Best Bets - Adirondack County Fairs Guide

Local fairs start this week, so here is a full list of Adirondack County Fairs, listed according to opening date. I've included a few of the most important regional fairs as well. Enjoy!

Lewis County Fair
7/15 through 7/19; Lowville, NY
http://www.lewiscountyfair.org/

Saratoga County Fair
7/15 through 7/20; Prospect Street, Ballston Spa, NY
http://www.saratogacountyfair.org/

Jefferson County Fair
7/15 through 7/20; Coffeen Street, Watertown, NY
http://www.jeffcofair.org/

Booneville-Oneida County Fair
7/21 through 7/27; Adirondack High School, Booneville, NY
http://www.frontiernet.net/~boonvillefair/index.htm

Clinton County Fair
7/22 through 7/27; Morrisonville, NY
http://www.clintoncountyfair.com/

Warren County Youth Fair
8/2 (only); Schroon River Road, Warrensburg, NY
http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/warren/

Franklin County Fair
08/02 through 08/10; East Main St., Malone, NY
http://www.frcofair.com

St. Lawrence County Fair
8/4 through 8/10; East Barney St., Gouverneur, NY
http://www.gouverneurfair.com/

Herkimer County Fair
8/12 through 8/17; Frankfort, NY
http://www.herkimercountyfair.org/

Essex County Fair
8/13 through 8/17; Main St., Westport, NY
http://www.essexcountyfair.org

Washington County Fair
8/18 through 8/24; Route 29, Greenwich, NY
http://www.washingtoncountyfair.com/

New York State Fair
8/21 through 9/1; State Fair Blvd., Syracuse, NY
http://www.nysfair.org/fair/

Champlain Valley Exposition
8/23 through 9/1; Pearl St., Essex Junction, VT
http://cvexpo.org/

Vermont State Fair
8/29 through 9/7; S Main St., Rutland, VT
http://www.vermontstatefair.net/

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Adirondack Park Invasive Species Awareness Week

Adirondack communities and organizations will celebrate the 3rd annual Adirondack Park Invasive Species Awareness Week July 6- July 12, 2008.

WHY: Invasive plants and animals threaten Adirondack lakes, ponds, rivers, and forests, which are precious resources that underwrite the economy of many communities through recreation, tourism, forestry, and numerous other uses.

WHAT: Learn about the issues surrounding invasive species (both plant and animal, aquatic and terrestrial) and about the importance of native biodiversity in the Adirondacks by attending workshops, field trips, lectures, and control parties.

WHO: Hundreds of citizens of all ages across the Adirondack Park.

WHERE: Nature centers, natural areas, lakes, rivers, agricultural fields, parks, campgrounds, institutions of higher learning, natural history museums…

HOW: Plan an activity for adults or youth. Attend a lecture. Visit a display. Lend a hand during an invasive species control project. Be involved.

Monday, July 7, 2008
8:00am - 5pm (Aquatic Plant ID, Bolton Landing) If you have a plant that you think may be Eurasian watermilfoil but you're not sure - bring it by to have it ID'd by an expert for free! To have a plant identified, bring at least three intact plants to DFWI in a plastic bag or container with a small amount of water and the following information: name of collector, lake name, site of collection, depth at which the plant was growing, date of collection, the name and phone number of a person to contact with the results. Plants for identification should be directed to Lawrence Eichler. For more information or directions, contact DFWI at (518) 644-3541.

11:00am - 3pm (Display and Information Specialists, Lake George) Stop by the Lake George visitor center to talk to members of various local organizations about invasive species in the Lake George watershed. Learn how you can help stop the spread of invasive species in your own yard or community.

7:30pm (Presentation, Bolton Landing) "White Nose Syndrome: A New Threat to Bats in the Northeast." Hosted by the Darrin Fresh Water Institute (DFWI) and presented by Carl Herzog from NYS Department of Environmental Conservationt. Call DFWI at 518-644-3541 for more info.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008
8:00am - 5pm (Aquatic Plant ID, Bolton Landing) If you have a plant that you think may be Eurasian watermilfoil but you're not sure - bring it by to have it ID'd by an expert for free! To have a plant identified, bring at least three intact plants to DFWI in a plastic bag or container with a small amount of water and the following information: name of collector, lake name, site of collection, depth at which the plant was growing, date of collection, the name and phone number of a person to contact with the results. Plants for identification should be directed to Lawrence Eichler. For more information or directions, contact DFWI at (518) 644-3541.

9:00am - noon (Paddle, Queensbury) Canoe/Kayak Paddle, Dunham's Bay Marsh. Learn about aquatic invasives such as Eurasian watermilfoil, zebra mussels, and purple loosestrife as you paddle about the bay. Staff from the Lake Goerge Land Conservancy (LGLC) and the Lake George Association (LGA) will supply the narration; you must provide your method of staying afloat. Call the LGA at 518-668-3558 or the LGLC at 518-644-9673 to register or for more info. Advance registration is required for this event. Meet at Dunham's Bay Marina parking lot ($5 parking fee).

11:00am - 3pm (Display and Information Specialists, Lake George) Stop by the Lake George visitor center to talk to members of various local organizations about invasive species in the Lake George watershed. Learn how you can help stop the spread of invasive species in your own yard or community.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008
8:00am - 5pm (Aquatic Plant ID, Bolton Landing) If you have a plant that you think may be Eurasian watermilfoil but you're not sure - bring it by to have it ID'd by an expert for free! To have a plant identified, bring at least three intact plants to DFWI in a plastic bag or container with a small amount of water and the following information: name of collector, lake name, site of collection, depth at which the plant was growing, date of collection, the name and phone number of a person to contact with the results. Plants for identification should be directed to Lawrence Eichler. For more information or directions, contact DFWI at (518) 644-3541.

9:00am - 10:30am (Family Program, Lake George) Alien Invaders, Shepard Park. Learn all about invasive species, how they get here, and why they cause a problem. See some samples of local invaders for yourself and make your own zebra mussel paper weight. Advance registration required; Call the LGA at 518-668-3558 to register.

11:00am - 3pm (Display and Information Specialists, Lake George) Stop by the Lake George visitor center to talk to members of various local organizations about invasive species in the Lake George watershed. Learn how you can help stop the spread of invasive species in your own yard or community.

