Village of Lake George Deputy Mayor John Earl announced the 2017 recipients of the Village Beautification Awards at the Bands and Brews concert last night. In the commercial division, the new Courtyard Marriot Hotel, 365 Canada Street and the Lake George Beach Club, 3 Lower Montcalm Street, were awarded for property improvements that add to the appearance of the community. Chris and Judy Gearwar won the award in the residential category for enhancements to their home on Hendrick Street. Award winners are selected by a vote of the Village trustees from a list of nominated properties.
The Courtyard Marriot opened in August 2016 displaying an Adirondack style façade with rustic twig details. The six-story hotel features a rooftop terrace overlooking Lake George and special event ballrooms. The Lake George Beach Club is on the lake just South of Shepard Park. Formerly, the building housed the Shepard Cove restaurant. New owners undertook major renovations last spring. The Lake George Beach Club operates as a restaurant, bar and nightclub, and has become a popular spot to enjoy live music.
Judy Gearwar, who headed the Village of Lake George Beautification Department until retiring last year, designed the flower gardens in Shepard Park, Blais Park and along the Lakefront Walkway. She is also the mastermind behind the holiday light displays that enhance the Village from Thanksgiving through February.
Last night’s Fridays at the Lake Bands and Brews concert was the second to last for the season. The free summer concert series runs June through Labor Day Weekend in Shepard Park. The Jonathan Newell Band opened last night’s show and was followed by Soul Session. The final Bands and Brews of the season will be next Friday, Sept. 1. The special five-hour show will begin at 5 p.m. with Led Zeppelin tribute band Out on the Tiles. Beau Sasser Trio takes the stage at 6:30 p.m. and Headliner Bellas Bartok begins at 8:30.
The final edition of Bands and Brews 2017 serves as a kickoff party for the Adirondack Independence Music Festival, which opens at the Lake George Festival Commons Saturday, Sept. 2. The two-day music festival, billed as, “New York’s biggest party of the year,” brings 16 bands performing on two stages to the outdoor venue. Tickets are still available for the festival at Eventbrite.
Featured photo: Village of Lake George Deputy Mayor John Earl announces 2017 Beautification Award recipients at the Fridays at the Lake Bands and Brews Concert in Shepard Park. Concert Promoter Dave Ehmann, who produces the free concert series, looks on.