Almanack Contributor Community News Reports

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With Canadian testing requirements set to change on April 1st, the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau (VCB), a division of the North Country Chamber of Commerce, is excited to once again be able to welcome our Canadian visitors to the area for the upcoming tourism season. The ability to invite and host our Canadian visitors once again on the Adirondack Coast, after over 2 years of separation, will be huge not only to our economy but to the vitality of our community.

“The message is simple but important to express after two years of separation,” says Garry Douglas, President of the North Country Chamber of Commerce. “We have missed our friends and neighbors and are really looking forward to seeing and welcoming them. Just as we are anxious to get back to places in Canada we so enjoy, our mountains, lakes, shops and businesses are ready and waiting here. We have dubbed April 1st Reunion Day for Canadians and Americans so let the reunion begin.”

Monday, April 4, 2022

Town of Inlet seeks support for APA project: Shared Use Public Safety and Wireless Communication Tower, comments due April 7

By Adele Burnett and Margie O’Hara for the Town of Inlet

It’s public comment time for APA Project 2021-0207 – Town of Inlet Shared Use Public Safety and Wireless Communication Tower. The proposed project includes the installation of two monopine telecommunications towers, one 90-feet tall and the other 95-feet tall (95 feet and 100 feet tall to the top of simulated branching); installation of antennas on the towers for T-Mobile, AT&T, Herkimer County, Hamilton County, and the Town of Inlet; and construction of three separate equipment shelters/pads at the base of the towers. The project involves construction of an access drive 1,130± feet in length from Limekiln Road, to connect with an existing 3,010±-foot-long access drive, and then to connect with an additional 830± feet of existing access drive (to be widened) to reach the tower site. Underground utilities will be installed along the access drive.

Monday, April 4, 2022

National PBS Show Features Adirondack Region

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The Adirondack Region is being featured in two episodes of the PBS television docu-series “Fly Brother With Ernest White II.” One episode is currently airing nationally; the other will be airing later this year.

The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) worked with the show’s producers to bring the show’s host and his team to the region. The ROOST team provided location scouting, background information, and made arrangements for the crew to meet, interview, and learn about the region from those directly involved in the tourism industry.

Now in its second season, PBS’s “Fly Brother” is an award-winning travel series, hosted by Ernest White II, that focuses on friendship and connection in some of the most intriguing destinations around the world.

Thursday, March 31, 2022

Gardening with native plants workshop

Get a Jump on Spring Garden Planning with APIPP’s Webinar, Native Plants for Adirondack Landscapes

As the snow melts and red-winged blackbirds arrive, it is time to think spring gardens! And you can support wildlife and help keep invasive species out of the Adirondacks by planting native gardens. Join the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP) on Wednesday, April 6 at 10 am for a free webinar to learn how to design beautiful landscapes using native plants.

Thursday, March 31, 2022

Adirondack Experience announces new virtual ‘Dacks Drinks series

The Adirondack Experience, The Museum on Blue Mountain Lake, (ADKX) announces their new virtual program series – ‘DACKS DRINKS. This series, co-sponsored by the Albany Public Library, will highlight local flavor – from the adventurous rum-runners of the early 20th century to today’s craft brewers infusing their brews with tastes from Adirondack forests. The series will feature two free online sessions, A Taste of Tupper with Garret Kopp from Birch Boys and Josh Weise and Tanner Hockey, Brewers at Raquette River Brewery on Wednesday, April 13 at 7 p.m. and History with a Twist – Adirondack Bootlegging with Niki Kourofsky, editor at Adirondack Life, and Stacia Takach from Lake Placid Stagecoach Inn on Wednesday, April 20 at 7 p.m.

‘Dacks Drinks

Wednesday, April 13, 7 pm: A Taste of Tupper with Garret Kopp from Birch Boys and Josh Weise and Tanner Hockey, Brewers at Raquette River Brewery

Meet two of Tupper Lake’s taste-making companies as Raquette River Brewing and the Birch Boys share their stories and offerings. Discover their unique collaboration to create Chugga Chugga Chaga Honey Brown Ale, an English-style brown ale made with sustainably harvested Chaga mushrooms. Josh Weise and Tanner Hockey from Raquette River Brewery will wrap up the evening with a few tips on how to infuse local flavor for home brewers.

About the speaker: Garret Kopp grew up in Tupper Lake and began harvesting Chaga mushrooms and selling them at local pop-up markets with his grandmother when he was 15. He created the Birch Boys while in college and today, the company leases 220,000 acres of private land in the Adirondacks for sustainable Chaga harvesting, making products like teas, tinctures, and skin care products. Kopp is also a certified mushroom identification expert & licensed NYS guide.

