Monday, December 4, 2023

Hallmark-style film begins filming in Lake Placid

Promo photo for A Jar Full of Christmas film

From award-winning screenwriter/director Candy Cain comes a Christmas story that packs love, nostalgia, and community into a single jar. In Lake Placid, NY, Rose inherits her mom’s home, reuniting her with her childhood friend, Summer. Sparks fly with old pal Everett, and the trio uses Rose’s mom’s jam recipe to save the town church, blending nostalgia, love, and community.
The film is slated to begin principal photography in Lake Placid, NY and the surrounding areas, today, Monday Dec. 4 and wrap around Thursday Dec. 21, Cain said.

“The perfect holiday film is a combination of humor and sappiness,” Cain said, whose previous holiday films include JOY & HOPE and SANTA’S SECOND WIFE.

» Continue Reading.


Monday, December 4, 2023

Saranac Lake: Sam Balzac’s Musical Adaptation of “The Wrong Box” to Premiere Dec. 9

The Wrong Box logo

Sam Balzac’s Musical Adaptation of “The Wrong Box” to Premiere Saturday Evening, December 9, at the Saranac Lake Free Library

Saranac Lake, NY—A visit to the Robert Louis Stevenson Cottage and Museum in Saranac Lake became the impetus for the creation of a new musical-theater piece premiering Saturday, December 9, at the Saranac Lake Free Library.

Full of intrigue, mistaken identities, humor and heart, this musical reinterpretation of the classic Robert Louis Stevenson novella, The Wrong Box—co-authored with his stepson, Lloyd Osbourne—blends contemporary sensibilities with Victorian-era tomfoolery to create a hilarious piece of theater sure to entertain North Country audiences. » Continue Reading.


Monday, December 4, 2023

Like what you read on the Almanack? Help support this work!

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Here at the nonprofit Adirondack Explorer, we are reporting stories about the Adirondack Park you won’t find anywhere else.

Through December 31, we are asking our loyal friends and readers, such as yourself, to help us reach a $50,000 challenge, made possible by our Explorer board members and supported by Newsmatch, a national fundraising effort for nonprofit newsrooms.

Your donation, in any amount, will be matched dollar for dollar, sending a message that you value independent, trusted journalism that is solely focused on the Adirondack Park.

As a reader, you are likely familiar with our work: Through a print magazine, and stories posted to our two websites: the daily news site AdirondackExplorer.org and the community-powered AdirondackAlmanack.com. Thousands of you read our free weekly environmental, recreation and policy email newsletters and news updates. Our goal is simple: to provide you excellent news and information daily.

All of this costs money, and so we ask readers to help support our work.

If you like and appreciate what we do, could you contribute today?

PS Please take a minute to give us feedback on what you love about the Almanack and/or how we can improve it. Click here to take a short survey.


Monday, December 4, 2023

Ti-Alliance Receives $100,000 Charles R. Wood Foundation Grant for Childcare

 

Exterior shot of St. Mary's School.

Ticonderoga, NY – The Ticonderoga Revitalization Alliance has announced the receipt of a $100,000 grant from the Charles R. Wood Foundation to support the Ticonderoga Community Childcare Project. The grant will be used to support the new childcare center to be located at St. Mary’s School in Ticonderoga. Since early 2022, Ti-Alliance and a dedicated team of committee members, agency representatives, school leadership, and professionals from the surrounding communities have been working tirelessly to bring public childcare to Ticonderoga.

» Continue Reading.


Sunday, December 3, 2023

Lake Effect Life

House with yard full of deep snowLake Effect Life

I’ve lived primarily in two places during my life, Saranac Lake and Watertown, New York. On any given day, from October through May, one or the other is either the coldest or snowiest place in the lower 48. Sometimes both.

When I say the term “Lake Effect,” North Country folks know exactly what I’m talkin’ about. Especially those hardy souls who live & work along the Adirondack Park’s western Tug Hill Plateau Blue Line boundary.

As we head into 2023’s winter holiday snow season, I thought I’d share a flashback to last year’s Christmas storm mayhem. For the full story, click the link & read on.

 

 

 

 

 

Photo provided by Dick Monroe.


Sunday, December 3, 2023

Of War and Peace: On the Heart of the Adirondacks

beach photo provided by Sam Levine


The night before, a group of Amish sung lullabies on an island below a full moon at the end of June. It was a cool, still night, on a lake, George Pataki, former governor of New York State, called the “heart of the Adirondacks.” 

I was up to my knees in clear, warm water ready to push-off. To say thanks to the beach and forest, where I slept, cooked, and swam for two-nights, I looked back, like I did from the back of our silver 1990 Toyota Land Cruiser, when my mom whispered: “Say goodbye.” As we drove-away from our home.

To the other side of a river; a new home; a new county; a new place. » Continue Reading.


Sunday, December 3, 2023

Weekly news round up

A collection of interesting reads:

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Saturday, December 2, 2023

Fat, happy birds make pit stop at feeders before journeying south

Carolina Wren and Downy Woodpecker

Looks like we will finally be getting some snow. Tug Hill is getting more than their share, being downwind from the big, open Lake Ontario. Depending on which way the wind blows, we could get a
good shot of the white stuff. Just yesterday, [Nov. 27] we had the ground white followed by rain at 28 degrees, making for a mess. That wet stuff doesn’t like to be blown or plowed. Luckily the driveway is frozen, so I don’t blow away some of the crushed stone along with the snow.

» Continue Reading.


Saturday, December 2, 2023

Depot Theatre presents “DECKED” Play Reading at Westport Heritage House, Dec. 9

Graphic for staged play reading, DECKED

Westport, N.Y – The Depot Theatre and the Westport Chamber of Commerce are pleased to present a staged play reading of DECKED by Ginna Hoben at the Westport Heritage House on December 9, 2023, at 5 p.m. The reading is produced by Saranac Lake-based Adirondack Stage Rats.

