Almanack Contributor Community News Reports

Community News

Community news stories come from press releases and other notices from organizations, businesses, state agencies and other groups.

Submit your contributions to Almanack Editor Melissa Hart at [email protected]


Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Constitutional Amendment would save Debar Pond Lodge

Debar Pond Lodge

Senator Dan Stec (R,C-Queensbury) has announced he’s sponsoring a Constitutional Amendment to save Debar Pond Lodge. Senate bill S7868 would allow New York State to transfer the lodge to the Debar Pond Institute in exchange for 400 acres of land in the Adirondacks. This amendment would enhance the size and beauty of the Forest Preserve in the Adirondacks, while also ensuring the historic lodge remains protected and preserved for future generations to enjoy.

The Debar Pond Lodge Land Exchange Amendment is also sponsored in the Assembly by Assemblyman Billy Jones. With strong bi-partisan state and local support, this amendment could be on the ballot as early as fall 2023.

» Continue Reading.


Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Adirondack Experience presents food-themed webinars

butternut squash ravioliJoin Adirondack Experience for some delicious programs coming in February
7:00pm | FREE | Via Zoom

FEBRUARY 2
‘DACKS DISHES: What to Do with those Winter Root Vegetables
with Chef Kevin McCarthy and Paul Smith’s College Culinary and Hospitality students

FEBRUARY 16
‘DACKS DISHES: Local Whole Grain Goodness
with Dan Rivera, Triple Green Jade Farm

» Continue Reading.


Monday, January 24, 2022

Donations sought amid severe blood shortage in the North Country

blood donation

There is a severe shortage in the North Country. Anyone who is eligible to donate blood is asked to do so as soon as possible.

All blood types are needed, but especially types O positive, O negative and A positive.

 People are eligible to donate whole blood every eight weeks.

 “Donating blood is one of the most helpful things you can do to support your community,” said Dr. John Eckel, the assistant medical director of Adirondack Health’s laboratory at Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake. “Blood is essential for saving lives during or after some surgeries, in patients with chronic anemia and in accident victims with traumatic injuries.”

The Adirondack Regional Blood Center provides 90 percent of the blood used by hospitals in the North Country. If you are eligible, please consider donating at the Adirondack Regional Blood Center in Plattsburgh, which is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To reach the center, call 518-562-7406.

“Our local blood donor program provides the majority of blood used by six area hospitals,” said Nancy Roberts, a registered nurse with the Adirondack Regional Blood Center. “If we do not maintain an adequate supply, we need to purchase blood from other programs three or more hours away.”

Photo courtesy of https://pixabay.com/vectors/heart-blood-donation-bag-donate-5724137/


Monday, January 24, 2022

Empire State Winter Games are back

empire state winter games

Taking place Thursday, February 3 – Sunday, February 6, the Empire State Winter Games is the largest multi-sport amateur athletic winter sporting event in North America, held in the Adirondacks of New York State. After being cancelled during COVID-19, the games are back this year.

» Continue Reading.


Thursday, January 20, 2022

Herkimer County Soil and Water Conservation District announces 2022 Tree and Shrub Sale

Herkimer County tree and shrub saleHerkimer County Soil and Water Conservation District (HCSWCD) staff are pleased to announce that the organization’s annual tree and shrub sale, an earned income program held in the spring, is currently underway. The Herkimer County Soil and Water Conservation District is taking orders for trees, shrubs, and other items through Monday, March 25. This year, the group is bringing back many popular species along with a few new items for guests to consider. Available for planting this spring are low-cost bare root evergreen seedlings and transplants, deciduous trees, a variety of bushes and shrubs, semi-dwarf apple trees, and wildflower seeds. Grown by private commercial nurseries, these plants provide an economical source of conservation landscaping materials, windbreaks, and quantities for reforesting.

Also available are bluebird nest boxes and rain barrels. Among the many planting accessories being offered are tree mats and tree shelters, hardwood stakes, compost, fertilizer tablets and animal repellent. The goal of this program is to provide an opportunity for landowners to continue toward improving their property by providing a variety of programs and services, one of which is the Tree and Shrub Program. Offering these trees, shrubs and plants helps support conservation planting projects, wildlife enhancement, erosion control and windbreak development needs throughout the area. 

