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Town of Black Brook
Clinton County
Wildland Fire: On May 15 at 6:45 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch requested Forest Ranger assistance with a wildland fire in Black Brook near the intersection of Turnpike and Goodrich Mills roads. Ausable Forks and Saranac Lake fire departments also responded to the 30-acre fire. Rangers and other firefighters sustained fire suppression efforts for several days. On May 17 at 6:45 p.m., the fire was declared 100 percent contained. The fire remains in patrol status.
Snow/rain complicate 16-hour Phelps Trail rescue, hikers treated for mild hypothermia
Give Turtles a Brake in recognition of World Turtle Day
In recognition of World Turtle Day® on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos reminded New Yorkers that turtles are nesting in May and June, and asked motorists to “give turtles a brake.” In New York, thousands of turtles are killed each year by unsuspecting drivers when turtles cross roads to find nesting areas.
“While a turtle’s shell provides protection from predators, it does not protect against being struck by vehicles while crossing roadways,” Commissioner Seggos said. “Vehicle strikes are a major cause of mortality among turtles and New York’s native turtles are more susceptible at this time of year as they seek sandy areas or loose soil in which to lay their eggs. Especially in these coming weeks, DEC urges drivers to be on the lookout for turtles and slow down, particularly on roads near rivers and marshy areas.”
Spring visitor
The dinner guest arrived late.
No invitation.
No reservations.
Alone.
Just newly awake,
belly growling with
a devastating hunger.
Drawn here
for a free meal,
easy,
high in calories.
A good deal.
He almost got away with it
but for a soft noise.
3 a.m. is the witching hour.
I look out.
Is he even real?
or a supernatural specter?
To Native Americans
he is a spiritual guide.
To Robert Frost
a being that roams wide:
“The world has room to make a bear feel free;
The universe seems cramped to you and me.”
Ursa Major dominates the spring skies.
The Big Dipper, a guide.
Under the stars, my bruin friend,
I whisper “safely abide.”
I will listen to the DEC officers
and take the bird feeders
down until fall.
When you next again
“rock a boulder on the wall”.
Black bear in Raquette Lake. Photo by Jeff Nadler, archive photo.
Stewards return to popular high peaks summits
Lake Placid, NY — The Adirondack High Peaks Summit Stewardship Program has started its 34th season of protecting New York’s alpine ecosystem. Summit stewards will be educating hikers on high peaks summits—namely Marcy, Algonquin, Wright, and Cascade—through Indigenous People’s Day.
“We are excited to continue the important work of protecting New York’s alpine ecosystem,” said Liam Ebner, ADK Summit Steward Coordinator. “The Summit Stewardship Program has been and continues to be one of the best examples we have of an outreach effort that has successfully shown people how to protect sensitive ecosystems while they enjoy them.”
The return of Dick Monroe: The River Calling
Editor’s note: We are so pleased to be able to feature Dick Monroe’s writing on the Adirondack Almanack. He previously shared some of his wonderful, insightful essays, poems and stories of his “Adirondack Outlaw” adventures coming of age in Saranac Lake, as well as his outdoor adventures and personal experiences. Read his previous Almanack submissions here and welcome back, Dick! We look forward to you sharing excerpts and snippets of your work with us.
“The River Calling”
My ode to the Saranac River. My lifelong comfort, companion & friend. Its waters flow through my veins. Whether I’m hunting, fishing, exploring, swimming, canoeing or camping, wherever life’s next Adirondack Outlaw adventure takes me, I can hear it calling. Click here below to read the full poem.
Adirondack Life & Adirondack Land Trust to present My Adirondacks kids’ photography project
Jay, NY – Adirondack Life and Adirondack Land Trust announce My Adirondacks, a project that invites kids, ages 5 to 17, to photograph an aspect of the natural world within the Adirondack Park and share why it matters to them. Submissions can be sent to aledit@adirondacklife.com and will be accepted now through August 19, 2023.
The following information is required:
· Name and age.
· Where in the Adirondack Park the photo was taken.
· Up to a few sentences about why the image matters to the person who took it.
Paul Smith’s College holds 2023 graduation ceremony
On Sunday, May 21 Paul Smiths’ College held its commencement ceremony celebrating more than 100 students who completed their academic degrees. Together, faculty, staff, students, and their families celebrated the immense accomplishments of the class of 2023.
Paul Smith’s College, known as the College of the Adirondacks because it is the only four-year institution of higher education in the Adirondack Park is surrounded by 14,000 acres of pristine lakes, trails, and natural beauty. Led by faculty ranked number one in the region for undergraduate teaching, PSC has a strong foundation of hands-on learning that prepare students for successful careers.
Adirondack Woof Stock slated for June 3-4
Chestertown, NY – Canine lovers of all ages are encouraged to dig out their tie-dye garb and travel back to 1969 at the annual Adirondack Woof Stock event, “a weekend of peace, paws, and music” scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, June 3 and 4 in Chestertown, NY (20 minutes north of Lake George.) It’ll be the best day of your dog’s life!
Tick Season is Here
Black flies can put a damper on summer fun, but a tick bite can change your life forever. Deer ticks (ID links provided below) are known to transmit Lyme disease, which is caused by any of three species of spirochete bacteria in the genus Borrelia. When a deer tick latches onto us for longer than 24 hours, it barfs a load of these fast-moving, corkscrew-shaped microbes into our bloodstream. The spirochetes, which have a particular craving for hearts, brains, and joints, begin to drill through our tissues in search of a nice place to settle down and reproduce. As you might imagine, the results are unpleasant.
