Almanack Contributor Community News Reports

All are encouraged to gain hands-on experience monitoring aquatic invasive species of the Adirondacks during a Lake George Association (LGA)-sponsored Citizen Scientist event this weekend, August 19-21. The event tasks residents with monitoring a specific area of Lake George for a few invasive plants and shellfish. The monitoring can be done by swim, snorkel, kayak, boat, etc.

Participants will survey a section of shoreline for aquatic invaders, primarily non-native plants as well as mussels, snails, and fish. Citizen scientists can complete the survey of their areas at any time during the three days of the monitoring event. The Lake George Association will offer a training session before the event to help participants navigate their Survey123 reporting app and also assist with species identification while on the water.

LGA staff will be stationed at various areas on the lake on Friday morning from 8 a.m. to noon for participants to report to with data or questions. Aquatic invasive species monitoring in the lake is vital for early detection of new invaders, such as hydrilla, that may pass by the inspection station and boat launch stewards.

For more information or to register, please click here.

To learn more about the Lake George Association, please visit: https://lakegeorgeassociation.org/

Photo at top: Lake George Association website photo.

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Saranac Lake’s Third Thursday ArtWalks continue August 18

SARANAC LAKE — The third installment of Saranac Lake’s Third Thursday ArtWalks is August 18 from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Organized and hosted by Saranac Lake ArtWorks and the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, the 2022 ArtWalks are held along the streets of downtown Saranac Lake every third Thursday through September. Over 40 painters, musicians, quilters, authors, jewelers, photographers, tarot card readers, wood carvers, and more will display their work at the August event.

The Berkeley Green Bandshell will feature 80k Players; other musicians will play throughout town.

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

ROOST Releases 2021 Leisure Travel Study Results

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LAKE PLACID, NY – The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism has released the results of its 2021 Leisure Travel Study, which analyzes non-business travel to Lake Placid, Essex and Hamilton counties, along with the adjacent communities of Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake.

The leisure travel study is conducted each year to identify travel trends, gauge the impact of marketing initiatives and implement data-driven decisions.

“We base our marketing decisions on available data, insights and trends so that we can optimize results,” said James McKenna, CEO, Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism. “This survey continues to provide information that allows us to better understand leisure travelers in our region.”

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Author Benjamin Giroux to open Adirondack Family Book Festival on Aug. 20

WESTPORT, NY — Local author Benjamin Giroux will open the first Adirondack Family Book Festival on Saturday, August 20, at 9:50 a.m., with a deeply personal talk about the importance of supporting and listening to youth voices.

The festival will be held outdoors at the John Brown Farm State Historic Site, 115 John Brown Road in Lake Placid, and is free and open to all ages. Festival grounds open at 9:30 a.m. and the day ends at 4 p.m. following a Youth Voices panel. In case of inclement weather, it will be moved indoors to the Lake Placid Middle-High School.

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

EVENT: History and Lore of the Northern Adirondack Fire Towers

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Marty Podskoch will give a PowerPoint and storytelling presentation on his book, Adirondack Fire Towers: Their History and Lore, The Northern District, on Thursday, August 18th at 7 PM at the Adirondack History Museum in Elizabethtown. The book contains information and photographs about the fire towers in the northern part of the Adirondack Park that include St. Lawrence, Franklin, Clinton, and Essex counties.

Monday, August 15, 2022

Adirondack Experience: Mushroom Mania Festival set for Aug. 20

For some, they are a tasty delicacy. For others, something you’re made to eat. Love them or hate them they are one of the most important organisms in our ecosystem. They decompose, nourish, heal, and yes, they can be deadly. Whether you are an expert in the world of fungi or are simply curious, join the Adirondack Experience this summer for a fun-filled, family-friendly festival all about fungi! With activities and crafts, workshops, presentations, hikes, and more there is sure to be something for even those who have never before considered mushrooms as anything other than something an adult makes you eat.

Come learn about the mycelium superhighway hidden beneath your feet on Saturday, August 20, 2022 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Adirondack Experience, the Museum on Blue Mountain Lake.

Monday, August 15, 2022

BikeADK: New trails in Elizabethtown, rides/events planned for August-October

In the August edition of the Adirondack Gearzette, a monthly newsletter presented by BikeADK. Doug Haney of Bike Adirondacks offered a detailed recap of this year’s Weekender at Paul Smith’s College, a preview of a new singletrack network in Elizabethtown, and teased a few biking events slated for the fall season.

Monday, August 15, 2022

Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Denounces EPA’s Flawed Grasse River Cleanup

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AKWESASNE — The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council submitted a letter this week to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expressing its ongoing objection to the remedy for the Grasse River Remediation Project. The Grasse River remediation was completed on October 15, 2021. Addressed to EPA Region 2 Administrator Lisa Garcia, the letter notes the “devastating failure” earlier this year of EPA’s chosen remedy and the reintroduction of hazardous waste into the environment following an ice jam.

