Almanack Contributor Community News Reports

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 editor@adirondackalmanack.com.


Tuesday, March 14, 2023

APA to hold monthly meeting March 16

APA logo

APA Honors Women’s History Month with “Remarkable Women of the Adirondacks” Historical Presentation and Fine Arts Exhibit 

Ray Brook, NY – The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, March 16, 2023. The meeting will be held at the Agency’s headquarters in Ray Brook, NY. The public is welcome to attend in person or remotely.

Public comment will be available to members of the public who attend the Agency meeting in person as well as those who participate remotely. If you would like the opportunity to make a public comment remotely, please email your name and the phone number used to call into the Board Meeting to AgencyMeeting.PublicComment@apa.ny.gov.

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Monday, March 13, 2023

The 90-Miler at 40: Call for Stories, Deadline March 31

90-Miler participants in Inlet, NY

In honor of the 40th anniversary of the Adirondack Canoe Classic (the 90-Miler), the Northern Forest Canoe Trail is seeking submissions for the creation of a commemorative coffee table book.

Stories must be short — 300 to 400 words — and ideally be accompanied by photos, though the NFCT will be working with photographers as well. NFCT aims to share stories from each decade dating back to the 1980s and intends to cover a wide array of topics, including family stories, first-timer stories, fierce competition, weather mishaps, etc.

Please Note: A submission is not a guarantee that a story will be published in the book; the NFCT will, however, aim to share stories that don’t get published in the coffee table book, on their website and social media accounts.

The deadline to submit stories is Friday, March 31.

Those who wish to submit a story, or those who have additional questions are asked to email chris@northernforestcanoetrail.org.

Photo at top: A group of spectators watch as 90-Miler participants make their way through Inlet, NY. Photo provided by the Inlet Information Office.


Monday, March 13, 2023

Tupper Lake: Wild Center Takes Second in USA Today 10 Best Competition

The Wild Center in Tupper Lake.

The Wild Center in Tupper Lake took second place in the USA Today 10 Best competition. The Adirondack location ranked among museums from California, Georgia and Missouri, as selected by readers in the month-long competition. Ultimately, The Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio, took the top spot. However, The Wild Center is not slowing down, and staff said that they have a variety of programming, events, and exhibits in store for the remainder of 2023. Read more here.

Learn more about The Wild Center, its history, and offerings at this website.

Photo at top: The Wild Center in Tupper Lake. Photo provided by the Inlet Information Office.


Monday, March 13, 2023

Short film aims to support career pathways for students

Filmmaker Kirk Sullivan of Saranac Lake with students.

A short film produced by Saranac Lake native Kirk Sullivan is helping high school students expand their horizons when it comes to planning their futures.

 

“Success!” first debuted at Saranac Lake High School (SLHS). It features local actors singing and dancing through the school’s classrooms and hallways, with teenagers highlighting their own career interests and teachers responding with educational pathways to get there. Following the initial screening, 10th grade students engaged in a discussion with Sullivan and SLHS counselors Maria Braun and Christine Bell about how their personal interests can lead to fulfilling careers, whether they decide to attend college or not.

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Sunday, March 12, 2023

ANCA Awarded $558K USDA Grant for Climate Smart Project

North Country Creamery in Keeseville, N.Y. will participate in an agroforestry project, coordinated by ANCA, that was awarded a $558,000 USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities grant.

Saranac Lake, NY – The Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) has been awarded a $558,000 federal grant to support climate-smart agroforestry projects on small farms in northern New York. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) awarded the regional economic nonprofit a Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities grant to help farmers diversify their operations while implementing farming practices that improve land, water and air quality across the region.

The pilot project will provide customized technical assistance to participating farms and monitor economic and environmental benefits of utilizing agroforestry practices like silvopasture — a technique that integrates livestock, forage crops and trees on the same land. Planning and implementation phases of the project are expected to take two years, beginning in the summer and fall of 2023.

