Ncl spring 2018 final low res

NORTH COUNTRY LIVING MAGAZINE • VOL. 7 NO. 1

Vol. 7 No. 1

It’s Finally Spring!

Look inside for local stories, recipes, crafts and dining to help put some spring in your step

SPRING 2018

Rainbows

Rainbows provide rays of hope for orphaned Capital Region boy

A Barber’s Barber

97-year-old Ken Hyatt has been cutting hair and shaving faces for 69 years

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IN THIS ISSUE:

Table of Contents

COVER FEATURE BIOGRAPHY: A Barber's Barber

At 97 years of age, Ken Hyatt has been cutting hair and shaving faces for 69 years.

By Rich Redman

8

HOMEGROWN A Farm For The Future

By Rich Redman

22

VOLUNTEERS

26

Fire Fighter Honored For 50 Years

By Lohr McKinstry

VERMONT

34 Made In Vergennes: Building the Fighting USS Saratoga

Cooking With Kids: Egg Casserole

By Lou Varricchio

By Mikaela Foster

SPORTS & THE OUTDOORS

Pas De Deux, Essex County Arts & Crafts Festival Returns

Chestertown Man Brings Old Bows Back To Life

By Kim Dedam

By Christopher South

COOKING

78

48

ARTS & CULTURE

CRAFTS

80 It's Asparagus Season!

By Gayle Alexander

82 DIY Craft With Kids: Egg Shell Plants

By Mikaela Foster

VOL. 7 NO. 1

March/April/May

COVER FEATURE GIVING BACK: Rainbows For Robbie Movement Goes Viral

A capital region boy was suddenly orphaned, but rainbows provided rays of hope

By Sharon Cole/Further Contributions By Keith Lobdell

52

EYE ON BUSINESS

60

HISTORY

Silver Spruce Inn: A Country Inn With A Link To The Big Apple

A Light In The Darkness: Inside The Church Of The Good Thief

By Christopher South

By Elizabeth Izzo

CALENDAR

66

MANUFACTURING ADK Manufacturing Thrives In Westport

72

CONSERVATION The Salmon Man

By Rich Redman

By Kim Dedam

DINING

ON THE COVER

84 Adirondack Region Events Calendar

89 Local Restaurants and Eateries

Scenic photo of Schroon Lake by Sharron Tyrrell

l o ’ s r a C

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6 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 7 No. 1

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Homegrown When you turn on the local news or read the paper, you'd think Lake Champlain is a disastrous mess because of farming.

According to their reports, cow flatulence and manure are the leading causes of polluted air and water. From the ozone layer and global warming to blue green algae, they blame the farmer. We all share in this problem, not just the farmer.

In the Champlain Valley, we see farms every day. They're easy to blame, but no one seems to tell the story about what the farm community is doing to eliminate these problems.

As a retired agricultural conservationist who worked on the frontlines for nearly three decades, I know what has and is currently being done by our farmers to curb manure runoff, reduce erosion, protect streams, improve herd health, treat dirty water and keep the water clean.

Photo Provided

By Rich Redman

This is the story of just one farm and what they have done to improve the environment, survive the ups and downs of dairy farming and improve quality of life for both themselves and the younger generation they are raising, in hopes that someday, they may take over the Leerke’s Family Farm and work the land they cherish.

8 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 7 No. 1

Published by Sun Community News & Printing

THE HERITAGE In Ticonderoga, on the Delano Road, there is a blue barn — not an old red wooden barn, but a steel-sided blue one.

At this time the farm is run by Ben Leerke’s son, Erik Leerke, and his cousin Karl teRiele. But it wasn’t always that way.

The teRiele family immigrated to the United States from Holland in 1951. They settled in what was called the Saddleback area of Jay. Due to poor soils and boulders, the decision was made to find good growing soil, so they resettled in Ticonderoga, where they rented the Fort Ticonderoga farmland. Karl’s family broke American soil here first.

Ben Leerke’s mother was a teRiele, so the family tree is now growing on that lake-laid Vergennes silty clay soil.

Erik’s grandparents, Bernardus and Marie Leerkes, immigrated to the United States from Holland in 1956 with their eight children. Ben was 11 years old at the time.

Moving from Holland required a sponsor for the family. All the paperwork was required before they settled in their new country.

The ship docked Sept. 1, 1956, in Hoboken, New Jersey.

The family moved north to be with relatives. The original Leerke homestead and dairy farm was along the shores of Lake Champlain in Ticonderoga.

The farm land was needed by International Paper for their new facility and expansion, so it was sold in 1968.

Bernardus and Marie relocated to a new Delano Road property, and along with their son Bernard, they purchased additional land and constructed new facilities to upgrade to modern science based farming operations.

This is the present day blue barn site.

Bernard, or Benny as he is known, along with his wife Henderika (Henny), raised their own three children on the farm. Ben gradually took over as his father slowly retired from the farm operation. A farmer never really retires; he just takes a backseat management style, keeping an ever-seeing eye on things.

Benny, after taking over from his father, eventually grew the herd to 180 milking cows and the farmstead to 600 acres.

As time moved forward, as it always does, Ben’s son grew from a young farmhand into a young man. Ben’s son Erik, and his cousin, Karl teRiele, soon joined forces and became partners.

Today, Benny now keeps an everseeing eye on his family’s legacy as his son and nephew take over the management of this family farm. Ben handed down a farm of approximately 1,200 acres of owned and rented land, a herd of 180 milkers, and another 180 heifers and calves.

THE ECONOMICS As the dairy farm grew to support both families, pay the bills and survive in the fluctuating world of dairy prices, not all of the wants and needs of the farm became realities.

Milk prices rise and fall like the stock market.

Planning ahead is great when you know what your costs and income will be. But feed and energy costs rise and fall, and income on a dairy farm is based on the milk price of the month. It can change rapidly from month to month and from season to season. In economic terms, it’s supply and demand.

Like any household, when income is low, the priorities change. When the income is up, things get caught up and hopefully the milk price stays high enough to get ahead. Famers know the price will drop once again.

THE BUSINESS OF FARMING CAN BE BRUTAL. It takes a strong family to ride the ups and downs of the dairy business, and the Leerkes family is just that.

Published by Sun Community News & Printing

Vol. 7 No. 1 | North Country Living Magazine | 9

The business of farming can be brutal.

It takes a strong family to ride the ups and downs of the dairy business, and the Leerkes family is just that.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT As environmental concerns grew nationally, more emphasis was put on water quality.

Both the state and federal government were looking at soil erosion, the loss of wetlands, manure runoff and associated pollution caused by farming practices.

The 1985 Farm Bill, known as the sod and swamp buster program, tied farm benefits such as support payments to environmental concerns. Erosion control and wetlands were now concerns that farmers had to deal with, or they faced losing benefits.

Wetlands were no longer able to be drained and cropped. Erosion levels on farm land could not exceed tolerable levels. Crop rotations were planned to provide adequate feed for the farm along with reducing erosion and runoff.

The water quality of nearby streams and lakes were evaluated, programs were put into place to assist farmers to reduce manure runoff, store manure, treat agricultural waste before it left the farm, improve feed quality, help reduce farm overhead costs and increase profitability.

Government involvement was contentious to say the least, sometimes

10 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 7 No. 1

even hostile, especially if you lived in the Adirondacks where the APA has jurisdiction.

The future of farming was changing, and Ben Leerkes realized that in order to stay farming, he needed to be proactive in solving any environmental problems caused by the farm.

As an Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, (now Farm Service Agency), county representative and Farm Bureau president he saw that the future of farming was changing. Environmental concerns were now a big issue that every farmer had to deal with and they needed to get involved.

Both Ben and Erik are on the Farm Bureau Board of Essex County and Karl teRiele is a board member of the local soil and water office.

THE CONSERVATION SOLUTION Ben is a leader, not a follower.

The farm signed up for state and federal environmental programs that cost-shared conservation practices to reduce the negative impact of farming.

The Soil Conservation Service, now Natural Resource Conservation Service, and the Essex County Soil and Water Conservation District, offered cost share and technical assistance to get the conservation practices applied to the land and farming operation.

A manure storage pit was built to keep manure from being spread on frozen ground and to save the nutrient value of the manure so it would benefit a growing crop.

A concrete push ramp was built to allow manure to be scraped from the barn to the pit during subzero weather when the hopper had the potential to freeze up during North Country winters. Cold winds blow in the Champlain Valley.

The milk house waste was piped to the pit to eliminate any runoff to nearby streams.

A concrete barnyard, with roof runoff channels and piping to keep the clean water clean were installed along with a second manure pit which was built as the farm grew in cow numbers.

As the farm turned to rotational grazing to feed the cows during the pasture season, fencing, stream crossings and riparian buffers were installed to keep the cows out of the stream and to provide a filter for any runoff to the stream.

The buffers also provided aquatic protection and wildlife habitat.

Ben and his son Eric installed miles of fence and planted thousands of trees to protect the waters.

Grazing kept cropland in sod, reducing erosion and runoff. The actively growing grasses and legumes captured the manure and urine that was

Published by Sun Community News & Printing

welfare, manure management, pesticide use and other environmental issues bear down on the farm families as they try to maintain a personal life — like raising a family, attending the kid’s ball games and being part of the community.

directly deposited onto the sod. This also reduced the amount of manure in the storage pits, reducing fuel and hauling costs to spread manure.

Grazing reduced milk production, but the cost of producing milk was decreased, so profitability actually improved.

For the Leerke’s farm in Ticonderoga, it has been a challenge to ride the up and down milk markets, comply with environmental laws, to be proactive and ahead of the curve.

The last phases of a government contract to install three more farm conservation practices were recently completed. A coverall barn was built to house the calves. This reduced manure runoff from the calf hutches and the housing created a much easier life for the animals and the employees.

It’s not easy, but this remarkable family hangs in there during the tough times and look to have a farm of the future.

The barn was warmer in winter, brighter inside due to the greenhouse effect of the plastic covering.

A water line and electric power topped off the job, to make taking care of the animals easier, and to provide a cleaner environment for the animals.

Heifers that were kept on a winter feeding area were moved to a newly constructed open front barn. The manure pit was enlarged to handle the heifer manure that is scraped from this new barn.

A stone-lined waterway was installed to eliminate erosion from field run off during heavy rains and spring runoff.

Conservation is not cheap. It costs money to achieve environmental goals.

Ben Leerke’s estimates that over $350,000 dollars were spent on conservation practices to keep the clean water clean.