Thursday, July 10, 2008
8:00am - 5pm (Aquatic Plant ID, Bolton Landing) If you have a plant that you think may be Eurasian watermilfoil but you're not sure - bring it by to have it ID'd by an expert for free! To have a plant identified, bring at least three intact plants to DFWI in a plastic bag or container with a small amount of water and the following information: name of collector, lake name, site of collection, depth at which the plant was growing, date of collection, the name and phone number of a person to contact with the results. Plants for identification should be directed to Lawrence Eichler. For more information or directions, contact DFWI at (518) 644-3541.

10:00am - 11:00am (Interpretive Walk, Lake George) Forest Invaders, Lake George Rec Center. Led by Laurel Gailor, Cornell Cooperative Extension.

11:00am - 3pm (Display and Information Specialists, Lake George) Stop by the Lake George visitor center to talk to members of various local organizations about invasive species in the Lake George watershed. Learn how you can help stop the spread of invasive species in your own yard or community.

2:00pm - 3:00pm (Interpretive Walk, Lake George) Roadside Invaders, West Brook. Led by Laurel Gailor, Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Friday, July 11, 2008
8:00am - 5pm (Aquatic Plant ID, Bolton Landing) If you have a plant that you think may be Eurasian watermilfoil but you're not sure - bring it by to have it ID'd by an expert for free! To have a plant identified, bring at least three intact plants to DFWI in a plastic bag or container with a small amount of water and the following information: name of collector, lake name, site of collection, depth at which the plant was growing, date of collection, the name and phone number of a person to contact with the results. Plants for identification should be directed to Lawrence Eichler. For more information or directions, contact DFWI at (518) 644-3541.

9:00am - noon (Paddle, Bolton) Canoe/Kayak Paddle, Northwest Bay. Learn about aquatic invasive plants such as Eurasian watermilfoil and purple loosestrife as you paddle about the bay. Staff from the Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) and the Lake George Association (LGA) will supply the narration; you must provide your method of staying afloat. Call the LGA at 518-668-3558 or the LGLC at 518-644-9673 to register or for more info. Advance registration is required for this event; space is limited. Meet at Northwest Bay parking lot.

11:00am - 3pm (Display and Information Specialists, Lake George) Stop by the Lake George visitor center to talk to members of various local organizations about invasive species in the Lake George watershed. Learn how you can help stop the spread of invasive species in your own yard or community.

Saturday, July 12, 2008
10:00am - 4:00pm (Celebration, Ticonderoga) "Waterfest," at Bicentennial Park. Join in the fun at this day long event about everything water related. Help Ticonderoga celebrate their water resources through water related educational games, activities, interactive exhibits, demonstrations and much more!

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Lake George Theater Lab Announces 4th Season

The Lake George Theater Lab has announced its 2008 season, its most ambitious ever, including “Four by Four,” an evening of world premiere short plays by a quartet of rising young American playwrights; three free “sneak-peek” readings of full-length plays; a free, outdoor production of “Two Gentlemen of Verona,” part of our annual “Shakes by the Lake” series in Rogers Memorial Park; and a benefit performance of “Chopin and the Nightingale,” the American premiere of a drama with music at the Marcella Sembrich Opera Museum.

All told, the LGTL will present seven new plays – and one classic - from July 10-19:

“Four by Four,” a collection of four new short plays, including “Leo,” an exploration of a hamster’s homecoming by Daniel Heath; “Panopticon,” a comedy by Aaron Loeb about a husband and wife with a few little weapons around; “The Grave,” Gabriel McKinley’s gritty tale of one horseplayer’s blues; and “Three Divided into One,” a drama about letting go by Molly Rhodes. All seven are directed by Rosemary Andress. JULY 10-12; Bolton Central School, 26 Horicon Avenue, Bolton Landing; 8 PM; $15. Reservations: (518) 207-0143.

“Fresh Work At Frederick’s,” readings of three new American plays, presented at Frederick’s Restaurant, in downtown Bolton Landing. With drinks on tap and dinner at the ready, the readings are designed to be a casual way to hear brand-spanking new work – for free! Among the inaugural offerings are “The Swearing Jar,” a contemporary drama by Kate Hewlett; “The Boy From Newfoundland,” a quirky Canadian comedy by Graeme Gillis; and “Away in a Manger,” not your average Christmas play by Jesse McKinley. JULY 14-16; Frederick’s Restaurant, 4970 Lake Shore Drive, Bolton Landing; 7 PM; FREE and no reservations required.

Shakespeare's “Two Gentlemen of Verona,” the comic fairy tale pitting friendship against love and featuring feisty young gentlemen, intelligent young ladies, servants, outlaws, a duke, a knight, and a dog fight. (Needed: one dog.) Directed by Daniel Spector. JULY 17-19, Rogers Memorial Park, Route 9A; 7:30 PM. FREE and outdoors.

“Chopin and the Nightingale,” a drama about the long-secret romance between the famed composer and Jenny Lind, a beautiful Swedish soprano. Performed with a pair of world class sopranos in the gorgeous environs of the Sembrich Museum, the performance will benefit the Icons of Europe TB Fund, which benefits tuberculosis research. JULY 25, Marcella Sembrich Opera Museum, 4800 Lake Shore Drive, Bolton Landing; 7:30 PM; $20; Reservations: 518-644-2431. (Extra performance: JULY 27, 2 PM).

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Blaming Hillary and Banning ATVs3 Years Ago At Adirondack Almanack

Three years ago here at Adirondack Almanack we were quizzing our neighbors about Hillary Rodham Clinton and other women of power and fearing our neighbors opposed to the DEC's draft proposal to ban ATVs on Forest Preserve lands.

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Prices Mean Adirondack Railroads' Time Has Come

The Adirondack Journal reported this week that Warren County supervisors "derailed" (pun apparently intended) a local tourist railroad development project by voting to pay a consultant for the design of two of the railroads train stations at Hadley and Thurman. Looking around the net, it's hard to pinpoint exactly what is going on, but it seems as though the county may be dragging its feet on the plan to improve the long neglected Delaware and Hudson RR tracks between Corinth in Saratoga County and North Creek, near the Gore Mountain Ski Area.