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Paul Smith’s College winter sports season roundup

It was a winter to remember for the athletic department at Paul Smith’s College, and thankfully not for reasons pertaining to COVID-19.

When the pandemic erupted two years ago, the initial moves across the country were to cancel sports events and keep athletes safe. This carried over, to a lesser degree, to the winter of 2021-2022.

In reviewing the past six months, PSC Bobcat teams got back to the basics of trying to win games and competitions with the specter of COVID still present.

PSC was led in this endeavor by the Nordic ski team which won four national team titles and two individual crowns in the United States Collegiate Ski Association’s recent championships in Lake Placid. Prior to this, it had been nearly 60 years since a PSC team won a national championship.

Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Old Forge Library to offer free Zoom lecture featuring master flutist Galen Abdur-Razzaq on March 31

The Old Forge Library will host a free, live, online performance with an evening learning about female jazz musicians. On Thursday, March 31 at 7 p.m., lecturer and master flutist Galen Abdur-Razzaq will highlight the influence women have had on the evolution of jazz and their significant contributions to the art form.

Women have been involved in jazz since the early 1920s, not just as vocalists, but as instrumentalists, composers and arrangers. An understanding of jazz would not be complete without highlighting the influence and contributions of women such as Bessie Smith, Valaida Snow, Mildred Bailey, Mary Lou Williams, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughn. The goal is to provide an understanding particularly of their personal lives, their ability to read music, perform and survive in a time when jazz was considered “a man’s world.”

Abdur-Razzaq is a riveting speaker with an encyclopedic knowledge of the history of jazz. He will help attendees gain a deeper appreciation for women’s contributions to this music genre through a combination of lecture and musical pieces performed by him as he displays his talents on the flute.

Abdur-Razzaq studied at the Berklee College of Music. He holds a master’s degree in education and performing arts from Rutgers University and has collaborated with some of the greatest jazz musicians.

Those who wish to obtain the free Zoom link can call (315) 369-6008 or e-mail [email protected]

For more information on upcoming library events and programs please visit https://www.oldforgelibrary.org/.

Photo at top: Lecturer and master flutist Galen Abdur-Razzaq. Photo provided by the Old Forge Library.

Monday, March 28, 2022

Pendragon hosts benefit for Ukraine

Join local artists and organizations at Pendragon Theatre in Saranac Lake in an event to benefit the artists of Ukraine. Taking place on Wednesday, March 30 @ 7pm, the evening of music, stories, theatre and poetry is presented by: Adirondack Center for Writing, Adirondack Stage Rats, Chris Kowanko, Drew Sprague, Esther Baker, John Brown Lives!, Joseph Szwed, Historic Saranac Lake, Pendragon Theatre, Roger Mitchell, Upper Jay Arts, Center & Recovery Lounge and further support by Depot Theatre

All proceeds raised that evening will go directly towards the non-profit, Artists at Risk (AR): a non-profit organization at the intersection of human rights and the arts working to provide artists from Ukraine with emergency resources, travel aid, and residencies at host institutions across Europe.

The evening will last approximately 80 minutes and be both a celebration of artists but also a call to action and sign of solidarity for displaced artists in the Ukraine. $15 suggested donation per person. Ticket donations and seats can be purchased at www.PendragonTheatre.org or by calling the box office at 518-891-1854.

Thursday, March 24, 2022

Tannery Pond Center: North Creek arts center announces major expansion

Tannery Pond Center (TPC), the arts organization in North Creek, NY is on a path of major rebirth and transformation. The Town of Johnsburg has agreed to lease the Tannery Pond building, with its fine theater, gallery spaces, offices and community meeting rooms, to the nonprofit Tannery Pond Center which will assume responsibility and control of this valuable regional asset. The Town and TPC are working to finalize the lease documents in early 2022.

Tannery Pond Center is excited to announce a generous $75,000 matching gift challenge from local philanthropist Glenn Pearsall to support this transformative endeavor. The vision for the future is to be the premier venue for arts and community gathering in the southern Adirondacks, humming with creativity, learning, diverse arts programming, opportunities for community gatherings and a welcoming visitor center. As of March 2022, the Board and supporters of the Tannery Pond Center have almost matched the Pearsall gift and are on track to far exceed it in order to secure the future. This outpouring of support demonstrates a confidence in the future as well as excitement about the potential of Tannery Pond.

In order to achieve these ambitious goals, Tannery Pond Center is adding a second full-time staff person, and is starting a search for a dynamic Executive Director who can lead the organization into the next stage of its growth. A job description and information about how to apply is posted on the Tannery Pond website, www.tannerypond.org/jobs

For more information about the Tannery Pond Center visit https://www.tannerypond.org/or call (518) 251-2505, ext. 128.