Published by Sun Community News & Printing

As the farm changes, more will be done to reduce any negative impacts. It was stated that $5,000 per cow is invested in the farm.

Recently the farm has been selected to be part of the NYS MESONET emergency weather warning system. There is a weather station located on the farm where anyone can contact the station and gain access to information such as the air and soil temperatures, wind speed and velocity, and predicted weather patterns. Knowing what's in store weather wise helps farmers plan for planting and harvesting crops.

Farming is a tough business. Milk pricing, weather, crop loss, animal

This is only one of New York’s Champlain Valley farms that are doing their best to keep the clean water clean.

There are many more farms, both large and small doing conservation work to improve our environment.

Many people look to the resurgence of small farms as being the answer. Small farms feed the neighborhood and supply some foods locally. That is very good.

Someone once told me that every family should have a cow in their backyard to supply them with milk and cheese. That’s a nice thought, but what do you do in New York City, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Houston and countless other urban areas?

The reality is that it’s the larger family farms, like the Leerke’s Dairy Farm, that feed the country and the world.

Vol. 7 No. 1 | North Country Living Magazine | 11

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We invite you to discover the allure of Ticonderoga, NY where the possibilities are boundless for outdoor enthusiasts, history buffs, and travelers. Explore our historical landmarks in addition to our industrial past and discover the significant role we played in 18th Century military history. Adventurers can navigate our waterways, traverse the Adirondacks, enjoy our hiking, biking and scenic beauty, and camp under the stars.

Plan your trip by visiting our website or call 1-518-585-6677 for more information about events, places to go, things to do, and where to stay. www.townofticonderoga.org The Town of Ticonderoga looks forward to your visit.

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Biography

16 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 7 No. 1

Published by Sun Community News & Printing

By Rich Redman At 25 years old, the young man had

Kenneth Owen Hyatt was born in his

seen more of the world than many would see in a life time.

family’s house on Moon Hill in Moriah on

Those eyes saw things that no man should see.

He had made it through the second World War and was ready for a new life.

Memories of landing on Omaha Beach, Day 3, in Normandy, France and the Battle of the Bulge would remain with him a lifetime.

April 30, 1920.

As a young man he cut pulpwood in Newcomb with Finch Pryun, drove a truck and worked construction assisting in the building of the Fisher Hill Mine operation, where the Moriah Shock Camp now stands.

In 1941 he was called up to serve his country.

The growing population and returning vets meant an endless supply of heads that needed haircuts. Ken seized the opportunity to become independent and the GI Bill made it happen.

The Barber School in New York City was his next duty station.

Moving down to the city was a change from living in Port Henry, but it was only for six months of schooling.

His school location was in the Bowery section of New York, which was not a high class neighborhood. In fact it was home to many of the city’s bums, now a politically incorrect term. It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor, if you have hair, you will need a haircut, and Ken learned on many-a bum’s head!

In the beginning, as the rookie barbers were learning the trade, he said the bums looked worse leaving than when they came in. The bums didn’t care, the haircut was free.

After six months of barber school, Ken moved back to Essex County, where he apprenticed for two years under a Ticonderoga barber until he could start his own shop in Port Henry.

His shop was on Main Street in Port Henry, where a bedroom was converted to a Barber Shop. Ken was married and started producing some of his own baby boomers.

As a U.S. Army veteran, with Battery B 225th AAA Signal Branch, he served his country in the Rhineland, Central Europe, Normandy and northern France as a search light operator.

Search lights strafed the skies for German bombers and Luftwaffe fighters, whose pilots were always on the lookout for Allied soldiers to kill.

This man’s job was to light them up.

Once spotted, anti-aircraft could open fire, taking out what was left of Hitler’s swastika-clad Nazi forces before the Allied Armies took Munich, Hamburg and Berlin, ending the war!

Ken Hyatt earned a World War II victory medal, a Good Conduct medal, and a European African Middle Eastern Campaign medal with four bronze service stars.

He spent his last month in the Army serving in Munich; Occupied Germany, as it was called until his discharge.

Ken’s life had changed during those years and once he was back on American soil, he knew he needed more out of life.

The GI Bill could give him an opportunity to broaden his skills and become an independent business owner.

America was prosperous!

The mines in Moriah were producing iron ore, forests produced wood products for the housing boom and farms were supplying American families with nutritious food to feed the children that were being mass produced by the GIs returning home.

Yes, the seeds of life were being planted by returning vets, big time! Life in America looked exciting.

An addition was added to the front of the house in the early 1950s, where the present day barber shop exists today.

Walking into his barber shop is like walking into history. It’s not spiffy, up to date or snazzy with glitz and glamour. It’s a blue collar, working man’s barber shop.

While I was there getting my story information, I had a chance to see a farmer from Vermont come over for a clean cut, a local restaurant owner from Port Henry come in for a clip job, and a farmer from Lewis come in to get cleaned up head-wise.

The world’s problems get solved when you sit in a barber chair and chat with a historian.

It’s a great place to hang out and solve all the politics and worldly issues, while country music plays in the background.

Ken is an easygoing guy and keeps the conversation going.

At 97 years of age, he has been cutting hair and shaving faces for 69 years now,

and is still going, not as strong as he used to be but strong for a man of 97. He may be a bit slower, and uses a walker to help get around, but once he gets his clipper going, he means business.

Dressed in his white and blue smock, his scissors start snipping and the clippers clip while hair falls to the old tiled floor.

In the past Ken cut hair at many of the boy’s and girl’s camps around the Adirondacks, such as Camp Adirondack in Glenburnie and Camp Baco in Minerva.

His record for brush-cuts is over 100 heads in a day at Camp Baco.

Ken said these days most of the hair he sees is gray. His clients are all above 40 now, with most much older. In fact his oldest loyal client is Mr. Irwin Barber of Westport. Yes, he is a Barber’s barber!

Times have changed. It used to be that the fathers took their sons to get a haircut at the barber shop, a step towards manhood. Now it’s the moms who take the kids to a stylist. Women have taken over the hairstyling business and men are phasing out as barbers.

Barbers cut hair and shave faces, stylists wash, color, groom and blow dry heads these days.

When Ken was in Europe, he said many of the kids there had long hair. It was when the Beatles invaded America in the early 60s that things changed here.

The Beatles brought new music and a

new look to America. Many-a barber shop went out of business when long hair became the style.

Time seems to stop or at least slow down for a while when you’re in the shop.

It’s a good feeling being in that barber

Like life, things change and short hair is back, but the stylists have taken over and the snazzy shops get the customers.

shop.

Ken’s shop has nine chairs for waiting customers and he mentioned that at one time, they would all be filled. In fact, he said there were five barber shops in Port Henry, including one in Mineville and one in Moriah Corners.

going.

In between customers, when things get a little slow, Ken brings out his mandolin and plays a few bluegrass tunes to keep his fingers nimble. He said he has no arthritis so he can keep on picking those eight octave strings! “You gotta keep moving,” he told me!

as your gray hair falls to the floor.

When you sit in the antique duct taped and tattered Emil J. Paider barber chair that was made in Chicago, Illinois, your view is of downtown Port Henry.

You see the pulse of the town as people shop, pump gas, do their banking and stroll through town. The traffic never stops.

Hula girls dance on the front window shelf of the shop once the sun gets them A relative in Putnam brings up a solar toy every time she brings her husband to town for a haircut as a gift.

You get to watch the hula girl’s dance

The

barber

pole

spins

outside

announcing the shop is open for business.

Inside, photos of family feature the present, while old signs, and a map of Europe where Ken’s brother traveled during the second World War hang in silent memory of a past time.

The shop hasn’t changed in years, and there is no reason to. It is unique, just like the man!

So if you’re out for a drive and decide you need to slow down a bit, and see life from a barber’s point of view, stop in and see Ken. You will enjoy a trip back in time, have a wonderful talk and get a haircut from an American veteran of life!

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Photos Provided/Photos By Lohr McKinstry

Volunteers

22 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 7 No. 1

Published by Sun Community News & Printing

(Top) North Hudson firefighter and former chief Donald Dresser holds the awards he received for 50 years in the fire service at North Hudson Volunteer Fire Department. (Bottom Right) North Hudson Fire Chief Brian Caza (right) congratulates Donald Dresser on a half century in the fire service. (Bottom Left) Essex County Emergency Services Director Donald Jaquish (right) presents Donald Dresser with a firefighting award from the county.

By Lohr McKinstry

Donald Dresser has served on the North Hudson Volunteer Fire Department in many capacities, including chief, for half a century.

The 80-year-old firefighter said things have changed a lot since he started.

“The first firefighting school was in 1967,” he said. “We went to Minerva. Now they tell you to go back and learn on your own equipment. And they give you more hours of training now.”

Dresser was North Hudson’s fire chief from 1981 to 2002, and is now on the department’s board of directors. He had open heart surgery a couple of years ago, and had to scale back his activities, he said.

He also served for 16 years as a member of the North Hudson Town Council.

North Hudson Town Supervisor Ron Moore praised Dresser for his many accomplishments.

He said he’s a big supporter of firesuppression foam, which can douse a blaze quickly.

“The fire department has been a very big part of his life and he has given a lot to the community,” Moore said.

“My first experience with foam was in Newcomb,” he said. “They had a wall of foam you could walk through. I’ve been for foam ever since. When you lay it, you’re out.”

The North Hudson Fire Department has had a lot of calls, Dresser said.

He said North Hudson carries a supply of foam.

Smoke detectors came in decades ago, and he bought one, but they were initially expensive, he said.

“Somebody came around and sold them and they were $600,” he said. “I still have one I bought and it works.

“If it saves your life and your home, it’s well worth the cost,” he concluded.

The department responded to over 100 last year, he said, partly because they cover a section of the Adirondack Northway interstate.

He said in 1993 he supported the state’s Length of Service Award program, which gives volunteer firefighters a cash payment when they reach 55 to 65 years of age.

“I had a chance to get the fire awards program that (then) Gov. Mario Cuomo got,” he said. “You were able to buy back five years.

It’s helped keep this department going.”

Firefighters must earn at least 50 points a year under the program, he said, and receive payouts from a fire district fund when they retire.

The program, which fire districts or companies can opt into, offers financial rewards to volunteers based upon the longevity of their service.

“That’s the best thing I did for the company, to keep it together,” Dresser said.

Current North Hudson Fire Chief Brian Caza said the company relies on Dresser.

