Frank Logalbo of Jacksonville, FL, the National Service Director for the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) and Mike Kiser of Seattle, WA, Senior Benefits Liaison for WWP, were welcomed to Old Forge on Tuesday, June 26 at the American Legion Post #893.

They were in town to meet with 12 other members of the National Committee from around the country for a training session.

The meeting was originally scheduled to be held at Fort Drum, where they planned to meet with soldiers on the base, “but they just got back from deployment and their Commander gave them leave, so we came directly here to Old Forge,” said Logalbo.

Logalbo, a former Navy Corpsman who grew up in the Utica area, has been involved with the Veterans Benefits program and the Wounded Warrior Project for 18 years.

“We make a difference every day and each of the Warriors and veterans can be helped through our Benefits Claims Assistance. Right now with mental health issues, there’s a huge number of Warriors with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after serving in combat,” he said.

“We have a Combat Recovery Team that reaches out to warriors to make sure they’re insured and they’re successful with our Project Odyssey,” he added.

Project Odyssey is a program guided by trained staff that helps Wounded Warriors adjust to life back home and to come to terms with their most extreme military experiences—to make the transition from the battlefield to civilian life.

The program logo, Logalbo said, illustrates one Warrior carrying another Warrior “through each of their challenges to become well adjusted, so they can put the pieces of their lives back together and become successful.”

Kiser said of Logalbo, “This guy is the leader of a great team and we have taken what he’s said to heart—to honor and empower America’s newest heroes and to utilize many different programs to make that happen.”

Logalbo and his team were invited as special guests to the Legion’s Scholarship Dinner held at the post on Thursday, June 28th.

Last summer the number of bear sitings in the area was down, but hungry bears are on the prowl again in the village of Old Forge and surrounding area, which prompted a Monday, June 22 meeting between Town of Webb Police Chief John Russell, DEC Wildlife Biologist Steve Heerkens, DEC Police Officer Russell Ritzel and Town of Webb Supervisor Ted Riehle.

Heerkens’ message is to get the community more involved in the problem.

He wants residents and visitors to be more aware of the importance of putting garbage in secure containers and not feed the bears or the deer.

Chief Russell identified bird feeders and hummingbird feeders as contributing to the overall problem, along with garbage that’s put out the night before a scheduled pickup, or unsecured commercial dumpsters.

“These practices draw bears into the village,” Russell said.

One of the biggest concerns of Ritzel and Heerkens is with break-in bears and home entries.

Ritzel, described the recent euthanization of a nuisance bear in Eagle Bay that was entering camps and causing damage.

After its third ransacking episode, the bear was put down. Bear scat in the area showed signs of cracked corn.

Ritzel told of another situation where a 185 lb. nuisance bear at the Old Forge Camping Resort was trapped, tagged and released in a far away location in 2008.

Two years later the bear returned—weighing 350 lbs.—to terrorize the campground once again. The bear ultimately was trapped and euthanized.

Reportedly, that bear was being fed by campers, Ritzel said, which offers further validation of the DEC’s message, A Fed Bear is a Dead Bear.

At his own expense, Ritzel had both bears mounted and uses them as educational tools when he does programs at campgrounds and area children’s camps.

Ritzel also warned people not to keep food in their cars.

“We had a bear at Bald Mountain that ate the dashboard of a car to get to the peanut butter crackers in the glove box,” he said.

The “Fed Bear/Deer is a Dead Bear/Deer” campaign enacted a couple years ago seemed to be effective, but according to Heerkens, the message needs to be out there again, especially to the visitors who often stop by the side of the road to feed the deer, or throw food to a bear.

This type of practice can result in a fine.

“You may get a ticket if you are handfeedng wildlife and face up to $250 fine or 15 days in jail,” Ritzel said.

To report a violator or a problem bear call 1-877-457-5680. All calls are kept confidential.  Everyone is strongly urged NOT to put their garbage out the night before garbage pickup.

For anyone wishing to deposit their garbage at the Transfer Station, it is open six days a week, closed Wednesdays.

Summer boating traffic on the Fulton Chain is good reason to make sure you have the safety training New York State recommends for all boat operators.

The certificate is required for operators ages 10 to 17 operating solo and mandatory for all PWC operators regardless of age.

Many insurance companies offer discounts with proof of certificate.