Saturday, August 13, 2022

2022 Kickass Writers Festival set for Aug.19 & 20, Adirondack Explorer Editor James Odato signs on as panelist

Saranac Lake, NY—On August 19th & 20th, the Adirondack Center for Writing (ACW) will present the first annual Kickass Writers Festival, featuring writers, poets, comedians, mountaineers, and more. The festival will take place across various locations all over Saranac Lake and will include readings, workshops, talks, publishing programs, special performances, a book fair, speed dating, and more. The Kickass Writers Festival celebrates how writing and storytelling–in all of their forms–are essential to art, entertainment, and social change.

Saturday, August 13, 2022

Adirondack Cuisine Trails offer insight into agriculture in the ADKs

The newly updated Adirondack Cuisine Trails showcase farms, orchards, restaurants, breweries, wineries, and local food and agricultural producers that give visitors an up-close view of what agriculture in the Adirondacks is all about. The Adirondack Cuisine Trails are growing, with new locations and amplified marketing and promotions this summer as Adirondack Harvest takes the helm. The updated trails now have a stronger focus on locally-grown food and products, with a new requirement for businesses to serve at least five local products regularly, and for farm businesses to primarily produce what they sell.

Saturday, August 13, 2022

Hill and Hollow Music: Will Patton Ensemble to perform in Saranac on Aug. 21

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The iconic Vermont band, Will Patton Ensemble, crosses the pond to perform at Weatherwatch Farm in Saranac on Sunday, August 21 at 4 p.m. The show will take place rain or shine under a large tent on the lawn; $20 admission at the gate. Current public health guidelines will be followed.

The Will Patton Ensemble famously serves up “an astoundingly rich musical stew flavored with jazz, choro, folk, and other influences…. a unique blend of musicality, passion and respect sets this band apart as a special experience,” as stated in Mandolin Magazine. Here is the recipe: Combine a jazz/choro mandolinist with a symphony violinist who plays bluegrass and hot swing; add a string bass player who came of age working the Chicago blues clubs with the likes of Howlin’ Wolf and Buddy Guy; a lifelong guitarist equally at home with flatpicking fiddle tunes and fiery Gypsy jazz solos; and spice it up with a first-call jazz/Brazilian percussionist. Stir in a little rock ‘n’ roll attitude and season for twenty years in small clubs and large concert halls and you get some idea of the music of the Will Patton Ensemble.

Friday, August 12, 2022

Old Forge Library fundraiser “The Bash” set for Aug. 14

All are invited to gather at the Old Forge Library for their annual fundraiser dubbed “The Bash” on Sunday, August 14 from 3 to 5 p.m. Hosted by The Friends of the Old Forge Library, the event has served as one of the library’s primary fundraisers and has become a favorite summer tradition for locals and visitors alike. For a suggested donation of $20, guests will enjoy wine & beer tasting, hors d’oeuvres, door prizes, and music by Midnite Mike. This year, organizers have arranged for two live auctions; a photographic outing with Kurt Gardner, and a commissioned painting by Ron Rakowski.

Thursday, August 11, 2022

Raquette Lake Busiest Day scheduled for Aug. 13

All are invited to join in the festivities for this year’s Raquette Lake Busiest Day slated for Saturday, August 13.

A Juried Craft fair is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Raquette Lake Union Free School. A wide array of vendors will be selling an eclectic variety of items such as jewelry, pottery, photography, Adirondack products, polar fleece, handwoven clothing, rustic Adirondack furniture, food products, and much more. Folks will have an opportunity to try their luck with a variety of raffles, all of which will benefit North Country Life Flight, Inc.

Book lovers of all ages rejoice, as the Raquette Lake Library will host its annual Book Sale starting at 10 a.m. on the library’s front lawn.

Live Auction: The biggest event of the season is on tap for 5 p.m., the annual Raquette Lake Fire Department and Ambulance Squad Auction will take place under the big tent on the Village Green.

Raquette Lake Busiest Day will take place rain or shine.

For more information, call 518-624-3077 or visit www.myraquettelake.com.

Photo at top: Raquette Lake website photo.

Thursday, August 11, 2022

ANCA to host Cooperative Housing 101 Learning Session on Aug. 17 in Lake Placid

It’s no secret that finding quality, affordable housing is a struggle that many people are facing in our region. Community leaders and organizations are working on ways to help ease that burden for local individuals, families and employers. All are invited to participate in a community conversation that will explore an approach that is not yet fully developed in our region — cooperative housing.

ANCA and the Cooperative Development Institute invite you to learn more:

What: Co-op 101 Learning Session
When: Wednesday, August 17, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Where: Lake Placid Central School District Auditorium
Optional Registration here: bit.ly/3AV5hC9

Wednesday, August 10, 2022

Franklin-Essex-Hamilton BOCES to auction student-built tiny house

SARANAC LAKE – Franklin-Essex-Hamilton BOCES is selling a tiny house built by students at Adirondack Educational Center in Saranac Lake. Students in the Building Trades program at AEC spent the 2021-2022 school year constructing the compact, space-efficient house on wheels.

Building Trades program
Led by teacher Clarence Brockway and teaching assistant Robin Hogan-Law, the 380-square-foot structure was built by juniors and seniors from Lake Placid Central School District, Saranac Lake Central School District, and Tupper Lake Central School District. Students go to AEC for half of their school day, then spend the rest of their school day in their home districts.