“He is very much an asset for this department,” he said. “Anything we need, any function, he’s a part of to help.”

Caza was elected fire chief when Dresser stepped down.

Essex County Emergency Services Director

Donald

Jaquish

presented

Dresser with an award from the county for his service.

“Don has been a mainstay in that department for many decades,” Jaquish said. “He’s held them together and he’s done so much for them.”

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Vol. 7 No. 1 | North Country Living Magazine | 25

Arts & Culture

Essex County Arts & Crafts Festival returns

Local Artists Cast Double Feature at Essex County Fairgrounds and Floral Hall

By Kim Dedam

26 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 7 No. 1

The newly established Essex County Arts & Craft Festival returns this summer, times two.

One day is in July, astride Westport’s July 4th holiday weekend; the second is in August, midweek, at the historic Floral Hall at Essex County’s fairground.

The spacious and serene hall welcomes artists, craftspeople and makers who share their talents with curious and interested visitors. The space and time give chance for festival goers to meet and talk about their crafts.

The first edition last year drew widespread interest to Lake Champlain’s Westport shores.

And to organizer and founder Charles Russell, the event proved a fete of artistry.

“Last year we had a great mix — fine art painters, all who have local reputations and some that exhibit nationally: painters in oil, acrylics, water colors, creators of abstractions, local scenes, surrealist figures and suggested narrative," he said.

"We had photographers of the natural

world and landscape; a maker of handmade primitive hooked rugs; weavers, knitters, and sewers of blankets, quilts, shawls, and clothing; an established potter whose domestic productions draw their decorative imagery from the natural world; a rustic furniture maker; a master builder of exquisite guitars; highly accomplished jewelers; basket makers; a candlemaker and a creator of soaps and lotions; creators of note cards bearing personally-worked painted, printed, or photographed images, even the archetypal grandmother who knits lovely creations for her grandchildren — and the general public!”

The primary goal was to expand public use of the historic, well-placed Essex County Fairgrounds.

“We want it to be a place where county residents can come for both recreation and discovery,” Russell said.

“We also want to help the residents whose economic well-being could be supported by their introducing — and selling — their products to the general public.

Photos by Charles Russell

pas de deux,

The light and airy confines of Floral Hall on Essex County’s fairgrounds provides a storied site for upcoming Essex County Arts & Crafts Festival.

“We achieved a greater reach the first year than we expected,” Russell said.

“Because it was a first time affair, we tried to poll attendees and the purchasers about where they live. It turned out that they resided in 22 different states and lived in 109 different zip codes.”

The Arts & Crafts Festival also drew widespread attention from artisans.

“We started the Arts & Crafts Festival recognizing that the artists and craftspeople who live in just about every town in Essex County might welcome the opportunity to display their work and sell it," he said.

“Many live in the western and southern areas of the county. We were pleased that the majority of exhibitors were not from the immediate surround. They got to display their work to new audiences.”

BassRock Guitar artisan Eric Bright builds acoustic guitars from logs to lyrics.

The instruments are custom-crafted from local wood, some from Adirondack red spruce harvested from sinkers, or

boom logs, that did not finish the slow, staggered passage over Schroon Lake in famed Adirondack logging drives.

The guitars Bright builds are inlaid with beautiful, carefully selected slices of burl and pearl accents.

The Essex County Arts & Crafts Festival was a new addition to the Schroon Lake-based luthier who does a fair bit of summer display and playing.

the hand-crafted works of beauty that the artists of Essex County create.”

Organizers do not jury the event.

It remains open for all local artists and crafters to participate.

“We want the festivals to give every serious artist/crafter an opportunity,” Russell said.

Traffic at the fairgrounds in its first year brought some good new buyers, he said.

“I’m looking at how many contacts I’m making,” Bright explained.

And he plans to return to both Essex County festivals this year.

“We are giving the exhibitors the option to present at either one or both,” Russell said of the two-part series.

“So far, everyone who has signed up has chosen both days, 60 percent participated last year, 40 percent are new. The focus of both days is the same: giving the opportunity for people to see

The 2018 Essex County Arts and Crafts Festivals will be held at Essex County Fairgrounds on Friday, July 6, which marks the start of Westport’s July 4th weekend celebrations.

The second date is Wednesday, Aug. 1, a mid-week event planned at the height of the summer guest season.

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32 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 7 No. 1

Published by Sun Community News & Printing

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Shipbuilders Adam and Noah Brown of New York City began their illustrious career in 1804 at a shipyard located in a marshy area where today’s Cherry and Clinton streets meet right along Manhattan’s East River shore.

The brothers learned their trade as carpenters and then applied their talents to the lucrative business of building merchant sailing vessels. But when a second war against Great Britain broke out in 1812, they offered their services to the fledgling U.S. government to build new warships, especially on the Great Lakes and northern waterways.

Early in the War of 1812, the brothers built several men-of-war at their Manhattan outfitters — the USS General, USS (John) Paul Jones and USS Yorktown, among others.

But in short order, Adam and Noah were summoned by Uncle Sam to the northern border to quickly build several large, lakegoing warships on Lake Erie, as a British fleet was already plying the giant lake.

But in early 1814, the brothers were ordered by the government to return east to the Vermont border with British Canada.

There, the brothers were to immediately begin the construction of a squadron of warships for the U.S. Navy’s rising star, Captain Thomas Macdonough.

34 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 7 No. 1

Published by Sun Community News & Printing

BUILDING THE FIGHTING

USS SARATOGA

A possible profile of Macdonough's flagship USS Saratoga.

Published by Sun Community News & Printing

Vol. 7 No. 1 | North Country Living Magazine | 35

“...SHE LOOKED MUCH LIKE A VESSEL BUILT FOR

BATTLE ON THE SEVEN SEAS"

Having just departed the famous USS Constellation (the U.S. Navy’s oldest ship still on display in historic Baltimore) in June 1812 as second lieutenant, Macdonough got a promotion and reassignment four months later to Burlington on Lake Champlain.

The young master had a tall order to fill as American’s Second War of Independence (as it was then called) erupted: rebuild a Lake Champlain fleet not seen since Benedict Arnold’s Revolutionary War undertaking.

Macdonough took command of two sloops, the USS Growler (which was later captured on the lake and renamed HMS Finch by ill-fated British Captain George Downie) and USS Eagle, both moored at Vergennes. The next task was to summon the Browns after their work for the U.S. Navy on Lake Erie wrapped up.

Macdonough laid out the plans to build his fleet with a fast, sleek flagship; it would be a corvette which he already planned to christen USS Saratoga. He also wanted the Browns to build him a new USS Eagle (II) and — in a strange reversal of maritime engineering — turn one of America’s first commercial steamships, S.S. Ticonderoga, into the military schooner, USS Ticonderoga (whose wooden ribs are now on display in Whitehall, New York).

Work on Macdonough’s flagship got underway in the Vergennes basin on March 7, 1814.

Named after the twin 1777 battles in nearby New York, the Saratoga had a displacement of over 700 tons, was 146 feet long, with a beam of over 36 feet and a draft of 12 feet; she was ideal for the shallow water of Otter Creek or sailing craftily close to the lakeshore if need be.

With a compliment of 212 men, 18 cannons and eight big guns, America’s first USS Saratoga was big and it was loaded for bear. In fact, she was so well built that she looked much like a vessel built for battle on the seven seas.

Meanwhile, at the north end of Lake Champlain, up the Richeleau River at Île aux Noix, Saratoga’s match was also under construction: the similarsized warship HMS Confiance, under the command of H.M. Capt. George Downie, a veteran of Gibraltar, was every bit the contender for commanding international access to Lake Champlain.

Photos Provided

A native of Delaware, Macdonough had inspected the deep basin of the Otter Creek, located just below the falls at Vergennes. A small yard was already established and Macdonough’s soundings of the creek showed it was an excellent place to launch ships on Lake Champlain, well hidden from British spy vessels trespassing on the American lake.

Photo by Teah Dowling

(Map) A map showing the location of the 1814 Battle of Plattsburgh's maritime phase in Lake Champlain. (Left) Captain Thomas Macdonough portrait. (Top Left) Granger's famous 19th century illustration of action on the deck of the USS Saratoga during 1814 battle. (Top Right) An artist's view of the Vergennes shipyard during the War of 1812. Haas painting courtesy of the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. (Bottom Left) The USS Saratoga (center) emerges after its victorious lake battle in 1814. (Bottom Right) The anchor from the HMS Confiance, a British ship used in the Battle of Plattsburgh, sits in Plattsburgh City Hall in New York. A 40-foot-long replica of the victorious USS Saratoga, a playhouse for children, stands nearby. The original fighting vessel was built in the Otter Creek shipyard in Vergennes.

The Browns were tasked with first building Macdonough’s flagship to be named the USS Saratoga — the first vessel of its type to bear the proud name of fighting ships named Saratoga.

Called a corvette, USS Saratoga was 143 feet long, sleek and loaded with guns and cannon. It was launched on April 11, 1814 where it began its duty on the lake, patrolling for British. Aside from a few minor incidents, the Saratoga did not see battle until a few months later. On Sept. 11, it took part in the maritime phase of the Battle of Plattsburgh.

According to the Dictionary of Naval Fighting, “on the morning of 11 Sept., when (His Majesty’s) Commodore George Downie led the British squadron around Cumberland Head (on Lake Champlain), Macdonough was ready. As British brig HMS Linne approached firing range, she opened the action with a salvo toward USS

Saratoga. All but one of the projectiles fell short; and that solid shot was all but spent as it landed on the American corvette, bounced across her deck and smashed a wooden poultry cage freeing a gamecock.

The indignant rooster took to his wings and landed in the rigging. Facing the British warships, the cock defiantly called out challenge to battle. Macdonough himself aimed a long 24-pounder at the bow of HMS Confiance, pulled the lanyard firing Saratoga’s first round and gave the signal, ‘close action!’ The shot cut the British flagship’s anchor cable, ripped up her deck and smashed her helm. Then, all the American ships opened fire.”

Macdonough’s great victory in Plattsburg Bay forced the British fleet to retreat to Canada. Even though the Dec. 24, 1814 signing of the Treaty of Ghent ended hostilities in this, the second and final phase of America’s move toward

total independence from Great Britain, the fighting continued until Feb. 18, 1815.

After the great Lake Champlain engagement, Macdonough was given various commands including that of the USS Constitution in 1824. But the commander had contracted tuberculosis, and he grew weaker by the month; eventually, he gave up command of the Constitution. He died aboard a ship at Gibraltar in 1825 at the age of 41.

