Daily Archives: April 14, 2011

Charlie Hanford’s science interest led him to pharmacology

Charlie Hanford, 18, has attended the Town of Webb School since kin-der-garten, and said he is looking forward to a change of scenery after graduation.

He said he sometimes considers the opportunities that students at larger schools have afforded to them.

“You miss out on a lot here. I’m at the point now where I’ve taken all the science courses I can possibly take,” he said.

After graduation Charlie said he plans to attend Wilkes University School of Pharmacy in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

He became interested in becoming a pharmacist while exploring careers in the science fields, he said.

At one time he considered becoming a doctor, but changed his mind.

“Being a pharmacist is like being an intermediary,” he said. “You can live where you want. It pays well. It’s not hard to find a job and it’s in the science field.”

Since September Charlie has been an intern at Kinney Pharmacy one day a week to help prepare for his chosen career.

The internship was arranged by the Educational Studies Career Opportunities program at school (ESCO).

He also works part time at the Strand Theatre and at the Main Street Station.

His favorite subject at school is Biology. He also enjoys ceramics and creating clay works in Art class.

In the past he has been unable to participate in the ceramics class, because of conflicts with his schedule.

“But I stopped Band this year so I could take ceramics. I never had much free time to take it before,” he said, explaining that he had played French Horn in the school band since fifth grade.

Charlie said he lives close to school, which has worked out well for him.

“It’s good for sleeping in. I get up after everybody has already left for school,” he said with wry humor.

In his spare time he likes to read Sci/Fi and Fantasy books, and he participates in the Book Club at school when it’s active.

He also likes to listen to rock and popular music.

He is Vice Presi-dent of Key Club and Treasurer of both the National Honor Society and the Travel Club.

His outdoor activities include kayaking and hiking when it’s warm enough. Charlie said he’s not a big fan of winter. He intends to eventually settle where the climate is warmer, he said.

Charlie is the son of Chuck and Lisa Hanford and has a sister, Chelsea, who graduated from the Town of Webb School in 2007.

Share Button

Kiwanis presents fundraising awards for Annual Winter Sports Challenge

At its monthly dinner meeting on Tuesday, March 22 the Kiwanis Club of the Central Adirondacks presented awards to the winning teams and individuals of the organization’s 11th Annual Winter Sports Challenge that was held at McCauley Mountain on Saturday, February 5.

The No. 1 Fundraising Team was the Town of Webb School Key Club. Courtney Holt and Damon Kull accepted the Traveling Plaque and a Perma-nent Certificate on behalf of the club.

The No. 2 Fundraising Team was the Arts Center/Old Forge with Barbara Getty present to receive a Permanent Certificate on its behalf.

The No. 1 Fundraising Indivi-dual was Bob Dellavia who received a Permanent Certificate and $50; and the No. 1 Student Fundraiser was Andrea Frey who received a Permanent Certificate and $100.

The proceeds of the event, estimated at over $8,500, will be used to fund the continuing operations of The Kommunity Youth and Activity Center (KYAC) in Old Forge.

Anyone who was out of town when the event took place but would like to make a contribution can forward it to: Kiwanis Club of the Central Adirondacks, P.O. Box 1044, Old Forge NY 13420.

The Kiwanis Club recognizes the following Corporate Gold Sponsors:

Deerfield Acquisitions LLC, Old Forge Fire Department, ACE Hardware, Adirondack Bank, Benny’s Ice Cream, Community Bank, Dr. Joseph Rintrona, Enchanted Forest/ Water Safari, Herron Realty, Dr.’s Michael & Karen Brady, North Woods Inn.

Old Forge Hardware, Old Forge Liquors/Walt’s Diner, Rivet Realty, Steet Ponte Auto, The Connertys, The Old Mill Restau-rant, Burke’s Marina, Glasser Plumbing and Northeastern Loggers’ Association.

The Silver Sponsors were: B. J. Queen Enterprises, Big Moose Inn, Big Moose Station/Main St. Station, Billy’s Italian Restaurant, Christy’s Motel, Countryside Veterinary Clinic LLP, Dimbleby Funeral Home.

Forge Motel, George Villiere Esq., Helmer’s Fuel & Trucking, In Memory of Mike Burke, Knotty Pine Restaurant, Mark Hannah Contracting, Moore & Hart CPA.