NY State Transportation Commissioner Astrid Glynn definitely is, when he announced $20 million in rail funding last week to go toward 15 projects statewide, extending the Adirondack Scenic Railroad from Saranac Lake to Tupper Lake was not on the list. In December 2006, former George Pataki had promised $5 million to make the 26 miles of track between the two villages passable.

Also last week, the North Creek News Enterprise (also owned by Adirondack Journal publisher Denton Publications) ran a story - "Depot Museum Faces Uncertain Future" - pointing out that the North Creek Depot Museum (rebuilt in 1993) is, in the words of museum President Helen Miner, in "a crisis situation." Apparently, the Depot Museum is not a part of the Upper Hudson River Railroad and does not receive a share of its ticket sales. The Depot survives on the proceeds of a contract with the Railroad to provide station services. They brought 13,000 people through the station last year, but may now close at the end of this season.

That's probably good news for Glens Falls Fifth Ward Supervisor William Kenny. Kenny was the only Warren County supervisor to vote against funding the new rail stations in Hadley and Thurman. Kenny has been a virulent opponent of the tourist line - a man who still lives in the 1960s when our political leaders allowed the nations railroads to be abandoned in favor of superhighways and bypasses like I-87 (the Northway) and Route 28 which bypasses North Creek.

The damage to local Adirondack economies has been dramatic and tragic - just look at any of the small towns, places like Warrensburg, Chestertown, Pottersville, Schroon Lake, and North Hudson, that have been driven to the economic brink when all the Route 9 traffic was routed out of town.

Scenic railroads like the Upper Hudson Railroad and the Adirondack Scenic Railroad, need the support of our political leaders, yes - but they also need to be conceived of in a new economic light. Once a trolley ran from Glens Falls to Warrensbug and connected local residents with cheap public transportation. By 1906, the Hudson Valley Railway which began operations between Glens Falls and Fort Edward, had 130 miles of track, 100 cars, 500 employees, and ran once an hour in winter and every half-hour to a quarter-hour in the summer.

Now is the time to revive the old rail beds like the Lake George-Warrensburg rail bed, which is still largely in tact, though the rails have been torn up for scrap. We need to stop turning them into bike and snowmobile trails and return them to their proper use. We need to move beyond the scenic railroad to a real light rail system that can serve us all, locals and tourists alike, and provide local employment.

When gas reaches 6, 8, and then 10 dollars a gallon, the tourists we depend on will have significant reason to take public transportation to reach their summer vacations. As gas prices rise, locals should be asking themselves why we can't hope the train to shop in Queensbury, Tupper Lake, Lake Placid, North Creek, Saratoga, or any of the other spots on the lines. Once, not that long ago, we could.

If politicians like William Kenny have their way, we never will.

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The Dangers of Americade Revisited

Springtime means a lot of motorcycles on the road. It also means Americade, the annual motorcycle fest in Lake George that draws some 60 or 70 thousand riders to what is considered the World's Largest Touring Rally.

According to their website, this year:

You can enjoy 5 new MiniTours, 3 Poker Runs (with a new route), a new scavenger hunt, 2 TourExpo tradeshows (bigger than ever), a new Moonlight boat cruise as well as a dozen daylight ones, 2 rodeos, 50+ seminars, 2 parades, parties, nearly $100,000 in door prizes!

Also: 17 manufacturers offering demo rides on the latest bikes and trikes, and on Saturday, World Champ Chris Pfeiffer will demonstrate his amazing riding skills. And... a whole lot more.

I wholeheartedly support Americade, but increasingly every year the rally draws criticism from our friends and neighbors. Among the chief complaints are the role tax money plays in supporting the event (which brings thousands of dollars to private businesses) and the sometimes caustic attitude of event organizers (who have repeatedly threatened to take Americade elsewhere if they don't get their way).

Last year, I wrote a piece called The Dangers of Americade that questioned the deafening silence of organizers on the issue of safety. I pointed out that according to an Associated Press report, Americade founder Bill Dutcher stated that he was "aware of only one death among the hundreds of thousands of bikers who have registered for Americade over the years."

My argument was simple, Dutcher assertion was blatantly false - many folks are killed coming and going to Americade. I argued that Americade organizers should stop obfuscating the facts and show some leadership on the issue of safety and in particular, on the continued cultural sense that automobile drivers own the road. Not even on their website, loaded with corporate logos and tips for attending the event, do they bother to even mention safety. They do take time to try to keep out the the folks they think are riff-raff, however, as I noted last year:

While the Americade website offers no safety advice or links, it does take pains to remind a certain class of riders that:

Americade... [is] a convention of riders and passengers who enjoy riding tourers, sport-tourers and cruising motorcycles.

Americade is a gathering of friendly, fun-loving folks, for whom motorcycling is a social hobby, but not some form of rebellion. It's NOT the place for shows of speed, hostile attitudes, or illegally loud motorcycles. Americade supports the AMA position that "Loud Pipes Risk Rights."

Nowhere does it remind riders that, unfortunately, riding a motorcycle is dangerous in our car-centered, self-absorbed world. It's one of the most important issues facing bikers (as well as pedestrians, joggers, and bicyclists) today. It's probably safe to say that every bike club in America has a memorial to one of their riders killed by a car or truck.

That recently drew some discussion on the original post from a long time rider who took offense with my call for Americade organizers to show some leadership. One of the arguments the commenter made was that:

Americade is run by motorcyclist for motorcyclists and the overwhelming majority of the attendees are very experienced motorcyclists. Very few of the attendees are newcomers to the sport. When they are newcomers they usually are in the company of experienced riders who are introducing them to the fun of Americade. Americade does not pose any dangers for riders that don't exist every other time they throw a leg across the seat of their ride.

Motorcycling is all about freedom and the responsibility that goes along with it. Anyone who expect someone else to be responsible for their safety on a motorcycle has no business being on one. All riders learn very quickly that they are responsible or managing the risks when riding. No one can do it for them.