What became of Macdonough’s USS Saratoga? Following the Battle of Plattsburgh it was laid up at South Bay in Whitehall, New York and later sold for scrap—the same year Macdonough passed away across the Atlantic.

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Vol. 7 No. 1 | North Country Living Magazine | 39

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40 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 7 No. 1

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RAINBOWS MOVEMENT

This story was originally written by Sharon Cole and featured in Capital District Parent Pages, a Spotlight Publication. Portions of the story have been used, with permission, with further contribution from Keith Lobdell.

put it in the comments. Then he can see rainbows around the world.”

That was the reason why Crystal Skawinski took to Facebook one afternoon in July — just to help a little boy, named Robbie Ecuyer, realize he was not alone after losing both his parents before his 10th birthday.

OVER THE RAINBOW BRIDGE

“This was Robbie outside in the rain hoping to see a rainbow,” Skawinski said in the post. “He’s been told his parents have gone over the rainbow bridge and he looks for them eagerly. Robbie is autistic. I love showing him rainbows so if anyone has any rainbow pics (especially double rainbows) you can always message me or 42 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 7 No. 1

“Every single thing that meant something to him, he lost in 22 days at 9 years old,” said Skawinski. “Robbie’s mom, my sister, passed away after a long battle with gasteoparisis and cystic fibrosis on May 2. Her husband, Robbie’s father, died of an overdose on May 24.”

The majority of Robbie’s life was spent at the hospital visiting his mother.

become the legal guardian of Ecuyer and lives with him and her family in Cohoes.

When Robbie’s dad knew that his wife did not have much time to live, he started the Rainbow Bridge story, borrowed from the popular kids television show “Dora the Explorer.”

He would explain to Robbie that Mommy was going to go there.

So when she died, and a rainbow covered his school, it was comforting to Robbie: she’d went over it to heaven.

In Robbie’s world, that was just where his mom went whenever she wasn’t with him.

that she made it,” Skawinski said. “It was a

According to Skawinski, who has

double rainbow, as well, making it a bridge.”

“That was her sign, letting Robbie know

Published by Sun Community News & Printing

Photos Provided

It started as a plea to let a young boy know he was not alone.

ROBBIE GOES VIRAL FOR

Then, 22 days later, his father passed.

Each time it rained afterward, Robbie would look skyward for his rainbow “gifts of love.” One day, however, he ran outside to a clearing sky, but no rainbow.

Skawinski said at that moment, her heart ached for a child whose face was confused and hurt.

“Robbie asked for so little, just a sign he wasn’t forgotten.”

RAINBOW CONNECTION The emotion of the moment pushed Skawinski into action, going to social media with a plea for help, which included the hashtag, #rainbowsforrobbie.

Published by Sun Community News & Printing

She hoped that some of her friends would send a few rainbow pictures to cheer him up.

Then the post went viral. Robbie started receiving rainbows from around the world. One rainbow came in from Hawaii. In Iowa, a farmer turned on his irrigation system and sent pictures of the rainbow made from the mist. Strangers from Las Vegas to London were touched by this little boy who had lost everything.

Everything but hope.

Skawinski said she would be making a scrapbook of the rainbows she received, asking for senders to tell her the state or country where they were sending from.

However, while the search for rainbows started to help Robbie feel better, it also helped her. She'd also suffered the loss of her sister and brother-in-law.

“I can honestly say that without these rainbows, I think this whole situation would be very different,” she said. “The rainbows have brought so much love and light to our hearts and our home. To think that people are eagerly searching for rainbows just so they can show Robbie is just so heartwarming.”

She added that out of darkness, Robbie brought light, and he has been the glue holding her together.

Vol. 7 No. 1 | North Country Living Magazine | 43

"I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT

WITHOUT THESE RAINBOWS, I THINK THIS WHOLE SITUATAION WOULD BE

VERY DIFFERENT."

MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH TOGETHER Because Robbie’s mom had been sick since before he was born, his early life was not filled with the usual childhood experiences.

His parents were unable to expose him to different environments, or even people, due to his mother’s weak immune system.

When she wasn’t in the hospital, his mom wanted Robbie all to herself.

Because of his autism, Robbie doesn’t always distinguish reality from fantasy.

He still watches “Dora the Explorer” every night and can recite each episode.

“He tells a lot of stories which sometimes I think he thinks are true,” said Skawinski.

Robbie also remembers what he now misses. He continues, at times, to believe his mom is in the hospital and his dad is at work. He sometimes asks if they are going to wake back up. During those moments, his aunt reminds him of the rainbow bridge.

Along with Skawinski, who Robbie is now calling “mom,” he has a new sister and brother — Brianna and Zachary, ages 19 and 11 respectively — who have welcomed their new little brother with open arms.

he never had a chance to, and I want him to grow and do things he never would have done,” said Skawinski.

When asked about the challenges and rewards of bringing Robbie into their family, Skawinski is reflective. Her greatest concern is learning about the various colors and shades of autism to help Robbie grow to his fullest potential.

Despite limited resources, Skawinski is determined. To this end, she has started a GoFundMe page to help send Robbie and his new family to Disney World.

As for the rewards, they are many.

“The most joyous thing for me is knowing that I have fulfilled my sister’s wishes, and gave her son a home,” she said. “He brings so many smiles to my face everyday.

“God has a plan,” she added. “He chose me. I’ll do the best I can every step of the way, even when it’s not easy.”

FUNDRAISER STARTED “I want him to experience the things

That includes playing sports, joining the high school band and traveling.

At press time, the page (gofundme. com/3xkazgg) had garnered more than half of the $10,000 goal.

“We want to make new memories as a whole family,” Skawinski said on the page.

“If we do not make enough to take us all to Disney, then we will take a smaller vacation or keep saving until we do have enough. Thank you to everyone who donated! We appreciate your kindness.”

Throughout it all, Skawinski said that the family will continue to be together and take things as they come.

“One step at a time.”

(Top) A photo of a double rainbow sent from Fran Navarro, which she took in Argentina and sent through the #rainbowsforrobbie hashtag. (Bottom Left) Robbie Ecuyer, 10, lost his parents last year to different causes. His aunt, Crystal Skawinski, has been taking care of him since, and helped start the #rainbowsforrobbie movement, which went viral. (Bottom Middle) Robbie Ecuyer, 10, with his aunt and new family over the holidays. (Bottom Right) Crystal Skawinksi posted this photo of Robbie Ecuyer, age 9 at the time, looking for a rainbow after a storm. Robbie was told by his father a rainbow was a sign he and his mother had crossed their bridge to Heaven, a story taken from “Dora the Explorer.”

44 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 7 No. 1

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Sports & The Outdoors

furniture restoration, combined with love of archery, creates niche artisanship

By Christopher South

Stuart Johnstone's father loved archery.

And when Johnstone was in the first grade, he saught to pass that on to him. His father made him a lemon wood bow and took him took out roving in the late 1940s — shooting arrows at stumps near the Jonestones' home in Richfield, Connecticut.

Nearly 50 years later, Johnstone visited a secondhand shop and reconnected with those childhood memories. On a shelf there, he found another lemon wood bow, just like the one his father had made.

That discovery, combined with his background in furniture restoration, led Johnstone to developing a skill for repairing damaged bows, which he continues to do from his Chestertown shop.

As a teenager he bought what he considered his first real bow, a recurve. A recurve has limbs (ends) that curve away from the archer when unstrung, and carry more energy than a straight bow.

He would take it hunting for pheasants and rabbits and was getting good, but at some point he got a car and a girlfriend and he put away archery for about 40 years.

chestertown man brings

Photos by Christopher South

Johnstone had a strong interest in archery when he was a kid, and won his fist Boy Scout merit badge in archery when he was young.

OLD BOWS BACK 48 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 7 No. 1

Published by Sun Community News & Printing

By 1995, Johnstone had worked a couple of brief stints as an art teacher, worked in construction restoring buildings, worked in the printing trades, and restored antique furniture.

In 2001 he again won a gold medal for his age group in state competition.

He then set his sights on making the Olympic recurve bow team or becoming a national champion.

It was at that time that he decided to focus entirely on restoring furniture, which led him to attempt to restore a wooden bow.

“I was told I would never do it; that I would be competing with guys in their 20s,” Johnstone said.

It wasn't until 1998, while traveling to the Cooperstown Museum, when he found that lemon wood bow in a secondhand shop and rekindled his childhood passion.

In 2003 he competed in the U.S. National Senior Olympics held in Virginia and won first place in the over-50 age category.

“I bought it, and that started me on a trip I’ve been on ever since,” Johnstone said.

He bought a bow and some arrows at a flea market in Tupper Lake and he started to practice on his own, and later with a guy on Schroon River Road named Al Manning, who used to shoot a compound bow.

After he had been practicing for a while, Johnstone entered a tournament in Vorheesville, and won first place in the bare bow category.

The tournament was the first time he ever saw an Olympic recurve bow.

“My next mission was to get a bow I could set up like an Olympic recurve. I decided to get the equipment I needed and start competing,” Johnstone said.

In 1998 he bought a 1969 Hoyt ProMedalist bow, cut down some trees and set up a 100-yard range. He practiced until he entered the Empire State Senior Games tournament in Syracuse. He didn't even finish in the top ten.

“I didn’t have a true Olympic set-up.

Another guy there told me, ‘You can’t compete coming here with a bicycle, when we all have cars,’” he said.

Johnstone got another bow he could set up as an Olympic-style bow, and that same year he won his first gold medal at the 1999 Empire State Senior Games, again in Syracuse.

“When that happened I thought, ‘I’m a contender,’” he said.

Since then he has won 75 to 100 archery awards, and has been ranked in the top two in the state of New York.

Now, 74, he still shoots for the Hudson Falls Fish & Game Club, although he said he has been fading over the last 10 years.

“Age has a lot to do with it,” he said. “And there is always someone better than you.”

Johnstone competed in the Guan-hoha Vegas Tournament in Scotia, Feb. 18, and came in second, missing first by two points.

“You know, at 90 meters, if you're off by a sixteenth of an inch it becomes two feet at the target,” he said. “And you're shooting against 20- and 30-year-olds — sometimes teenagers.”

FROM USING WOODEN BOWS TO RESTORING THEM

With that in mind, Johnstone normally sticks to restoring bows made from the 1960s to mid 1970s.

