Daily Archives: August 16, 2011

Fort Inlet by Mitch Lee

Growing Up Adirondack by Mitch Lee

Fort Inlet by Mitch Lee

Army of young builders constructs perfect Adirondack fort

I was about eleven years old when my friend Terry Delmarsh decided to round up all of us Inlet boys to help build a fort in the woods. The construction would take place on the Rocky Point property.

With a rusty hammer shoved in my back pocket, I rode my bike up and over Limekiln hill on a foggy August morning.

It was quite early and very quiet as I made my way through the town of Inlet.

The fog from the Fulton Chain was hanging close to the ground and I could feel the mist on my face and arms when I passed through.

Despite being jabbed in the side by the hammer’s handle I made the three-mile trip in no time.

I dropped my bike at the location of the future fort where several boys were already waiting.

A large pile of fresh-cut slab wood had been dropped near the edge of the woods for us to use in the construction.

Terry directed the building project much like the general of a small army. We were all in fabrication mode and started to erect the small fort on a knoll just inside the woods.

It was a feat of will and strength to drag the long bark-covered wood slabs up the hill.

But once we got the lumber on-site it took no time to spike the pieces of wood together in a pallisade-style.

It soon began to resemble Fort Apache—or a pile of upright-standing lumber, depending on which way you looked at it. Continue reading

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John Ozard releases adult loon on Rondaxe

Gary Lee’s Daybreak to Twilight

John Ozard releases adult loon on Rondaxe

Water habitats: Loon chicks true indicators of pollutants

A few people got some rain this week but it was very spotty. Just a few rain drops hit our windshield on our way to Old Forge Wednesday night (8/3) to band some Loons.

I saw a few along the street that night that could have been banded also. You just never know what you’re going to see in your travels.

I have seen so many unusual things that it doesn’t even phase me anymore.

The Moose at Helldiver Pond has been a no-show for most of this week. I didn’t see any tracks in the road so he must have found another pond full of lilies to eat from.

Karen and I took a trip to the Cedar River Flow last week which was abundant with vegetation.

Karen commented that the Moose could eat there all summer and still not make a dent in the plants that were growing there.

This is one of the prettiest places to take photographs. No matter which way you look you see water surrounded by mountains.

You can see the Fire Towers on Pillsbury and Wakely Mountains from the Flow.

The reeds that grow at the west end make for neat sunrise and sunset photos.

Every time I’ve been there this summer it has been picture perfect with white puffy clouds set in a deep blue sky. This makes for neat Continue reading

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Irish Storyteller performs at the Old Forge Library

Bairbre McCarthy holds the hard cover edition of her book, "The Keeper of the Crock of Gold: Irish Leprechaun Stories." The book was presented to President Obama for his children by the Irish Prime Minister on St. Patrick's Day at the White House

Library Irish Storyteller and author, Bairbre McCarthy, delighted the audience at the Old Forge Library on Tuesday evening, August 9, with Celtic folklore and mythology legends of her native country.

McCarthy who was born and raised in County Clare on the west coast of Ireland, teaches the Irish language, in addition to her storytelling presentations. She has lived in Saratoga Springs for 30 years.

She is author of the book, “The Keeper of the Crock of Gold: Irish Leprechaun Stories,” which was presented to President Obama for his children by the Irish Prime Minister at the White House on St. Patrick’s Day.

She is currently working on a young adult novel about a Celtic mythical folk hero.

 

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Opera Tenor Luigi Boccia and Heather Gallagher, Mezzo Soprano

View to present operatic performance Thursday, August 18

Opera Tenor Luigi Boccia and Heather Gallagher, Mezzo Soprano

Broadway Meets Opera will be presented at View on Thursday, August 18, at 7 p.m., featuring opera tenor, Luigi Boccia and mezzo soprano, Heather Gallagher.

They will be accompanied by pianist, Arthur McManus.

Deke Morrison of Old Forge, a member of the Board of Directors at View, was impressed by their performance in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro that was presented by Vero Beach Opera in Florida in February, and he arranged for the trio to come to the Adirondacks to perform at Gould Hall at View.

“I attended their concert, and I had the crazy idea that I might be able to get one of them to come up here to perform,” Morrison said.

At a dinner following the concert, Morrison asked one of his friends how he might be able to arrange for someone of their quality to come to Old Forge this summer. His friend said, “Just go ask them.”

“I did, and they said, yes!” Morrison said.

Opera Tenor Luigi Boccia and Heather Gallagher, Mezzo Soprano accompanied by Pianist Arthur McManus

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Willman

30th Adirondacks National Watercolor Exhibit to open Aug. 13

The 30th Annual Adirondacks National Exhi-bition of American Watercolors will be on display at View, the new arts center in Old Forge, from August 13 through October 2.