North Street Snowmobile Parts, Peter Shannon Esq./Thor Information Service, Inc., Still-water Shop, Symeon’s Restau-rant, The Ransoms, The Tavern, The Van Slykes, Then-dara Auto-motive, Thendara Golf Club, Timm Associates, TOW Bar Inn, United Wire Technology.

The cooperation of Town of Webb Supervisor Robert Moore, Steve Uzdavinis and his staff at McCauley Mountain is greatly appreciated.

Special thanks to Central Adirondack Search and Rescue Team (CASART) for their assistance on the mountain and Karl Dodson of KD Graphics who provided the participant T-shirts.

In addition, in-kind sponsors were Nannette Shovea-Burke of Mountainman Outdoor Supply Co. and their vendor Sarah Trachy, representing MSR Snowshoes.

The Donut Shop and The Last Run Café are recognized for their support in the success of this important community event.

MSR Snowshoes, Tubbs Snowshoes, The Stillwater Shop and Mountainman Outdoor Supply, Hard Times Café, and Ozzie’s Coffee Bar contributed door prizes.

Co-Chairs Bill Ransom and Bob Teesdale expressed their sincere thanks to all participants, sponsors and volunteers that make this such an exciting community event.

Share Button

Services held for famed baton twirler Anne Skiba Urbanik, 83

Anne Marie Skiba Urbanik, 83, formerly of New York Mills and currently of Utica, passed away on Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at her residence.

She was born in Utica on March 28, 1928, the daughter of George and Mary Grzesiak Skiba, and graduated from Thomas R. Proctor High School. She also attended the Traphagen School of Draping and Design in New York City.

On December 29, 1951, she was married to Edmund Urbanik in St. Stanislaus Church, Utica, a loving union shared for more than 59 years.

Her previous employments included Kitlas Restaurant and Savage Arms, and as a switchboard operator for St. Luke’s and St. Elizabeth Hospitals.

She was also an Administra-tive Assistant at New York Mills Elementary and High School, a Proprietor of Skiba’s Religious and Gift Shop in Utica, and retired as a Library Clerk at SUNY/IT.

She was very active nationwide in baton twirling, having studied under Professor Francis A. Meyers at the Excelsior School of Music, and she was well known in the Old Forge area for organizing Twirling Exhibitions and Parades from the 1980s through the early 2000s.

She was a member of the National Baton Twirling Assoc-iation, founder of the New York State Twirling Hall of Fame and was the director of T.N.T. Twirlers for more than 60 years.

She was a Certified National Baton Twirling Judge of Distinc-tion and prepared award winning teams and Baton Twirling Corps, as well as individual State and National Champions.

She also directed County Fair, New York State Fair and International Miss Majorette and Corps competitions.

Anne was inducted into the National Baton Twirling Hall of Fame at the University of Notre Dame on July 22, 2003.

She was a member of the West Side Seniors, the Parkway Senior Center, and Walter Skiba PLAV Post #20 Ladies Auxiliary, where Anne was Past President, and the Mother Marianne Prayer Group at St. Joseph St Patrick’s Church.

Survivors left to mourn her who will miss her boundless energy, strong will, dreams, “schemes” and opinions, her infectious smile, warm welcomes and never ending love for her family, include her beloved husband, Edmund Urbanik, of Utica; her three daughters and their spouses, Renay and Richard Pence, of Wallkill, NY; Regina and Bradley Boyer, of Rochester, NY; and Alesia and George Desgrosiellier, of Marlborough, MA; her sister, Bertha and husband, Henry Jaworski, of Utica; and her brother, Robert G. Skiba, of Raquette Lake, NY.

She is also survived by her grandchildren; her lifelong friend, Anna Leach, of Marcy; her Goddaughter, Kathy Leach; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her son, Edmund W. Urbanik; son-in-law, Richard J. Bevins; and nine brothers and sisters.

Funeral services were held Saturday, April 9, at Holy Trinity Church, where a Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated.

Memorial contributions in her name can be made to Holy Trinity Church, 1206 Lincoln Ave., Utica, NY 13502.

Share Button

Consultants Wanted CAP-21 planning housing needs assessment for four local towns

The Central Adiron-dack Partnership for the 21st Century (CAP-21) is requesting proposals from qualified consultants to assist in the completion of a housing needs assessment for the local area.