He highlighted his work in his book titled “The Golden Age of Recurves: Target Bows of the 1960s and 1970s,” which was printed in 2017 and contains photos of 68 bows.

Johnstone said during that time period, when archery was at its height of popularity, a lot of exotic woods were used to make bows, and he repairs them all.

“I can fix broken limbs, fill holes, etc.,” he said. “There could be only a couple of us in the country who restore bows, however, there are many refinishers.”

He is self-taught, and because of his experience restoring furniture, he knows what to do to repair wooden bows.

“The objective is to get the bow to look the way it was when it was brand new,” he said.

Johnstone referred to replacing a piece of bubinga, an exotic hardwood, in the riser or handle portion of a bow.

Some people aren't careful when adding accessory pieces to a bow. That sometimes adds another element to restoration.

“I was experienced in restoring things, so I started restoring bows, and I have been doing that about 20 years,” Johnstone said.

“I get them looking like people used a chainsaw or a jackhammer on it. People will drill a hole to put in a stabilizer or a sight, which I repair to make it to where there is no indication there was any hole there,” he said.

“I fix holes, repair cracks, replace missing lamination, fix breaks, and then do the finish work. I will regrain the piece to make it look natural or airbrush over filled hole.”

Since the 1950s, bows have been made with fiberglass over a wood core, sometimes in combination with carbon, which is the modern building method.

Johnstone said the fiberglass used on bows will get stress cracks, and he cleans the cracks, fills and paints them to match the surrounding fiberglass.

Johnstone started picking up used, wooden recurve bows, such as the one he found at the flea market in Tupper Lake, and they were not always in good condition.

TO LIFE Published by Sun Community News & Printing

“Now it can be bamboo on the inside and anything outside,” he said. “They use different woods and more modern materials.”

Stuart Johnstone assembled a collection of photographs of traditional recurve bows he has restored and refinished in an attempt to make them look brand new.

Vol. 7 No. 1 | North Country Living Magazine | 49

“

the objective is to get the bow to look the w ay it w as

when it was brand new.

He pointed out two bows in a photo, each of which had broken risers that he repaired with epoxy and pins before filling the holes, and making the finish match the original.

He buys his lacquer coloring agents from a guitar supplier so he can match the color of the wood grain.

He learned to use these materials by repairing guitars, he said, repairing cracks or finishes.

“The work requires really good vision to differentiate between many colors,” he said. “My visual acuity is very high. Most people can see about 70 shades of green.

I can see more.”

And everything he does to repair the wooden bows is time consuming.

“I can put 25 to 30 hours in such repairs,” he said. “It’s not cost effective.”

Johnstone said he’s kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place in terms of his clients.

“Most people want everything for $2 — 50 cents if they can get it,” he said.

Johnstone said the bows he restores are generally for collectors.

BEFORE REPAIRING BOWS, A LONG AND WINDING ROAD Johnstone’s path toward becoming a “bowyer” of sorts was not anywhere as straight as an arrow shaft.

Johnstone was born in 1943 in Summit, New Jersey, and grew up in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

Both parents were from Manhattan, where his father worked for most of his life, but the family moved a lot.

“I went to nine schools before I graduated high school,” he said.

After high school, Johnstone joined the U.S. Navy, becoming a photogrammetrist, analyzing aerial photos for bombing missions. Johnstone said he hated the work and decided not to remain in the Navy, but got out and pursued a degree in 50 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 7 No. 1

Art Education at Penn State University.

He spent a year teaching, and at the suggestion of another person, Johnstone applied for a job with the State of Pennsylvania and worked for the next eight years as a graphic artist/illustrator for the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.

A change of administration in the state government led to the elimination of support services jobs like his.

He immediately began graduate school, pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

“It’s a performance degree. Not only do you have to know the books — you have to be able to perform,” he said.

(Above) Stuart Johnstone is shown at the workbench in his shop where he restores wooden bows. Johnstone started restoring furniture and guitars, but his interest in archery led him to restoring wooden bows as well. Johnstone is a medal-winning archer, including winning gold in the 1999 Empire State Senior Games in Syracuse and a gold at the 2003 U.S. National Senior Olympics. (Below) Shown are four wooden recurve bows that have been restored and refinished by Stuart Johnstone of Chestertown.

Johnstone became a master printmaker, using a multitude of printing processes, including relief, etching, lithography, and screen printing.

While still working for the state, Johnstone met and later married Dianne, a music therapist who was working on an internship at the state facility. The couple moved to the Town of Bloomer in Dianne’s home-state of Wisconsin, which Johnstone said was located in “cow country.”

Johnstone started looking for collegelevel teaching positions in Wisconsin, and around the world.

“That was like looking for the moon,” he said.

He moved by himself to New York City, where he worked restoring apartments, while Dianne moved to Pennsylvania. He joined Dianne in Pennsylvania, which is where he got a tip on a teaching job at the Fort Ann Central School. He drove to the school, interviewed, and was hired as a oneyear replacement for an art teacher who was taking family leave. Johnstone said it became apparent to him that the job was not going to lead to anything permanent.

“Art teachers are like music teachers — one teacher stays in the position for 20 or 30 years before their position opens up,” Johnstone said.

He left teaching, thinking there was no place in it for him, and fell back on his

restoration work to get into commercial construction. He then ran a print program for a Glens Falls business, revamped their program, and was fired six months after getting them in the black.

He starting working with a printed circuit board company out of Philadelphia, and by the time he was running three departments he started to wonder why he wasn’t working for himself.

He hired a couple of people and went back into restoring houses. Over time he started acquiring more and more shop equipment.

“During this whole course of events I was doing artwork and restoring furniture,” Johnstone said.

Johnstone still restores bows, makes bow cases, builds arrows, and coaches archery.

Contact Johnstone at Wicopi Studios, P.O. Box 87, Chestertown, NY 12817.

Published by Sun Community News & Printing

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Eye On Business

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IN THE ADIRONDACKS The large, historic fireplace is one of the main features of the dining room, which is open daily for breakfast and conversation.

52 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 7 No. 1

Published by Sun Community News & Printing

d

SILVER SPRUCE INN: A COUNTRY INN WITH TIES TO THE BIG APPLE Waldorf Astoria bar finds home at Silver Spruce

By Christopher South When Clifford and Phyllis Rogers first considered buying Schroon Lake's Silver Spruce Inn in 1981, what they saw was a beautiful home with a rich history.

At the time, the thought of running a lodging house was far from their minds.

They didn’t plan on operating it as a lodging house.

Little did they know that years later, a word from a family member and a tour of local bed and breakfasts would lead to the development of a community staple.

Photos Courtesy of Silver Spruce Inn

The origins of the Silver Spruce Inn date back to the 1790s, when the original home was built using post-and-beam construction, about a decade before the Town of Schroon Lake was incorporated in 1804.

Published by Sun Community News & Printing

In 1926, the Silver Spruce was purchased

by Sallie Miller Smith as a private residence.

“Sally had 16 houses, so this one didn’t get hard use,” Phyllis Rogers said in a phone interview from her home in New Mexico.

According to Rogers, Smith was a woman of substantial means, and when the first Waldorf Astoria Hotel (1893-1929) was torn down on what is now the site

of the Empire State Building, all of the furniture was sold off.

Smith bought a bar from the Waldorf Astoria, which is still located in the basement of the Silver Spruce. “(Smith) was known in the area to like to drink, and when the Waldorf Astoria was taken down to make way for the Empire State Building, she was able to purchase one of the bars from the building. I understand from some that knew her, that she gave a great party. She even had false-fronted bookcases built in to hide her booze,” Rogers said.

While Smith owned the property she added 17 rooms.

“She was a wealthy woman and hired excellent craftspeople,” Rogers said.

In 1981, when the Rogers purchased the Silver Spruce, it was a little rundown, a seven-unit motel on the south lawn where a formal garden stands now.

Still, the couple had no intention of operating the Silver Spruce as a bed and breakfast.

“No. Not at all,” Rogers said. “We had another business in Pottersville at the time.”

Vol. 7 No. 1 | North Country Living Magazine | 53

The Rogers ran the Great Northern Auto and Truck Supply Warehouse, very different from the lodging business. They sold the warehouse in 2000 to the owner of the Pottersville Garage.

“We purchased the (Silver Spruce) because we loved the building,” Rogers said.

“

WE DO A FULL BREAKFAST, LOTS TO EAT, WITH EVERYTHING

HOMEMADE IN THE MORNING

The building had not been occupied on a year-round basis for many years at that point, and although it was in bad shape, they fell in love with the style of interior and the history of it of the building, but they had no idea they would be operating a lodging house.

”

Rogers’ son-in-law’s family owned the former Woods Lodge in Schroon Lake, and he told them, “You should run a bed and breakfast.”

The Rogers did not seriously consider the idea until one year when they took of tour of Warrensburg bed and breakfasts.

“Once we finished the tour we said ours is better than the ones we saw, and as we had the money we invested in the house, putting in new floors, a new roof, heating system.

You name it, we’ve done it to that house,” Rogers said. “We worked hard to keep the house looking as it did in the 1920s.”

However, all of the rooms in the Silver Spruce Inn now have private Astoria-style

54 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 7 No. 1

Published by Sun Community News & Printing

baths. Several have gas fireplaces. All the rooms have either a king or queen bed.

The rooms all have full-cut western cedar on the walls and ceiling.

Around 1994-1995, when they felt personally comfortable with the place, they opened the Silver Spruce.

The Carriage House rooms are decorated in more of an Adirondack style.

Both rooms have a large bathroom with king bed and gas fireplace. Two handicapped accessible rooms are available.

Rogers said she and her now-late husband Clifford liked people. Her current husband, Eldon Steelman, is a people person as well.

“If you don’t enjoy people you shouldn’t be in the business,” Rogers said.

One half of the bed and breakfast business is offering breakfast, which is very much part of the people aspect of the business.

“We do a full breakfast, lots to eat, with everything homemade in the morning,” Rogers said.

Breakfast is served buffet-style, with a selection of eggs and bacon, fruit, cereal, granola and yogurt. Depending on the day, the Silver Spruce offers pancakes, waffles, or a breakfast casserole.

“People like it,” Rogers said. “We have a nice fireplace in that room and people sit, and talk, and make friends.”

Also in the 1990s, the Silver Spruce added a formal garden with fountain, which has made it a perfect venue for weddings, but she generally avoids hosting them now.

