Daily Archives: March 8, 2012

Snofest: Stunt performances among weekend’s events

It’s exhibitions, demonstration riding and more as major snowmobile manufacturers return to Old Forge

Tree Line Sled Style stunt riders, from left, Matt Hawkins, Jesse Mastine and Brad Burbine, with Phil Martin, owner of Big Moose Yamaha in Eagle Bay. The snowmobile stunt team stopped at Phil's sled dealership on their wat to Old Forge for this weekend's Snofest, which is being held at the George T. Hiltebrandt Recreation Center on North Street. Photo by Dana Armington

Fresh from the X-Games, freestyle daredevil sledders of Tree Line Sled Style will return to the George T. Hiltebrant Recreation Center to provide performances at this weekend’s annual Snofest event.

Performances are scheduled for Saturday at noon, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., with the 7 p.m. show featuring a back-flip finale under a display of fireworks. A Sunday performance at noon is also scheduled.

Jessie Mestine, manager of the performance group, said because of the lack of snow throughout the northeast this winter, the Old Forge venue will offer their first opportunity to actually perform on snow.

“All season we’ve been running on wood chips and mud—a little bit of everything but snow. So the shows this weekend will be even more exciting. Plus, we have added new contests and a few other surprises,” Mestine said.

Young fans will have the opportunity to get autographs and pictures of the performers at two separate “Meet & Greet” sessions on Friday, March 9. Continue reading →

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View celebrates first anniversary, opening paper-themed exhibit

Helping to hang works at View for the center's Paper Anniversary Exhibit, scheduled to open on Saturday, Match 10, are Margo Boylan (left), Elise Carlson, Jody Pritchard and Linda Weal. Photo by Carol Hansen.

It has been a year since View, the new arts center in Old Forge, opened its doors, and according to Executive Director Jennifer Potter Hayes, she and the staff have seen significant increases in attendance for all of the center’s workshops, exhibits and programs.

Potter-Hayes said workshop participation went up 35 percent, exhibition admissions were up by 41 percent, and that 1,300 people enjoyed performances at Gould Hall in the past year.

“Almost everything we have offered was close to being sold out. It’s been a terrific year by all measures. It’s thrilling. We’ve grown into the space (of the new building) and we are using every square inch of it,” she said.

View staff is preparing the opening of its latest exhibit on Saturday, March 10. Rock Paper Scissors, a paper-themed exhibit, celebrates View’s first anniversary. Continue reading →

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DEC seeks public remarks on proposed changes to fishing regulations

The New York State DEC is currently accepting public comment regarding a series of proposed changes to freshwater sport fishing regulations—some of which would effect local waters.

Among the proposed changes include the opening of Blue Mountain Lake, Eagle Lake, Forked Lake, Gilman Lake, South Pond and Utowana Lake—all located in Hamilton County—to ice fishing for landlocked salmon and reducing the daily limit for lake trout from three to two per day.

Combined with an existing regulation, this change will create a suite of nine lakes in the county that will have the same ice fishing regulations for lake trout and landlocked salmon. Continue reading →

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Webb School: Rehearsals continue for March 16 & 17 stage musical

Front row, from left, Melissa Murphy, (Joey Estavaine in second row), Andrea Frey, Caitlin Bailey, (with Colin Criss in second row) and Lexie Haehl. Photo by Carol Hansen

Rehearsals continue every evening for student actors taking part in the Town of Webb School Drama Department’s production of Anything Goes.

The play is set aboard an American ocean liner where nightclub singer Reno Sweeney (Andrea Frey) is on route from New York to England.

The musical score by Cole Porter includes the popular songs, It’s De-Lovely, I Get A Kick Out Of You, and Friendship.

The play is under the direction of Anne DeFilipps with musical accompaniment  by the Vocal Music Director, Valerie Gaudin.

Anything Goes is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, March 16 and 17, at 7 p.m. at the high school gymnasium.

Tickets are $7 for adults, $6 for seniors ages 62 and over, and $5 for students.

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Herkimer County HealthNet recognizes Town of Webb School District, CAP-21

Pictured from left are Adam Hutchinson, Director Herkimer County HealthNet; two representatives from Owen D. Young School District; Rex Germer, Superintendent of Schools, Town of Webb UFSD; and Nick Rose, executive director of CAP-21.

The Town of Webb Union Free School District and CAP-21 were recognized for their work by the Creating Healthy Places Program and Herkimer County HealthNet at an awards ceremony on Friday, March 2 at Francesca’s Banquets & Catering of Ilion.

Rex Germer, Superintendent of Town of Webb UFSD, accepted the award for the Healthy Kids & Community: Education & Recreation Trail initiative that is improving the McCauley trail system and adding educational and exercise components to the trail system.

The trail was first developed through the efforts of the West Adirondacks Recreational Development Association (WARDA). Continue reading →

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Old Forge readies St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Chip Kiefer, left, and Tim Foley with the ceremonial St. Paddy's Day Crutch..

The McNally sisters, parade marshals for the 2011 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Old Forge, will “pass the crutch” to this year’s marshals, The Kellys of the Central Adirondacks, at a ceremony to be held in the parking lot of Souvenir Village at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, March 9.

The significance of the crutch passing comes from a legendary tale as told to parade co-chairman Tim Foley by his late grandfather Patrick Foley.

“When my grandfather was a young area lumberjack, the crutch was passed on to other lumberjacks when they got hurt on the job. According to the legend, those who used the crutch healed quickly from their injuries, so it was thought to bring good luck,” Foley said.

The public is invited to attend the ceremony. Continue reading →

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Sponsors sought for local Community Pride Day

Community Pride Day, the annual clean-up day that involves the communities of Thendara, Old Forge, Eagle Bay, Big Moose, Inlet, Raquette Lake, Blue Mountain Lake, Long Lake, and Indian Lake, is scheduled for Wednesday, May 2.

All volunteers will receive a free t-shirt and a free lunch for helping to clean up their communities prior to the busy summer season.

Organizers are currently seeking sponsor support of the effort. Continue reading →

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