Daily Archives: November 7, 2013

14 Years Later: TOBIE a connector to Central Ad’k communities

The completion of the TOBIE Trail, a hiking and biking trail that connects the communities of Thendara, Old Forge, Big Moose, Eagle Bay and Inlet, was celebrated with dual ribbon cutting ceremonies on the new pedestrian bridge in Thendara and at the new Eagle Bay Welcome Center on Tuesday, November 5th.

Lani Ulrich, chair of the Adirondack Park Agency, and former Communities 2000 coordinator for the TOBIE Trail Team, who initiated the concept 14 years ago, provided the following oral history of the project prior to the bridge’s ribbon cutting. 

My deepest congratulations to the Webb Town Board on the completion of the TOBIE Trail!

Ribbon Cutting...Webb Councilman Mike Ross, Mary Ann Nelson, Jim Ulrich, Councilwoman Katie Russell, David Winslow, Robert Moore, Mary Brophy Moore, Linda Contino Lamb (partially hidden), TOW Historian Peg Masters, TOW Clerk Nanci Russell, TOW Supervisor Ted Russell, Barbara Green, Marie Adams, Helen Estabrook, Lani Ulrich, Chuck White, Mike Farmer, Nick Rose. Photo by Clark Lubbs

Ribbon Cutting…Webb Councilman Mike Ross, Mary Ann Nelson, Jim Ulrich, Councilwoman Katie Russell, David Winslow, Robert Moore, Mary Brophy Moore, Linda Contino Lamb (partially hidden), TOW Historian Peg Masters, TOW Clerk Nanci Russell, TOW Supervisor Ted Russell, Barbara Green, Marie Adams, Helen Estabrook, Lani Ulrich, Chuck White, Mike Farmer, Nick Rose. Photo by Clark Lubbs

The birth of the TOBIE Trail was a moment of unique energy and creativity. Fourteen years ago, Herkimer County Community College had a satellite office here in Old Forge, which I was privileged to run for several years.

This was before the turn of the century. Lots of folks in our state and around the country were looking to the new millennium and wondering what would happen.

What should we prepare for and what should we plan for five, 10, 20 years into the future?

HCCC had developed a community outreach program called Communities 2000. -2000’s mission was to guide our area into the 21st century…“while protecting and preserving the beauty and benefits of our natural resources.”

Continue reading →

Share Button

Old Forge Welcomes All to Veterans Day Ceremony and Marine Corps Party

Covey-Pashley American Legion Post #893 of Old Forge invites all to a Veterans Day Ceremony on Monday, November 11 at 11 a.m. The ceremony will take place outside the Legion Hall which is located on Route 28 across from the Town of Webb Visitor Information Center.

The program will include a recognition of area war veterans and members of the local legion post who are currently serving in the military.

Charlie Kiefer of Old Forge, far right, was among the attending honorees at last year’s Veterans Day ceremony. File photo by Carol Hansen

Charlie Kiefer of Old Forge, far right, was among the
attending honorees at last year’s Veterans Day
ceremony. File photo by Carol Hansen

Mike Farmer will be Master of Ceremonies, filling in for Commander Bill Ransom who is recuperating from eye surgery.

Following the program all are welcome to enjoy hamburgers, hotdogs and salads at the legion hall.

Legion members also extend an invitation to their annual Marine Corps Birthday Party at Daiker’s Inn on Saturday, November 9 at 7 p.m.

All branches of service are welcome to attend.

Share Button

Region’s Election Day round-up Forestport: Parker Snead ends Election Day with slim 5-vote lead

Numerous absentee ballots allowing incumbent William Hasenauer great chance to rebound

The unofficial voting results of the Tuesday, November 5 elections in the Towns of Forestport, Webb and Inlet have been posted; and while the races in Webb and Inlet were predictable (all incumbents ran unopposed), the Forestport Supervisor race has yet to be decided.

In a three-way contest between incumbent William Hasenauer (C-I), Parker Snead (R) and Robert Seager (D-I), Snead received 280 votes to Hasenauer’s 275 and Seager’s 108.

With a slim five-vote differential, the winner will be declared following vote recanvassing and the opening of absentee and affidavit ballots by the Oneida County Board of Elections on Wednesday, November 13th.

According to Rose Marie Grimaldi, Republican Commis-sioner of the Oneida County Board of Elections, 78 absentee ballots were sent out and as of Thursday, November 7, the board has received 62. Continue reading →

Share Button

Webb board considers change to Mitchell housing development

Mike Mitchell’s Proposed Planned District Subdivision at the old lumber yard in Old Forge was discussed by the Town of Webb Board at a Monday meeting, as the town considered changes to the proposed water and sewer arrangement.

The original plan had been for the property association to own and maintain its own water and sewer piping infrastructures on development property, according to Webb Supervisor Ted Riehle.

Housing development land having been cleared at the old lumber yard site in Old Forge, just below the Strand Theatre on Route 28. Photo by Gina Greco

Housing development land having been cleared at the old lumber yard site in Old Forge, just below the Strand Theatre on Route 28. Photo by Gina Greco

However, the New York State Department of Health, as a result of its oversight and approval process, has informed the Town of Webb that it requires the local sewer and water districts to assume control of that main line infrastructure, according to Riehle.

“[Mitchell’s] initial idea of having the association be in charge of it didn’t fly with the state agencies,” he said.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) communicated concerns as well, according to Riehle.  Continue reading →

Share Button

Goodsell Museum’s new year-long exhibit to highlight Webb technological advances

Webb: Wired to Wireless, the Goodsell Museum’s new exhibit that will chronicle the technical advances made in the Town of Webb in the last century, will open on Friday, November 29 for the kick-off of the town’s Adirondack Christmas on Main Street celebration.

Along with a touchable display and vintage photographs, the exhibit will include a timeline that illustrates the technological changes brought to the area from electric dynamos, telegraph and gramophones to today’s high-tech means of communication.

“The exhibit will trigger nostalgia for those who have lived through this amazing era of technological changes but should also appeal to youngsters born in the 21st century digital age,” said Kate Lewis, Goodsell Museum director.

Share Button

Town of Webb board adopts final 2014 operating budget

The Town of Webb Board adopted a Final Budget for 2014 immediately following a public hearing of its Preliminary Budget on Monday, November 4th.

Total Appropriations are $7,430,102, which includes General Fund Appropriations of $6,258,036 and Highway Fund Appropriations of $1,172,066.

The total is $1,413,972 lower than the amount in the town’s 2013 budget.

Total Estimated Revenues for 2014 are $2,752,625, which includes estimated General Fund Revenues of $2,297,925 and estimated Highway Fund Revenues of $454,700.

Continue reading →

Share Button

Services to be held for Frank C. Ritz Jr., 92

Frank C. Ritz, Jr., 92, of Old Forge, died November 1, 2013 at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica.

He was born August 7, 1921, in Old Forge, a son of the late Frank, Sr. and Jessie (Hutchin) Ritz. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII. He worked as a mechanic for NYS DOT.

Frank was a member of Covey-Pashley American Legion Post 893, and was a lifelong member of the Town of Webb Fire Department. He loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter.

Continue reading →

Share Button