Daily Archives: January 17, 2013

LETTER: Forestport Bridges press on

To the Editor:

Congratulations Forestport! We will be building the new Twin Bridges.

The Town Supervisor, last night, signed the amendment to the contract to proceed with the engineering and design work. That will allow us to get the bridges out for bid in early March.

I am very happy for our town and I hope this will end the rancor and divisions.

The new Twin Bridges will have a 15-foot, 7-inch roadway and a full 5-foot, 6-inch raised sidewalk on the falls’ side.

These new bridges will be the centerpiece of the recreational area surrounding the falls and provide much needed traffic flow through the hamlet.

The estimated price for the project is $495,000.

Thank you for your support. We will work to keep the cost down to the taxpayers.

Thank You,

Parker Snead, Forestport 

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LETTER: Railroad worthy of support

To the Editor:

As business owners and members of the community, we would like to express our support for the railroad expansion in the Adirondack Park.

On a typical summer or fall day, the Adirondack Scenic Railroad transports several hundred people to our community. Individuals who ride the train eat in area restaurants, shop in our stores and visit our many attractions.

The positive impact railroad traffic has on our business is irrefutable and it lifts me up to see our streets lined with Adirondack Scenic Railroad patrons enjoying our beautiful town!

During such difficult economic times we would be remiss not to support an initiative with a proven track record, both as an economic stimulus and a charming, unique way to travel.

There are several hundred miles of hiking and snowmobile trails throughout the Adirondack Park and only minimal railroad lines.

We would like other communities to benefit as we have from the Adirondack Railroad.

The railroad expansion is a great economic opportunity.

Respectfully yours,

Erica and Terry Murray, Old Forge Hardware

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Forestport: NY State purchases 518 acres

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens announced this week that New York state has purchased 518 acres of land in the Town of Forestport.

The acquisition will protect almost one mile of the Black River shoreline, expanding recreation and forest management opportunities on lands in this foothills area outside the Adirondack Park.

It will become the area’s newest state forest.

The state paid $385,400 for the land, owned by Dominic and Edna Carbone of Forestport, with monies from the Environmental Protection Fund.

The property will be its own named state forest, as it is not adjacent to other state forests and will remain on local property tax rolls.

The property is characterized by shady ravines with several springs that run year round, northern hardwood and coniferous forests, bogs with rare plants such as  pitcher plants, and forested wetlands.

The area is adjacent to conservation easement lands that protect the Town of Forestport water wells and will provide added protection for the Town’s water supply. Continue reading →

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Polar Bear biathletes race New Year’s Day at McCauley

by Carl Klossner, Guest Contributor 

IMG_2856It was a beautiful day at McCauley Mountain on New Year’s Day for a sprint race hosted by the Polar Bear Biathlon Ski Club. Temperatures were mild—in the high teens—and the snow that fell before and after Christmas provided for the most usable conditions we have seen in three years.

The biathlon began at 10 a.m. with all racers skiing 7.5 km and shooting twice during the race. The snow was fast and well groomed.

Of the eleven racers  kicking off their seaon at McCauley, four were from the Old Forge area.

Biathlete Maddie Phaneuf. Photos by Wende Carr

Biathlete Maddie Phaneuf. Photos by Wende Carr

Among them was Maddie Phaneuf, who had returned two days earlier from the Junior/Youth Biathlon World Team trials in Minnesota where she placed fifth.

Also competing were Lesley Leach, who had moved from the sport class to the competition class for the first time; Henry Uzdavinis who raced in the sport class; and first-time racer, Tor Ruud, an exchange student who is living with the Phaneuf family this school year.

Before I report the results, allow me to offer a refresher on the biathlon classes.

Competitors in the sport class do not carry a gun. They shoot twice at large targets in the prone position.

Those in the competition class carry their rifles, shoot at small targets in the prone position and large targets in the standing position. Continue reading →

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Danielle Gibbs named Student of Month

The Kiwanis Club of the Central Adirondacks has announced that the Student of the Month for January is Danielle Gibbs.

Danielle is the daughter of Jeff and Linda Gibbs of Old Forge and is a senior at Town of Webb Union Free School in Old Forge.

Each month from September to April the school administrators  select a Student of the Month. The student selected receives $50 and with his/her parents are invited to a Kiwanis recognition event to make a brief presentation.

In May, the Kiwanis Scholarship Committee will select a Student of the Year who will receive $500 and with his or her parents be invited to a Kiwanis recognition event for the award presentation.

The Town of Webb Police Benevolent Association (PBA) will be partnering with Central Adirondack Kiwanis in the Student of the Year award.

The selection criteria for the Kiwanis Student of the Month are community service, academics, athletic involvement, student need and extra curricular activities.

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Forestport gets grant monies for projects

by John Isley

Town of Forestport Supervisor William Hasenauer has announced that the town has been awarded several grants to assist with various town projects.

A grant in the amount of $30,000 will assist with a sewer engineering study for several areas of the township.

The study will focus on the feasibility of non-traditional sewer systems for the areas of Deer Spring Park, Otter Lake, and White Lake.

A second grant for $7,500 was awarded to the town clerk’s office for the purpose of organizing and archiving the town records room.

A third grant for $3,900 was received through the Urban Tree Program for the purpose of planting trees in the town.

Previous tree grant money was used for the enhancement project along the Black River, Hasenauer said.

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Old Forge residents to take trip aboard vintage rail car

Hickory creek round endEighteen Old Forge residents and business owners will take a step back in time on Monday, January 21 as they board the vintage Hickory Creek railroad car in Utica for a roundtrip adventure to the Rhinecliff-Kingston Amtrak Station.

Once aboard the car the passengers will be escorted to the lounge area, where they will enjoy train travel as it was in 1948, the year the Hickory Creek was built by the Pullman Standard Car Manufacturing Company.

All will relax as they are served appetizers and beverages by Pullman porters—dressed in traditional white—as they travel the famed New York Central Railroad water level route.

The manufacturing of Hickory Creek in 1948 was part of one of the largest orders by the New York Central Railroad in an effort to provide its riders with the latest up-to-date comforts and technology.

Now privately-owned, the cost to restore the car to its original appearance has exceeded $1.3 million.

Every detail of the car—from the interior paint to the carpet and chairs—has been restored to its original 1948 condition.

Continue reading →

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