Saratoga PLAN to present bluegrass concert featuring The Gibson Brothers at Wm. H. Buckley Farm
Saratoga Springs, NY – Get ready to enjoy some foot-stomping bluegrass music while supporting a great cause. Local land trust, Saratoga PLAN (Preserving Land and Nature), will be hosting a bluegrass concert at the historic Wm. H. Buckley Farm on Friday, June 2 to support land conservation efforts in Saratoga County.
Nestled among rolling hills with a view of Ballston Lake against the backdrop of the Green Mountains, the rustic charm of the conserved Wm. H. Buckley Farm promises to be a picturesque setting for music enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.
Crown Point Banding Station: New birds, beautiful sunrises, and cuckoo flowers
Here I am again at the Ticonderoga Library, getting a break from the Crown Point Banding Station after catching some nice birds this morning [May 16.] [We will be] looking out for some thunderstorms this afternoon, which should knock down some birds that have been flying right over us for a couple days. We caught some new birds (for this year) to band this morning, [including] Tree Swallow, Canada Warbler, and a Brown Thrasher just before I left (which is the bird on the cover of the bird list for the Crown Point Historic Site.)
LGLC Awarded $68,300 from the New York State Conservation Partnership Program
Bolton Landing, NY – The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) has been awarded two grants, totaling $68,300, from the 2023 New York State Conservation Partnership Program (NYSCPP), which is funded through New York State’s (NYS) Environmental Protection Fund. The Land Trust Alliance administers the Conservation Partnership Program in coordination with NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
A $44,500 grant will fund improvements at Peggy’s Point, the LGLC’s beloved waterfront park in the Town of Hague. The work will redevelop the trail and add amenities to make the park and waterfront more accessible. Educational signage will enhance the visitor experience, and native plantings will strengthen the shoreline against erosion from storm events.
Thanks for everything, Robert!
By Emily Martz, Executive Director, Great Camp Sagamore
At Great Camp Sagamore, we believe that everyone should have the chance to experience the transformative powers of connecting and learning in the remote Adirondack mountains. For the last seven years, Great Camp Sagamore’s retiring Historian, Robert Engel, has been integral to this vision. As he retires, we ask you to join us in thanking Robert for his dedication to historic preservation and life-long learning, and for all that he has done to inspire staff and tens of thousands of visitors over the years.
For Robert’s first two seasons at Sagamore (2016 & 2017), he was camp’s sous chef. “Despite my History Museum Studies degree and 30+ years working in the field,” Robert says, “including as Director of the Rensselaer County Historical Society, my dream was to create the best restaurant in the Adirondacks. Great Camp Sagamore’s kitchen was practice for that. Then, I became the historian – phew!” We will miss Robert’s sense of humor rooted in his desire to help make everyone feel welcome.
Latest News Headlines
- Adirondack house hunting: The chasm between price, affordability
- Essex County DPW finds way to keep glass out of the landfill
- Watertown native named Jefferson Community College president
- Saranac school district in final round of voting for new mascot
- Warren County transportation service to merge with Capital District Transit Authority
- Hikers are still coming to the Adirondacks despite hazy, unhealthy air
- Land trust buys 137 acres near High Peaks Wilderness
- Old Forge expands off-road biking
- Air quality questions answered in light of Canada wildfires
- Death of an Adirondack relic
Latest News Headlines
- Adirondack house hunting: The chasm between price, affordability
- Essex County DPW finds way to keep glass out of the landfill
- Watertown native named Jefferson Community College president
- Saranac school district in final round of voting for new mascot
- Warren County transportation service to merge with Capital District Transit Authority
- Hikers are still coming to the Adirondacks despite hazy, unhealthy air
- Land trust buys 137 acres near High Peaks Wilderness
- Old Forge expands off-road biking
- Air quality questions answered in light of Canada wildfires
- Death of an Adirondack relic
The Adirondack Almanack
The Adirondack Almanack is a public forum dedicated to promoting and discussing current events, history, arts, nature and outdoor recreation and other topics of interest to the Adirondacks and its communities
We publish commentary and opinion pieces from voluntary contributors, as well as news updates and event notices from area organizations. Contributors include veteran local writers, historians, naturalists, and outdoor enthusiasts from around the Adirondack region. The information, views and opinions expressed by these various authors are not necessarily those of the Adirondack Almanack or its publisher, the Adirondack Explorer.
General inquiries about the Adirondack Almanack should be directed to editor Melissa Hart.
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It’s Time To Ban Wildlife Killing Contests In New York
This year, Protect the Adirondacks is working with a number of other groups to support legislation banning wildlife killing contests. Legislation introduced by State Assembly Environmental Conservation Chair Deborah Glick and State Senator Timothy Kennedy, makes it “unlawful for any person to organize, sponsor, conduct, promote, or participate in any contest, competition, tournament or derby where the objective of such contest or competition is to take wildlife.” This legislation protects coyotes, small mammals, and fur bearers.
This bill amends the Environmental Conservation Law to make it unlawful for any person to organize, sponsor, conduct, promote or participate in any contest, competition, tournament, or derby with the objective of taking or hunting wildlife for prizes or other inducement, or for entertainment. Contests for taking or hunting white-tailed deer, turkey or bear are exempted, which are already regulated by seasons, bag limits, and reporting requirements. Special dog training areas or field trials or similar canine performance events are also exempted. Violations are punishable by fines of $500 to $2,000. In addition, the remains of any wildlife killed in violation of the bill’s provisions are forfeited to the Department of Environmental Conservation.
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