LOCALadk Magazine

50 Winter 2018 LOCALadk Magazine LOCALadk Sally Peck said she knew the village was the place for her decades ago. "I crossed the bridge one day— oh my gosh —30 years ago, and I just fell in love. I [told] my husband [Bob] we had to live there." Lapland Lake in Benson, while not in the village proper, is an important part of its economy. Many of the cross-coun- tr y ski resort's guests shop, eat, and get gas in Northville. Founded in 1978 by Olympian Olavi Hir vonen, Lapland is a much-loved institution. Now owned by Kathy and Paul Zahray, the resort offers 11 housekeeping cottages at present (soon to offer 12), a semi-private lake, and over 50km of trails for cross-countr y skiing and snowshoeing in the winter—hiking and mountain biking in the summer and fall. Restaurants run the gamut in Northville. The Inn at the Bridge, run by Michael Intrabartola and his wife, is a Bed & Breakfast that opens up to the public for meals on Fridays and Saturdays. The building has welcomed people into Northville from its place next to the bridge for over a centu- r y. You can't miss this impressive structure, built in 1910 by the logging baron John A . Willard. In the June 2018 issue of Adirondack Life Magazine, the Inn was named the number one Bed & Breakfast in the Ad- irondacks. Quite an honor, especially after the Inn had been shuttered for many years before the Intrabartola family took on the task of rehabbing it. "It's been a really nice journey, you know, building this and having it for the people of the village. Ever yone seems to be happy that the lights are on here again," Michael said. A few blocks down Bridge Street you'll find a village main- stay, Klippel's Kozy Korner. Started by their father Russ in 1993, brother and sister, Heather and James Klippel, provide delicious comfort food and a gathering place for locals and tourists alike. Longtime friend and employee, Sara Wilson, uses her humor and infectious smile to make ever yone feel at home. The village's fine dining establishment—which also has rooms for rent—is the Timeless Tavern, owned by Lisa and Tom Wood. The tavern is rustic with an inviting atmosphere. Lisa, the chef, grew up in Northville and "always loved the area and the people." She "tries to work with the local farms and farmers mar- kets as much as possible. Ever ything is prepared to order and with fresh ingredients." The Woods feel the restaurant has benefited from the growth in the area, and they "believe that giving back to the community is important and appreciated." Lisa asked, " Who wouldn't want to live here? " As she said, the area's beautiful, safe, and the people are friendly. One could mistake Stewart's as the village square, due to the number of people there at any given time, eating ice cream in the summer at the picnic tables, or having coffee with friends at an inside booth. That being said, there are two main centers to this civ- ic-driven village: Northville Central School and the multitude of events put on by groups like the Rotar y Club and the Civic Association. Mayor Spaeth said, "If you're looking for a single place to say that's the hub, the school would be it." However, he quickly pointed out, "There's a lot of events that take place in the town that are not school-centric." He credited many of these events to the Community Col- laboration Council. " We have a lot of volunteer organiza- tions." The purpose is to get ever yone into the same room regularly to coordinate and plan. It seems to have paid off. Area events include a weekly farmers market at Water- front Park, the Woodworking and Fine Art Weekend, "The Doins" and parade for Independence Day, movie nights pro- vided through the Joint Youth Organization, the Winter Fes- tival, and much more. When it comes to Northville Central School, Superinten- dent Dr. Leslie Ford and Middle and High School Principal, Kyle McFarland, have taken the graduation rate from 76 –94% in recent years. Kyle credits much of this to adding college

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