The assessment is intended to identify the need and demand for workforce and affordable housing.

It will also discuss challenges and suggest strategies for establishing of such identified housing needs in the West Central Adirondacks.

CAP-21 is the administrator of this grant which is being funded through the New York State Depart-ment of State Quality Communities program.

CAP-21 has allocated $34,000 for this needs assessment which will include:

• An inventory of existing housing and identification of housing needs among the four towns in the CAP-21 subject area: Webb, Inlet, Forest-port, and Long Lake.

• An assessment of the land use plans and regulations in the identified towns as they pertain to housing.

• Recom-men-da-tions for amendments to local land use plans and regulations to encourage the development of affordable housing.

• Identification of under-utilized buildings and properties that could potentially be developed as affordable and mixed-income housing, including available town infrastructure needs (i.e. water and sewer) as related to housing sites.

• Recommen-dations for funding the development of identified buildings and properties for affordable and mixed-income housing.

• Recom-menda-tions for implementation and future actions.

The due date for applications from consultants is May 20, 2011.

Those interested in receiving more information or requesting a copy of the Request for Proposal, can contact Nicholas Rose, Grants/Program Manager for CAP-21 at (315) 369-3353 or at: nrose@cap-21.org.

CAP-21 will be providing an opportunity for community public comment on the draft housing needs assessment before the final report is issued to the four participating towns.

Share Button

8th Annual Morgan Gardner Charity Breakfast set May 1

The 8th Annual Morgan Gardner Charity Breakfast, a fundraising effort to support research for the Smith-Lemli-Opitz Research/RSH Foundation, will take place on Sunday, May 1 from 7:30 a.m. to noon at Keyes Pancake House in Old Forge.

The fundraiser is spearheaded by John and Kathy Gardner of Old Forge, grandparents of nine-year-old Morgan Gardner of Rochester who was diagnosed with Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome at 10 months of age.

Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome (SLOS) is a rare and incurable genetic illness that affects the development of children before and after birth.

Children with SLOS suffer developmental delays and in some cases, severe physical and internal malformations that are life threatening.

Unfortunately, at this time, there is limited research taking place for a cure for SLOS, but the Gardners are dedicated to raising awareness and funds that will support the much needed research to identify treatments, and ultimately a cure.

The cost of the breakfast is $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 3 to 10, with children two and under admitted free.

Raffle tickets for various prizes will be sold the day of the breakfast.

Monetary donations, which are tax deductible, are welcome and checks can be made payable to

Smith-Lemli-Opitz Foundation and sent to: P.O. Box 154, Walworth, NY 14568.

Share Button

Letter to the Editor: Citizen group to meet in Old Forge

To the Editor:

There will be a public informational meeting at the Old Forge Library on Thursday, April 21, 2011, at 7 p.m., presented by “The Concerned Citizens For a Better Herkimer County.”

The purpose of the meeting is to inform, educate and provide an avenue for more public involvement.

Topics of discussion will include the history, purpose and mission of the “Concerned Citizens For a Better Herkimer County.”

There will be an opportunity for those interested to join our organization in order to promote more open dialogue and a greater flow of information between those in the valley and North Country communities and, finally, an open discussion with residents on the Herkimer County Jail, providing another perspective to what has and has not been said on this issue.

Question and answer session will follow.

The meeting is open to all members of the public and all are encouraged to attend.

Joseph Chilelli, Chairman

Concerned Citizens For a Better Herkimer County

Share Button

Dennis Richley and Tammy Judd wed on First Lake

Dennis Richley and Tammy Judd, both of Corfu, NY and Port Leyden were united in marriage on October 2, 2010 by Justice Arthur Keynor on First Lake aboard the Old Forge Fulton Chain Tour Boat.

After the beautiful fall afternoon wedding ceremony a reception was held at the North Woods Inn Tap Room in Old Forge for 40 family and friends.

The bride is the daughter of Art and Patty Smith of Corfu and the groom is the son of Darrell and Linda Richley, also of Corfu.

Attendants were Darrell Richley and Hali Gilchrist, David Miles and Ryan Burdick. After their wedding in the Adirondacks, Dennis and Tammy returned to their Corfu home.

Share Button