This highly competitive exhibition features the aqua media works on paper from many of the best living painters in North America.

It has been ranked one of the ten best competitive watercolor exhibitions in the country by The Artists magazine, and has received numerous endorsements and accolades.

There will be an opening reception and preview on Friday, August 12, which will be free to members and exhibiting artists. Admission is $10 for non-members. Continue reading

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The Polar Bear Ski Club has propsed the building of two yurts, similar to the one above, on the site of the current play area at McCauley Mountain

Yurts: Polar Bear Ski Club looks to add amenities to McCauley

Draft proposal presented, now awaiting town board approval

The Polar Bear Ski Club has propsed the building of two yurts, similar to the one above, on the site of the current play area at McCauley Mountain

Old Forge’s Polar Bear Ski Club would like to construct two structures at the base of McCauley Mountain to serve as shelters and warm-up areas for skiers, and to allow for ski equipment storage, said Will Hollister who gave a presentation and draft proposal to the Town of Webb Board last Tuesday. And the club would like the structures in place by this winter, which would allow McCauley to host Kandahar, a major ski event in upstate New York. That 200-skier race and similar opportunities would be boons for the local economy, particularly the motels and restaurants, Hollister said. Other Polar Bear members in attendance were Andrea Hollister and Bob DiOrio. The structures, known as “yurts,” would be circular in design and about 30 feet in diameter, and cost about $15,000 each, Hollister said. The walls would consist of 8-foot-high wood lattice. The roofing frame would consist of 2×6-inch boards that rise to about 13 feet at the yurt’s center. “They will be very decorative,” Hollister said. The entire structure would be covered with a durable vinyl membrane and insulated. The membrane material, which is thin and light-weight and manufactured by Duro-Last, is also leak-proof, fireproof and tear-resistant. “It’s bullet-proof essentially,” Hollister said. The structures would need outfitting for heat at an estimated cost of $5,150, according to Hollister, as well as water and electric. During ski season, temperatures in the yurts would be kept at 50 to 65 degrees. The structures’ foundations could be either concrete slab or wood frame, according to Hollister. Councilman Mike Ross suggested that wood may be preferred by the town, due to its ability to be moved if necessary. Hollister said a wood frame foundation would also allow simple placement of heating ducts below the floor. The cost to build one of the yurts would be incurred by the Polar Bears. The second yurt would be financed by the Mohawk Valley Ski Team, which also uses McCauley Mountain as a home base for its training and race events. Even though the yurts would be owned by the two ski clubs, they would be available for a variety of year-round uses at McCauley, Hollister said. The space they occupied at the mountain would be leased from the town, he added. Maintenance and cleaning would be the clubs’ responsibility. Additonally, the structures would have three windows and two doors and comply with New York State building requirements. Inside would be 45 cubbies, some tables and benches, and a coach’s desk, Hollister said. Town of Webb Supervisor Robert Moore said he would like some time to look carefully at the Polar Bear proposal. He said he wants to understand the town’s obligations fully, and determine the budgetary effects of such an agreement. Councilwoman Kate Russell, who has been part of a McCauley improvement committee along with Councilman Richard Risley, said the yurt project is entirely separate from her committee’s work. Her committee continues to gather ideas for improving the existing McCauley Chalet. It will be meeting this month to hopefully sketch out some plans, Russell said.

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Father Sean at St. Mary of the Snows in Otter Lake

St. Mary of the Snows to celebrate 90 years

Historic Otter Lake Church to hold special Mass this Sunday, August 14.

Father Sean at St. Mary of the Snows in Otter Lake

St. Mary of the Snows in Otter Lake will celebrate its 90th Anniversary during the 11 a.m. Mass on Sunday, August 14.

According to the Catholic Sun church bulletin, dated July 7, 1921, St. Mary of the Snows in Otter Lake was the “First Mountain Church of the Syracuse Diocese,” to be erected by summer residents. On July 16, of that year it was dedicated in a solemn ceremony.

The familiar St. Christopher statue that stands in front of St. Mary's Church

In 2007, realizing that the church was in bad need of repair after the long hard winters had taken their toll, a group of year-round and summer residents began planning for renovations.

With donations and volunteer help with restorations, and the repairs made by the Community Service Group of Mid-State Correctional Facility in Marcy, who painted the church interior, the foundation, replaced the ceiling and the belfry, the church is now beautifully restored and ready to celebrate its special Anniversary.

The St. Mary's Altar

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