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People across the North County yesterday honored the men and woman who gave their lives in military service to this country. They flew flags and left flowers at cemeteries and memorial parks.

Memorial Day weekend is normally a time of awakening for the North Country's tourist towns. Mom and pop businesses open to waves of visitors. Second homes start to see the arrival of seasonal residents. But COVID-19 has meant much smaller crowds and far more restrictions and expenses. Brian Mann, now with NPR, reports from Lake George.

At his daily briefing yesterday, Governor Cuomo said veterinarians can head back starting tomorrow. Campgrounds and RV parks can open today. And the state is allowing all professional sports teams to start training camps to get ready for a delayed season.

Many businesses were allowed to reopen in Ontario last week as the province loosens restrictions in place since March to slow the spread of COVID-19. The province has recommended physical distancing measures as shoppers return.

A war memorial in Belgium includes metal poppies forged in the North Country a few years ago. The Adirondack Chapter of the New York State Designer Blacksmiths created fifty metal poppies that are part of a memorial in Ypres, Belgium to soldiers and civilians who died in World War One.

And what a weekend it’s going to be. Summer weather and plenty of sun.

Memorial Day is the traditional kickoff for the tourism season in the North Country. Nowhere is that more true than the Thousand Islands, whose businesses make the lion's share of their income between now and Labor Day. But with many attractions still closed and public health officials still urging travel closer to home, it’s unclear whether people will travel there - or should travel.

Governor Cuomo says there won’t be summer school this year - not in person, at least. Childcare services and meal programs for essential workers for students and staff will continue, he said, but all teaching will stay online.

A normal Memorial Day weekend in the big time tourist destination of Lake George is a festival of packed crowds, amusement parks, and busy retail outlets. Officials are hoping for something very different this year.

A wildfire burned through the night Thursday in Saranac, while crews from Keene and Upper Jay extinguished a wildfire Wednesday night.