Naturalist Gary Lee will lead two upcoming nature hikes to area bogs.

A hike to Ferd’s Bog will take place on Friday, June 15th. Participants are asked to meet at the corner of Uncas Road and Route 28 in Eagle Bay at 7 a.m.

Tamaracks, pitcher plants and many boreal birds can be viewed from a boardwalk floating on the bog.

The 170-acre bog was named for Ferdinand LaFrance, an avid birder who also discovered a rare woodpecker in the area.

The hike is a quick and easy 0.3 miles to the overlook.

The second hike on Sunday, June 17 will be to Remsen Bog.

Participants are asked to meet at View by 9 a.m. to carpool, or meet at the OK Corral parking lot in Remsen by 10 a.m.

The Remsen Bog is nestled in the foothills of the western Adirondack Mountains.

The short 0.1 mile hike features a rich mosaic of mature northern hardwood forest, a northern sphagnum bog, Showy Lady Slippers, Grass Pinks as well as Loesel’s Twayblad orchids.

More information on the hikes is available by calling (315) 369-6411.

Joseph Chilelli, former Democratic Herkimer County Legislator, announced his candidacy for the 118th Assembly District at a kick-off campaign party at DePalma’s Restaurant in Schuyler on Wednesday, June 6th.

Chilelli, a Herkimer resident, will challenge incumbent Republican Assemblyman Marc Butler of Newport who currently represents the 117th District. Because the lines in the districts were recently re-drawn, the 117th District has now become the 118th District.

If elected, Chilelli said he will focus on giving citizens the right to a public referendum when it comes to public projects that come with high monetary costs, which are ultimately funded by taxpayers.

He also said long-term plans should be created to help market the area and spur economic development.

Butler, who has served on the Assembly for close to 17 years, said if he is re-elected, he will continue his focus on mandate relief.

MAC’s Safe Ride will offer a two-day Defensive Driving Course on Tuesday and Thursday, June 19 and 21 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Water’s Edge Inn. The course is open to the public and upon completion participants can save 10% on their auto insurance for three years. (Check with your individual insurance carrier.)

Registration is available by calling Beth Tickner at (315) 369-2484, ext. 309. Cost of the course is $28. Anyone who has volunteered at least three times in the past year as a driver or navigator for MAC’s Safe Ride will receive reimbursement for the cost of the course through MAC’s.  Participants are asked to bring their driver’s license with them.

For the last 14 summers, CAP-21 has sponsored the Hanging Flower Basket Beautification Program along the Route 28 corridor from Forestport to Raquette Lake, including the hamlets of Big Moose and Stillwater.

The organization’s annual “Potting Party” will be held Wednesday, June 13 at 4 p.m. at the George T. Hiltebrant Recreation Center and volunteers are welcome to help transplant over 200 flowers and plants into their summer hanging baskets.

For more information, or to find out how to be a sponsor of the project, contact the CAP-21 offices at (315) 369-3353, or online at: www.cap-21.org.

by William Hasenauer Supervisor, Town of Forestport

At the June 20th Forestport town board meeting to be held at 6:30 p.m. at Woodgate Fire Hall, it is expected that several proposals to fund the construction of the replacement of the twin bridges in the hamlet of Forest-port will be presented.

Proposal One is for a permissive referendum for a one lane bridge for about $650,000 to be raised by local taxes. Continue reading →