With a nod to the classics IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE and A CHRISTMAS CAROL, this new, all-female seriocomic play explores themes of family, grief, letting go, and moving on. The playwright will be at the performance to discuss and answer questions.

» Continue Reading.


Saturday, December 2, 2023

DEC Region 5 to Host Children’s Holiday Party at Ray Brook Headquarters, Dec. 20

Special guests for DEC’s Region 5 Children’s Holiday Party

Ray Brook, NY – The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Region 5 invites the public to attend the annual Children’s Holiday Party at the regional headquarters in Ray Brook on Wednesday, December 20, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. At the annual party, children and their families can meet Santa, enjoy refreshments, and participate in a variety of activities including cookie decorating and coloring.

The DEC Region 5 headquarters is located at 1115 NY Route 86, Ray Brook, NY 12977. The event will take place in the building’s lobby and main conference room. Attendees are advised to park in the lot directly in front of the building and enter through the front doors. The event is free and open to the public. No RSVP is required.

Photo at top: Special guests at last year’s DEC’s Region 5 Children’s Holiday Party. NYS DEC photo.


Saturday, December 2, 2023

Your feedback wanted!

word count

As we look ahead to the coming year, we’d love to hear your thoughts about the Adirondack Almanack!

What do you find the most useful about this site: Finding out about area events? Reading local commentary? Connecting with other Adirondack enthusiasts?

What could we do better or differently?

Tell us your favorite/least favorite thing about the Almanack.

Feel free to comment on this post and if you could take a minute for a quick survey, it would be much appreciated! Click here to take the survey.

Pictured above: A word cloud generated from a survey of Adirondack Explorer readers this summer.

 

 

 

 


Friday, December 1, 2023

State Poll Shows Housing Affordability A Major Concern

Marist Poll logo

According to a statewide poll of 1,780 adults conducted by the Marist Poll earlier this month, 73% of New York residents report that the affordability of housing is a major problem in
their communities. This concern is widespread among all geographic areas of the state, with 67% of rural residents, 69% of suburban residents and 81% of urban residents feeling housing affordability is a major issue.

 

“The poll results show New Yorkers, no matter where they live, view housing affordability as a major problem, and yet state policymakers have yet to address this issue,” commented Michael J. Borges, Rural Housing Coalition Executive Director.

 

The Adirondack Explorer launched a series that shows how Adirondack housing issues are connected to other community challenges. As part of the reporting, the articles also highlight efforts underway to offer potential solutions. 

» Continue Reading.


Friday, December 1, 2023

Hudson Headwaters Sponsors Skating Sessions, Tykes on Ice Starts Dec. 4

A couple youngsters learn to skate.

Tykes on Ice Starts Monday, December 4; hour-long skating sessions for ages 5 and under

Saranac Lake, NY –  The Saranac Lake Civic Center announces Hudson Headwaters Health Network will sponsor a total of 30-public-skating sessions, provided free of charge. Ten of those sessions will be reserved for children ages 5 & under with their caregiver. The children’s series, “Tykes on Ice,” begins Monday, Dec. 4 at the newly remodeled facility. In addition to the Tykes on Ice Program, Hudson Headwaters will sponsor 20 skating sessions throughout the season; its holiday skating series, which began on November 24.

Hudson Headwaters is a nonprofit, Federally Qualified Health Center, operating 22 health centers throughout its service region spanning from Saratoga County to the Canadian border. In the tri-lakes region, the Network recently added 2000 square feet of expanded and renovated space, including six new exam rooms, at Saranac Lake Family Health, in the Adirondack Medical Center. The center also welcomed several new providers this past year. Tupper Lake Family Health has expanded its hours and is now open on Fridays. Hudson Headwaters also plans to open a primary care center in Lake Placid in 2024.

» Continue Reading.


Friday, December 1, 2023

Outdoor Conditions (12/1): Use caution on Pharaoh Lake Trail/Outlet, bridge repair work limits access

outdoor conditions logoThe following are only the most recent notices pertaining to public lands in the Adirondacks. Please check the Adirondack Backcountry webpages for a full list of notices, including seasonal road statuses, rock climbing closures, specific trail conditions, and other pertinent information.

NEW THIS WEEK

Seasonal Road Closures – Many roads in backcountry or remote areas are now closed for the winter, including but not limited to areas in Essex Chain, Boreas Ponds, Ferris Lake Wild Forest, and more. Please look carefully at the DEC’s Adirondack Backcountry Information page to learn about access changes to these and other areas for the winter season.

Bridge Repair on Pharaoh Lake Trail and Caution – The bridge over Pharaoh Lake outlet, on the Pharaoh Lake Trail is currently undergoing repairs through 2024. Use caution at this outlet at all times; all but especially winter users should be prepared to stop completely to assess conditions before attempting to cross.

» Continue Reading.


Friday, December 1, 2023

Latest news headlines

Here’s a look at news from around the Adirondacks this week:

» Continue Reading.



Conditions
Conditions

The Adirondack Almanack

The Adirondack Almanack is a public forum dedicated to promoting and discussing current events, history, arts, nature and outdoor recreation and other topics of interest to the Adirondacks and its communities

We publish commentary and opinion pieces from voluntary contributors, as well as news updates and event notices from area organizations. Contributors include veteran local writers, historians, naturalists, and outdoor enthusiasts from around the Adirondack region. The information, views and opinions expressed by these various authors are not necessarily those of the Adirondack Almanack or its publisher, the Adirondack Explorer.

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