That's sounds great, but it's not the truth. A new study by Gannett News Service reporters John Yaukey and Robert Benincasa called Risky Ride looked at data from the federal government's Fatality Analysis Reporting System:

Nearly half of the riders killed in 2006 were age 40 and older, and nearly a quarter were 50 or older. The average age of motorcyclists killed in accidents was about 38.

Half of motorcyclists killed between 2002 and 2006 lost control and crashed without colliding with another vehicle... Motorcyclists account for about 2 percent of vehicles on the road but 10 percent of all traffic fatalities, according to federal statistics.

The main point of the study is that the trend toward fewer helmet laws has led to an increase in fatalities. According to Yaukey and Benincasa:

Death rates from motorcycle crashes have risen steadily since states began weakening helmet laws about a decade ago, according to a Gannett News Service analysis of federal accident reports.

I don't agree with helmet laws, though I think you'd be stupid to ride without one for any distance (yeah, I know, and even down the block... blah, blah, blah).

I do however, still think it's long past time for Americade organizers to take a leadership role in rider safety - something - anything - to show a commitment to rider safety for bikers young and old. It makes even more sense now, that their is a rise in rider deaths with loosening of helmet laws to show the world that riders care about safety and don't need the nanny state to keep them safe.

Don't you think?

BTW: Last year's post was prompted in part by the news that Alan Gregory, author of Alan Gregory's Conservation News was hit by an 85-year old driver while bicycling near is home. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and was in long term hospital care - the good news is, one year later, he is getting back to blogging. We missed his insights and are glad to hear of his return to the blogosphere.

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The Pope and The Wind 3 Yrs Ago At Adirondack Almanack

Three years ago here at Adirondack Almanack we were wondering about how significant Pope John Paul's passing would be for Catholics in the Adirondacks and we were Tilting at Wind Shills in hopes of keeping the tops of local mountains from being industrialized.

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Ralph Nader To Speak in Glens Falls April 26th

Thanks to the folks at Adirondack Progressives, Independent Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader will return to Glens Falls on Saturday April 26, 2008 for an appearance at The Charles R. Wood Theater at 8:00 pm. Adirondack Progressives is a group of area citizens interested in fostering local dialog on today's most important issues.

The local Glens Falls Post Star relegated Nader (who is a Presidential Candidate after all!) to page B7 on Saturday. You can read Matt "Two Political Parties = One Massive Corporation" Funiciello's take on their efforts to diminish Nader's candidacy at his blog (there's more Ralph Nader stuff there too). Brian over at MoFYC also writes a lot about Ralph from a local and regional perspective. There is more on the flip -



From the press release:

Nader is expected to speak about his campaign for the presidency, media reform, the Iraq War, the threat of corporate power and its dangerous convergence with government, and the role of third parties and citizen activism in the political process. There will be a question and answer period at the theater, time allowing.

Prior to Nader's appearance will be the local premiere of "Awake From Your Slumber", a short film created by members of the Hudson Mohawk Independent Media Center. "Awake" is comprised of three basic elements; a speech given by Nader when he visited Albany in 2005 on the Democracy Rising tour, the music and words of punk-poet Patti Smith (accompanied by local musician, Michael Eck) and footage of the human costs of the U.S. occupation of Iraq.

Copies of the film will be sold in the lobby to benefit the Sanctuary for Independent Media. Tickets are on sale now at Rock Hill Cafe (19 Exchange St Glens Falls). The suggested donation is $25. A free loaf of Rock Hill bread will be provided to every ticket holder and refreshments will be served "pay what you wish" with all proceeds going to the Sanctuary for Independent Media's capital fund to aid them in re-opening their doors in Troy.

There will be a vegetarian dinner fund raiser with 100% of the proceeds going to Nader's campaign at Rock Hill Cafe prior to the theater event. The suggested donation is $250 per person though scholarships will be made available to those for whom this may be a hardship. Those interested should contact Matt Funiciello at (518) 361-6278.

Ralph Nader is one of America's most effective social critics. His 2008 presidential bid marks his third official run for the office, his second as an Independent. In 2000, he ran as the candidate of the Green Party (America's third largest and fastest growing political party) and he also ran an independent race in 2004. For over forty years his documented criticism of government and industry has had a widespread effect on public awareness and bureaucratic power and has inspired a whole new population of consumer advocates and citizen activists.

Nader first made headlines in 1965 with his book Unsafe at Any Speed, a scathing indictment of the auto industry for producing unsafe vehicles that led to congressional hearings and a series of automobile safety laws passed in 1966. Since then Nader has been responsible for at least eight major federal consumer protection laws such as the motor vehicle safety laws and the Safe Drinking Water Act and the launching of federal regulatory agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Environment Protection Agency (EPA), and Consumer Product Safety Administration, and the Freedom of Information Act of 1974.

Nader also helped establish the PIRGs (Public Interest Research Groups), student-funded and controlled organizations that function on college campuses in 23 states. Their impact alone has been tremendous. The groups have published hundreds of ground-breaking reports and guides, lobbied for laws in their state legislatures, and called the media's attention to environmental and energy problems. The largest of the Nader organizations is Public Citizen, founded in 1971 and with a current nationwide membership over 100,000.

Previously on the Almanack

Stories About Ralph Nader
Stories About Adirondack Progressives

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20 Things Adirondackers Should Know About Rural Life

One of the best new blogs is The Rural Blog, started last year by the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues. According to their masthead, The Rural Blog is "a digest of events, trends, issues, ideas and journalism in rural America." They often report on issues in our area as they did when the Glens Falls Post Star started collecting information on local gun owners or in this piece about broadband access in Corinth.