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Saturday, March 11, 2023

A Ward Lumber Tradition: Supporting Local Charities and Non-Profits

Food Shelf representative receives donation check

Jay, NY – Every year, Ward Lumber matches donations made at its stores up to $2,000 in support of local charities. This year, customers at the Jay location donated $1,383.96 from rounded up transactions. After the match, Ward Lumber in Jay was able to donate $2,383.96, split between the town of Jay Food Shelf and the Jay Wilmington Ecumenical Food Shelf. Both organizations provide critical support to community members who need it most.

At Ward Lumber in Malone, a total of $1,262.92 was donated to Homeward Bound, a charity focused on helping veterans in our communities by supporting them and their families. They provide a range of services, including PTSD support, crisis outreach, rides to medical appointments, and housing assistance.

In addition to monetary donations, coats were accepted by Ward Lumber for its Benjamin Moore Coat Drive to support the non-profit organization, Families First of Essex County. The local charity collected the coats throughout the holiday season as it strives to provide support and services to families where a child might be struggling at home or school.

Photo at top: Don Morrison from the Jay Wilmington Ecumenical Food Shelf receives a check for $1,191.98 from Liz Johnson, a Customer Service Associate at Ward Lumber in Jay, NY. Photo provided by CJ Young, Ward Lumber Operations Manager.

 


Saturday, March 11, 2023

Celtic Ceilidh slated for March 18 in Long Lake

Members of the band, North Country Fair.

On Saturday, March 18 from 1 to 6 p.m. the Town of Long Lake Parks & Recreation Department will host a Celtic Ceilidh (prounced kay-lee) at the Long Lake Town Hall located at 1204 Main St. in Long Lake, NY. The event will kick off at 1 p.m., featuring a live music concert and performance from North Country Fair. At 3 p.m. North Country Fair invites any interested musicians to join the stage for an open music Celtic music jam for all until 4 p.m. The finale is the Contra dance from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.

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Thursday, March 9, 2023

Common Ground Alliance Announces 2023 Blueprint for the Blue Line

Common Ground Alliance logo

The Adirondack Common Ground Alliance (CGA) is a diverse network of stakeholders focused on addressing issues that affect the Adirondack Park – specifically, though not exclusively, environmental protection, economic development, and community vitality. Our goal is to facilitate dialogue and identify collaborative solutions that improve the Park and its communities for generations to come. Since 2007, CGA has organized an annual forum, yielding an agreed upon set of recommendations for state action referred to as the “Blueprint for the Blue Line.”

In the summer of 2022, more than 190 citizens participated in the 15th annual CGA Forum at Gore Mountain in North Creek. Below is a set of recommendations within five priority themes: housing, vibrant communities, community policing, recreation, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

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Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Old Forge: Snofest on tap for March 10 & 11

 

Snowmobile demo ride participants

Old Forge, NY – Snofest 2023 will be returning to the George T. Hiltebrant Recreation Center on Friday and Saturday, March 10 and 11. The popular event offers visitors the only chance in the North East to see new 2024 snowmobiles and gear featured by Arctic Cat, Polaris, and Ski-Doo. Special deals on sleds and accessories will be available, as well as demo rides sponsored by Arctic Cat (weather and conditions permitting.) The hours of operation for this year’s Snofest are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, when the North Street pavilion will be filled with snowmobiles, sled accessories, vendors, raffles, and food and beverage specials.

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Tuesday, March 7, 2023

Micro-Grant eligibility expanded to all Adirondack farms, value-added producers 

Tangleroot Farm

Adirondack Council’s Micro-Grants for Adirondack Farms and Value-Added Producers will offer grants of up to $8,000 this year to support sustainable and innovative projects on working lands within the Park.  This is the eighth consecutive year that the Council’s Essex Farm Institute has offered micro-grants to support local farms, local food production and a sustainable local economy.

Prior to 2022, grants had not exceeded $5,000, with most awarded in the $1,500 range. The grant application was updated for the 2023 cycle to provide resources for larger operations (including farms transitioning to sustainable management) as well as those projects involving collaborations between or among farmers and value-added producers who are using 50% or more of their inputs from the region. The 2023 guidelines have also been updated to provide clarity with respect to eligibility criteria and awards a preference for historically-underserved or socially-disadvantaged applicants, the Council noted.

