Tag Archives: margie O’Hara

by Margie O’Hara

Memory Walk organizers Margie O'Hara, Adele Burnett, at left, and Patty Wittmeyer, far right, with the family of the late Lorraine Stripp, thie year's memorial honoree of the event.

Memory Walk organizers Margie O’Hara, Adele Burnett, at left, and Patty Wittmeyer, far right, with the family of the late Lorraine Stripp, thie year’s memorial honoree of the event.

Amid the rainy spring weather, walkers enjoyed the beautiful sunny day which seems to be routine for Inlet’s annual Memory Walk to end Alzheimer’s.

This year’s walk turned out to be a double-header because a group from Old Forge had to walk early in order to get back for another event.

Nevertheless, they made time in their busy day to honor the memory of Lorraine Stripp, to whom this year’s walk was dedicated.

Promptly at 10 a.m. the main group of walkers set out to do their three-mile stroll from the Inlet Town Hall to Drake’s restaurant along Route 28, but no walker was in danger because they proceeded on the newly constructed Elaine Townsend Trail. Continue reading →

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Inlet vigil contributes to awareness, supports passage of new legislation

by Margie O’Hara, Guest Contributor 

Congratulations to those of you who supported and participated in Inlet’s “Shine a Light on Lung Cancer” vigil last November.

Our small effort, combined with over 250 other small efforts, actually proved that even a few could have a huge impact on our government.

The legislation, which we were hoping and praying for, has been enacted.

Just hours before the end of the 112th Congress (the constitutional deadline for approval of a bill passed by that Congress), President Obama signed into law the first legislation requiring comprehensive plans of research action for high mortality cancers, with lung cancer and pancreatic cancer given priority status for expedited attention.

The final product, the Recalcitrant Cancer Act, represents a compromise worked out between the Congress and the administration on the Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act and the Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act.

This landmark legislation requires the National Cancer Institute to develop scientific frameworks for addressing cancers with survival rates of less than fifty percent, with first priority attention to lung and pancreatic cancers.

The framework must be sent to Congress within 18 months. Continue reading →

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CASART honors founder Greg O’Hara at annual meeting & dinner

by Margie O’Hara, Guest Contributor

The Central Adirondack Search and Rescue Team (CASART) came into being on June 26, 2003, the brainchild of Greg O’Hara of Inlet. Greg believed that lives could be saved if a group of trained volunteers were readily available to assist Forest Rangers in searching for lost individuals.

From that day to this, Greg has maintained a leadership role in the organization. He has been a member of the Board of Directors since CASART’s inception, serving as president for eight of those years.

Now that CASART is in its 10th year of existence, it has grown to be one of the largest search and rescue teams in New York state, as well as the best trained and equipped team. Continue reading →

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Inlet to host ‘Shine a Light on Lung Cancer Vigil’ on Tuesday, Nov. 13th by Margie O’Hara

Many people have had a friend or relative who has been diagnosed with lung cancer. And yet, unlike other cancers, such as breast cancer, little is heard about this disease.

On Tuesday, November 13 at 7 p.m. at the Inlet Town Hall in Arrowhead Park, all are invited to join over 250 other groups, nationally and internationally, to “Shine a Light on Lung Cancer.”

The intent of the vigil is to lend support to survivors, to those currently battling lung cancer, as well as to those who have lost someone to the disease.

And, as importantly, the vigil brings attention to lung cancer in the hope of urging government officials to press for more funding for lung cancer research and treatment.

The Inlet vigil came about when Adele Burnett, Inlet’s Tourism Director, learned of the project. Continue reading →

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CASART Trailer gets facelift as outfit continues to grow

by Margie O’Hara, CASART Secretary

The Central Adirondack Search and Rescue Team, based in Inlet, continues to grow and to update equipment.

Since its organization in 2003, the team has now attracted nearly 90 members, primarily from the Adirondacks, Capitol Region, and Central New York.

This figure makes CASART the largest all-volunteer search and rescue team in the state.

It is also one of the best-trained groups, with the latest in high-tech equipment.

All of the training and equipment are paid for by individual members, grants, municipal support and donations.

CASART has a trailer which was donated several years ago and has been equipped with everything needed to be used as a mobile ICP (Incident Command Post), such as a computer, printer, mapping software, base and handset radios, individual GPS units, compasses, and extrication equipment.

Time and weather have taken a toll on the exterior of this indispensable search and rescue tool.

Recently, CASART member Mark Shantz, who runs a body repair shop, along with his wife Sandy, his father, and the shop employees, decided to undertake the task of giving the trailer a fresh exterior.  Continue reading →

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One Square Mile of Hope seeks volunteers for September 24th event

One Square Mile of Hope 2008 participants Paula Stanton and Connie Perry with Preston Trumbauer and dog Shelby. Event organizers are hoping to log a new record on September 24, again on Fourth Lake at Inlet. Photo by Carolyn Belknap

Since last October, The One Square Mile of Hope 2011(OSM-2011) Committee has been avidly working on its September 24 attempt to break the world record for the most canoes and kayaks assembled in a floating raft.

They are seeking to regain Inlet’s place in the Guinness Book of World Records following last summer’s successful feat in Pittsburg, PA.

Would we like to break the Guinness record again and wrest the title from Pittsburgh? Of course we would.

But more important is our goal to raise at least $65,000 to donate to “Susan G. Komen For the Cure” to enable continuing breast cancer education and research.

But we need your help. Continue reading →

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