Adirondack North Country Association
July/August 2011
Building Vibrant Rural Communities and Resilient Local Economies
ANCA news Did you know?
NUMBERS FROM BIKETHEBYWAYS.ORG
161
Communities
40
Road bike loops and rides
43
Mountain bike rides
49
Google maps of Byway routes
59
Pages on the site
450
Images on Flickr
458
Links to other sites
1,543 Miles along the Byways
Source: Tim Holmes, Project Consultant
The view of 10 acres of cold-hardy grape varieties growing at Tug Hill Vineyards in Lowville (Melissa Hart/ANCA)
BiketheByways.org Goes Live! www.BiketheByways.org is up and running. A launch meeting held June 17 at Tug Hill Vineyards unveiled the 15-county biking website that features preferred routes, rides, and trails along scenic roads and off the beaten paths in the Adirondack North Country Region. The new website is a starting point for branding the region as a desirable destination for all types of bicycling and mountain biking, using the Scenic Byways program as the framework. One of the themes of the launch meeting: Biking is a big economic development opportunity. With more than 87 million adults nationwide reporting that they rode a bike at least once last year, the numbers of riders who make biking the centerpiece of their vacations is growing. When visitors look online for options in the Adirondack North Country, they will find hundreds of possible rides, selected for all levels of ability, at bikethebyways.org. Even for the more casual cyclist, providing an alternative transportation option for moving through the region will have broader implications. As communities pay closer attention to creating better access for cyclists, residents will realize the additional effects those efforts can have on improving our main streets.
INSIDE: Program News, 2-4
A New Resource for the Adirondack North Country “It’s going to change how cyclists view our area. In particular, it’ll help riders of all ability levels locate great rides tailored to their preferences, and make it simpler for them to locate bike shops and fun points of interest along the way. It’s really going to show the cycling community what our area has to offer.” -- David McCahill, project assistant and cycling enthusiast (pictured above), who placed sixth in the recent 100k Leadville qualifier bike race in Wilmington).
ANCA updates, 5, 7
ANCA Applauds, 6
2
Business and Communities
New tourism group forms in Lowville
Following the advice of a tourism study, a new group formed over the winter to better market Lewis County as a destination. The Adirondack Tug Hill Tourism Council recently established itself as an affiliate of the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce and has more than 150 “friends of the Council,” who attend meetings and serve on committees. The Council is overseen by a panel of nine at-large members, one Lewis County legislator and a member of the Chamber board. Some of the goals so far: to promote year-round tourism opportunities, conserve natural resources and preserve the quality of life for citizens, establish a visitor’s center, and build a strategic approach to branding and marketing Lewis County tourism. The group’s website is http://adirondackstughill.com
Biz Blast
ABOVE: ANCA project consultant Tim Holmes presents the new BiketheByways.org website at a meeting to announce the site’s launch held at Tug Hill Vineyards. The Lowville winery, which opened just three years ago, has become a popular spot for meetings, weddings and banquets. Wine is made on site from 10 acres of grapes grown on the property. http://www.tughillvineyards.com. Vineyard owner Sue Maring is on the board of the newly formed Adirondack Tug Hill Tourism Council, which is affiliated with the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce (right).
GlobalFoundries construction ahead of schedule GlobalFoundries recently announced two major milestones: its newly constructed semiconductor manufacturing facility, or fab, in Saratoga County, is ready for equipment two months ahead
of schedule, and the move-in for its first administration building has been completed. This news comes as GlobalFoundries broke ground for a second administration building. Production of semi-
conductor wafers is scheduled to start in the summer of 2012. Read more: http://poststar.com/ news/local/article_6980a4e0a360-11e0-8a26-001cc4c002e0. html#ixzz1RGEvoIEF
Nova Bus secures $231M contract with the MTA Volvo Buses has announced an agreement with the Metropolitan Transit Authority (New York City Transit), to produce an order of 328 buses for $231 million. The buses are to be made at Volvo’s Nova Bus facility in Plattsburgh and the new contract secures full-time work for the plant’s 220 employees. For awhile now, those employees have been working reduced hours and receiving unemployment benefits for the lost time under the New York State Department of Labor’s Work Share program. MTA has a fleet of more than 6,000 buses, the largest bus fleet among all public transportation operators in North America and one of the largest in the world.
