The only independent, nonprofit news organization solely dedicated to reporting on the Adirondack Park.
Melissa is a journalist with experience as a reporter and editor, combined with work for nonprofits. As the Explorer's digital editor, she serves as editor of Adirondack Almanack.(com) and helps manage the Explorer's website. When not online, she enjoys hiking, camping and other outdoors activities, and spending time with her husband, their twin daughters, and rescue animals -- two dogs and two cats. Sign up for Melissa’s newsletter
By Melissa Hart
Camping was a big part of my childhood in the 1980s, growing up outside of Syracuse. My parents towed our family’s pop-up camper across New York State, spending time in the Adirondacks, along the St. Lawrence River and out to Niagara Falls.
By Melissa Hart
Did you know that Saturday, Oct. 12 is National Farmer’s Day? According to the website NationalDayCalendar.com, National Farmer’s Day was once called Old Farmer’s Day, and it has deep roots that go back to when agriculture was much more common in everyday life. Essentially, the day was to thank farmers for their hard work and…
By Melissa Hart
Tour day coming up Labor Day Weekend Have you been meaning to check out Essex Farm but haven’t had the chance, there’s an opportunity to spend some time at this Champlain Valley landmark farm the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend (Aug. 31). A farm tour begins at 10 a.m. in front of the Farm Store…
By Melissa Hart
The folks at Farmstead Catering at Echo Farm in Essex are celebrating the fall harvest with an Adirondack long table dinner. The Farm, which specializes in farm-to-table catering, will be harvesting from the surrounding fields and transforming ingredients into several courses of family style dishes served at twilight. The event kicks off with a tour…
By Melissa Hart
Grassroots efforts gain ground with fresh options for park food deserts By Melissa Hart Adirondack communities are tackling a grocery divide. Drive around the park and, upon quick glance, it appears much of the health and wealth of a community can be determined by the access residents have to groceries in general and in particular…
By Melissa Hart
Research revealed there are 45,633 businesses in the 14-county Adirondack North Country region, which spills out of the park on its northern and western flanks. Taking into account demographic trends, at least 10,000 of those business owners could be getting ready to retire in the next few years.