New music festival raises money for veterans

BEEKMANTOWN | As Michael Lacy's business, Ink by Lace, approaches its two-year anniversary, he wants to give back to the community that has supported him. He is doing so with a music festival: North Country Thunder. The festival will benefit veterans by donating the money they raise to North Country Honor Flight, a cause dear to Lacy. "There's not a lot that gets done for the vets," Lacy said. "A lot of them are left needing, not even wanting, stuff and they don't get it. And they're the ones that fought for our country and gave us what we have." Lacy started riding motorcycles last spring. Soon after, he met bikers who were involved with North Country Honor Flight. He was immediately impressed with the work they do and wanted to be involved. "I saw how big it was, and how much those guys, the veterans, love it," Lacy said. "We get out there on our bikes at three, four o'clock in the morning and go pick these guys up with cops, troopers, border patrol and firetrucks and we escort them to this huge ceremony and show them all this honor and then they get to fly down to D.C. and have a little ceremony down there. And then they come back and we escort them to the hotel. It's just a really cool thing to be a part of." With bands, vendors and a motorcycle show, North Country Thunder will be heavily community- and motorcycle-oriented. "It's mutually beneficial," Lacy said. "It's good for all of us." In addition to raising money for North Country Honor Flight, Lacy saw a need for larger events like this for people to have a good time and spend time together in the Plattsburgh area. He said in about the last 10 years, festivals and large events that once took place have diminished. He believes Plattsburgh business owners have the power to make a much greater difference in the community than they know. "We have a really cool downtown sector with a lot of cool business owners," Lacy said. "They don't realize, for the most part, because they're just so focused on their day-to-day, that they actually have a voice in the community. And people actually look forward to hearing from us business owners. They follow us, they like us. So if somebody can get all these business owners together to make some cool stuff happen, it looks like I'm gonna be the guy to do that." When he was young, Lacy got into some trouble with the law. He has since made it his mission to give back to the community he feels he took from. "We've done a lot of community outreach besides this and we're going to continue to do a lot of community outreach because it's something that's really important and makes me feel better." Most recently, Ink by Lace collaborated with Koffee Kat to give Thanksgiving dinners to families in need. This is the first year North Country Thunder will take place, but Lacy hopes it continues every year. The festival already has several sponsors, like Koffee Kat Espresso Bar and James Electric, and bands like The After Hours Band. They are still looking for more sponsors, vendors and bands to participate. "It could be something big and cool in our area," Lacy said. "We have a beautiful area; look at where we live. In the summertime, it's gorgeous up here." The festival will take place on June 10 in Beekmantown. The exact location is to be announced. For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1214255585842002/?active_tab=discussion, stop by Ink by Lace at 55 Clinton Street in downtown Plattsburgh, or call 518-310-1482.

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New music festival raises money for veterans

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