Author Archives: Marianne Christy

Webb/Inlet snowmobile trails to close after strong season

The Town of Webb and Inlet snowmobile trails will close on Sunday, March 31, following one of the best snowmobile seasons the area has seen in years, according to Tim Pylman, head of the Webb Snowmobile Trail Maintenance crew.

“We had a slow start, but once the snow started coming, we never stopped. We had two groomers out last night (March 27)—which is unusual for this late in the season. We have had an excellent season,” Pylman said.

Though Pylman said trail activity this week has been light, over last weekend they saw plenty of use as sledders came to the area in droves to take advantage of the good late-season conditions.

It’s been a stark contrast to the conditions of the 2011/2012 season. Pylman said his crew put the snow fences away last year on March 19 after daytime temperatures reached the 70 degree mark.

Pylman’s records of last year show that the ice was out of Bald Mountain Pond on March 25,  White Lake on March 26, and  Fourth Lake on March 30. He said the average date of ice-out on Fourth Lake is April 18.

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Former Webb Alpine Skier seeks help with school-building project

Chantelle racing in Kirkwood, CA. Photo by David Clock

Chantelle racing in Kirkwood, CA. Photo by David Clock

Former Town of Webb School alpine skier Chantelle Heroux is known around the area as an extreme skier. She has competed in national and international Big Mountain Races and freestyle skiing events in such locations as Lake Tahoe and New Zealand.

As a member of the local Polar Bear Ski Club, she is proud to call McCauley Mountain her home mountain and Old Forge her second home.

Heroux, the daughter of Maureen and Roger Heroux, also has a passion for skateboarding. Her love of the sport has inspired her to work with Bridge To Skate, a California-based 501(C)(3) public charity that uses skateboarding and play to aid in the creation of life skills, promotion of health, fostering peace and the education of cultural differences internationally.

Chantelle in Honduras

Chantelle in Honduras

Her involvement with the charitable organization has taken her to Los Laureles, a tiny community that borders Nicaragua, where she hopes to fulfill her dream of building a school.

To follow is a letter she wrote in hopes of gaining financial support of the project.

Hello,

Exhausted, I stood there. I stared at the acres of un-inhabited forests bordering the neighboring country of Nicaragua with wonder and astonishment. It is so beautiful, I can’t possibly understand how this area of the world has been forgotten.

The village has no electricity. They have no running water. They live a simple life: eating what they grow and making what they need.

As I question how I would get a single bag of cement up this monster, I tell them, “I’ll do it.” I can’t believe the words out of my mouth. Without hesitation, I clarify, “I’ll build the school.” Continue reading

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Old Forge celebrates St. Paddy’s with annual parade

paddys5Blowing snow and below freezing temperatures did not blanket the spirits of marchers and spectators at the 2013 Old Forge St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday, March 15.

In fact, the parade drew more marchers than usual as some organizations from neighboring communities joined in the fun.

New to the event were the Black River Drum Corps and Twirlers of Lowville and representatives from Herkimer County Community College, featuring the school’s mascot, The General.

Taking first place honors for best parade entry was, KISS me, I’m Irish, a take on the heavy metal rock group. Continue reading

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Webb students to stage Bye Bye Birdie musical this Friday & Saturday

Kody Earl catches a fainting Allie McCumber in a scene from Bye Bye Birdie. Photo by Wende Carr

Kody Earl catches a fainting Allie McCumber in a scene from Bye Bye Birdie. Photo by Wende Carr

After three months of practice and a final week of dress rehearsals, the Town of Webb School drama students are ready to take to the stage for their production of Bye Bye Birdie.

The play, which is under the direction of Valerie Gaudin and Ann DeFilipps, will take place in the school gym on Friday and Saturday, March 15 and 16 at 7 p.m.

Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors (62+) and $5 for students.

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Snofest: Webb departments team for this weekend’s event

Laurie Barkauskas and Nick Bankert sport Snofest shirts and tickets by this year's Snofest Raffle prize.

Laurie Barkauskas and Nick Bankert sport Snofest shirts and tickets by this year’s Snofest Raffle prize.

It’s not uncommon for departments within the Town of Webb to cross-over and pool their talents to prepare for a big event. But no event relies more on the collective efforts of personnel from almost every department than Snofest which will be held Friday and Saturday, March 8 and 9 in Old Forge.

For the last few weeks, the Department of Public Works and Highway Department crews have been hauling snow to the grounds of the George T. Hiltebrant Recreation Center, the site of Snofest, to assure there is enough snow coverage for snowmobile demos and the daredevil jumping shows—two major highlights of the event.