“We have had many wedding here at the Silver Spruce, but we don’t do a lot of weddings, now. Maybe for people I know,” Rogers said. “It’s not worth the aggravation.”

Rogers said if she were 30 years younger she might consider holding more weddings, but as it is she turns down requests to host them.

She said, generally, most weddings are planned for the time of year when the inn is filled with regular guests and she doesn’t want to displace them.

Additionally, Rogers said she is at a point in her life when she thinks about retirement.

beginning in October. The inn will reopen May 1.

The Silver Spruce Inn sits on 12 acres and is located at 2003 U.S. Route 9, just north of the Town of Schroon Lake. It’s 45 minutes from the Whiteface-Wilmington recreation areas and the high peaks region of the Adirondack Park; and just 20 minutes from the Gore Mountain ski areas and the Lake George communities. The inn borders the Schroon River at the Schroon River Falls.

The Silver Spruce Inn is available for special personal events, small gatherings, business meetings and reunions. There are 10 functional fireplaces, an enclosed sun porch, large common rooms, dining rooms, and a parlor for social activities and get-togethers. The outside features a gazebo and large perennial gardens.

“That’s why it was on the market,” she said. “It is all set to go, with the linen and everything. I know I will miss it terribly when I sell it. I enjoy it tremendously because we first bought it as a house. It has a lot of nice features due to the age of the house.”

In May 2017, a book telling the story of the Silver Spruce Inn, “Them That Has: The Story of a 1790s Adirondack House and the People Who Made It Famous,”

by Maureen Werther, was published.

Copies of the book can be borrowed at the Schroon Lake Public Library.

The Silver Spruce Inn, which for many years was open all year, is operated seasonally and is closed for the winter

Contact the Silver Spruce Inn at 518-532-7031 for reservations and information, or visit silverspruce.com.

(Top-Left) Shown is a four-post bed done in an Adirondack style, which is a theme of the Carriage House at the Silver Spruce Inn. Many rooms have a gas fireplace.

(Bottom-Left) Although the Silver Spruce has tried to maintain an Adirondack look in the Carriage House, the bathrooms have a luxurious Astoria-style to them. (Left) The Carriage House was added as a more Adirondackstyle element of the Silver Spruce Inn in Schroon Lake, which has borrowed some more to the luxurious features of the former Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.

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Vol. 7 No. 1 | North Country Living Magazine | 55

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Vol. 7 No. 1 | North Country Living Magazine | 57

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History

60 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 7 No. 1

Published by Sun Community News & Printing

By Elizabeth Izzo

It’s said that some of the worst of the worst are housed at Clinton Correctional Facility.

Mass-murderers. Rapists. At one time, an infamous mobster and crime boss, Charles “Lucky” Luciano, worked in the prison laundry.

Most men who enter the gates at this massive maximum security prison never leave.

They spend their lives here, surrounded by towering stone walls, gates and watch towers, overseen by hundreds of guards.

But even here a light can be found in the darkness for those who have faith.

The Church of St. Dismas, known colloquially as the Church of the Good Thief, was built in 1939.

This isn’t a church somewhere down the block from the facility. It’s just a few steps from the prison yard, atop a hill overlooking the cell-blocks.

Seeing the Church of St. Dismas in person is a striking sight. Turn one way and see barbed wire and iron bars, turn again and there it is: an enormous, intricately-constructed stone cathedral, its 125-foot tower seemingly stretching toward the heavens.

Walk through the halls of Clinton Correctional and you’re hyper-aware of every sound that echoes through those concrete corridors.

A thick blanket of untouched snow, dense clusters of snowflakes moving through the air, lent the scene a distinct serenity.

Hundreds of men labored over this massive structure.

The fruit of that work evokes an almost eerie beauty.

Clinton Correctional was the first facility in the United States to build a freestanding church on prison grounds.

The ambitious, determined brainchild behind the project didn’t have any materials to build with, and faced legal opposition from a disestablishmentarian group — or those that seek to sever the links between church and state. Father Ambrose Hyland defied all odds to get this church off the ground.

The Church of St. Dismas was constructed by inmates at Clinton Correctional, and inmates serve as its sole congregates.

It’s somehow fitting, given that fact, that the church’s namesake is that of Saint Dismas, the “penitent thief,” one of two men that were have said to be crucified on the cross alongside Jesus Christ.

The Bible says that Dismas mocked Jesus Christ during his lifetime. But in the end, hung alongside him, Dismas said: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus’ response: “Amen, I say to you.

Today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Footsteps.

The unsettling clink of chains.

The clatter of a door being opened ahead.

It’s a story of ultimate repentance and redemption that inspired the church here, where a deacon to this day continues to help prisoners find a pathway to faith and, maybe, a path toward redemption for themselves.

But emerging outside onto the steps leading to the Church of St. Dismas on a day in early February — there was nothing but silence.

“It does resonate with them,” Deacon Frank Bushey said of the church’s namesake. “(Dismas) was conferred by Christ directly. I think that’s part of the beauty of this place.

A muttered joke correctional officers.

Published by Sun Community News & Printing

between

two

Vol. 7 No. 1 | North Country Living Magazine | 61

“There’s

a

sense

they

have

an

appreciation for the sacred.”

From the 3,000 inmates at Clinton Correctional the church hosts less than 100 congregates these days, but the impact it seems to have on those inmates is notable.

“It’s not just about fulfilling needs here,” Bushey said. “It’s also about using faith to enable them to go out and be a better person, and to leave and not come back.”

UPON THIS ROCK Much like other congregations, the prisoners who worship here are involved with philanthropy. Just last year, they raised $1,500 for the Peru-based charity 62 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 7 No. 1

Mission of Hope, according to Bushey.

This spirit of community and giving stems not only from the faith they practice, but the history of the church itself.

When he announced his intention to build the Church of St. Dismas, Father Hyland received donations from every bishop in New York. After winning a court case which sought to stop construction, he received even more donations as the decision made headlines around the world.

influence to help the Father Hyland get materials for cement blocks and the red oak pews still used today.

Another inmate, a murderer, used clay to sculpt a statue of the Virgin Mary. A man charged with forgery created a mural.

Every inch of this church carries a story:

The church’s main alter, made from marble from Algeria, Italy and Vermont, was purchased by the Provenzano family — which had ties to the Genovese crime family of New York City. A chalice was also bestowed on the church by Anthony “Tony Pro” Provenzano, a capo in the mafia.

Luciano, the mob boss who once was imprisoned here in the late 1930s, left his mark on the church by using his

Over 200 inmates helped in one way or another make the church what it is — some salvaging timber from an old barn and stone Published by Sun Community News & Printing

from an unused cell-block, others using hand shovels to dig a cellar and foundation.

original structure remains unchanged.

Some prisoners learned stone-cutting, wood-carving, iron work, painting and sculpting from visiting artisans and used those skills to contribute.

to have predicted the future — during one

The fruit of their labor remains.

Hyland, a forward-thinking man, seems Mass back in 1941, the man told inmates: “Finishing the church wasn’t the end,

prison opened the church on an inviteonly basis to outsiders each year for a holiday show put on by the inmates.

but the beginning. There will be men — like

Those days are now gone.

you — years and decades from now who

But even in this church built by sinners

Six-foot tall wrought-iron lanterns hang from the rafters.

will work out their salvation, right here.”

Sunlight streams in through lines of pristine, bright stained-glass windows, each emblazoned with scenes featuring the faces of prisoners past.

17), passersby asked Jesus’ disciples: “Why

The church was declared a National Historic Site in 1991, and much of the Published by Sun Community News & Printing

Decades ago, in a time when Clinton Correctional had a music program, the

Seen dining with sinners, (Mark 2:13-

on prison grounds, in the rural village of Dannemora, here inmates can still find solace with a benevolent higher power.

does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

The Church of St. Dismas, known

To which Jesus replied: “It is not the

colloquially as the Church of the Good

healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

Thief, was built by inmates in the late

I have not come to call the righteous, but

1930s. The dedication Mass was held with

sinners.”

Father Ambrose Hyland in 1941.

Vol. 7 No. 1 | North Country Living Magazine | 63

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Vol. 7 No. 1 | North Country Living Magazine | 65

Manufacturing ADK

MANUFACTURING

Incubator space for five businesses creates a few more at HQ on Main Street

66 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 7 No. 1

Published by Sun Community News & Printing

Photos By Kim Dedam

THRIVES IN WESTPORT

By Kim Dedam Over a dozen inventions and handcrafted wood, fabric, film, composite and metal products are moving from design phase toward production. They’re crafted in what might, at first, appear to be an innocuous gray building on Westport’s Main Street.

Wrapped in dark slate-colored siding, Headquarters — also known as 6588 Main (HQ) — sprawls into a few back acres next to what looks like a former egg farm.

Five companies have ensconced themselves into sections of the building, with at least two hybrid, collaborative projects blending now into a new Adirondack business.

Rows of Solace mountain bikes stand angled in a row along the front hallway. In a high-ceilinged space and the Research and Design (R&D) area beyond, the expansive Jade Mountain Inc. fabrication machinery fills most of the top floor. Erin Hall Studio, a textile, graphic arts and design space, holds the back row of rooms.

Erin Hall’s brightly colored fabric panels shine against the morning sun. Printed textiles dangle on ropes strung above pots

of paint and tables laden with fabric and brushes.

Aaron Wolff’s Mosaic Films operates from a glass-front office space. Below decks at HQ, equipment and woodshop areas are cordoned off for furniture and ski-making. The loading dock entryway is stocked with new wood for both Courtney Fair Furniture and Barnboy Skis.

Even quiet on an early Friday morning, the place feels busy and bustling.

There aren’t locked boundaries between the work rooms. Artists and craftsmen come and go on independent schedules.

But most of the equipment and engineering expertise is shared in common; each person bringing a unique skill set and creative focus to the entire group.

The space at 6588 Main (HQ) filled up with small business entrepreneurs organically, according to Jade Mountain fabricator and composite design engineer Jeff Allott, who owns the building and built General Composites Inc. (GCi) here almost 25 years ago.

GCi consolidated into 50,000 square feet of space in Willsboro in 2008, shortly

before Allott sold it, although he continues as an engineering and design consultant on several projects.

Allott held on to the workspace in Westport when GCi moved.

And this incarnation is the second round of light manufacturing born at the Main Street address.

Allott thinks of the space as an incubator, a makers’ space, although he shys away from the lofty classification common in formal economic development circles.

Builders here came together more organically, through shared recreation and interests.

