Batmobile piloted by Joesph Townsend and Melissa Hoffman

Weather conditions were perfect for a day of outdoor fun on Saturday, February 23 at Inlet’s annual Frozen Fire and Lights event. Among the highlights of the winter fest was the Cardboard Sled Races at Fern Park which attracted a field of 24 racers. The event, drew a crowd of close to 400 spectators.

Young racers plow through the snow

The competition was organized into three categories: Class I – Ages 6 and under; Class II – Ages 7 to 12; and Class III – Ages 13 and up.

The fastest sled in each class was awarded a certificate and prize. Winners in each class were: Class I – G’s Pontoon, piloted by Genevieve VanWie; Class II – Bradley’s Ford F150 piloted by Bradley Foster of Victor; and Class III – Hard Times Express, piloted by Mackenzie, Dylan and Raigan Laporte

The Best in Show Award was given to Hard Times Express, a train with smoke billowing from its smokestack.

Race contestants ready their sleds for launch at Inlet’s Fern Park.

Best Construction was earned by Red Racer a sleek race car piloted by Ben Evans of Big Moose. Most Original honors were earned by the pit crew from ACE Hardware with their Batmobile driven by Joseph Townsend and Melissa Hoffman.

Most Realistic was earned by Ella Schmid with her entry Rudy 13, a brown dog sled that romped its way down the hill.

Adele’s Favorite was awarded to The Derby Winner, a creation that was constructed in a motel room at 10 a.m. the day of the event by the Walsh and Spin families of Auburn.

The cardboard sled race was the fourth and final race of the Central Adirondack Cardboard Sled Race Circuit.

Races were previously held in Long Lake, Indian Lake and Old Forge during their annual winter carnivals, and racers could qualify as circuit champion by participating in three of the four races.

The 2013 Cardboard Sled Circuit champion is Bob Lewin of Blue Mountain Lake who with his entry, Daddy’s Folly, earned a total of 50 points.

Throughout the day, fest-goers enjoyed sledding, skating and cross-country skiing.

The day ended with a fireworks display at Arrowhead Park and wine and chocolate tasting at Screamen Eagle.

From left, alternate Lexie Haehl, Corey Down, West Tickner, Cy Barkauskas, Madeline Mahoney, Lauren Holt, Chloe Barkauskas and Austin Down

Town of Webb High School alpine racers competed at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Alpine Championships on Monday and Tuesday, February 25 and 26 at Bristol Mountain.

West Tickner receives Sportsmanship Award for Section 3

Austin Down was named the boys’ NYS Slalom Champion after taking a first place finish on Monday. Madeline Mahoney took a second place finish in Slalom.

On Tuesday, Austin Down placed third in Giant Slalom and West Tickner took a seventh place finish. For the girls, Madeline Mahoney placed sixth in Giant Slalom.

As part of the Section 3 team, the girls and boys ended up placing third in the state.

The Webb girls’ team placed eighth in the state and the boys’ team placed third.

West Tickner was honored with the Sportsmanship Award for Section 3 boys.

Winners in the U10 Boys Class. Pictured: 1st Place, Trevor Greene, 2nd Place, Cedric Barkauskas, and in 3rd Place, Thomas Levi

Winners in the U14 Girls Class. Pictured are Chloe Barkauskas in 1st Place, Laura Levi in 3rd Pace, and Alexis Hollister in 4th Place

Matthew Parent and Charlie Uzdavinis

Girls Team: Chloe Barkauskas, Alexis Hollister, alternate Alex Sutherland, and Laura Levi

The Junior Polar Bears competed in an Adirondack Council Race at Woods Valley on Sunday, February 24. The race was a U14 State Team Qualifiers for both boys and girls.

Due to their performance in the race, six young Polar Bears have qualified to compete in the U14 State Championships that will be held at Greek Peek and Toggenburg Ski Resorts Friday through Sunday, March 8 to10.

“The New York State Ski Racing Association is proud of the skiers who have been selected from our council to represent it as they pursue a higher level of competition,” said Andrea Hollister.

The girls team includes Chloe Barkauskas, Alexis Hollister, Laura Levi and alternate Alex Sutherland.

Named to the boys team are Matthew Parent and Charlie Uzdavinis.

