Daily Archives: January 17, 2013

Town of Inlet: Zippy returning with NASCAR stars for annual snowmobile charity ride

NASCAR Champion Tony Stewart will return to the area with his teammates for the 7th Annual Zippy’s Crusade for Kids charity snowmobile event on Friday and Saturday, January 25 and 26 at The Ole Barn in Inlet.

This year’s event will feature a number of celebrities in the worlds of both racing and hunting. Sprint car driver Donny Shots and Speed Television personality Wendy Venturini, owner of the number 32 Winston Cup car, Frank Stoddard, and country music singer Bobby Kendall will also appear, as will event hosts, Scott, Greg and Nan Zipadelli.

“We are really excited to welcome back all of our NASCAR friends,” said Kathy Hansen, co-owner of The Ole Barn.

The event will begin Friday with sign-in and cocktails at the Ole Barn at 5 p.m.,  followed by a meet-and-greet autograph session at 7 p.m. Music and dancing will be provided by Bobby Kendall and Kim Fox.

“The entertainment is being stepped up a little bit this year. The rumor is that Kim Fox and Bobby Kendall have come up with their own song for the crusade that they are supposed to perform,” said event organizer Spot Ste.Marie.

Saturday’s activities will begin with a 10 a.m. brunch and an 11 a.m. line-up for the snowmobile ride. Guests will spend the afternoon snowmobiling with the celebrities.

At 5 p.m. the party heads back to the Ole Barn for a variety of raffle drawings, a silent auction and live auction.

Items up for raffle include tickets to the Bristol Speedway, compound bows, a cross bow, an Arctic Cat side-by-side Prowler valued at $14,000, and an Ez-Go Golf Cart valued at $8,000.

Another big raffle item, donated by Drop Zone TV, is a bear hunt in Brunswick which offers the winner the opportunity of being featured on an episode of the cable program.

Drop Zone TV will be returning this year and will be filming throughout the weekend.

A number of items will be auctioned off during the live and silent auctions to help raise money for the not-for-profit Zippy’s foundation.

Some of the lot items include a variety of Oakley sunglasses, an Oakley watch, an American Girl Doll package, Adirondack-made furniture, NASCAR fire suits and helmets—some autographed, and sheets of metal from race cars autographed by NASCAR drivers.

Ste. Marie said this year’s ticket sales are slightly over what they were at this time last year, and he expects the event to be a sell-out.

“Now we just need the weather to cooperate a little bit more and give us a little bit more snow,” he said.

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New York Times: Adirondacks listed among top global destinations for 2013

The Adirondack region was listed as number 21 on a list of “The 46 Places to Go in 2013” in a recent article published in the New York Times.

In the article published on January 11, the Adirondacks was listed among only seven destinations highlighted in the United States.

The Adirondacks was in the company of U.S. locations: Houston, TX (7); the White Salmon River in Washington state (13); the Big Island in Hawaii (16); Puerto Rico (29); Jackson Hole, WY (32); and Washington, DC (44).

Rio de Janeiro topped the entire list of desirable destinations world-wide.

The section of text on the Adirondacks was written by frequent New York Times contributor Lionel Beehner who stated:

“This pocket of upstate New York wilderness is increasingly drawing a downstate crowd. Backwoods New York is about to get more glam.”

He cited locations such as Camp Orenda, a luxury “glamping” (glamorous-camping) site that opened last year in Johnsburg, a quick drive from North Creek and the Gore Mountain Ski Area.

Beehner also mentioned the Saratoga and North Creek Railway as a means of traveling to the region.

“To get there, hop on one of the vintage trains that recently began running between Saratoga Springs and North Creek, which include fresh-to-order dining in domed rail cars,” he wrote.

The article, in its entirety, can be found online on The New York Times website.

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Michael Beck named PGA Golf Pro at Vesper Hills in Tully

PGA Pro Mike Beck

PGA Pro Mike Beck

Michael Beck, assistant golf pro at Thendara Golf Club, has been selected as the new PGA golf pro at Vesper Hills Golf Course in Tully, NY.

Beck joined Golf Pro Rich Chapman at the Thendara club in April of 2008. That same year he started his PGA training program.

He completed the program in 44 months, logging over 800 hours of class time and taking exams at the end of each of three levels of training.

Subjects covered in the PGA curriculum included everything from Food and Beverage Control to Golf Course Maintenance, according to Beck.

He also took an elective in Golf Course Design and the necessary business courses to help prepare him for pro shop management.

Michael Beck

Michael Beck

Beck has been Chap-man’s assistant for the past five years, serving as a PGA pre-apprentice for the first year, and as a full apprentice for the past four.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor and employer than Rich,” Beck said.