Here are 20 things we've learned from the The Rural Blog that affect our Adirondack region:




Global demand for maple syrup is rising, but production is struggling to keep pace

Self-employment is on the rise in rural areas, but the average income of the rural self-employed is falling

While enlistments for Iraq have been dropping in urban areas, rural enlistments have remained stable

The decline in small-market broadcast news is hitting rural areas the hardest

Doctor and surgeon shortages are worst in rural areas

Hillary Clinton does best in mainly rural Republican districts

Many small market newspapers are not just surviving, but also thriving

Balloons are offering wireless service in rural areas

In rural areas, cell phones can cause 911 delays that lead to tragedy

Rural patients are less likely to receive necessary organ transplants

Lack of rural trauma systems kills rural Americans

Strong seat-belt laws help reduce deaths on rural roads

Even though Meth production is in decline, the drug remains a priority for police

Rural Americans make up a disproportionate share of Iraq war casualties

Hobby farms are boosting rural population as urbanites seek rural retreats or retirement

Kentucky's public-private partnership for rural broadband serves as a national model

Municipal Wi-Fi is thriving in some rural towns

Hunting and fishing is declining, but watching wildlife is on the rise

Rural areas across the nation are struggling to keep educated young people

New EPA rules have left 45 rural counties (including Warren and Essex) out of ozone compliance

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$1 Million Awarded to 18 Adirondack Projects

Here is a press release that just arrived from Governor Patterson's Office. The projects include wireless, historic preservation, affordable housing, tourism, beautification, and more.

GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCES SMART GROWTH GRANTS FOR ADIRONDACK PARK COMMUNITIES

Projects Link Sustainable Development, Environmental Protection and Community Livability

Governor David A. Paterson and Commissioner of Environmental Conservation Pete Grannis today announced “smart growth grants” for Adirondack communities to help counties, towns, villages and their partner organizations develop plans that link sustainable development, environmental protection and community livability.

A total of $1 million will be awarded to 18 projects – ranging from one proposing a new life for the Indian Lake Theater to another designing a better wireless communication network across the Adirondack Park. The initiative, announced last July, proved so popular that the DEC received more than $3 million worth of proposals from around the Park. The grants relate to a mix of local, regional and park-wide projects.

“The Adirondack Park is a unique American treasure, a special place for residents and the millions who visit each year,” said Governor David A. Paterson. “The Park serves as a model for how to merge environmental sensitivity with the pressing needs of development and expansion. By providing local planning assistance, we hope to meet the challenge of developing sustainable communities while protecting natural resources.”

“This program is dedicated to the belief that sustainable development and environmental protection go hand-in-hand,” said Commissioner Grannis. “Safeguarding the assets of the forest preserve and fostering sustainable development and a good quality of life for residents throughout the Park is in everyone’s best interest. This initiative provides the local planning assistance needed to accomplish both. The overwhelming response demonstrates the program struck a chord with Adirondack Park communities.”

Smart growth is sensible, planned growth that balances the need for economic development with concerns about quality-of-life, such as preserving the natural and built environment. Smart growth is also becoming a useful tool to attract businesses that value community quality-of-life.

The 2007-08 Environmental Protection Fund included $2 million in grants to promote smart growth initiatives; $1 million was earmarked for the Adirondacks. Smart growth can be useful in addressing land-use issues facing rural communities – workforce housing, aging infrastructure, water quality, economic development, open space protection and village/hamlet revitalization.

The grant winners include 12 projects that address local issues, four that are regional in nature and two that are park-wide in impact.

The grants include:

- $106,971 to the Town of Saranac to develop the “Wireless Clearinghouse” project to create a comprehensive plan for identifying potential structures for telecommunications infrastructure to bolster wireless networks in the Park. The State University of New York at Plattsburgh and the Adirondack North Country Association will assist the Town;

- $100,000 to the Town of Tupper Lake to produce a “Community Development Priorities” plan. Part of the plan includes developing a “visual identity” for the Town and Village of Tupper Lake, and concept designs for streetscape and waterfront projects;

- $42,600 to the Town of Indian Lake to plan the re-opening of the Indian Lake Theater. The 250-seat, Main Street venue has been closed for more than a year. Local officials want to explore re-opening the facility as a year-round community stage and screen, offering films and musical and theatrical performances, and a public space for schools, libraries and other organizations for meetings, lectures and seminars;

- $100,000 to Essex County to create an “Essex County Destination Master Plan” that will focus on communities beyond Lake Placid. It will explore opportunities to take advantage of recreational and natural resources in an economically sustainable way in locales such as Moriah, North Elba, Schroon Lake, Ticonderoga and Wilmington;

- $50,000 to the Town of Wilmington to conduct feasibility studies for a community center, municipal offices, historical society building and a fly fishing museum; and

- $35,000 to the Town of Chester to make plans for retaining existing affordable housing and establishing new affordable housing opportunities for working families.

Senator Betty Little said: “Balancing stewardship of the environment with the economic, housing and infrastructure needs of our Adirondack villages, towns and counties is critically important. I am pleased to see this partnership between the State and our local governments. I want to thank Commissioner Grannis for spearheading this initiative and congratulate the recipients for their successful applications.”

Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward said: “I applaud Commissioner Grannis and the DEC for addressing the needs of the North Country. These grants as well as collaboration among State and local officials, business leaders and concerned citizens are a good step toward a balanced approach to our economic development while sustaining the character of the Adirondack region.”

Assemblywoman Janet Duprey said: “I am pleased DEC has recognized the unique issues facing municipalities within the Adirondack Park. I congratulate the local governments that have been awarded smart-growth funding and look forward to working with these communities as they complete these projects. The large number of competitors for the grants points out the struggles facing Adirondack Park municipalities, and I encourage Commissioner Grannis and DEC to continue this competitive grant program.”

Adirondack Park Agency Chairman Curt Stiles said: “We were impressed by the innovative and comprehensive grant applications that were submitted by Adirondack municipalities. We extend our congratulations to the grantees and look forward to the successful implementation of their plans. This was a very competitive grant program and demonstrated a strong need for future support. Partnering with local governments and State agencies enables smart growth through synergy and shared values, and makes for stronger communities.”

Upstate Empire State Development Corporation Chairman Dan Gundersen said: “I look forward to seeing these projects enhance and shape the Adirondack communities in a way that invites economic development that is compatible with the Adirondack’s natural environment.”

Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez said: “The Adirondack smart-growth initiative represents a model for inter-agency and inter-governmental collaboration on some critical challenges and opportunities in the Adirondacks. With these grants, the State and the individual Adirondack communities have demonstrated an impressive commitment to economic and environmental sustainability in the region.”

Brian L. Houseal, Executive Director of the Adirondack Council, said: “It was a great pleasure to stand with Commissioner Grannis last summer as he announced in Lake George that half of the State's smart growth grants would be awarded to communities and organizations in the Adirondack Park. Sound planning is a wise investment for municipalities, and it helps preserve open space, natural beauty, water quality, and wildlife habitat.”