The results of the races in all age categories are as follows:

U10 Girls

Karleigh Hollister – 1st

Mia Diorio – 12th

U10 Boys

Trevor Greene – 1st

Cedric Barkauskas – 2nd

Thomas Levi – 3rd

U12 Boys

Blake Greene – 2nd

Alexander Fielteau – 3rd

U14 Girls

Chloe Barkauskas – 1st

Laura Levi – 3rd

Alexis Hollister – 4th

Sydney Payne – 7th

U14 Boys

Matthew Parent – 2nd.

Crowd of supporters turns out for Annual Snowmaker’s Ball

Mark Hannah and Felicity Davey

The 16th Annual Snowmaker’s Ball was held at the McCauley Mountain chalet on Friday, February 22 with close to 100 people in attendance.

Diane Heroux and Gary Staab

The evening included a dinner prepared by Nick Bankert and Felicity Davey, live music by the Al Nathan Trio, and a number of raffles.

Diane Kull, Linda Gibbs, and Diane Heroux

Proceeds from the raffles will benefit the operating expenses of the Kinderwood Preschool Program.

Kinderwood board member Page Hannah said the generosity of community members is especially appreciated by the board and Kinderwood staff members due to the additional expenses in operating the preschool program this year.

Sandy Tetreault, Sue Smith, and Pierre Tetreault

Hannah said the program for four year olds was increased from three to four days a week this year to meet the students’ academic needs. Amy Bartel, a certified Montessori teacher, has also joined the staff.

In addition, Kinderwood has encountered significant costs in equipping itself to meet the New York State Common Core Curriculum standards for preschool in math and language arts.

Mark Hannah, Dale Heroux, Dave Kleps, and Bob Cohen

Anyone interested in making a contribution to Kinderwood can send a check to: Kinderwood Preschool Program, P.O. Box 255, Old Forge, NY 13420. Continue reading →

Amanda Williams helps grade 1 students into planetarium. Photo by Wende Carr

Students at the Town of Webb School had the opportunity to learn a lesson on the celestial world on Tuesday and Wednesday February 26 and 27 when Loren Dachary of Oneida/ Herkimer/ Madison BOCES brought a portable planetarium to the school.

Dachary conducted 40-minute educational sessions in the inflated dome to the students throughout the two-day period.

The planetarium is utilized to teach students a variety of topics, including Native American Legends, Earth Science, Greek Mythology, Weather and Ocean Currents, Poetry, Creative Writing, Latitude and Longitude, and Astronomy.

The portable planetarium, modeled from Starlab, has fresh air circulating through it and can accommodate up to 25 students at a time.

With the reduction of school budgets across the state, Dachary said the planetarium provides students the opportunity for an in school field trip. State aid monies are available to bring the program to schools, she said.

A look at the state environmental review process and its impact

Q&A ABOUT SEQRA

Q: What the heck is SEQRA?

A: State Environmental Quality Review Act, otherwise commonly just called SEQR.

Q: What does it do?

A: The SEQR process provides a consistent method of analysis to determine the potential environmental impact, large, small or none at all, of a project or decision made by any municipal board.

Q: When did this process become required?

A: Back in the mid 1980’s New York State adopted these regulations. It requires all municipal boards to make certain decisions as to the potential environmental impact their decision [usually a physical project] may have on the community and environment.

Q: I had an Area Variance application before the Zoning Board of Appeals last year and the board did say something about SEQR, but said nothing more was needed. What was that all about?

A: The SEQR regulation provides the tools needed for the reviewing board to qualify the type of application before them. There are three basic types; Type I action, Type II action or an Unlisted action.

If the reviewing board makes a determination that the application qualifies as a Type II action, as most area variances are, there is no further review required under the SEQR regulations.

Q: What happens when an application is determined to be Type I or Unlisted? Continue reading →

William H. Turner of Limekiln Lake, Inlet and Victor, NY passed away on Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY. Bill was born and raised in Victor, NY and fell in love with the Adirondacks in 1972 when he purchased a camp in Limekiln. He spent summers at Limekiln for 42 years.

He was married to his high school sweetheart, Donna Reinhard Turner, on December 11, 1964. He was in the armed forces.

They were stationed and married on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Bill and Donna shared 48 years of marriage. He leaves a daughter, Laura Turner of Farmington, NY and son, Thomas Turner of Victor, NY.

Bill established and ran his automobile dealership, Turner Automotive Corvettes for 41 years. Many will remember the summer Corvette rallies starting in the early morning at the Pied Piper and returning to Old Forge in the late afternoon.

He is the “Ambassador of Automobiles” he aspired to be. Continue reading →