» Continue Reading.


Wednesday, January 19, 2022

The Wild Center adds snowshoeing, kicksledding, and ice fishing to winter programming, continues to host Wild Lights exhibit

The Wild Center has recently announced a few additions to its winter programming including free snowshoe and kicksled rentals, guided ice fishing on its Greenleaf Pond and three ice sculptures which have been arranged around the campus. These experiences – and more – are available Fridays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with timed ticket reservations.

The Wild Center continues to host its Wild Lights exhibit presented by Merrill L. Thomas, Inc. on Friday and Saturday evenings from 5 to 7 p.m. when the 115-acre campus is transformed into a winter wonderland with thousands of dazzling lights. During the week of February 18- 26, The Wild Center will be open every day and will remain open in the evenings for guests to enjoy the Wild Lights exhibit.

» Continue Reading.


Sunday, January 16, 2022

Lake George Historical Association awarded grants to support 2022 programming

Lake George Historical Association

In 2021, the Lake George Historical Association (LGHA) was awarded the following grants for implementation in 2022:

  • The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) awarded the LGHA $7,500 for a 2022 Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership (CVNHP) Conservation Community Grant to the Lake George Historical Association for its “Called by the Water” room. This grant provides the LGHA with the capacity to reformat content interpreting the cultural, historical and recreational aspects of the lake itself, including a panel which focuses on the Clean Water Act (2022 is the 50th Anniversary of the act) and how Lake George pollution is regulated. Six large interpretive retractable exhibit panels will be on display in the room for summer season 2022 and will become available for schools and historical venues, including libraries, for loan as a travelling exhibition.
  • The Alfred Z. Solomon Foundation has awarded the Lake George Historical Association $15,000.00 toward the enhancement of a children’s interactive exhibition installation in the “Called by the Water” room.
  • The LGHA is sponsoring a Touba Family Foundation grant for $2500 to support area musician Hui Cox to create a musical piece with a video based on the climate countdown clock message of urgency about the climate crisis. An opening rehearsal performance will be produced at the LGHA museum in late spring/early summer 2022 and at a local Glens Falls venue.

» Continue Reading.


Saturday, January 15, 2022

AdkAction’s Executive Director, Brittany Christenson, steps down after six years of leadership

Brittany Christenson, former AdkAction Executive Director

The Board of Directors of AdkAction announces that, after nearly six successful years of expanding the membership and leading high impact projects in the Adirondack region, AdkAction’s Executive Director, Brittany Christenson, is leaving to take on a challenging new position with a social impact start-up company.  The Board has launched a nation-wide search to fill the Executive Director position. 

» Continue Reading.


Thursday, January 13, 2022

Nonprofits announce new hires

lake george land conservancyLake George Land Conservancy Announces Michael Horn as Executive Director

BOLTON LANDING, NY—The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) announces the hiring of its next Executive Director, Michael (Mike) G. Horn, effective January 1, 2022. Mike Horn is succeeding Jamie Brown who served as LGLC’s Executive Director from 2015 to October of this year.

“Jamie did a fabulous job protecting the land that protects the lake,” said Mike Horn, “while building a very strong financial foundation to support the LGLC’s ongoing efforts. I am honored and excited to be the LGLC’s new executive director and continue this positive momentum.”

For the past four years Mike Horn has been Conservation Director of Saratoga PLAN, an accredited land trust in Saratoga Springs, NY. Prior to pursuing his passion for land conservation, he had a successful management career in the renewable energy field at GE.

» Continue Reading.


Thursday, January 13, 2022

Free 8-week digital marketing class for small businesses

ANCA - Adirondack North Country Association LogoWant to improve your digital marketing skills? Join ANCA’s Center for Pandemic Response (CPR), the North Country Chamber of Commerce and Workshop for an 8-week Virtual Digital Marketing Training Series.

This program will help you and your business or organization find and attract new customers by taking your digital marketing strategy to the next level.