Photo at top courtesy of Donna Welch.

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Paul Smith’s College makes school history at USCSA Championships in Lake Placid

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Bobcats win 4 national titles; Aidan Ripp claims 2 individual championships

Until early March, Paul Smith’s College (PSC) had gone nearly 60 years without winning a national championship. Its 1963 golf team stood alone in school annals – until the recent 2022 U.S. Collegiate Ski Association National Championships in Lake Placid. Not only was the golf team’s achievement finally matched, it was exceeded in spades. Over the course of a week at Mount Van Hoevenberg, Bobcat Nordic skiers accumulated four national championships, three individual national championships, nine podium finishes as a team, 16 All-Americans, and seven Academic All-Americans.

After winning NJCAA championships in skiing, these were the Adirondack school’s first as members of the USCSA.

“It was a complete team performance on the national stage,” said PSC Athletic Director Jim Tucker.

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

The Depot Theatre to host three live shows this summer, tickets go on sale June 1

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The Depot Theatre will ease into live theatre‘s “new normal” with a decidedly abnormal (and eclectic) three-show lineup for the 2022 main stage season, which features a tribute to Sondheim, a riveting drama, and a spookily hilarious musical. The only professional Equity theatre in the Adirondacks, the Depot will continue to adhere to government and Actors’ Equity health and safety guidelines.

“Just as we creatively manage the on-stage reaction to trains that interrupt our performances, we are prepared for whatever protocols we’ll need to implement to protect our cast and patrons,” said Kim Rielly, Depot Theatre Executive Director. “As in 2021, we appreciate everyone’s support and flexibility in making it possible to experience live theatre yet again!”

Monday, March 21, 2022

Paul Smith’s College students, Franklin County team up on eco-friendly bus shelters

New bus shelters with green, living roofs are coming to public transportation stops throughout the North Country thanks to a collaboration between Paul Smith’s College, the Franklin County Highway Department and The Heart Network.

The senior capstone project is led by students in Paul Smith’s College Environment and Society Professor Deb Naybor’s Social Research and Sustainability classes. Students produced 40 initial designs for the living roofs, and the senior capstone students honed them down to create a set of environmentally responsible concepts for review by the county’s Highway Department.

Sunday, March 20, 2022

Adirondack Birth to Three Alliance addresses health, wellbeing of infants/toddlers in the Adirondacks

A new report shines a spotlight on the health and wellbeing of young children and their families in the Adirondack region. The Adirondack Birth to Three Alliance, hosted by Adirondack Foundation, today unveiled the study, “The Wellbeing of Infants and Toddlers in the Adirondacks,” which provides a comprehensive analysis across the three categories: Strong Families, Healthy Children and High-Quality Early Learning.

This pioneering study, now in its second edition, emphasizes that the first 1,000 days are the most influential in a child’s development. Moreover, the data reveals that early experiences influence children’s brain development, overall health and their long-term success in school and life. The Adirondack Birth to Three Alliance asserts that investing in the early education sector, healthcare systems and other service providers will help ensure that children and families thrive both socially and economically.

Thursday, March 17, 2022

ANCA’s 2022 Adirondack Buyer Days set for March 29 and 30

The Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) has announced that Adirondack Buyer Days, its annual business-to-business trade show that features the work of artisan makers from across the Northeast, will take place in-person this spring in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. As the COVID pandemic loosens its hold on New York State businesses and communities, regional retailers are invited to connect directly with local makers and purchase handcrafted gift products for their shops.

The annual show, which was canceled in 2020 and held virtually in 2021 due to the pandemic, will return to its longtime home at the Saratoga Springs City Center on March 29 and 30, 2022. Artisan vendors will showcase handmade products from a variety of categories including housewares, spa, stationery, apparel, accessories, specialty foods and more. Registration is open for buyers at bit.ly/adkbd.

Thursday, March 17, 2022

Newcomb AIC: Aldo Leopold Day set for March 19

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“That land is a community is the basic concept of ecology, but that land is to be loved and respected is an extension of ethics.” – Aldo Leopold

Guests are invited to kick off the arrival of spring by celebrating Aldo Leopold Day on Saturday, March 19 at the Adirondack Interpretive Center (AIC) in Newcomb. Leopold was considered by many as the father of wildlife conservation. Participants have the opportunity to attend an individual program or spend the entire day at the AIC to take part in the whole slate of events which includes a seminar, a bench building workshop, and a film. Pre-registration is required, as space is limited. Interested parties should register by emailing [email protected] or Click here to register. Location: Adirondack Interpretive Center, 5922 State Route 28N, Newcomb, NY 12852.