photo by Dana Armington

Zachary Wiskow, with help of his baseball coach Jason Perkins and team mates, held a fundraising car wash at Old Forge Fire Department on Thursday, Aug. 2 in support of his September trip to Belarus as part of the 2012 Young Rescuers USA team.

Wiskow is the son of Karen Tille Wiskow of Matthews, NC and grandson of Major (ret.) Jim Tille and Marie and Bob Shue of Old Forge. He is one of seven young people selected for the Young Rescuers team who needs to raise $1,500 for the trip.

Young Rescuers USA is part of the non-profit organization, Make it Happen, which was co-founded by David Tille, formerly of Old Forge and Ambassador (ret.) George Bruno.

Anyone interested in helping Zachary out can direct donations in his name to: Make it Happen, C/O David Tille, President, Young Rescuers USA, 15 Stark St., Manchester, NH 03101.

St. Williams on Long Point at Raquette Lake, an historic and architecturally unique church, was built in 1890 by Adirondack developer William West Durant to attract wealthy urbanites to purchase summer residences away from the noise and crowding of the cities.

According to Bea Garvin, a charter member of St. Williams on Long Point, Inc, the church was also constructed for the workmen who were building Durant’s Great Camps that included Camp Kill Kare and Pine Knot.

A photo of St. Williams Church’s original dedication

He commissioned the J. C. Cady Architectural Firm in New York City to design it, she said.

“He had established a town on the north shore of a point of land called Long Point, and he named it Durant,” Garvin said.

It included a store and the church, which Durant deeded to the Catholic Church, she said, adding that church was administered by Franciscan Friars who used it as a summer retreat. “It sits on the back side of a piece of ground where Durant built Pine Knot, his earliest Great Camp,” she said.

The waterways were the only means of travel at that time, but with the arrival of a railroad spur from New York City to what is now Raquette Lake, the land locked point called Durant declined and eventually became known as St. Williams on Long Point.

Garvin said that in 1990, her late husband Anthony Garvin and Brother Edward Falsey, a Franciscan Friar and director of St. Williams, were concerned about the deteriorating condition of the historic church which was celebrating its 100th anniversary that year.

A special Mass celebrating the Centennial had to be held at St. William’s Chapel at Raquette Lake, because the foundation of the church on the Point was not safe enough to accommodate a congregation.

Winter ice had also torn the logs loose under the dock, making it unsafe.

“My husband noticed that the church was going to literally fall into the ground. It had never been restored,” Garvin said.

Garvin herself became involved in the church’s restoration plans following her husband’s death in 1992.

“We started the Pier Fund in 1992-93,” she said. “I went out and raised money, along with others, to fix the piers under the church foundation.” Continue reading →

The Town of Webb Historical Association’s annual Victorican Tea will be held at the Thendara Town Hall on Wednesday, August 12 at 12:30 p.m.

The event will include a wide selection of sweet and savory treats, tea by the pot, and interactive performances by three area actors.

Karen Lee, Kelly Hamlin, and Connie Milligan will go table-totable and visit with guests as they portray tea-totaling characters from the past.

Representing the American colonies, Lee will portray “Annie” who will tell the story of the “dumping of the tea” at Boston Harbor. Continue reading →

The Benefits of Aging

Worried about getting old? Don’t be. It does have its benefits…

Old is when you reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it.

Old is when everything either dries up or leaks.

Old is not knowing how you got over the hill without getting to the top.

Old is when you realize it’s a nice change from being young.

Old is when your wife says, “lets go upstairs and make love” and you reply, “pick one- I can’t do both”.

Old is when a sexy woman walks by and your pacemaker opens the garage door.

Old is when going braless pulls all the wrinkles out of your face.

Old is when you don’t care where your spouse goes, as long as you don’t have to go along.

Old is when “getting a little action” means you don’t need to take any fiber today.

Old is when you’re told to slow down by your doctor-not the police.

And finally, Old is when you are not sure that these are jokes!!

“Old” Vinnie Dolan, Thendara

St. Pio’s Mission would like to thank the person or persons that left the gorgeous altar frontals, vestments, etc. at the chapel on July 26. They are truly beautiful and will be used in gratitude for the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

We would like the person or persons who donated these items to make themselves known so that we can properly thank them.

In any event, a Mass will be said in their honor.

Thank you so much.

The Most Rev. Richard Euler, D.D. St. Pio’s Mission, Thendara

by Carl Klossner 

McCauley Mountain was the site of two Biathlon events on Saturday and Sunday, June 9 and 10th.

On Saturday, a select group of junior biathlon skiers attended a Biathlon Clinic conducted by former Olympic Biathlon Coach, Art Stegen and Coach Sean Halligan, former National Guard Biathlete.

The day was spent learning basic biathlon skills as well as racing and shooting techniques.

The day ended with a short set of relay races where the participants practiced shooting form with running.

On Sunday, June 10, thirteen racers tested their skills in biathlon in a 5 km race. There were two main race categories: Competition Class and Sport Class.

The Competition Class included individuals who have experienced biathlon in previous competitions and were proficient in prone and standing shooting.

The classes in this category go from Youth to Grand Master, and include male and female participants.

The Sports Class is open to individuals who are new to the sport.

The race results were as follows: Continue reading →