Beck is now a Class A PGA Professional (Golf Pro). Like all PGA pros, he will be required to participate in continuing education to retain his credentials.

Beck said his father, Dave introduced him to golf at a young age. He began taking lessons from Inlet Golf Pro Roland Christy at the age of five.

Though Beck said he wanted to start at a younger age, Christy had set a minimum age of five, taking into consideration the retention and attention spans of young students.

“I was hooked from the age of five,” Beck said.

As golf pro at Vesper Hills, Beck will own and operate the golf shop, give lessons and run tournaments and clinics. Continue reading →

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Town of Forestport moving forward with Twin Bridges project

by John Isley, Guest Contributor

Town of Forestport Supervisor William Hasenauer has signed a second contract with the Zangrilli Engineering Firm of Whitesboro to design two one-lane bridges on River Road in Forestport.

The contract was signed during the Wednesday, January 16 town board meeting, following review by Syracuse attorney Anthony Hanley.

In October 2012, Hasenauer had signed with Zangrilli Engineering, a contract for designs of a 17-foot wide bridge.

In November, Zangrilli Engineering presented to the town plans for a 15-foot, seven-inch wide bridge.

On December 19, the Forestport Town Board, by a 3 to 2 vote, agreed to accept the smaller bridge.

Supervisor Hasenauer refused to sign the smaller version contract until his attorney was able to answer a number of questions, including the town’s liability of a breach of contract.

Hanley presented the board and those residents in attendance with a prepared statement, stating that Mr. Hasenauer has always—in his 56 years of public service—followed the rule of law.

Mr. Hanley stated that there are no State of New York statutes requiring a one-lane bridge be less that sixteen feet.

That information had been proclaimed by Zangrilli Engineering. A larger bridge would make plowing easier and handle larger commercial vehicles. But, since the board was acceptable to a smaller bridge, he gave Mr. Hasenauer the contract to sign.

Councilpersons Robert Seager, William Karn and Joanne Kwasniewski had obtained the Utica law firm of Murnane Rossi to start Article 78 legal proceedings against Hasenauer.

By the review of the entire situation to date by Hanley, and the signing of the smaller bridge contract, the council members’ action is null and void, Hasenauer said.

If and when Zingrilli Engineering presents completed specifications and drawings, the bridge will then have to be advertised to contractors.

Bonding monies of up to $650,000 must also be obtained and State Department of Transportation approval be given before construction can start, according to Hasenauer.

The voters of Forestport approved the bonding of up to $650,000 on September 18, 2012.

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Toddler story time begins

Winter Toddler Story Time will begin at the Old Forge Library on Friday, February 1.

The six-session program will be held on Fridays through March 8 from 10 to 10:30 a.m.  and is open to toddlers ages one and two and a parent or caregiver.

During the program, led by Sara Alves, children will listen to stories, enjoy puppets, learn finger plays and have some toy time.

Interested participants can register by calling the library at (315) 369-6008 by January 31.

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Winter story hour to start

Winter Story Hour for pre-schoolers will begin at the Old Forge Library on Friday, February 1.

The program is open to children ages 3, 4, and 5-plus years old and will be held on Fridays through March 8 from 11 a.m. to noon.

During the program, Library Director Isabella Worthen, and Karen and Bella Beck will lead stories and play. Parents are asked to provide a group snack or drink for one session.

Registration is required by calling (315) 369-6008 by January 31.

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McCauley Mountain gets Skiing Magazine shout-out

Mike Hameline, a member of the McCauley Mountain Ski Patrol, was quoted in an article in the January 2013 issue of Skiing Magazine, giving accolades to McCauley for its challenging—and affordable—attributes as a ski area.

In the article, “Cheap Eastern Gnar,” which offers tips from skiers, Hameline was quoted by writer Chris Thompson as saying, “McCauley Mountain in northern New York has some of the East’s best tree and bump skiing. And $12 lift tickets on Fridays.”

Hameline was interviewed by Thompson last year while on a ski trip to Park City, UT.

Hameline, a resident of New Hartford and Sylvan Beach, has been a member of the McCauley Ski Patrol for four years.

He is a third generation ski patroller, following in the footsteps of his grandfather who formerly served on the McCauley Ski Patrol, and his parents who are current members.

The McCauley Mountain Ski Patrol is one of the oldest in the National Ski Patrol System.

It was first registered in 1938, the year the NSPS was formed.

It was listed in the first manual in 1941 with Ed Risley, Jr. as Patrol Leader.

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