The eight-hour course class will be held at Smith Marine on Route 28 in Old Forge on Thursday and Friday, July 5 and 6 from 8 a.m. to noon both days.

The course will be taught by Neil Satterly who holds training certifications from New York State Parks & Recreation, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the National Association of Safe Boating Law Administrators.

Satterly is also the Youth Program coordinator for the Adirondack Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society.

The Adirondack Chapter Youth Program operates the Adiron-Duck, a small Chris-Craft racing pram which provides free rides to youth at the annual Antique Boat Show in Old Forge. This year’s show is Saturday, July 14th.

The course is open to youths ages 10 and up and adults.

There is no cost to attend but advance registration is required. Registrations will be accepted up to July 3 or until the class fills up.

Class size is limited so early registration is recommended by calling (518) 461-1966.

The Town of Webb Recreation Department has been selected by the Herkimer County HealthNet Wellness Committee to receive a Creating Healthy Places grant for playground equipment.

Through the community grant writing assistance of CAP-21, the Town of Webb will receive $9,903 in direct assistance as well as 100 square yards of playground surface material valued at $2,500, for a total value of $12,403.

This grant is intended to establish a playground at the municipal beach, as well as to assist in planned improvements at the North Street playground.

The beach playground is consistent with planning conducted as part of a NYS Department of State local waterfront revitalization project (LWRP) that CAP-21 and the Town of Webb have been working on for developing a waterfront revitalization master plan that could lead to future waterfront improvements.

The 2011 reconstruction of the first municipal navigation dock was a first step in this process.

In recognition of the Town’s historical connection with the Fulton Chain, the planned playground is intended to reinforce a waterfront/nautical play theme.

The Webb Recreation Department is still open to ideas and suggestions for the playground, so comments may be forwarded to Holly Armendola, TOW Recreation Director, at towrecreation@hotmail.com or by calling (315) 369-9925.

To Forestport Tax Payers:

A number of tax payers have asked what the tax impact would be to them if the $650,000 resolution goes forward, and we obtain bonding for construction of a one lane bridge.

This is to provide people with approximate figures on what the magnitude of tax increase to you, as tax payers would be if this bridge resolution goes forward.

The figures are only preliminary figures based on discussions with a financial organization that issues bonds.

The figures are based on a 20 year bond schedule. A short term 1-year 2% bond note would be issued for the first year, and this note would be converted to 4.00% bond note for the remaining years.

The tax increase the first year would be 13 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, or $13 on a $100,000 assessed property.

The average yearly tax increase for the remaining years would be 18 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, or $18 on a $100,000 assessed property.

Bill Karn, Forestport Resident

An AARP Driving Course will be held Tuesday and Wednes-day, July 10 and 11 at Niccolls Memorial Church on Crosby Blvd. in Old Forge.

The course will be held both days from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

The cost of the course is $17 for AARP members and $19 for non-members.

Registration is available by calling Bob Seager at (315) 392-3808.

Summer’s here… so much to do! Hey this is Rosy RoX, the girl around town, in the know and here to answer your questions.

So, bring them on, along with your problems, at:
rosyrox.adk@gmail.com.

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Rosy’s Random Review: Summer is HERE! For me, that means freedom, Water Safari, and ice cream!

A good place to go to in the summer is Calypso’s Cove, right next to Water Safari. They have pizza, ice cream, an arcade, go-karts, bumper boats, a climbing wall, batting cages, and more.

There are tons of things to do for the whole family. They even have kiddie go-karts for the little ones. I love to go to Water Safari and then go on the go-karts at Calypso’s right after.

It’s one of my favorite summer time places, and I suggest you give it a try.

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Dear Rosy RoX,

My parents are thinking about moving, but I’m not a big fan of the idea. What can I do to stop them?

Hopeless in the Forge

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Dear Hopeless,

There might be a good reason your family is moving. Maybe it’s for a better job or maybe they feel there are more opportunities elsewhere.

Ask your parents. It’s highly unlikely that they’re moving simply because they feel bored. Then tell them you don’t want to move.

Don’t make a big fight out of it—listen to their side of the story. Sometimes having to move is a situation that just can’t be helped. Make sure you let your parents know what you want and what your feelings are regarding the move. They may try a bit harder to find a way to stay instead. Good luck!

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Send questions and comments to…rosyrox.adk@gmail.com