Established in 1892, the Adirondack Park features world-class natural and cultural resources, including the Nation’s only constitutionally-protected wild forest lands. In contrast to America’s national parks in which no one resides, the Adirondack Park is home to 130,000 full-time residents and hundreds of businesses whose future depends on continued protection of the natural resources and a sustainable economy.

Many Adirondack communities lack the resources to comprehensively address the land-use challenges before them. The smart-growth grants program will provide communities with technical capabilities necessary to plan for the future.

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The Seven Human Made Wonders of the Adirondacks

In no particular order, Adirondack Almanack's list of Seven Human Made Wonders of the Adirondacks. Our list of the Seven Natural Wonders can be found here. Feel free to add your comments and suggestions.

Whiteface Memorial Highway
Although Lake George's Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway deserves honorable mention, the Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway deserves a spot on our list of wonders. Considered a test case for both the New Deal Works Progress Administration and the constitutional protection of the Forest Preserve, construction began in 1929 (after passage of the necessary amendment) and eventually cost 1.2 million dollars. The completed road, an eight-mile climb (at 8 percent average grade) from the crossroads in Wilmington, comes within 400 feet of the summit of the fifth highest mountain in the Adirondacks. New York Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt announced at the groundbreaking that a "distinguished French engineer" had driven the road and told him, "I, of course, know all of the great mountain highways of Europe. There is no highway in all of Europe which can compare for its engineering skill, for its perfection of detail, with the White Face Mountain Highway of the State of New York." When the road was completed, F.D.R. (by then President of the United States) officially opened the route on July 20, 1935 and dedicated it to the "veterans of the Great War." In his closing remarks F.D.R. said "I wish very much that it were possible for me to walk up the few remaining feet to the actual top of the mountain. Some day they are going to make it possible for people who cannot make the little climb to go up there in a comfortable and easy elevator." The result of F.D.R's desire is the 424-foot tunnel into the core of the mountain that ends in a elevator which rises 276 feet (about 27 stories) to the summit.

Fort Ticonderoga
Although the earliest archeological evidence of Indian settlement dates to 8,000 B.C. (and Native Americans were planting crops there as early as 1,000 B.C.), the first fort built there by Europeans was Fort Carillon constructed by the French in 1755-1758 during the French and Indian War. It's location at the narrow strip of land between Lake Champlain and Lake George meant that the fort, called the "key to the continent," controlled the northern portion of America's most important north-south travel route through the earl 19th century. Its impressive placement atop the cliffs and its European design kept it from being taken by an overwhelming British force under General Abercromby in 1758. It was taken the following year under General Amherst and again on May 10, 1775, when Ethan Allen, Benedict Arnold, and the Green Mountain Boys surprised the sleeping British garrison. It was retaken by the British in July 1777 by General Burgoyne who managed to place cannon on Mount Defiance overlooking the fort. In 1820, William Ferris Pell bought the ruins and in 1908 Stephen and Sarah Gibbs Thompson Pell began restoration. The following year it was opened to the public (President Taft was on hand) and in 1931 Fort Ticonderoga was designated a not-for-profit educational historic site managed by the Fort Ticonderoga Association.

The Adirondack Museum
Some day the Wild Center in Tupper Lake may make this list, but until then the Aidirondack Museum owns the title Adirondack wonder. The brainchild of mining baron Harold Hochschild, the museum has recently reached its 50th year preserving the heritage of the Adirondacks. Although it began as a small endeavor it has become a must see attraction of 32 acres and 22 buildings. Nearly 3 million visitors have seen the exhibits on mining, logging, boating, recreation, and the environment and culture of the Adirondacks. It is the single largest collection of Adirondack artifacts, including thousands of books (60 published by the museum), periodicals, manuscripts, maps and government documents, over 2,500 original works of art, 70,000 photographs, 300 boats and wheeled vehicles, and a large collection of rustic furniture, art, and architecture. Highlights include the Marion River Carry Railroad engine passenger car and the carriage that brought Vice President Theodore Roosevelt to North Creek the night President William McKinley was assassinated.

North Country Public Radio
Founded at St. Lawrence University and now celebrating their 40th year, today's North Country Public Radio is a network of stations broadcast from 30 fm transmitters and translators from the Canadian frontier to Western Vermont and south into Hudson Valley. Its regional and national news, public affairs, and music programs have become a part of Adirondack culture in a way that gives NCPR a place on our list of Adirondack wonders. Whether its a ham dinner in Placid, a lost dog in the Keene Valley, a fire in Pottersville, or a political event in Saranac or Tupper, NCPR reaches over, around, and seemingly through the mountains and into our homes in ways nothing else in the North Country does. That's a wonder in itself.

Keeseville Stone Arch Bridge
Workers building the historic Stone Arch Bridge over the AuSable River on Main Street in Keeseville had a close call in 1842. The bridge of native stone, believed at the time to be the largest such bridge in the country, was being built to replace the original wooden structure erected in 1805. The men had completed the first course of stone including the keystones and had nearly finished the second course when a violent storm blew in. Just as more then 30 men fled the storm's heavy rain to a wooden shed on the bank of the river, the entire bridge collapsed into the AuSable with a thunderous crash said to have shaken buildings as far away as Port Kent. Since then it's done quiet service. Rehabilitated in 2000 and now carrying more than 5,500 vehicles a day, the bridge still stands as a testament to Adirondack engineering. Its total length is over one hundred feet with 90 foot stone arch span.

Santa's Workshop
Each year more and more of the region's theme parks fade into oblivion. Those that have been lost include Old McDonald's Farm (Lake Placid), The Land of Make Believe (Upper Jay), Frontier Town (North Hudson), Storytown (now the corporate Great Escape), Gaslight Village (Lake George), and Time Town (Bolton Landing). Santa's Workshop in North Pole, NY seems the last of a breed and some of the remaining (and still operational in its original context) handiwork of Arto Monaco. Monaco was the local artist who designed sets for MGM and Warner Brothers, a fake German village in the Arizona desert to train World War II soldiers, and later his own Land of Make Believe (as well as parts of Storytown, Gaslight Village, and Frontier Town). Lake Placid businessman Julian Reiss's Santa's workshop opened July 1, 1949 and included a very early prototype petty zoo; it received its own zip code (12946) in 1953. A record daily attendance occurred in 1951 when 14,000 people walked through the gates. Julian’s son Bob Reiss took over the operation in the early 1970s, but the number of visitors has continued to drop with the park closing in 2001 only to reopen, hopefully for good.