In order to support our vision of building sustainable, local economies, we will be providing regular business highlights, news and features. Send news items to Melissa Hart: mhart@adirondack.org
Program News
3
Energy Update
Power NY will help
ANCA prepares to start work on new NYSERDA program
The newly passed Power NY Act, addresses a gap in financing for homeowners looking to do energy improvement projects. Many moderate and middle income homeowners lack the cash to pay for projects out of pocket, yet earn too much for grant-funded weatherization. The Power NY legislation establishes a public-private partnership to provide lowcost loans to qualifying New York residents. NYSERDA will pool money from private investors and lend homeowners low-interest loans up to $13,000 for residences and $26,000 for businesses. HOW IT WORKS: After receiving a loan from the State, the homeowners repay the loan as a line item on their utility bill over time. The monthly repayment charge, called “on-bill financing” or “on-bill recovery” is less than the energy savings, so the loan doesn’t drive the bill up.
ANCA is getting closer to beginning work as the North Country contractor for Green Jobs Green New York (GJGNY), a Statewide program that promotes energy efficiency through reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and supports sustainable community development through green job opportunities. One analysis (as reported in the Huffington Post) suggests that over the next five years, the GJGNY program could result in the retrofitting of a million homes and businesses and create 60,000 “job-years” (which equates to 10,000-12,000 private-sector jobs per year). On the consumer side, the program will help lower people’s utility bills and raise the value of a homeowner’s property. In the meantime, ANCA Energy Program Coordinator Jamie Rogers has been busy getting the word out about NYSERDA programs in the region including: • Clinton County Business Expo, which was held at the Plattsburgh State Field House. The primary focus was the business sector with special emphasis on the small commercial FlexTech program. He also promoted NYSERDA’s agriculture and hospitality programs. • Three day Camp and Home Show event held in Old Forge. Jamie promoted the GJGNY residential audit program reaching out to home owners in six different counties, handing out about 75 audit applications. • Parishville Hopkinton School District. This School District is pursuing a biomass heating project and Jamie encouraged the District to enroll in the FlexTech energy audit program as a first step. • Jamie reports that NYSERDA projects do work. He had the opportunity to visit the Saranac Hollow wood working business located in Saranac. This business has installed solar panels and recently installed a solar hot water system. Their facility is heated by a furnace that burns sawdust. All accomplished with the help of NYSERDA. They are also pursuing an energy audit under the popular FlexTech program as well as encouraging their employees to participate in the GJGNY residential energy audit program. ANCA’s Green Jobs/Green New York team is ready for action. Pictured here from left: Communications Specialist Melissa Hart, Energy Program Coordinator Jamie Rogers, Executive Director Kate Fish, and Office Manager Laurie Campbell.