The ratio between manufacturing and production at HQ, he said, is about 70 percent development and design to 30 percent production.

But that creative lead is what sets the HQ edge and gives new businesses a start.

“To achieve development in a production environment is very difficult,” Allott allowed.

But central to success moving from design to production are technical

BUILDERS HERE COME TOGETHER MORE ORGANICALLY

THROUGH SHARED RECREATION AND INTERESTS.

Tropical Ski design used on wooden skis designed by designer and builder Rick Causey of Barnboy Skis.

Chair seats designed by Courtney Fair Furniture are crafted in batches using engineering equipment and Computer Numeric Control (CNC) tools at the woodworking area of HQ.

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Mountain bike prototypes at Solace Cycles, a company that combined engineering expertise of Jeff Allott and furniture builder Courtney Fair.

But if you ask them, the company actually grew from their shared love of mountain biking.

Vol. 7 No. 1 | North Country Living Magazine | 67

machining tools, he said.

“They are like the hub of the space, the manufacturing area. The spokes, or radial space, are areas where designers and builders work.”

The hub, or center, of the HQ wheel in Westport has several sophisticated computer fabrication machines.

Computer Numeric Control (CNC) tools are programmed with craftsmen's engineering specifications to cut molds and build parts. The machine can turn in any direction and in all three dimensions to produce, mill and carve almost anything: wood, metals, composite materials, even soft foam or plastics.

The machines in HQ R&D rooms upstairs are key to design engineering and fabrication, Allott explains, providing an example: one small mold built to produce tiny medical human wrist implants. The final product is as lightweight as a mussel shell and strong as bone.

“The CNC can machine anything you want,” Allott said. “Any 3-D shape. We designed the molds and developed the composite process here.”

On one side of the HQ R&D shop is project Allott invented to fit snow tracks to motorcycle wheels.

“Yeah, they work great!” Allott says with an impish grin.

A lightweight, composite wheel for a wheelchair is fitted to another machine for testing. It’s being engineered to crawl smoothly over curbs.

Parts of new, high-performance Solace mountain bikes lean against long work tables. The bicycle design is a collaboration that emerged from the HQ shop between Allott and furniture maker Courtney Fair, who moved into the workspace here a few years ago.

The inspiration for Solace was Allott and Fair’s combined love of mountain biking, outdoor adventure and a shared affinity for good, local beer, Allott says.

A weak light streams in from windows on the garage bay doors. It opens onto Westport’s Main Street. It’s airy under high ceilings in the R&D shop, where a kind of organized chaos clearly holds its own against the second law of thermodynamics.

More equipment — routers, drills, precision saws, clamp tables and machining tools — sit around the room and in smaller work corners nearby.

“

OF ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES WE TALKED TO,

WESTPORT WAS THE ONLY ONE WILLING TO WORK WITH US AS A START-UP BUSINESS.”

Downstairs, another CNC tool is loaded with composite wood for cutting rows of new Barnboy skis. Ski designer and builder Rick Causey started the business several years ago.

“He was doing each ski by hand five years ago. The CNC changed everything,” Allott said.

A stack of wooden seats fill one table in the woodshop beside Courtney Fair’s furniture design area. Newly crafted iron and wood chairs sit in a circle, their elemental artisan table just across the shop.

Fair’s unique cabinetry and furniture is designed and built at the HQ. Allott explains that the central workshops on each floor are perfectly sized for small business entrepreneurs starting to invent, create and build. Shared space is affordable space. And shared tools keep overhead costs low.

“Then if someone hits a home run, they would be able to buy and expand into their own space,” Allott said of the HQ. But any decision to expand is one that takes time.

Allott believes that finding affordable workspace allows innovators options to explore, create and produce, qualities that are very important to light manufacturing development in the Adirondacks.

Upstairs, Erin Hall said she found space open in HQ, through her husband, Mark Hall, who is an avid mountain biker and rides with Allott.

“I was so thrilled to find Jeff,” she said, untying a printer’s apron splotched with colors from her screen printing press.

“It is not that easy to find space,” she says of living and working here.

“Like I needed a concrete floor.”

Wooden Barnboy Skis designed by designer and builder Rick Causey.

Moving in, the only female entrepreneur at HQ, Hall added design elements to the collective whole.

“With Rick making skis, he’ll say someone saw my artwork and he wondered if I could do something for skis.

Sure,” Hall laughs.

Drills, bits and bandsaws of many sizes and shapes line woodshop walls at HQ in Westport.

68 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 7 No. 1

Published by Sun Community News & Printing

“There were three big garage doors in the front,” Allott said of the early digs.

Her education at Rhode Island School of Design and background in woven materials, art and textiles translates to custom designed fabric cushions for furniture as well.

“We work together so well,” Hall said of HQ entreprenuers.

The HQ model for collaborative incubator space is replicable, she says.

“As long as it fits for the artist, the engineers, designers and fabricators.

What is key are the designers, the people who make.”

Allott smiles entering the common meeting room. A large drawing board on the wall shows some of the thought works-in-process. Design specs for a bike cart is pinned to the top. The refrigerator has a beer tap. An electric banjo sits on a stand in the corner.

Finding the right space, Allott said, is the first and often the hardest step for any entrepreneur.

This building was the only place available when Allott and former business partner, once his professor at (Rensselear Polytechnic Institute) RPI, Steven Winckler, launched General Composites some 25 years ago.

It had been the Village of Westport Highway garage.

GCi made an agreement with Westport for a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes for three years.

And the town brought the building up to code.

“And it paid off,” Allott said. “Heck, we were here with 35 to 40 employees for 15 years.”

Those jobs provided good income and steady year-round work in a town of about 2,000 people.

The composite industry brought 10 engineers to Westport with their families.

After three years, Allott agreed to purchase the building from Westport, this launched General Composite’s Westport years, a foundation for what is an immensely successful manufacturing company inside the blue line.

Allott defines light manufacturing as clean, technology-based design and production — part craftsmanship, part engineering.

“It has to have less impact on the environment than other industries, and the technology has come so far,” he said.

Solace Cycles, the collaboration between Allott and Fair, begins its first production run this spring with orders placed for parts at outside fabricators.

Producing those first bikes is something Allott is looking forward to this year.

“We even have a few buyers who want to come in and participate in building their own bikes,” Allott says.

Small business owners at HQ, he said, are representative of many self-employed builders, crafters, engineers and designers in the Adirondack Park.

Adirondack self-reliance can become a powerful common denominator when you make space for it to collaborate, he said.

Cost efficiency and shared equipment gives something tangible to young and new talent, something more than income: innovation.

“It would be great to have one incubator in every town throughout the park,” Allott told a recent meeting of Adirondack Park Agency commissioners.

A 25,000 or 15,000-square-foot facility with a large, common technical area is ideal, he said.

Evolution will continue at HQ in the coming days and years.

Hall and Allott suggest the front rooms, currently offices, might become display areas with a showroom and common retail space.

Find out more about Westport’s individual HQ engineers, craftsmen and artists online: • solacecycles.com • erinhallstudio.com • barnboyskis.com • courtneyfair.com • mosaicfilmsinc.com

And it was vacant.

“Of all the municipalities we talked to, Westport was the only one willing to work with us as a start-up business,” Allott said, crediting former Supervisor Don McIntyre for seeing potential for light manufacturing in the Adirondacks.

Chairs custom-designed and built by Courtney Fair Furniture at 6588 Main (HQ) in Westport await delivery.

The Computer Numeric Control tool in the woodshop area at HQ in Westport, shown here at mid-winter, is programmed to produce and fabricate composite wooden skis designed and built by Barnboy Skis.

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Vol. 7 No. 1 | North Country Living Magazine | 69

CLINTON COUNTY PAGE

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Conservation

(Above) Don Lee with eggs from Lake Clear hatchery. (Right) Baby salmon fry in tank, almost ready to be freed and put into river.

72 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 7 No. 1

Published by Sun Community News & Printing

By Rich Redman

When it comes to learning, handson beats bookwork anytime. For science students, seeing is believing — using your sense of smell, touch and sight make it real. Observation skills are learned.

Critical in science is the ability to just watch or observe.

Hands-on learning instills lifelong skills, allowing young scientists to become old scientists.

In some of our local schools, Moriah, Willsboro and Westport being a few of them, our young science students are learning about stream dynamics and fishery science. In addition to bookwork,

their hands-on work involve raising young Atlantic salmon in their classroom.

SALMON HISTORY Atlantic salmon is an Olympian-rated, athletic fish that is known for its leaping skills, hence the name “salar.”

Pliny the Elder in the first century described the salmon as a leaper. That’s where it got its name; from the Latin word, salire, to leap!

Salmon are anadromous fish, meaning they spawn in fresh water rivers and migrate back to the sea or lake.

Our region once had sea run salmon that migrated from the Atlantic Ocean, up the Saint Lawrence River to spawn, plus, in the tribs of Lake Champlain and Lake Ontario. In the Lake Champlain watershed, the fish can no longer get to the ocean as they once did pre-glacial.

Photos By Rich Redman

River running salmon now return to Lake Champlain, where they are known as a land-locked salmon, or Ouananiche, as they are called by Native Americans in eastern Canada. Because of smelt, the native forage fish for salmon exist in Lake Champlain, it is believed that landlocked may have thrived as well as sea-run salmon.

Published by Sun Community News & Printing

The salmon range covers from Lake Champlain to Maine and up into the Maritimes of Canada, to Iceland and Norway.

In the 1980s, fishermen in Norway and Iceland, along with the Danish, were commercially netting and harvesting salmon at a rate that was exceeding the sustainability of the species.

Vol. 7 No. 1 | North Country Living Magazine | 73

Salmon fishermen on the Canadian and European rivers noticed the lack of spawning fish due to commercial fishing.

To counter the negative affect, the Atlantic Salmon Federation started a program to pay the fishermen not to fish. By reducing the numbers of fish harvested, the salmon stock was able to rejuvenate itself.

In 2014 the program ended, and salmon fishing resumed once more.

There are now more limits on the numbers of fish that can be taken, but some countries simply ignore the rules.

They harvest what they want, reducing overall numbers once again.

reducing their numbers. But the times they are a-changing!

TROUT UNLIMITED Don Lee of the Lake Champlain Trout Unlimited (TU) Chapter leads the effort to teach young students about salmon.

He is known by the young scientists he mentors as the salmon man!

When Don was in Nova Scotia salmon fishing, he discovered the local schools were raising salmon as their science project, so he brought back the idea, where it has grown into the Salmon in the Classroom Program.

