Heilman talked about his career, tools of the trade and feelings about protecting the Adirondack Forest Preserve.

Wilmington will be celebrating the coming leaf-peeping season on Saturday during the annual Festival of the Colors, which features the popular Battle of the Cupcakes. We have a preview.

The Essex County Board of Supervisors this week passed a law raising the age limit – from 18 to 21 – for people buying tobacco products. Three out of four supervisors in the Olympic Region voted in favor of raising the age – Wilmington’s Randy Preston, North Elba’s Roby Politi and Keene’s Joe Pete Wilson – while Jay Supervisor Archie Depo voted against it.

Staff Writer Griffin Kelly stopped by Northwood School on Wednesday – the first day of the school year – to speak with Director of Admissions Brad D’Arco about his job and new programs for students.

On the Arts page, correspondent Steve Lester spent some time with Olga “Sisa” Salgado, of Lake Placid, about her ambitious mission involving the study of indigenous people and traditional cultures in Asia and South America, specifically the Dance Road project.

In other news, the village of Lake Placid is in negotiations with the Adirondack Experience museum to buy a parcel of land across Main Street from the NBT Bank to increase parking spaces; the Adirondack North Country Association was recently awarded more than $248,000 to help Baby Boomer business owners find successors for their businesses and transfer their responsibilities to the new ownership; and Tops Markets will be closing one of its two stores in Saranac Lake.

In addition to columns from Naj Wikoff (On the Scene) and Martha Allen (Martha Sez), we have an update from the Garden Club of Lake Placid and Lake Placid Central School District Superintendent Roger Catania (Blue Bomber Voices).

—

SPORTS

The high school sports seasons kicked into high gear this week as the Lake Placid soccer and volleyball teams were in action. This week’s LPN includes photos and stories from those season-opening games.

Also on the sports pages this week, readers will find a summary of results of NYSEF athletes who traveled to Utah, Whiteface Club’s tennis and golf champions and a preview of the Adirondack Canoe Classic that is set to hit the waters Friday, Sept. 7 through Sunday, Sept. 9.

This week’s newspaper also includes two special sports sections: the annual Fall Sports preview with information about each of the teams and Lake Placid Ironman 70.3 section that includes a look at what to expect at the second-year event.

—

OUTDOORS

Adirondack Expeditions writer Justin Levine writes that the clock is ticking on the summer season, and that now may be the perfect time to get in a paddle or hike before the crush of cold descends on the area.

—

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

READ MORE by purchasing this week’s Lake Placid News. Better yet, subscribe today at 518-891-2600 or lakeplacidnews.com/page/ecocat.detail/enav/1/Weekly-Subscriptions.html.