pay for retrofits
WHY IT’S APPEALING: The homeowners retain the protections afforded to utility consumers, such as safeguards against shut-off and the right to negotiate payment plans. And since utility customers rarely default, these loans are expected to be reasonably safe. OTHER INCENTIVES: On-bill recovery would enable the State to leverage billions in third party energy efficiency investments, with safe investment looking more attractive than ever. The design of the NY program is ingenious, really, as private investments will fund even more retrofits which would further decrease carbon emissions — without straining the State’s resources. Excerpted from http://www. huffingtonpost.com/betsytaylor/post_2135_b_880142. html
4
Program News
Celebrate Young Farmers The face of farming is changing: The total number of farms Statewide is shrinking while the average size of remaining operations is growing. The average age of farmers in the region is 57. At the same time, there is a renewed interest in smallscale, organic agriculture, as evidenced by a celebration of young farmers held recently at the Whallonsburg Grange. Despite the morning rainstorms, folks from all over the North Country and Vermont came for a day that was jam-packed with farm tours, a Q&A with Congressman Bill Owens, workshops, delicious local foods, a film screening, live music, and even a puppet show. Jori Wekin (a young farmer
A tour of Essex Farm and a demonstration of the draft horses the farm uses for plowing was part of a Young Farmers Mixer event held June 25 at the Whallonsburg Grange. Photo by Hana KiewiczSchlansker, ANCA
herself, from Whallonsburg) was the organizational mastermind behind the event, in collaboration with a nonprofit grassroots organization called the Greenhorns: http:// www.thegreenhorns.net/ about.html. Founded in 2007 in Berkeley, Calif., and now based out of the Hudson Valley, the Greenhorns are lead by an outspoken young farmer/activist, Severine von Tscharner Fleming. These young folks use music, the internet, read-
ings, mixer events, radio, and a new documentary to connect farmers young and old. The goal is to facilitate a network used for the exchange of ideas, technical assistance opportunities, community support, policy awareness, and land access. ANCA participated as one of the many local organizations that assist and encourage agriculture in the North Country. In between “mixing,” attendees went to workshops put on by local farmers and
entrepreneurs. Topics included an oxen demonstration, composting, pedal-power as an energy source, farming as a second career, felting and dying, and nutrient dense food and farming methods. Lunch and dinner were both served, buffet style, and were prepared by a local catering company, Flying Pancakes. A vast majority the food was donated by Essex Farm and Full & By Farm, which offered the morning’s farm-tours.
Agriculture program update
Hana Kiewicz-Schlansker is working at ANCA as a Grazing Lands Technician/Regional Food System Intern for the summer. She’s pictured here on the top of Cascade Mountain.
We are fortunate to have Hana Kiewicz-Schlansker on board as our Grazing Lands Technician /Regional Food System Intern for the summer. Kiewicz-Schlansker grew up in Speculator, and graduated from the University of Vermont with a BS in Natural Resource Ecology. During her time in Vermont, she was made aware of local food movements through classes, friends, and fellow community members, while also recognizing the need for a more resilient economic system back home in the Adirondacks. It was natural to put those two ideas together, leading her to ANCA’s agriculture program. Kiewicz-Schlansker and Joshua Porter are writing rotational grazing plans for the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, and following up with farmers who have already had plans for their land.
In early June, Kiewicz-Schlansker and Porter attended a training put on by the NRCS for the new Prescribed Grazing Management program and made field visits with Soil and Water Conservation District staff in Franklin and St. Lawrence Counties. They are in the process of wrapping up four Grazing plans and have another four lined up for the month ahead. They have visited a couple farms in St. Lawrence and Essex Counties that have literally been transformed by intensive rotational grazing practices. In two cases, the farms had poor pasture that had been fallow or unmanaged for decades. Results after 5 years of rotational grazing showed incredible restoration of pasture. In both cases, that meant no seeding and no plowing; simply rotating livestock.
ANCA Updates
5
Register Now for Annual Common Ground Forum Registration ends Monday, July 11 for the Fifth Annual Common Ground Alliance Forum, which will be taking place July 20 at the Mount Sabattis Pavilion in Long Lake. This year’s dynamic and interactive event focuses on Future Scenarios for the Adirondack Park. Local businessmen and scenario experts, Dave Mason and Jim Herman, the team that brought broadband to Keene and Keene Valley, will present six possible scenarios for the future of the Park. Attendees will participate in ranking the scenarios and discussing how we can work toward, or away from, these possible future outcomes. Registration is $18 to cover the cost of lunch and can be done online through Paypal here: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=bhdfypda b&oeidk=a07e46lsqdkd39f64bf
Invasives Brochure
• The law office of Stafford, Piller, Murnane, Plimpton, Kelleher & Trombley
A free brochure about the dangers of spreading invasive species is now hitting the streets. More than 35,000 copies are in the process of being distributed to nearly 40 organizations, environmental groups and lakeshore owners associations, state agencies, tourism venues, water stewards, boat launches and other sites across the Adirondack North Country region. This New York State Scenic Byways project was managed by the Adirondack North Country Association, funded by the Federal Highway Administration and administered by the New York State Department of Transportation. It was designed and produced by Karen Davidson, of Davidson Design Inc. in Lake Placid, who consulted with staff of the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program, Adirondack Summit Steward Program, Lake George Association, the Lake George Land Conservancy and the Adirondack Almanac to develop the content.
