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Registration is now open for the Stay-In-stitute for Climate Change Education, a virtual conference for educators across the country. Hosted in partnership with Climate Generation: A Will Steger Legacy, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Climate Program Office, and The Wild Center’s Youth Climate Program. From July 22-24, the three-day training will provide educators with skills, tools and resources to teach climate change concepts and empower students in all subject areas.
Registration Open for Climate Change Education Virtual Conference
Tele-town hall with NYS Comptroller
The North Country Chamber of Commerce is hosting a tele-town hall meeting with New York State Comptroller, Thomas P. DiNapoli, taking place from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2.
There is a place to submit questions within the “Questions and Comments” field of the registration form: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5200748680575130891
This meeting is part of a series of webinars this week organized by the chamber to help facilitate re-opening, including sessions designed for campground owners and office managers on Wednesday, June 3. View the complete schedule here: http://northcountrychamber.com/
NY creates loan fund for small businesses
New York State has begun providing the New York Forward Loan Fund, geared towards small businesses, nonprofits, and small landlords. The fund will be targeting small businesses with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent employees, as well as nonprofits and small landlords that have seen loss of rental income due to the pandemic. Pre-applications for the NYFLF opened May 26.
Assistance and/or more information is available through the following links:
More Information about the New York Forward Loan Fund.
Franklin County based businesses: View the Small Business Relief Loan Fund.
The Luxury of Health
Since we first opened our museum doors in 2009, thousands have come to learn about Saranac Lake’s history as a center for tuberculosis research and treatment. Visitors often ask about the cost of care and who was able to afford it. Was Saranac Lake’s fresh air treatment just for rich people? Did people of different ethnic groups and social classes have access to the cure?
These were topics we discussed with a school group this past March. The students were participating in the spring break program of the Division of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at SUNY Potsdam. We were days away from the pandemic shutdown, and Saranac Lake’s historic connection to infectious disease felt newly relevant that morning.
In the late 1800s, when Saranac Lake was becoming famous as a health resort, one in seven people in the United States was dying of TB. The disease afflicted people from all walks of life. Public health measures and improved living conditions were beginning to lower the rate of infection in the United States. Still, TB continued to spread. It especially plagued poor people, living and working in crowded, poorly ventilated spaces.
Up your grilling game with this pizza recipe
Warmer weather means grilling time! Instead of sticking to traditional grilling foods like burgers or hot dogs, why not consider grilling one of my personal favorite foods, pizza.
This fantastic dish can be modified to suit a variety of dietary needs and preferences, and can be easily adjusted to be a healthy food choice. Cheese can be substituted with vegan cheese or left off entirely for vegans, vegetables and fruit can be used as toppings, and some traditionally unhealthy topping choices, such as pepperoni or sausage, can be swapped for healthier options such as turkey pepperoni or venison sausage. Even more appealing, though, is the taste. Nothing truly compares to the smoky and savory flavors that combine in a good grilled pizza.
Ode to an outhouse, and gatherings with old friends
By Susan Hennessey
There are many things that bring joy to my life; the majesty of the Adirondacks, the deep cold lakes nestled in those mountains, the endless trails for hiking, the smoke that unfurls from the chimneys of the sweet cabins that dot the woods, and believe it or not my girlfriend Margie’s outhouse.
Yes, her outhouse is like no other. Located at the foot of Whiteface Mountain on the outskirts of Margie’s summer campsite sits the most darling outhouse. It was built from love and a whole lot of hard work.
My high school girlfriend Margie and her husband Brian were fortunate enough to have inherited a plot of land near Whiteface that they have been developing for 30 something years into the most efficient, adorable, campsite. LL Bean and Campmore would rival to have its photograph on the cover of their yearly catalogues. Blood sweat and tears have driven this project.
Get To Know New York’s Natives: Red Trillium
One of the most beloved signs of spring across the state is the red trillium wildflower (Trillium erectum). With its three deep-red petals and three whorled leaf-like structures, trillium is easily recognized by even the most beginner plant enthusiasts.
This trillium species is native to the eastern and northeastern US. In New York State, you can find it in every region. As a shade-tolerant species, trillium thrives in damp, semi-shady forests, though it emerges early in the spring to take advantage of full sun before the trees above it leaf out. Across the state, you may be able to spot this flower sometime in March through June. The flowers wither after about 2-3 weeks of blooming, leaving behind berry-like fruit that is eaten by birds and mammals.
This trillium species is listed as “exploitably vulnerable” on New York’s list of protected plants. Because of its protected status, remember that if you are lucky to spot a trillium while out in the woods, you should enjoy its brief beauty using only your eyes and your camera.
#LoveYourADK business toolkit available online
In order to emphasize the Leave No Trace principle, the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) has created the “Love Your ADK” business toolkit.
The pledge and accompanying hashtag (#LoveYourADK) will spread awareness via websites and social media to ensure those who retreat to the Adirondacks are respectful of our ecosystem. This includes a commitment to check for invasive species, and to respect the wildlife and residents by following the 7 Leave No Trace principles.