Lake Placid Sports Complex
From the early competitions at the Lake Placid Club to the modern Olympic Training Facility, the sports complexes in and around Lake Placid have been bringing the sports world to our doorsteps for over a hundred years. Most are familiar with the stats: 12 awards in each the 1932 and 1980 games; Jack's Shea two gold medals (the first American to win two gold medals at the same Olympics); figure skater-turned movie star Sonja Henie's second of three consecutive Olympic gold medals, speed skater Eric Heiden's five medal sweep (including one world record); "The Miracle" of 1980. After the 1980 Games, the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) combined under one management Whiteface, the bobsled, luge, cross-country ski and biathlon facilities at Mt. Van Hoevenberg, the Olympic Center, the speed skating oval, and the jumping complex. Since then ORDA has hosted hundreds of major national and international events, including world championships and world cup competitions in bobsled, luge, skeleton, alpine racing, ski jumping, speed skating, freestyle skiing and snowboarding. The Olympic Training facility opened in 1988 (one of only three in the country) and includes a 96-room dormitory that meets the needs of more than 6,000 athletes a year. The Lake Placid facilities are in one of only three communities in the world to have hosted two Winter Olympics, and that alone makes them an Adirondack wonder.

What do you think?
Fire away - let us know which Adirondack human and natural constructed things/places are the most significant, must-see attractions, marvels of engineering, historically important, or have other significance that makes them one of your top seven?

Remember - two lists - one for the human-made wonders, one for natural wonders.

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Gaslight Village: Lake George Fun Yesterday

I thought I'd take a break from all the controversy to review the history of the one of the more popular Adirondack theme parks - Lake George's Gaslight Village.

Gaslight Village opened in 1959 and was run by Charley Wood. Charley already owned a number of investments including Holiday House on the shores of Lake George, and Storytown, U.S.A., an amusement park with a Mother Goose rhymes theme (later expanded with Ghost Town, a western boot-hill theme, and Jungle Land, an animal park) which he opened in 1954. He later went on to build the Tiki Resort (now a Howard Johnson's), a short lived wax museum, Sun Castle resort, and more.

Owing to the success of Storytown (now known as Six Flags Great Escape), Charlie opened Gaslight Village in 1959 on the site of the former Delaware and Hudson Railroad's Lake George rail yards (where the turntable stood). You can see a number of early photos of the area here.

A small vase sold on e-Bay a few years ago reads "Gaslight Village Pottersville, NY" indicating that the original location of the theme park may have been in the hamlet of Pottersville in Chestertown at the foot of Schroon Lake. Anyone with information about this little known bit of history, please drop us a note.

Of course Gaslight Village was well known for it's "yesterday's fun today" radio and television commercials. It's "Gay Nineties" theme was actually more popular among adults then children, perhaps by design. While Story Town closed at 5:30 pm, Gaslight Village didn't get rolling until about that time (they were open noon to 10:30 pm).

The park was designed by Arto Monaco, who owned the popular Santa's Workshop and Land of Make Believe in Essex County. You can see a lot of pictures of the Gaslight Village while it was open here, and the Urban Exploration Resource has photos of the area after it was abandoned.

A big part of the charm of the park was it's entertainment which utilized a two-way stage that, with seating for one thousand, allowed for vaudeville acts to perform outside during nice weather and inside the Opera House when the weather was inclement. Nearby the Palace Theater had continuous showings of silent movies including those featuring Harold Lloyd and Charlie Chaplin. Around the bandstand special comedy performances where often held, such as those by a pack of Keystone Cops. The them park also hosted sing-alongs, melodramas, and an Ice Revue.

Among the featured rides assembled for the park were an 1800 Merry Go-Round, an 1825 Bicycle ride by George Tilyou (founder of Coney Island's Steeplechase Park), the Green Monster, Mexican Scrambler, a Ferris Wheel, the Shaving Mug, a Paratrooper, the Round-Up, Bumper Cars, and the classic dark ride Flight to Mars which came to Gaslight Village by way of Palisades Park and Coney Island.

Many folks remember Charley's large classic and antique car collection which was installed in the Carriage Shop (later dubbed the Cavalcade of Cars) until it was moved to its own building (with a separate entrance fee) across the street. A Fifth Avenue Double Decker Bus was in operation around the park offering rides as was a horse drawn trolley. The car collection included the 1933 Duesenberg once owned by Greta Garbo (later sold to a Texan for 1.4 million; Wood donated 1 million to the Hyde Collection in Glens Falls, NY). Other pieces in the collection included three large movie model ships from TORA,TORA,TORA, a car shaped and painted like a can of V8 Juice, an Evel Knevel motorcycle, and a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang movie car.

Gaslight Village closed its doors in 1989 and became Lake George Action Park (a go-cart track) which has since also closed. All the rides were auctioned along with many of the cars. Today the land that once served as Gaslight Village is under discussion for conservation. They hope to purchase the land for $4.1 million and re-rout West Brook, which runs alongside, through a pollutant-filtering wetland to be built on the parcel and then into the lake.

Here are two Flickr photo sets: one recent shots, one older.

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Suggested Reading

Legends: Pioneers of the Amusement Park Industry

Going Out: The Rise and Fall of Public Amusements

Cheap Amusements: Working Women and Leisure in Turn-of-the-Century New York

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RCPA Names Michael Washburn New Executive Director

Forwarded for your information, a press release from the Residents Committee to Protect the Adirondacks. They have just named a new Executive Director to replace Peter Bauer.