as well as ANCA, have all pledged sup-
More information:
We are looking for organizations and businesses to be event sponsors, in the form of $100 donations. So far, • • • • • • • • • • •
Paul Smith’s College, Workforce Development Institute, Fuller Communications, North Country Chamber of Commerce, Concerned Citizens of Tupper Lake, the LA Group, Adirondack Council, Protect the Adirondacks, Adirondack Community Housing Trust, The Adirondack Museum, Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism
port. ANCA is one of the event organizers. For information, contact us at anca@adirondack.org or 518-891-6200.
http://www.adirondack.org/invasivesbrochure/
Changing of the Guard in ANCA’s front office
A party to recognize ANCA Executive Secretary Judi Tonks took place June 30 at Lisa G’s in Lake Placid.
After more than 16 years with ANCA, the organization said goodbye to Judi Tonks last month. Serving as ANCA’s executive secretary, Judi made an important contribution to ANCA as it evolved into a staffed organization with broader program activities. Judi’s institutional memory about the organization proved very helpful in the past two years during the transition of Directors from Terry Martino to Kate Fish. Martino, ANCA board members, former ANCA staff and friends got together June 30 for a dinner at Lisa G’s in Lake Placid to honor Judi’s years of service. We will miss her, and she will always be part of the ANCA family. As the world is changing, with rapid advances in technology, so is the nature of office work. The secretary position has been expanded to reflect those changes. Our new office manager, Laurie Campbell is prepared to take on some of the challenges that come with managing a non-profit in the 21st Century.
Laurie attained her B.S. in Math/ Science/Technology and Elementary Education from St. John Fisher College. She has been involved in not-forprofits for the last 9 years, ranging from Cornell Cooperative Extension to a Missions Team sending agency to a local church. Laurie has in-depth experience in database and website management, financial reporting, grants management, events logistics and management, skilled use of Microsoft Office tools, presentations, and all around administrative tasks that keep an active office running smoothly and efficiently. Laurie has recently moved to Saranac Lake from Western N.Y. with her family. Laurie enjoys spending time with her own family, sports, being active and outdoors.
6 ANCA Applauds Utica Opens Public Market Oneida County residents are flocking to the newly opened Public Market at Union Station in Utica. With a grand opening June 25, vendors set up every Saturday in the parking lot near the train platforms to sell food, crafts, and a variety of other locally-made products. Repairs from a $250,000 capital project are expected to finish up on the old Rail Express Agency building by the fall, allowing the market to move inside and continue year-round. This is another great example of communities coming together to support local producers.
GREEN BEER: F.X. Matt
Brewery in Utica, maker of the Saranac line of quality beers, is implementing a new system that will take the waste from its products to generate energy. The process is expected to help the brewery generate between 30 and 40 percent of its own electricity. Federal stimulus and some State funds are helping to pay for the project, and the project is expected to pay for itself in a matter of years. From: http:// www.wktv.com/ news/local/FXMatt-Brewery--119849914. html
FOLK SCHOOL TURNS ONE: Con-
gratulations to the Adirondack Folk School in Lake Luzerne, which recently marked its first anniversary: http://www.adirondackfolkschool.org/
LOCAL FOOD GUIDE: Local food
Lewis County photo
Groups rally to save historic dam Issues of aging infrastructure and how small communities can remain economically viable are coming to a head in Lewis County. As the Village of Croghan struggles to preserve its historic dam and mill, a coalition of organizations has managed to postpone a planned breach of the dam that was scheduled for July 4 by the NYS DEC. The Lewis County Development Corporation is waiting to hear if it received $99,000 through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Business Enterprise Grant program to complete an engineering study of the structure. ANCA supports efforts to rehabilitate the dam and restore its capacity to generate hydro-electric power, especially with regards to the net-metering bill on the Governor’s desk—that will be a further incentive for the development of renewable energy. More info: http://www.adirondack.org/croghan-dam/
Empire State Development names new North Country Director ANCA applauds the promotion of Roseanne Murphy to Empire State Development’s North Country regional director. Murphy, a 23-year veteran of ESD and a certified economic developer, now oversees the Watertown and Plattsburgh regional offices. The Watertown office includes St. Lawrence, Lewis and Jefferson counties, while the Plattsburgh office, where she will be based, includes Franklin, Clinton, Essex and Hamilton counties. In her most recent role as deputy director of ESD’s North Country Region, Murphy supervised the administrative operations of both offices, conducted extensive site-location work with an emphasis on Canadian and aviation prospects, and focused on business retention with existing regional companies. She worked closely with local economic development partners to build capacity for successful development in rural areas.