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Monday, March 6, 2023

Adirondack Garden Club Fund grant application period open until April 1

Au Sable Forks Elementary  students

Keene, NY – The window for the  Adirondack Garden Club’s 2023 grant applications is now open.

The Adirondack Garden Club offers three grants:

Ellen Lea Paine Memorial Nature Fund was established in 2005 to give financial assistance to individuals and not-for-profit organizations, including schools, involved in programs whose purpose is to study, protect, and enjoy the natural environment within the Adirondack Park. These requests are considered and distributed by the ELP Committee. The maximum amount per Ellen Lea Paine Memorial Nature Fund grant is $1500.

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Sunday, March 5, 2023

North Creek Depot Museum Presents New Video “Interview with the Curator”

Curator Greg Schaefer with host Erin Corr

North Creek, NY – The North Creek Depot Museum is proud to present a new video titled, “Interview with the Curator.”

 

The North Creek Depot Museum produced a video titled “Interview with the Curator” with President and Curator Greg Schaefer and host Erin Corr. The video was presented as part of an exhibit of winter sports, titled “Daring Descents” (through February 28th) at the Tannery Pond Center in North Creek on Friday, January 20. During the interview, Greg spoke about the story of the Adirondack Railroad and its effect on the region during the period between 1930 and 1945. He described the history of the “Snow Trains” that brought the first skiers up from Schenectady and later from New York City. This was the beginning of the development of skiing at Gore Mountain.

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Saturday, March 4, 2023

Billy Jones announces 2023 Women of Distinction Nominations

billy jones

Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) announced that nominations for his 2023 Women of Distinction Awards are underway. The Women of Distinction Awards are held annually and honor local women who have had significant positive impacts on their community and those around them. Awards will be given for various categories, such as health care, business, volunteer work, and education. The deadline for nominations is March 31, and the awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, April 27 at 6 p.m. at Clinton Community College’s Stafford Center Theatre.

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Thursday, March 2, 2023

2023 Thurman Maple Days set for next three weekends

Bear carving at Thurman Maple Days.

Thurman, NY – Bring the whole family to Town of Thurman, NY to visit all five great maple producers for this year’s Maple Days event, scheduled for the next three weekends, March 11-12, 18-19 & 25-26. Guests will have the opportunity to watch maple syrup being made before their eyes. Participating maple farms –  Hidden Hollow Maple Farm, Valley Road Maple Farm, Toad Hill Maple Farm, Candy Mountain Maple and Mud St. Maple – all are in the same business, but differ in many respects, so plan to visit them all.

Guests will see syrup, maple sugar, maple peanuts, and candies being made, as well as maple tea and coffee and souvenir clothing items. Wonderful maple treats will tempt everyone’s palate, and special activities will fill these days with fun. Sugarhouses will open their doors for touring and tasting, sampling, and shopping from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. these days. But wait, there is more: While you are in Thurman, Martin’s Lumber and Nettle Meadow merit visits as well. Martin’s Lumber hosts an Artisan Market where friends join them in offering indoor activities, demonstrations, and sales.

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Thursday, March 2, 2023

Silver Bay YMCA holds annual Winter Weekend event

Guests cheer each other on during the original giant board game, Horse Racing.

SILVER BAY – Silver Bay YMCA hosted its annual Winter Weekend celebration Feb. 17 through Feb. 20. Despite the lack of snow, the community showed up in full force to partake in the winter-themed fun.

 

The fun started Friday evening with rock climbing and S’mores in Fisher Gymnasium where there was lots of laughter, memories, and sweet treats to be had and a Paint n’ Sip class in Gullen Lounge.

 

The excitement continued into Saturday with Broom Ball, arts and crafts, a mini disc golf tournament, cookie decorating, and an ice carving demonstration. The night ended with a community concert by “Uncle Juan’s Band.”

 

“I love Silver Bay,” Holly Kocher, a 10-year-old from Pennsylvania, proclaimed.

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