Michael Washburn to head leading regional advocacy group

North Creek --The board of directors of Residents Committee to Protect the Adirondacks announced today that it has named Dr. Michael P. Washburn of Clifton Park, NY to be executive director beginning January 2008. Washburn is known nationally as a leading figure in the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) sustainable forestry certification movement. He most recently has been engaged in private consulting to help progressive forest companies implement sustainability programs. He previously served as Vice president of Brand Management at the Forest Stewardship Council US in Washington, DC, and is a former research scientist at Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. He brings 15 years of experience in conservation, including roles with the US Forest Service, and Penn State University..

John Collins, RCPA board chair, stated “The Board is delighted to have as its leader someone of Michael’s stature and he is an Adirondacker to boot, with roots in the Town of Benson in Hamilton County. His family has been in the Adirondacks for over 100 years. I think he’s glad to be coming home.”

Washburn plans to increase the membership of the RCPA and extend its impact. “The threats to the Adirondack Park’s ecosystems and rural heritage are increasing. Climate change, water shortages, and the growing desire among many to live in quiet places will all present even greater challenges in the future.” Washburn said. “We need to be vigilant in our defense of the Forest Preserve, protect the working landscapes, and bring a balanced approach to development. The Adirondacks are a global treasure, and it’s up to those of us who live here to be good stewards” he added.

“We think Michael’s experience as part of a national organization and his training as a professional forester will be real assets” John Collins said. Washburn received a BS and MS from the College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse. His master’s research focused on management of the Adirondack Forest Preserve. He earned a Ph.D. in forest resources at Penn State where he studied private forest owners and how they organize to engage policy issues affecting forestry. “RCPA has developed programs to improve forest management on private forests in the Adirondack Park, as well as programs that address impacts of development on the Park’s rural communities. Protection of water quality, careful use of wilderness and other Forest Preserve lands, protection of wildlife and greenhouse gas reductions will remain core areas of interest for RCPA.

About the Residents’ Committee to Protect the Adirondacks

The Residents’ Committee to Protect the Adirondacks is a privately funded, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the stewardship and protection of the natural environment and human communities of the Adirondack Park for current and future generations. The RCPA pursues this mission through advocacy, education, legal action, sustainable forestry certification, research, water quality monitoring and grassroots organizing. The RCPA has 3,800 household members and maintains an office in North Creek.

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Imperialist Radio: A Hostile Takeover of NCPR?

By now you may have heard. Albany based WAMC is attempting to take over North Country Public Radio's 91.7 fm frequency in Lake Placid. The whole thing stems from the exceedingly rare decision according to NCPR's page on the subject (apparently WAMC could care less about answering questions we in the Adirondacks might have about the situation - they have nothing about it on their page):

After 10 years of refusing to accept new applications for transmitters in the non-commercial section of the FM radio band, the FCC opened a brief 'window' in October.

WAMC applied for a the frequency that is being used by NCPR. You should also know that there are no other full-power frequencies available in Lake Placid,there may not be another opportunity for another frequency for years to come, if ever, and NCPR has been serving this community for a long, long time:

NCPR has used a translator (a low power transmitter) in Lake Placid for 20 years. Translators are NOT protected by the FCC under the rules of the current application period. Therefore, we applied for a full-power transmitter at the same frequency we've used for two decades, 91.7 FM.

It is Imperialist Radio, plain and simple, and here's why:

WAMC does not cover the Adirondacks in any significant way. Go to their webpage and search for Adirondacks - you'll find nothing about the important issues that face the Adirondacks - their coverage is limited to the "big" southern oriented stories - nearly all based on press releases from politicians and advocacy groups. Have they seriously covered North Creek's recent boom and bust in development? How about border issues? How about Potsdam food-coop story? The recent property tax decision? How about the increasingly vibrant blogging community? Local elections? NCPR is an important part of the Adirondacks - does "NCPR" ever show up on their webpage? No. Does "WAMC" ever show up on NCPR's - sure does.

WAMC has hundreds of thousands of people of color in their backyard and yet not a single program oriented to their community needs. Until WAMC hires some people of color (or even offers relevant programming) to cover the neighborhoods (some of which are literally a block or two away from the offices) they have no business marketing to the wealthy in Lake Placid. It's no accident that WAMC broadcast outside it's natural environmental and cultural region into the wealthy lower Hudson Valley and the Berkshires - now they want the wealthiest community in the Adirondacks too. Look at their supposed coverage area - do they really think they can serve Worcester, MA, Sussex, NJ and Lake Placid equally?

WAMC is obviously attempting to take the economic resources from our region to their offices in Albany without returning services to our community. In fact, they will be reducing local news coverage in Lake Placid. They've already done this in Plattsburgh and Ticonderoga. Search for Ticonderoga on the WAMC website - in all of 2007 they've reported just twice about Ticonderoga -both stories about International Paper. Take a look at their events calendar - not a single event in either Plattsburgh or Ticonderoga, or anywhere in the Adirondacks for that matter. Now take a look at NCPR's events calendar.

What should we do? Here is what NCPR says we should do:

We know that NCPR listeners are concerned about this conflict and want to help the station. We appreciate your support and encouragement. At this time, the best thing for you to do is stay informed about the issue--read the information provided here and follow the story as it develops. Share accurate information with others you know.

Here is what I think we should do:

1 - Be informed and inform others. Write about this issue: blog about it, write to local newspapers and media outlets.

2 - Contact WAMC (if you can, they only have one all-encompassing e-mail) and tell them that you know what they're doing and it's wrong - plain and simple. Tell them that you value NCPR and do not want WAMC to damage your LOCAL NPR station. Ask them to withdraw their attempt to take over NCPR's frequency in Lake Placid.

3 - If you have a business from the Mohawk River to the Canadian border, or from the Vermont line to the St. Lawrence / Great Lakes and you advertise with WAMC - contact Dona Frank at 518-465-5233 ext. 167 and ask her to pull your advertisements and start supporting your local NPR station instead. Remember to tell WAMC why.

4 - If you live in the NCPR region now is the time to send some support their way - advertise your business by becoming an underwriter or become a member of the station.

5 - Leave a comment here to let NCPR know that you're thinking about them and wishing them well. When your supposed allies turn on you, hearing form your friends and community makes a difference.

6 - Begin advocating for the removal of Alan Chartock as head of WAMC. He's been unaccountable for far too long.

Good luck NCPR and let us know when and if there is anything we can do to support our best local radio station.

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