Oswego County achieves successful nuclear preparedness test We are pleased to note that an exercise of Oswego County’s Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program was declared “very successful,” by FEMA officials overseeing the test. In a three-day exercise late last month, a team of 38 federal representatives evaluated the County’s and State’s operations during a simulated emergency at the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant, owned and operated by Entergy Nuclear-Northeast. The exercise also evaluated the preparedness of the 10 surrounding counties.
enthusiasts in St. Lawrence County will know where to go to get homegrown produce, meat and other goodies, thanks to a free guide produced by GardenShare. Now in its seventh year of publication, the non-profit’s Guide lists more than 50 farmers’ markets, farm stands, U-pick orchards, grocers, and other outlets that offer food raised in St. Lawrence County. The 2011 edition is now available. Contact GardenShare at 315261-8054 or at info@ gardenshare.org.
AIRPORT IMPROVEMENTS:
Two energy projects worth noting: • Clinton County will receive $1.4M in U.S. Department of Transportation funds to replace existing incandescent lights along a taxiway with an energyefficient light-emitting diode system. • Griffiss International Airport in Oneida County is getting ready to install solar panels on the main hangar building. Solar walls preheat outdoor air to heat the building’s interior space for much of the winter, with expected savings of $50,000 a year.
SCENIC TRAIN:
Exciting news for Saratoga Springs: The long-awaited Saratoga & North Creek Railway is scheduled to make its first scenic excursion run this month. Importantly, the new service out of Saratoga Springs connects with Amtrak’s north/south service.
Meet the Board ANCA Board Spotlight Note: ANCA’s Board of Directors recently approved the nomination of three new members: Daniel Mason, Kelly Chezum and Jill Breit. We will be profiling them here and on our website, www.adirondack.org
7 PRESIDENT Stephen M. Erman — Regional Development Consultant and former Economic Advisor, Adirondack Park Agency
VICE PRESIDENT
A Q&A with Daniel Mason
John Bartow — Executive Director, Tug Hill Commission
Daniel Mason retired from Exxon Mobil in 2006, after more than 30 years with the company. His last position at Exxon Mobil was as a Manager for Process Control for all Exxon Mobil Refineries, of which there are more than 40. He led a group of global experts that were responsible for developing, testing, and certifying a new Process Control Infrastructure for refining and also enabled system rollout across the company (Refining and Chemicals). He holds a patent in Process Monitoring Technology and was a member of a 6-person team that assessed next generation options for “refining of the future,” including new control schemes and enhanced automation. Mason holds a degree in mechanical engineering from New Mexico State University where he focused on Solar Power. Mason lives in Keene, Essex County, and in addition to serving on ANCA’s board, he is on the board of East Branch Friends of the Arts.
