Indian Lake Theater

The survival of small-town movie theaters is being threatened by requirements to convert from 35mm film to digital systems, something Hollywood is requiring by September 2013.

Bob Card, co-owner of the Strand Theatre in Old Forge said he has already felt the affects of the change, experiencing delays in current film availabilities due to the limited number of 35mm prints.

The switchover, which is estimated to cost $60,000 to $70,000 per screen, has already forced doors to close at a number of small, independently operated movie houses, including the Inlet and Norwich theaters.

Ben Strader and Vinnie Smith in the projection room at the Indian Lake Theater

“We’ll have to be digital by this fall if we’re going to make it,” Card said.

He said he is looking at a $300,000 cost to install digital projection for four screens at The Strand.

He has recently been promised a $25,000 Rural Area Revitali-zation Program (RARP) grant, but said he needs to spearhead a major fundraising campaign to raise the rest of the conversion costs.

The Adirondack Film Society, a not-for-profit organization in Lake Placid, is working to find funding for all small theaters within the Adirondack Park, including The Strand and Indian Lake Theater.

Bob Card at the Strand Theater concession counter

In the meantime, theater owners are figuring out creative ways to survive.

Ben Strader, president of Indian Lake Theater, Inc., a non-profit organization, has worked for the past five years to reinvent the theater as a multi-use community venue.

The theater provides opportunities for residents of the region to perform, present their work and meet for community discussions with members of such organizations as the Economic Community Development Council.

It’s a connecting place for Hamilton County and Indian Lake, according to Strader.

“We have fewer and fewer gathering places in our communities, and they’re really important for gathering, having ‘face time’ and getting out of our houses—away from our Netflix,” he said.

The Indian Lake Theater, Inc. will begin a capital campaign in February 2013, in part to cover the costs of digital conversion, according to Strader.  Continue reading →

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arents of Town of Webb School students in grades K through six are invited to a Family Math Night on Thursday, February 28, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the school.

The event offers an opportunity for parents to learn more about Everyday Math, the curriculum currently being used for these grade levels.

Participants will play math games  which are used regularly with students for practice and reinforcement of concepts.

Students will have opportunity to show off their mathematical progress and skills.

The bus circle doors will open at 6 pm.

Refreshments will be provided from 7 to 7:30 p.m.

Students must be accompanied by an adult.

The Town of Webb Junior Band rehearses with conductor Gregory Clark. Photos by Wende Carr

The Junior and Senior Bands at the Town of Webb School will present concerts on Wednesday and Thursday, February 6 and 7. The band students are under the direction of Gregory Clark.

S. Delano

The Junior Band and the stage band concerts will take place on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The Senior Band will perform Thursday at 7 p.m. with a program highlighting scores from movies and a Broadway musical, along with some classical music.

M. Mahoney

Clark said his students have been practicing hard for the performance—having just short of six weeks to learn and perfect the music following their Christmas break.

Typically, Clark said, the bands have 10 to 12 weeks to prepare for a concert.

The public is welcome to attend.

The Old Forge Fire Department, Town of Webb Police and New York State Police were called to a fatal snowmobile accident at the corner of Trail 5 and the Carter Road on Saturday, January 26 at 3:40 a.m.

Snowmobile operator Gregory J. Hauff, 44 of West Babylon, was traveling east on Carter Road at high speed when he missed the trail entrance and struck a snow embankment, causing him to go airborne into a tree.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by Herkimer County Coroner Danforth Rivet, Jr.

Local police said excessive speed and the operator’s lack of experience contributed in causing the accident.

The Kiwanis Club of the Central Adirondacks will sponsor the 13th Annual Kiwanis Winter Sports Challenge at McCauley Mountain Ski Center on Saturday, February 16.

The event is part of the Old Forge Winter Carnival and will include snowshoe and cross-country ski events.

In cooperation with Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company, there will also be a New York State-USA Sanctioned Snowshoe Race.

Kiwanis members are currently seeking Corporate Sponsors for the event. Corporate sponsorships are available at $200 Gold, $150 Silver and $100 Bronze.

All sponsors will be mentioned in event publicity. You, your organization or company can create an event team and solicit individual sponsors for your participation in a one-mile or five-mile tour of the snowshoe, cross-country ski trails at McCauley.

Registration will begin at 9 a.m. and the event will take place from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.  Continue reading →

Inlet Police Department personnel investigated a snowmobile accident that occurred on the FX Matts Trail on Friday, January 25 at 6 p.m.

According to Police Chief Andrew Kalil, Leia Gaccione, 29 of Patterson, NJ, was injured when she failed to negotiate a left-hand corner and veered off the trail, striking a rock.

Gaccione was transported to a Utica hospital by Inlet ambulance.

Town of Webb Police, and Inlet and Eagle Bay Fire Departments assisted at the scene.

On Saturday, January 26 at 1 p.m., Inlet Police responded to a snowmobile accident in the Moose River Plains Recreation Area.

According to Chief Kalil, Nicole Evans, 40, of Canastota, suffered injuries after failing to negotiate a corner. She was ejected from her snowmobile when it went off the trail and struck a tree.

Evans was treated by Inlet and Eagle Bay emergency personnel prior to being transported to a Utica hospital by a Lifenet helicopter.