While spending time at their Fourth Lake camp, Carin Gonsalves, her husband Maurits Boon and their children Nolan and Isabella traditionally set a day aside to conduct an underwater cleanup of the area around their property.

The family equips their kayaks and stand up paddle boards with plastic bags and paddle along the shore to scope the bottom of the lake for garbage. They use goggles to see the bottom of the lake better and when they spot something they dive down to pick it up.

Gonsalves said they typically pick up discarded cans, broken and unbroken bottles, hats, toys and a surprising amount of golf balls.

“We have no idea who and why anyone would hit golf balls into the lake, but we have found dozens of them over the past couple of years,” she said.

Gonsalves said the effort is simple and gratifying.

“Not only is it fun to do, but we also feel great that we are helping to keep our lake—and the Adirondacks—clean and beautiful forever.”

Polar Bear Ski Club parents Will and Andrea Hollister, along with daughters Alexis and Karleigh and their friends Alex Sutherland and Laura Levi, took a road trip to Rochester to see American World Cup alpine skier Lindsey Vonn on Friday, August 9th.

Polar Bear Skiers, From left, Alexis Hollister, Laura Levi, Alex Sutherland and Karleigh Hollister with LindseyVonn

Vonn appeared at the Ski Chalet Ski Shop for a Meet and Greet event which was attended by over 1,000 fans. Having arrived four-and-a-half hours prior to the 6:30 p.m. engagement, the local contingent was the third group in line to meet the celebrated skier.

Each fan had 10 seconds to spend with Vonn. Andrea presented her with a Polar Bear Ski Club patch with the names of the youth skiers written on the back.

The girls took advantage of photo ops with Vonn and had her sign their race suits. Alexis got her to sign her i-Pod as well.

A photo of Karleigh being hugged by Vonn appears on the facebook page of Head Skis, Vonn’s sponsoring company.

“It was a great day and a wonderful experience for the girls. Lindsey was very gracious to all of us,” Andrea said.  

Daughter- and father-in-law team, Kim O’Grady and James Riley, have pooled their culinary resources to open the new Buddy’s Pizza Plus restaurant at 2992 State Route 28 in Old Forge.

Riley, who has been involved in the restaurant/catering business in the Utica area for the last 40 years, and O’Grady, who also has a history in the food business, regularly cook for family and friends at gatherings.

Kim O’Grady and James Riley, Owners of Buddy’s Pizza Plus

It was at the urging of their family that they take their culinary skills to the professional level and share it with the public.

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After months of planning, the Strand Theatre’s 90th Anniversary Gala came to life as scores of supporters gathered at the Forge Knoll in Old Forge to raise funds for the theater’s digital conversion project.

Gail Buchanan and Terry Olsen dress for the occasion at the Thursday’s Strand Gala in Old Forge

Many came dressed in 1920s attire while others came as a favorite film star in homage to current Strand owners Bob Card and Helen Zyma—and all its previous owners—who have cared for the historic movie house the last nine decades.

The event, made possible through the efforts of CAP-21, the Central Adirondack Association, the Save Our Strand (SOS) Committee, and a team of volunteers, was held to help fill the gap of funds required for the Strand’s digital conversion.

Auctioneer Doc Foley

Full conversion costs are estimated to be close to $300,000, with a goal of $150,000 targeted to be raised through local efforts.

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