Monthly Archives: April 2013

Growing up Adirondack by Mitch Lee

Drawing on imagination to pass time on a warm spring day

HopscotchIt was April and except for a few piles on the side of the garage, the snow in our yard was finally gone. The grass was still asleep but you could smell the earth coming to life underneath.

I sat on the porch wearing a sweatshirt and enjoying the warmth of the sun that drifted across my legs.

My sister was sitting beside me lacing up her sneakers. She had gotten a box of chalk for Easter and with my assistance, had a plan to draw great murals on our asphalt driveway.

As nine- and ten-year-olds, we could fill just about an entire day engaging in a project such as this.

Out in the garage I found a push broom and my sister directed me to the area she wanted cleared of sand and stones so we could begin working. Continue reading →

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Gary Lee’s Daybreak to Twilight

Sending well-wishes and warm weather from the sunny south

Western Kingbird

Western Kingbird

Weather is great down here in Sanibel. We must have sent some north as I heard the ice went out of some of the lakes. We’ve only had a couple showers in the two weeks we have been here but it looks like there are going to be some t-storms tonight.

That should knock some birds down. So far most of them have been flying overhead and not stopping.

We did, however, spot a Western Kingbird—a great bird for this area. It has been here for four days now and most of the birders that frequent the Lighthouse at the end of Sanibel have gotten a look at it.

The first time I saw it, it was battling an Eastern Kingbird for some fruit on one of the trees. There were a couple birders looking at it who thought it was a Great Crested Flycatcher. With one look—even without binoculars—I knew that it wasn’t.

I quickly got out my bird book and camera and figured out what it was before taking its picture.

Word quickly spread and everyone who had a cell phone or looked at the bird hotline was on the island looking for it. Continue reading →

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ANCA kicks off campaign to save north country theaters

Old Forge's Strand Theater. Photo by Dana Armington

Old Forge’s Strand Theater. Photo by Dana Armington

Bob Card and Helen Zyma of The Strand Theatre in Old Forge, and Nick Rose of CAP-21 have been working together to raise funds to save The Strand and 10 other North Country theaters before the film industry’s mandatory digital conversion takes place this fall.

They have been working with the Adirondack Film Society and the Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) to create a Regional Theater Alliance to help raise awareness and solicit donations to help offset the costs of the conversion.

Through their partnership, a fundraising campaign titled “Go Digital or Go Dark” has been created to help coordinate a community-based campaign as well as an outreach to major donors. ANCA’s foundation sponsors for the campaign are Adirondack Bank and Community Bank.

As part of the campaign, movie posters and donation boxes will be set up at each of the participating theaters. Also, an individualized promotional movie trailer created by filmmakers Aaron Woolf and TJ Brearton will be played in each theater prior to the start of films.

According to Card, the 10 participating theaters collectively need $1.5 million to make all the necessary changes. Through the campaign, theater owners are expected to raise 75 percent of their individual costs with ANCA helping to raise the remaining 25 percent. The ANCA funds will be distributed to the theaters through a series of grants. Continue reading →

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National Geographic Channel: Network seeking Adirondack properties for new reality show

The National Geographic Channel is currently looking for volunteers for a new reality show that will be set in the Adirondacks.

The program, Building Wild, will be produced by George Verschoor, creator of the long-running television show Extreme Makeover Home Edition.

The premise is to craft unique rustic cabins for people with real passions for the outdoors.

Each camp would be compact—no more than 400 square feet—of rustic style, and most likely be off the grid and seasonal. The structures will be built in a week by volunteers and professionals.

Any Adirondack landowner who has a parcel of land that can be approved for a building permit is eligible to participate in the television show. The production staff must be provided with photos of the prospective land and views from all angles. Along with the photos, owners are also asked to describe what they love about the Adirondacks.

Information can be emailed to: BuildingWildCasting@gmail.com. 

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Town of Webb art students compete in Congressional Art Exhibit by Mr. Robert Fountain TOW UFSD Art Teacher

Moon Drops by Shelby McGill

Moon Drops by Shelby McGill

Studio Art, Drawing- Painting, and Independent students have been busy creating wonderful works of art over the first 30 weeks of the school year!

Thirteen students recently competed against approximately 80 other artworks submitted from schools including Little Falls, Illion, Dolgeville, Poland, Mohawk, West Canada Valley, and Herkimer at the 15th Annual High School Congressional Art Exhibit. The exhibit was held at the Cogar Gallery at Herkimer County Community College. The Closing Reception for this show was March 28.

Submitting artists Allyson Brosemer, Alexis Dolan, Shelby McGill, Lindsay Payne, Nicole Redpath, Autumn Townsend, Lexie Haehl, Camry Liddle, and Shelby Egnazych represented the TOW brilliantly!

Autumn Townsend and Shelby McGill

Autumn Townsend and Shelby McGill

Studio Art students submitting for the first time included, Chloe Brosemer, Megan Greene, Becky Sessions, and Chelby Simpson.

In talking with HCCC Art Department Chair Bruce Schwa-bach, he said he was very impressed with our work for the third year in a row. The work that our students create is some of the best each year.

It is important for our young artists to experience the process involved with submitting and participating in a regional juried show.

Congratulations to Shelby McGill! Her surrealistic acrylic painting of flowers, Moon Drops, was one of six works selected at the show sponsored by Congress-man Richard Hanna to represent the 24th Congressional District of NYS in a regional competition at Munson Williams Proctor Art Institute/ Pratt School in May. Continue reading →

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Old Forge Library offering story program

The Old Forge Library is offering two six-session programs for children on Fridays from May 3 through June 7.

Toddler Story Time will be held from 10 to 10:30 a.m. and led by Sara Alves. The session is suitable for toddlers ages one and two, accompanied by a parent or caregiver. Children will listen to stories, enjoy puppets, learn finger plays and have some toy time.

Spring Story Hour for preschoolers age 3, 4 and 5-plus years old will be held from 11 a.m. to noon. Library Director Isabella Worthen will lead the hour of stories and creative play.

The children will take part in games, crafts, songs and other activities as they become acquainted with the library.

Registration is available by calling the library at (315) 369-6008. Deadline to register is Thursday, May 2. 

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Library to host babysitting clinic in May

A Babysitting Clinic will be held at the Old Forge Library on four Wednesday evenings in May from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.

The clinic is open to students ages 10 and up who have not previously taken the class.

Teachers Karen Beck and Judy Ehrensbeck will discuss Educational Play at the first session on May 1.

Paramedic David Berkstresser will give a talk on Health and Safety on May 8, and on May 15, Town of Webb School Guidance Counselor Kandis Griffin will offer instruction on Childhood Development.

Dietician Kelly Hamlin will discuss Food and Nutrition at the final session on May 22.

Students must attend all four sessions to receive their Baby Sitter Certificate, however, a missed session can be made up by taking and passing a test. Registration is required by Tuesday, April 30. More information is available by calling the library at (315) 369-6008.

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