You can attend for FREE once you begin the ANCA CPR enrollment process. Fill out the inquiry form today.

» Continue Reading.


Tuesday, January 11, 2022

A conversation with Adirondack Worm Farm

worm farmThe Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District will be hosting a virtual Farm Talks Series: Composting with the Adirondack Worm Farm.  The talk will be held virtually via Zoom on February 3, 2022 at 6 PM.  Bill Richmond, owner of the Adirondack Worm Farm, will teach about his curbside composting business and his methods for successful vermicomposts and hot compost piles. For more information on this program, go to https://warrenswcd.org/events/.

Register here: https://forms.gle/3j6GdCxJxPqV572R9

Pictured here: Bill Richmond started Adirondack Worm Farm in 2019. He works with red wiggler composting worms to produce vermicast for gardens, and has hot-composted 10 tons of food waste at his Kingsbury farm through his curbside composting program serving the Glens Falls region. Photo provided


Monday, January 10, 2022

Land conservancy awarded $3.76 Million Grant for Land Protection in Putnam

putnam

The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) has been awarded $3,762,800 through the New York State Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program. The grant will be used to purchase the 59.6-acre Clark Hollow Bay property in Putnam.

The property is across Lake George from Silver Bay, adjoining more than 1,000 acres on the northeastern shore that the LGLC helped to protect more than 30 years ago. The land includes 2,530 feet of shoreline and 1,300 feet of streams that feed Lake George, as well as steeply forested slopes that would be highly susceptible to erosion if disturbed. Its protection will result in the prevention of previously-approved development that could impact the public drinking supply.

» Continue Reading.


Saturday, January 8, 2022

Screening of “Univited” and Q&A

uninvited film
“Uninvited: The Spread of Invasive Species” is an exciting and informative 55-minute film by Westfield Production Company. The documentary introduces the concept of invasive species and highlights some of the species threatening New York’s environment and economy, while showing some innovative ways that New York State is combatting these threats. “Uninvited” features the collaborative work of DEC and its partners including NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets, the eight Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISMs), New York State Invasive Species Research Institute (NYISRI), and more.
The Kelly Adirondack Center is hosting a screening of the film via Zoom, on Jan. 11, 2022 at 7 p.m.
The film will be introduced by Dr. Jennifer Dean, Invasive Species Biologist with the New York Natural Heritage Program. Dean will take questions after the documentary.
Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://union.zoom.us/j/92721686531
Or One tap mobile : US: +16465588656,,92721686531# or +13126266799,,92721686531#

Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Adirondack Journal of Environmental Studies puts out call for submissions

ARC logo

The Adirondack Journal of Environmental Studies (AJES) is now accepting submissions for Volume 25. Deadline for submissions is March 1, 2022. Articles of a broad disciplinary scope will be accepted for review, including topics in natural and social sciences, arts and humanities related to the region or more general environmental issues. We welcome articles in the following categories: Scholarship, Student Work, Commentary, and a new section, Spotlight on Adirondack Archives.

Special consideration in Vol. 25 will be given to articles to be included in the new Spotlight section. These articles will help connect ADK researchers with those organizations with important research collections. We invite libraries, historical societies, museums and other research institutions to submit brief highlights of their archives, especially articles showcasing particular gems in their collections.

» Continue Reading.


Monday, January 3, 2022

Ausable River Association Announces Salt Survey for Lake Placid

mirror lake

WILMINGTON — The Ausable River Association (AsRA) will distribute a salt use survey this winter to residents, businesses, and independent contractors in Lake Placid. Developed with our partners at the Adirondack Watershed Institute, the survey is essential to determining the amount of salt entering Mirror Lake and the Chubb River. Funded by the Lake Champlain Basin Program through a multi-year technical grant, it’s another piece of our ongoing science-based effort to find a solution to road salt contamination in these waterways.

The salt survey is specific to residents and business in the Chubb River watershed. The watershed encompasses the area surrounding Lake Placid and includes the Village of Lake Placid. Completing the survey will take approximately 5-20 minutes, depending on the size of the area that you care for in your winter maintenance.

» Continue Reading.



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