Windy Kelley, Laurie Barkauskas, and Sandy Booton show off this year's Snofest shirts. Photo by Dana Armington

Windy Kelley, Laurie Barkauskas, and Sandy Booton show off this year’s Snofest shirts. Photo by Dana Armington

 

The Snowmobile Trail Crew has been working hard to keep the trails maintained for the busy weekend.

Phil Martin of Big Moose Yamaha/Arctic Cat qualified their efforts after taking a few snowmobile reps out to test run some sleds on Wednesday, March 6.

“The trails are in beautiful shape. If we get the snow that’s being forecasted and the temperatures stay down, it’s going to be one of the best Snofest events to date,” he said.

The Wastewater Treatment staff has prepped and cleaned the pavilion for the indoor vendors, and of course, the Tourism Department has been busy fielding calls, selling trail permits and getting word of the event out to the public.

Snofest brings dealers from the top four snowmobile manufacturers—Arctic Cat, Polaris, Ski-Doo and Yamaha—to the area to offer a sneak peak of 2014 sleds and accessories.

Weather permitting, demo rides will be provided by all four companies.

The daredevil sledders of Tree Line Sled Style will present performances on Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at noon and 6:30 p.m. The Saturday evening performance will feature a back-flip finale under a display of fireworks.

Food and a beer garden will be available on the premises. Raffle tickets for an 11’ enclosed Blizzard snowmobile trailer can be purchased at the pavilion for $10. Only 500 will be sold.

Event t-shirts will also be available for purchase.

Doors to Snofest will be open from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Snofest 2013 is a Central Adirondack Association-sponsored event.

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Coming Friday, March 15- Old Forge St. Patrick’s Parade: Sen. Seward to be grand marshal

Chip Kiefer and Tim Foley gearing up for St. Patty's Day. Photo by Wende Carr

Chip Kiefer and Tim Foley gearing up for St. Patty’s Day. Photo by Wende Carr

The Old Forge St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the biggest parade of its kind in the Adirondacks, will be held on Friday, March 15.

Parade co-chairmen Tim Foley and Chip Kiefer are anticipating a record crowd of participants and spectators this year following the feature article on the iconic parade that appeared in the current (April) issue of Adirondack Life magazine.

The article, written by the magazine’s creative director, Betsy Folwell, is accompanied by photos of parade floats from 2012, and a full page picture of perennial marchers Old Forge resident Pat “St. Patricia” Manion and Assemblyman Marc Butler.

Assemblyman Butler will return again this year along with other local politicians including Senator Hugh Farley, who, following last year’s redistricting, now represents  this part of the Adirondacks.

Also in attendance will be Senator James Seward who will serve as this year’s parade marshal.  Continue reading

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Inlet’s ‘Cousins That Care’ honored for generosity to Newtown families

Inlet's Cousins That Care, back row, from left, Shawn Hansen, Shelby Townsend, Founder Melanie Levi, Britney Levi. Front Row, Cory hansen, Thomas Levi. Couputer in foreground waiting to Skype.

Inlet’s Cousins That Care, back row, from left, Shawn Hansen, Shelby Townsend, Founder Melanie Levi, Britney Levi. Front Row, Cory hansen, Thomas Levi. Couputer in foreground waiting to Skype.

The Cousins that Care, the seven Inlet cousins who raise money for special causes, were among eight recipients of a Charlotte Bacon Act of Kindness Award through the recently created foundation, Newtown Kindness.

The Newtown Foundation was created by Aaron Carlson whose six-year-old daughter, Ava, was close friends with Charlotte Bacon, a victim of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newtown, CT on December 14, 2012.

The cousins received the honor via a Skype presentation during the inaugural awards ceremony that took place in Newtown, CT on Friday, February 22.

Their nomination for the award was made by Charlotte Bacon’s grandparents, Dan and Lindie Bacon, who were deeply touched by the personal letter their family received at the time of the tragedy from Melanie Levi on behalf of the Cousins.

The Bacons, and all the other families who lost a loved one to the tragedy, also received a gift of $20 to be used “to do something that would make them smile.”

In a letter to the Cousins, the Bacons wrote, “As we read about your activities over these last four years, we were amazed at the incredible way you, as cousins, are reaching out to serve and help so many others. That is awesome, and what a powerful example or model for others to follow.”

For their charitable effort, the Cousins received a “pay it forward” award of $1,000 that is to be donated to the charity of their choice, and an all expense paid trip to Boston.

The Cousins that Care includes Shawn Hansen, Shelby Townsend, Founder Melanie Levi, Laura Levi, Britney Levi, Cory Hansen and Thomas Levi.

The Newtown Kindness Foundation was created for the sole purpose of encouraging kindness in children.

More information is available at www.newtownkindness.org, or on the foundation’s Facebook page.

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