages, and property damage. Major routes were washed out, and a water main break led to a boil advisory in Wells. FEMA is expected to assess the damage to determine if federal assistance will be provided, with a requirement of $29.6 million in statewide damages. The State Department of Transportation and local highway departments are working on recovery efforts, and communities are coming together to support each other during this time.

The article features Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center, a winter sports facility with 50 kilometers of private trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. It highlights the experiences of visitors such as Eleanor Anderson, who enjoys the simplicity and family time the center offers. The facility, founded by Olavi Hirvonen, a Finnish-American and former Olympic cross-country skier, has maintained its Finnish character under the current ownership of Paul Zahray. Activities at the center include sledding, tubing, sleigh rides, and skiing programs for women and children. Despite the number of visitors, the trails remain quiet, offering a sense of solitude to the skiers.