by Robert F. Swift, PH.D.
The hills around Otter Lake were alive with the sound of music—even before Julie Andrews sang of them. In 1947 the New York State Music Camp opened its first summer season at the Otter Lake Hotel.
That building is now long gone, but a historical plaque marks the location on the roadside of Route 28. Continue reading
The Otter Lake Fire Department held its annual Labor Day Steak Bake on Sunday, September 6th. Live music by Mobius was followed by the truck raffle drawing.
The winner of the truck was Mack Sands of Pittsford, NY. Second prize of $200 was won by Valerie Gaylord of Clay, NY and Pat Williams of Eagle Bay won the third prize of $100.
Believe 271 Team: Brian McQueen, Believe 271 founder; Otter Lake Fire Chief Jeff Abrial; Old Forge Fire Chief Charlie Bogardus; Truman Williams, President of Barneveld Fire Department. Photo by Marianne Christy
By Marianne Christy
Brian McQueen, a 38-year veteran of the Whitesboro Fire Department, is known by his peers as someone who exemplifies the qualities of a volunteer firefighter.
As past chief and current Deputy Fire Coordinator “271” for Oneida County, McQueen has faced his fair share of emergency situations, but perhaps none so great as receiving word from his doctor that he had Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Continue reading
The Otter Lake Fire Department will host its 2nd Annual Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday, June 28 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the firehouse on Route 28.
The dinner will include “all you can eat” spaghetti with a choice of meatball and/or sausage, tossed salad, roll and dessert. The price is $8 per person with a dollar discount offered to seniors. The cost for children ages 12 and under is $6. Continue reading
The Otter Lake Association will host a Meet and Greet event at Otter Lake Station on Sunday, July 28 from 4 to 8 p.m.
All neighbors and friends are invited to enjoy the hospitality of Ellen and Gus Drake, owners of the Otter Lake Station. percentage of all beverages and food served will be benefit the Association’s ongoing projects. Gift prizes will be available for raffle.
The dinner was a great success, and we plan on doing it again in the future. Thanks to all those who turned out for our inaugural event.
Best regards,
Tom Abrial, Secretary
Otter Lake Fire Department
After ten years of planning, construction of the new Otter Lake Fire Department is almost complete.
Former Woodgate resident Kevin Jablonski of Beebe Construction Services installs the sign on the new Otter Lake Fire Department firehose on Route 28
“It’s been a great project that we’ve been working on for years, but it never seemed real—never like it was going to actually happen. When I saw the sign going up it finally sunk in that this building will be ours,” said Otter Lake Fire Department Secretary Tom Abrial.
In 2009, Otter Lake received funding from the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) from a Firefighters Station Construction Grant.
Of the 6,025 national applicants, Otter Lake Fire Department was one of only 121 departments to receive funding.
This was due to a joint effort between the fire department, CAP-21 and former CAP-21 grant writer, Julie Benzo. Continue reading