From the Archive: Fire season
The recent rash of wildfires reminds us of fires from the past that altered the natural and physical landscape:
From 2018: The Long Lake West Fire was not the first major forest fire in the Adirondacks, nor would it be the last. But the fire in 1908 caused the most property damage, writes Mike Prescott: https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2018/09/adirondack-wildfire-the-destruction-of-long-lake-west.html
From 2015: Sheila Myers shared information about “Yellow Day” fires in the late 1880s-early 1900s: https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2015/05/yellow-days-adirondack-forest-fires-and-air-quality.html
From 2011: A fire at Spencer Boatworks in Saranac Lake, in which many historic, antique boats were destroyed: https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2011/05/spencer-boatworks-fire-update.html. That fire reminded contributor Mark Wilson about a fire in 1919 that saw similar loss of watercraft: https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2011/05/spencer-boatworks-fire-recalls-1919-blaze.html
Photo: Rangers fight wildfires over Memorial Day Weekend/DEC photo
Bumblebees: Out of the Shadows
When it comes to pollination it seems that honey bees are give the spotlight, but they’re not the only bees that shine for their ability to pollinate. Bumblebees have their own unique abilities that honey bees don’t.
Bumblebees are long tongued bees with tongues 15mm – 20mm long and are capable of pollinating tuberous flowers with deep corollas such as cucumber, tomatoes, melons, squash, thistle, honeysuckle among many others.
In contrast, honey bees are short tongued bees with tongues 5mm – 8mm long and pollinate flowers that are flatter and shallow such as, coneflowers, daisies, apples, cherries, raspberries, cranberries along with a variety of others.
The Adirondack Pollinator Project: 2020 Plant Sale
AdkAction’s Adirondack Pollinator Project will be offering its annual “Pollinator Plant” sale again to help the hummingbirds, butterflies and bee population.
They have teamed up with Cook & Gardener Nursery and chose plants that can thrive in the Adirondacks. The plants offered have been sourced or grown from seeds to ensure no contact with neonicotinoids (a class of insecticides harmful to pollinators) and will help efforts to rebuild the monarch butterfly population, attract hummingbirds, and reinforce the native bee and moth population.
Plant orders are available online until June 15, or while supplies last.
Adirondack Outdoor Conditions (5/29): Campgrounds update
Information courtesy of the NYS DEC
DEC campgrounds and pavilions are closed to overnight visitation through June 7. (Note: this does not mean that campgrounds will be opening on that date.) DEC has suspended all new camping reservations for the 2020 season until further notice. We are assessing campground status on a daily basis. Visitors who wish to cancel an existing reservation may do so and receive a full refund or can transfer the reservation to the 2021 season. Thank you for your patience as we work to protect the safety of our visitors and staff.
Water-access campsites at DEC campgrounds remain closed to overnight visitation until DEC’s campgrounds reopen. This includes, but is not limited to:
DEC: Avoid the high-elevation trails
DEC Issues Late Season Muddy Trails Advisory
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) urged hikers to be cautious and postpone hikes on trails above 2,500 feet until high elevation trails have dried and hardened. North-facing trails have retained snow and ice late into the season this year. As snow and ice continue to melt at high elevations, steep trails pose a danger to hikers, thin soils are susceptible to erosion, and sensitive alpine vegetation is easily damaged.
Despite recent warm weather, high-elevation backcountry trails are still covered in slowly melting ice and snow. These steep trails feature thin soils that become a mix of ice and mud as winter conditions melt and frost leaves the ground. The remaining compacted ice and snow on trails is rotten, slippery, and will not reliably support weight.
Latest Adirondack News
- Report: School closures led to inequitable online learning
- Warren County takes steps to educate visitors about quarantine
- Plattsburgh kicks off drive-in music series
- Washington, Warren counties see new CV cases
- SUNY Adirondack will mix online and in-person teaching this fall
- Canada extends COVID-19 border closures
- Ti-Alliance receives grant for co-working space
- Volunteers sought for annual Loon Census
- Date set for 20th annual Pat Stratton ride
- 20 additional sex abuse lawsuits filed against Catholic diocese
Latest Adirondack News
- Report: School closures led to inequitable online learning
- Warren County takes steps to educate visitors about quarantine
- Plattsburgh kicks off drive-in music series
- Washington, Warren counties see new CV cases
- SUNY Adirondack will mix online and in-person teaching this fall
- Canada extends COVID-19 border closures
- Ti-Alliance receives grant for co-working space
- Volunteers sought for annual Loon Census
- Date set for 20th annual Pat Stratton ride
- 20 additional sex abuse lawsuits filed against Catholic diocese
The Adirondack Almanack
The Adirondack Almanack's contributors include veteran local writers, historians, naturalists, and outdoor enthusiasts from around the Adirondack region.
General inquiries about the Adirondack Almanack should be directed to editor Melissa Hart.
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