I put some miles on the truck (and some on the ground) this week as I [traveled to] Paul Smith’s VIC three times, went brook trout fishing a couple times, and watched Loons on Lake Clear. [I also] photographed fall leaves, did some leaf blowing for several days, caught songbirds when the wind didn’t blow, and caught saw whet owls for four nights. Everyone asks [me] when I get the time to sleep and do all these things. I say, “I nap a lot.” I don’t know if I will get into all these [items in my column] as I must add a few politics this week, which I know you all like to hear just before Election Day.
Posts Tagged ‘Paul Smith’s VIC’
Paul Smith’s VIC to host fall lecture series in October
The fall lecture series will be held at the Paul Smith’s College VIC again this October.
The series was designed to initiate important discussions relevant to the Adirondacks, allowing students at Paul Smith’s College and North Country Community College to interact with leaders in environmental science, policy and social issues. Lectures are open to all and the diversity in the audience has been important to the discussion and success of the series. Lectures were well attended last year and generated significant campus and community involvement and support. Lectures are archived for viewing on the Paul Smith’s College VIC YouTube channel.
Time has come for the protection of Monarch Butterflies
Another year has passed for me, and only one more for the “Big 80,” but things are looking good on this end. For others on this side of the globe, things aren’t looking so good this morning [Sept. 20]. Hurricane Fiona has clobbered Puerto Rico with over thirty inches of rain and strong winds that have again devastated their power grid five years to the day when they were hit by Hurricane Maria. They had just about recovered from that one and everything got laid flat again. The hurricane heading north hit the Dominican Republic and will end up in the Canada Maritimes. This will also push high tides all along the east coast while going north.
Adirondack Wild meeting set for Paul Smith’s VIC on Oct. 14, Wilderness & Wild Stewardship Awards announced
Paul Smith’s, NY – The nonprofit advocate Adirondack Wild: Friends of the Forest Preserve announces its Annual Meeting of Members and Friends will begin at 11 AM on Friday October 14, 2022, at the Paul Smith’s Visitor Interpretive Center (VIC), located at 8023 State Rt. 30 just north of Paul Smith’s College.
The event in the VIC auditorium runs from 11 AM to 3 PM and is free and open to the public. Please bring your own lunches. Light refreshments will be available. Face masking is recommended.
Paul Smith’s VIC to host free Monarch Fest on Sept. 3
The International Union for Conservation of Nature recently added the migratory monarch butterfly, known for their flight to California and Mexico during the winter, to their “Red List,” a compilation of animals that they deem endangered. The native populations of this butterfly have shrunk by at least 22% in the past decade, due to numerous factors, including deforestation, pesticides, and climate change.
Deforestation in Mexico and California to clear the way for urban spaces, has destroyed much of the monarch’s shelter. Pesticides and herbicides used in large-scale agriculture have killed butterflies and milkweed, the plant that the larvae feed off of. Drought, wildfires, and extreme weather and temperatures caused by climate change has also damaged these butterflies’ homes, as well as killed many of them.
In celebration of these beautiful creatures, Paul Smith’s VIC has organized a Monarch Fest which is scheduled for September 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.
Paul Smith’s College Sixth Annual SAM Fest
Paul Smith’s College is set to hold a day-long festival of music, art and TED-style science talks on Saturday, April 27, from 10 am to 5 pm at the Paul Smith’s VIC.
The Science Art Music Festival, or SAM Fest, is now in its sixth year. It will feature performances by North Country musicians, science-oriented talks by faculty, students, and guest speakers, exhibits of works by local artists organized by PSC biologist Lee Ann Sporn, and a showing of A Matter of Degrees, a documentary by The Wild Center about the unexpectedly strong power of global warming. The theme of this year’s event is “The Unexpected.” » Continue Reading.
Bill McKibben to Discuss Climate Change in Plattsburgh
Last July I was fortunate enough to hear Bill McKibben speak about his latest book Radio Free Vermont at the Paul Smith’s College VIC. Though that particular talk was regarding a book of fiction, the conversation quickly turned to climate change.
As the author of numerous books on the subject (notably The End of Nature), as well as founder of the international climate change organization 350.org, McKibben’s passion as an environmentalist and educator has seemed to come through with each word. I left the event wondering how I could help my children understand. » Continue Reading.
Backyard Shiitake Mushroom Cultivation
Cornell Cooperative Extension have announced a Shiitake Mushroom Cultivation Workshop has been set for Saturday, September 29, from 10 am to 1 pm, at Paul Smith’s College VIC; 8023 State Route 30; Paul Smiths.
The workshop is designed to introduce gardeners, market growers, and woodland owners who would like to grow low-maintenance shiitake mushrooms as a home hobby or small fresh-market business venture to the principles and techniques used for successfully inoculating and cultivating delicious, healthy shiitake mushrooms on logs in outdoor environments. » Continue Reading.
Paul Smith’s College Readying 5th Annual SAM Fest
Paul Smith’s College is set to hold a day-long festival of music, art and TED-style science talks on Saturday, April 28, from 10 am to 5 pm at the Paul Smith’s College VIC.
The Science, Art, Music Festival – SAM Fest – is now in its fifth year. It will feature performances by North Country musicians, science-oriented talks by faculty, students, and guest speakers, exhibits of works by local artists organized by Paul Smith’s biologist Ann Sporn, and a showing of It’s Happening, a new documentary about the renewable energy revolution. » Continue Reading.
‘Born to Rewild’ Movie Screening at Paul Smith’s Saturday
Author John Davis is set to present a screening of his recent documentary Born to Rewild on Saturday, March 3rd from 2 to 4 pm, at the Paul Smith’s College VIC, 8023 NY-30, Paul Smiths.
Davis, who recently wrote the book Split Rock Wildway: Scouting the Adirondack Park’s Most Diverse Wildlife Corridor, has lengthy experience scouting wildlife corridors in the United States, and will be on hand to help to share in his experiences. » Continue Reading.
Paul Smith’s Sustainability and Resilience Forum
Ma’ikwe Ludwig, a TEDx speaker and longtime sustainable community activist, will lead a presentation and workshop at the Paul Smith’s College VIC on Nov. 1.
The TED-style talk, which begins at 9:30 am, will be based on Ludwig’s recently published book Together Resilient: Building Community in the Age of Climate Disruption and touch on ideas such as sustainability initiatives taken at a community level. » Continue Reading.
Great Adirondack Birding Celebration Opens at Paul Smith’s VIC
Bird watching along with National Trails Day is a perfect combination and the Paul Smith’s VIC Great Adirondack Birding Celebration (GABC) has a schedule to please everyone from the most passionate to the novice birder.
The 3-day festival of birds for bird watchers offers full day workshops from as far afield as Champlain Valley to the St. Lawrence Valley. Other events and activities are organized closer to the base camp at Paul Smith’s VIC. » Continue Reading.
Reflections on transitions, Eastern white pines, and fallen giants
“Transitions” is the title given to my featured artist exhibit at the Adirondack Artists Guild Gallery in Saranac Lake. It will be up for the month of July. I’d like to share the story behind 3 of my pieces in the show – and invite readers to come see them. As I get close to the end of my 8th decade, I find myself thinking about the changes I’ve lived through. Major changes in our world (the internet, hurricanes, insurrections) certainly happen and have positive and negative outcomes, but I find myself observing and thinking more about those changes, transitions, that occur in my own small sphere of existence.
» Continue Reading.