Daily Archives: January 5, 2012

Town of Webb: Clerk administers oath to new-term office holders; board organizes for the ’12 session

Supervisor Riehle presided over his first Town of Webb Board meeting on Tuesday, January 3, 2012. Photos by Jay Lawson

At the organizational Meeting held Tuesday, January 3, the Town of Webb Board welcomed and swore in the town’s new Supervisor, Ted Riehle, returning council member J.B. Herron, and Mary Brophy-Moore who will be serving her first term on the town board.

Nanci Russell, Casey Crofut, and Kelly Hunkins were also sworn into their re-elected positions as Town Clerk, Highway Superintendent and Tax Collector, respectively.

Town Clerk Nanci Russell swears in Theodore Riehle, Jr., the Town of Webb's new supervisor

Jack Graham was sworn in as Webb’s new Town Justice. Following the swearing in, a resolution was made and passed by the board regarding the meeting times for 2012, which will remain the same as in 2011, the second Tuesday of the month.

It was also resolved that the Old Forge branch of Community Bank and Adirondack Bank be designated as the official depositories for the Town of Webb. Continue reading →

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One Step Closer: Webb School Board introduces superintendent finalists, holds public interviews

The community interviews of  the three candidates for the Town of Webb UFSD Superintendent position were conducted Wednesday evening, January 4, in the vocal music room at the school.

The interviews were conducted as an hour-long question and answer period between community members and each candidate.

Approximately 30 people were in attendance.

Marc Czadzeck, who is currently the Building Principal for grades pre-kindergarten through twelve at the St. Regis Falls Central School, was the first to be interviewed.

The second candidate was Francine Shea of Middleport, who has previously held a Superintendent position in the Beaver River Central School District.

Town of Webb School Principal Rex Germer was the final candidate to take questions from the audience.

All three candidates showed a genuine compassion for education and for the students they are responsible for, and shared similar views on such subjects as distance learning. Continue reading →

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Three Superintendent candidates meet with student group for Q&A

by Colin Criss Weekly Student Correspondent

The Town of Webb School District is currently in the process of choosing a new Superintendent following the retirement of Don Gooley on January 31; and though the decision rests solely with the Board of Education, it has asked for help from the community as well as the student body in determining the next appointee.

This request gave about a dozen students, including myself, the opportunity to interview the Superintendent candidates On Wednesday, January 4.

The format for the interviews was simple: one candidate at a time facing the intimidating panel for 45 minutes.

The students asked them about specific plans for the future and how they would address a variety of hypothetical problems.

The student panel did a fine job posing questions that were thoughtful and appropriate.

A large concern in our group was the lack of growth in enrollment and the possibility that certain classes stood to be eliminated.

The student panel indicated they would like the eventual superintendent to give a focus to minimizing any damage that might result from downsizing the course strucbusinessture.

The students hope the eventual appointee will also bring ideas for bettering the availability of elective and advanced courses.

All three candidates conveyed a strong desire to work toward solutions in a fiscally feasible way, depending on the available budget.

Another issue brought up by the team of interviewers was a need to have someone in charge who was well connected to our community, as well as the student activities, clubs, and sports.

All the candidates concurred, and their participation in this student interview showed an understanding of the role of school superintendent in our community.

The candidates indicated they would work closely with the students to solve issues around the school.

It was the consensus of the student panel that the woman and two gentlemen interviewed were each enthusiastic, focused, and dedicated to serving in the position.

They all seemed quite skilled and capable, which means the board of education will have a difficult decision ahead. But given the quality of these candidates, it’s clear that our next superintendent will likely be a very good one.

I wish the eventual appointee all the best, and look forward to getting to know him or her along with the rest of our community.

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Central Adirondack Association planning for 2012: Annual meeting set January 18

Formed in the 1920’s, the Central Adirondack Association (CAA) has a long history of bringing area businesses together.

The organization was formed after a small group of area business owners recognized a common interest between them—the need for a hard surface road between Eagle Bay and Old Forge.

Becoming an official organization in 1929, the CAA, per its website, has continued to ascribe to the philosophy that while vacationers will come to the area naturally and will like it as it is, there will be others who will need to be tempted.

Utilizing that philosophy the current CAA—which now includes  the area from Forestport to Long Lake—hosts, sponsors, and partners with many events in the region each year. Continue reading →

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Local representatives weigh in on Governor’s State of State Address

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo outlined his agenda for 2012 during his second State of the State Address on Wednesday, January 4, and vowed to continue building a “new New York” by growing the economy, reinventing the State Government, and advancing New York as a progressive leader.

“Our challenge for 2012 is this: How does government spur job creation in a down economy while limiting spending and maintaining fiscal discipline? The answer is forging public-private partnerships that leverage state resources to generate billions of dollars in economic growth and create thousands of jobs,” Cuomo said.

Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward (R,I-Willsboro) said following the speech that even though she had seen some progress made since the last legislative session, there were many issues, including mandate relief, lower tax spending, and job creation, that need to be addressed to assist the state in its recovery. Continue reading →

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School board invites public for Pre-K talk

The Town of Webb School Board of Education encourages the public to attend its next meeting on Tuesday, January 17 at 6:30 p.m. as it will be gathering comments from the community regarding a Pre- Kindergarten program.

All are invited to share their comments and ideas with the board.

The meeting will be held in the school library.

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Cool Enclosure: Customers chill out in Tony Harper ice-house

Pictured are some stages of the ice house construction at Tony Harper's in Old Forge, from chainsawing the ice blocks (Dave Schneesberger), to shaping them from the inside (Chris Murphy). In the middle photo is Lisa Murphy, owner of Tony Harper's Pizza and Clam Shack. Photos by Carol Hansen

In an effort to extend her customers’ enjoyment of the outside bar at Tony Harper’s Pizza and Clam Shack on Main Street, Old Forge, owner Lisa Murphy suggested to her husband Don that they enclose the area in ice and keep it open for snowmobilers. 

Don, owner of D.E. Murphy Constructors, Inc., builder of Tony Harper’s and designer of its iconic tower, accepted the challenge and immediately began research on ways to construct the ice house. 

Once he came up with a plan, he contracted with Gary Evans of Clayville Ice, a Utica-area company that has a long history of building coolers and delivering ice to the Adirondacks, to make and deliver over 1,500 pounds of blocked ice.

Then, a large cast of characters joined in the construction process. Jim Dillon and Lance Pierson of Raquette Lake Supply, who are instrumental in keeping the Raquette Lake ice harvesting tradition alive, lended their tools and ice cutting expertise. Continue reading →

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