TREASURER
How did you get involved with ANCA? “My family has over 100 years in the Park, I wanted to give back to the Park for all the enjoyment I have received from it.” What do you plan to do as an ANCA director? “My personal goal is to help, through ANCA’s initiatives, enable “green” lower cost heating and lower cost electricity via any and all options available to us. The story behind lower cost energy is simple but will require all of our residents to participate in ways that are best for themselves and their communities. I personally look forward to doing my best to make this happen.” What do you love about living in the Adirondack North Country region? “After traveling around the globe, there is not a better place to live.” If you could change anything about living here, what would it be? “I would like to see the region become self-sustaining in as many areas as possible, and as such, set an example for rural communities across the U.S.”
Dale G. Brown — Assistant Vice President and Manager, NBT Bank
SECRETARY Ross Whaley — Senior Advisor, Adirondack Landowners Association
CENTRAL REGION VICE PRESIDENT Richard R. Bird — Owner, Bird’s Marine and Adirondack Real Estate
NORTHERN REGION VICE PRESIDENT Paul M. Cantwell, Jr. – Attorney, Cantwell & Cantwell SOUTHEASTERN REGION VICE PRESIDENT Ron Montesi — Queensbury Town Board Member
WESTERN REGION VICE PRESIDENT Michele Ledoux — Executive Director, Lewis County Cornell Cooperative Extension Kelly Blazosky — President, Oneida County Tourism Jill Breit — Executive Director, Traditional Arts in Upstate New York Richard Burns — Manager, Community and Customer Management, National Grid Kelly Chezum — Vice President for External Relations, Clarkson University James T. Ellis — Former Principal, Tupper Lake High School Eugene T. Falvo — Vice President, Falvo Manufacturing Mike Farmer — Tourism/Publicity Director, Town of Webb Bruce Ferguson — Owner, Scott Hill Farm John C. Kiechle — Owner, Philadelphia Grass Company Howard Lowe — Assessment and Data Manager, Office of Sponsored Research and Programs, SUNY Plattsburgh Daniel Mason — Former Assistant Division Manager, Exxon Mobil Refineries Marti Mozdzier — Owner, Wilemar Associates Stephanie Ratcliffe — Executive Director, The Wild Center Alice Recore — President & CEO, Mountain Lake PBS Arnie Talgo — Tug Hill Commission member; former Senior Policy Analyst, New York Power Authority Patricia Tatich — Director, Warren County Planning Department Eric Virkler — Director, Lewis County Economic Development/Planning
About ANCA The Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) has a long history of providing innovative, grassrootsbased leadership for the Adirondack North Country, and creating strong and effective partnerships that provide direct support to program constituents. Since incorporation in 1955, ANCA has developed and managed programs across all 14 counties in Northern New York State, successfully ‘investing’ millions of dollars, mostly from federal and New York State grants as well as private funding, to build capacity and to support community economic development across the region. ANCA’s portfolio of programs, as well as its strengths in fostering dialogue and effective partnerships, bring together the many components that are needed to build stronger, more self-reliant and localized economies throughout the Adirondack North Country.
Our Vision Vibrant rural communities and resilient local economies where people and businesses thrive in a cherished environment ANCA organizes its work around 3 key interrelated goals, each one supported by strategic objectives and a portfolio of programs and projects. • Resilient local economies: provide the foundation for business development that will create family-sustaining jobs in rural communities, increase economic diversity, and build opportunities for the entire region to thrive as a more efficient, self reliant and localized economy, linked to the global economy, and protective of the region’s extraordinary natural environment • Vibrant communities: foster connections between communities and people, enable visitors and residents to fully experience the region’s abundant cultural and natural assets, empower and support the region’s artisans, farmers, and other local producers, and to encourage investment in community infrastructure and assets • Distinct sense of place: recognize and highlight the exceptional assets that make this region unique including the inter-relationship between its urban and rural communities and its vast natural areas, create a strong regional brand, and build the case for investment in the region
Contact Us 67 Main Street, Suite 201, Saranac Lake NY 12983 Main line: 518.891.6200 ANCA’s newsletter is emailed on the first Thursday of the month. Deadline for content is one week prior to publication. Send notices, announcements and other items to Melissa Hart, mhart@adirondack.org.
Adirondack North Country Association 67 Main Street, Suite 201 Saranac Lake NY 12983