Daily Archives: December 12, 2013

Blueprint for Tax Reform: Making it easier for businesses, residents and retirees to stay and thrive in New York State

A number of positive steps have been taken in recent years to improve our state’s economy and boost job growth potential.

My colleagues in the senate and I have advanced tax cuts, eliminated barriers to business growth, and implemented fiscally responsible, on-time state budgets.

We also enacted an historic cap on property taxes, which is widely regarded as the most effective method of attaining property tax relief.

And this cap is paying real dividends. In the first two years of the cap, it is estimated that property taxpayers saved nearly $1.2 billion.  Continue reading →

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Trails End Saloon: Doors swing open in time for Snodeo

Northern Lanes. Pioneer Inn. Rustic Bowl. North Street Inn. Trail’s End. North Street Restaurant. GiGi’s Bar and Grill. The business located at 127 North Street in Old Forge has been known by a number of names and seen many owners/lessees and renovations in its 50-plus-year history.

Brian, Chris and Lisa Murphy, from left, with the sign for their new Trails End Saloon. Photo by Marianne Christy

Brian, Chris and Lisa Murphy, from left, with the sign for their new Trails End Saloon. Photo by Marianne Christy

And on Friday, December 13 its latest reincarnation will be unveiled when the doors open to the new multi-faceted Trail’s End Saloon.

Owned and operated by Lisa Murphy and her sons Chris and Brian, they and a team of contractors have spent the last few months reconfiguring the layout of the vast building to accommodate three entities—a performance area, bar, and deli—each of which can be operated independently of each other or concurrently. Continue reading →

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An early bird sighting for Christmas Bird Count…

This junco flew into the screened porch of Sylvia Uhl’s Old Forge home last week. In an attempt to rescue it, Uhl lost track of the small bird, and while trying to track it she happened to notice a feather sticking out of her dog’s mouth.photo

She pried open the dog’s mouth and there was the bird—minus some feathers but otherwise unscathed. Uhl kept the bird inside for the night with the intent of releasing it in the morning.

In the meantime, the junco found a safe place to perch on the shower head of her guest bathroom.

The annual Old Forge Christmas Bird Count is Saturday, December 14th. Anyone interested in participating can contact Gary Lee at (315) 357-5150.

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Summer service planned for Peter Dean Steele, 66

Peter Dean Steele 66, of Eagle Bay passed away unexpectedly at his home on Friday, December 6, 2013.

He was born on May 21, 1947 in Springfield, MA a son of the late Dr. Kenneth C. and Martha E. (Nickerson) Steele. He was a graduate of Windham College in Windham, VT.

Peter’s love for the Adirondacks led him to settle in Eagle Bay where he was a well known self-employed contractor. Having helped many of the locals with extensive home projects, he was well known for his excellent workmanship. Continue reading →

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Eagle Bay: Thanks to all for successful tree lighting party

The Eagle Bay community once again came together to hold its annual, old fashioned, Tree Lighting Ceremony at the community Christmas tree located on the side of the new Eagle Bay Welcome Center  at the corner of Big Moose Rd. and Rte 28 in Eagle Bay.

Front Row, from left: Bonnie Amidon, Joan Breisch; 2nd Row: Annette Schei­del­man, Kathy Beauchamp, Santa Claus, Sandy Booton. 3rd Row: JoAnn Zurakowski, Ellie Stanton, Andi Smith, Penny Beach.

Front Row, from left: Bonnie Amidon, Joan Breisch; 2nd Row: Annette Schei­del­man, Kathy Beauchamp, Santa Claus, Sandy Booton. 3rd Row: JoAnn Zurakowski, Ellie Stanton, Andi Smith, Penny Beach.

This annual yuletide event, sponsored by the Eagle Bay Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary and the Town of Webb was held at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 7th.

Traditional Christmas caroling around the live Christmas Tree led by Andi and Ray Smith was a big hit with the crowd and was then followed by the traditional push-of-the-switch which lit up the beautiful, huge, Christmas tree.

Continue reading →

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Santa’s early dogsled delivery catches kids by surprise

I can still smell the smoke of Santa’s pipe as it floated through the air of our living room that crisp December evening in 1972.

I was covered by an afghan with a soft couch pillow under one cheek watching Frosty the Snowman when my father burst from his chair and said, “I see something strange going down the road.”

My sister and I jumped up to peer out the window and saw Santa riding in a sleigh behind a team of sled dogs swinging into our driveway.

The window in front of me was starting to fog over with my warm breath against it as I tried to understand what was happening right in front of my eyes.

My parents opened the front door while my sister and I ran over to get a better look at this implausible situation.

Santa had arrived, not only while we were awake, but many days earlier than we had expected.

I saw Santa’s driver pull the dogs to a stop and Santa himself climbed out of the sled with a red sack of goods. Continue reading →

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When does that home occupation become a commercial enterprise?

Home occupation?

Occasionally, the Planning Board will receive an application for a Conditional Use specific to a home occupation.

The whole idea of this ordinance was to allow legitimate, low intensity, “business” activities, inside someone’s house, and not change the character of the neighborhood, especially residential neighborhoods, in any manner.

Allowing someone to have a one-person professional office dealing with a very limited cliental, no outside activities, and no storage of heavy equipment on the property is generally the idea.

The following is straight from the Town of Webb Zoning Ordinance, word for word.

Section 480-24 states… Continue reading →

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