Salmon eggs in Westport schools aquarium.

Salmon farming now produces much of what we consume, but mass-produced salmon are not wild. Salmon that are raised in netted pens in the ocean are prone to more disease, sea lice and genetic problems which can affect wild fish. Farm raised salmon may feed the population, but they have lost some of the qualities and genetics that allow wild fish to survive.

Early colonists considered salmon a food staple, so they took salmon any way possible; nets, spears, clubs and pitchforks.

One of the first accounts of fly-fishing for salmon in America dates to 1786 when a British officer, Lt. John Enys, amazed the local population by catching a Lake Ontario salmon on a fly in the Saranac River. Enys also caught salmon in the Chazy River; a tributary to Lake Champlain like the Saranac.

Over the last century, pollution, overfishing and dams have reduced the salmon population.

Dams built during the industrial era, like the Imperial Dam in Plattsburgh, have prevented the salmon from reaching their native spawning habitat, drastically 74 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 7 No. 1

SALMON EGGS AND THE HATCHERY Salmon eggs are picked up by TU volunteers at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Adirondack Fish Hatchery (AFH), which is located about 12 miles from the Village of Saranac Lake in Franklin County.

This is the only Atlantic salmon hatchery in New York state.

Adult female fish are stripped of eggs, and milt from the male is mixed in to fertilize the eggs. The eggs are kept at the hatchery in cold oxygenated flowing waters.

Egg sacks, or alevin salmon.

Twenty-five years ago the Lake Champlain Chapter of Trout Unlimited started an Adopt-A-Salmon Program in the Stafford Middle School, in the Plattsburgh City School District.

Twenty-four schools now participate in the program from Franklin County to Hartford in Washington County.

The AFH specializes in rearing landlocked Atlantic salmon for statewide distribution.

The idea was to give students a better understanding of nature, the environment and watersheds.

SALMO SALAR CLASS 101

TU also wanted kids to get interested in fishing; a lifetime sport.

The local TU Lake Champlain Chapter 419 provides chiller units and filter systems to the schools at no cost.

Enthusiastic youth have nurtured over 100,000 salmon fry and stocked them in the Lake Champlain watershed. The program has been a tremendous success.

Through Trout Unlimited, two programs help teach students the ecology of fisheries.

Both the Trout in the Classroom programs and the Salmon in the Classroom Program allow students to get hands-on knowledge and skills in raising and releasing young fish into local waters.

Annual production averages 30,000 pounds of salmon, with most fish stocked in the spring as yearling smolts (6 inches long) or as non-feeding fry.

In 1786, Lt. John Enys may have caught the first salmon on a fly in the Saranac River, but today, retired Air Force Pilot Lt. Col. Don Lee is TU’s officer in charge when it comes to promoting the salmon restoration project.

Lee is a retired Air Force pilot who flew KC-135A Tankers and FB-111A Bombers.

He flew numerous missions in Vietnam.

Don and his wife Linda have a daughter, two sons and five grandchildren.

They have been married for 51 years and reside in Morrisonville.

Don and TU volunteers like Bill Wellman and John Spissinger help science teachers set up the aquariums, which involve chillers to regulate the water temperature, pumps to circulate and oxygenate the water and Published by Sun Community News & Printing

charcoal filters to remove excess nutrients such as ammonia and solids produced by the growing fish.

In early January, eggs are delivered to local schools by TU volunteers.

Once the rich fertilized marmalade colored eggs (the color coming from carotenoid pigments) are placed into the 38 degree water, they slowly develop.

The eggs, which are rich in yolk, slowly hatch eyes and the shape of a head can be seen. The eyes and head are the first to develop. The growing fish is now called an alevin, which feeds on the attached yolk sac. The alevin’s survival instincts kick in and the young fish hide in the spaces between the gravel and stones placed in the bottom of the aquarium tank.

The tank is wrapped to keep it dark and insulated to maintain a cool water temperature.

Controlling the temperature is critical to development. A few degrees colder can slow things down, while temperatures above 53 degrees can cause developmental problems in the embryos and even death.

Lee not only helps set up tanks and delivers eggs, he is the angler scientist who attends the school science classes and presents a salmon life history and restoration program to students.

eggs. One third of those will stay in the

Salmon class begins with a movie of young fishermen and women catching salmon in Canada and having fun. The students see adult salmon in the wild.

This leads to a discussion on the life cycle of the fish.

other environmental factors that could

In the wild, salmon lay their eggs in gravel redds, or nests, in fresh water.

eggs and only four may make it to spawn,

Females deposit their eggs, and then the males fertilize them with milt.

Fertilized eggs are covered by the females waving their bodies and tails over the eggs so they drift down stream into the reeds gravel interspaces.

numbers vary year after year depending

Eggs are hidden in gravel beds that have oxygen rich water flowing through the interspaces of the stone, keeping the eggs alive.

have taken its toll on the native Atlantic

The majority of adult salmon then slowly migrate back to the sea or lake. Some may remain in the river overwintering.

dams, reduce pollution and improve

river for one year; another third will stay for two years, and the last third, longer.

This survival mechanism ensures a better chance to survive predator, weather and jeopardize their survival.

Out of the 8,000 eggs, only 800 may make it to the parr stage, and 80 to the smolt stage of life. Returning salmon may number only eight of the 8,000 original starting the life cycle over again. The on environmental factors, predators such as osprey, herons, lamprey, mink, otters, other fish eating fish and fishermen!

Pollution, dams, farm raised fish and overfishing, along with invasive species, salmon — but as long as Lee, aka the “salmon man,” and TU volunteers work with state and federal partners to remove stream habitat, both native trout species and our Atlantic salmon will survive.

Alessia Caputo, Aubrey Sherman and Westport science teacher Erica Loher stand next to the aquarium of salmon eggs.

Removing the top for maintenance allows students to glimpse a fish’s life as it develops from an egg to alevin.

After about 40 days, the eggs and alevin slowly develop into a baby salmon called a fry. Fry are young fish that no longer depend on the yolk sac for food. They start searching out food sources beyond the yolk sac.

The young salmon are then released by the students into local rivers like the Saranac, Boquet, Ausable and Millbrook in Moriah.

Raising the eggs, to the day of release in our local rivers is just part of the student’s education.

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Eggs hatch out after 6-8 weeks (March/April) into alevin and live off their egg sac. The alevin stage is also called sac fry. They slowly absorb their egg sac and by mid to late May turn into salmon fry; a miniature of the adults.

These fish will stay in the rivers from one to three years. Then they go through the parr stage, 6-7 inches in length and smolt, where they now descend down river to Lake Champlain.

In another one to three years they come back as adults, three to twelve pounds.

An eight pound female can lay 8,000

Our moral conservation compass does not allow the extirpation of wild fish!

As Lee’s talk slowly closes, he hopes that each student in his class has an understanding on the ecology of salmon and the importance of cold clean water for their survival. There is life in a stream or river. The students are learning that through observation, they are becoming young angler scientists.

Lee and many other TU members are patriots who fought for our country, and that spirt in them still fights today for the wise use, protection and conservation of our wild Salmo Salar.

Vol. 7 No. 1 | North Country Living Magazine | 75

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76 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 7 No. 1

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Cooking

78 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 7 No. 1

Published by Sun Community News & Printing

By Mikaela Foster

Ah, spring! I picked this recipe with farm-fresh eggs in mind, but of course you can make this dish if you buy your eggs at the store. I just get very excited about the eggs I get from a wonderful little farm in the area. I love opening the carton and seeing different colors and sizes. This week I found speckled ones; they were so pretty. Another aspect I love is meeting the chickens and their caretakers. My son is quite fond of one caretaker in particular, whose chickens sit atop her head! Visiting the farms in our area and chatting with the farmers is one way we can learn numerous things together.

Now that we have more daylight, chickens across the North Country will be laying more, and we’ll all be eating more.

So here is an egg casserole recipe if you have an abundance of eggs. It’s easy enough for young kids to help out with.

And what I think is most fun about recipes is changing it up if you don’t have exactly what the recipe calls for, or adding ingredients if you’re feeling spunky! (I should probably warn you, I do experiments in the kitchen more often than not. My husband can tell you, some recipes should have been followed to the letter.)

DIRECTIONS:

2) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1) Gather and prepare your ingredients.

You’ll need:

3) In large skillet over medium-high heat, brown sausage. Drain off grease, set aside to cool.

12 eggs

4) Beat the eggs in a bowl and pour them into a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish.

1.5 pounds ground breakfast sausage

16 ounces shredded cheddar (I used mozzarella but encourage you to use your favorite and see what happens!)

I love experimenting with different sized dishes. If you’re working with a few kids, it might be fun to use a few smaller, oven-safe dishes. Each child can add their own special touch to their personal casserole.

5) In a separate bowl, combine the sausage, bread and 12 ounces of cheese.

Mix well and pour into the baking dish with the eggs. Put the remaining 4 ounces of cheese on the top and cover the dish with foil.

6) Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, uncover the dish, and continue to bake until the casserole is golden brown and bubbly.

- Serves 6 - Takes roughly 30 minutes (give or take time when you work together and have fun)

I used links and chopped them into chunks. It also might be fun to try different kinds of sausage, bacon or ham! Or if you don’t want to use meat, peppers and onions, or even potatoes, are always an exciting option.

7 slices of white bread, torn into pieces (I used homemade white bread.)

If you’re using smaller dishes, keep a closer eye on them as they bake.

7) Eat and enjoy!

Want to do a fun craft with the eggshells after cooking this recipe? Check out page 78 to learn how to plant seeds in your eggshells!

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Vol. 7 No. 1 | North Country Living Magazine | 79

It’s ASPARAGUS Season!

S

pring is a wonderful time of year. The days get longer, the temperatures become more mild and every grocery store has asparagus!

My favorite way to prepare asparagus is to grill it. Just a little EVOO brushed on the stalks; preheat the grill to high, place diagonally in a single layer right on the grill grates and 2 to 3 minutes later‌ Voila! You have an elegant and delicious side dish that needs nothing more than a light sprinkle of salt and pepper.

I always grill extra asparagus for my next favorite way to enjoy it, in a panini. A panini is a toasted sandwich that has been pressed during grilling.

All you need is your favorite bread, and any other chopped ingredients you like, roasted red peppers (jarred is fine), asparagus, pesto, mayo, ham, bacon, chicken, spinach just to name a few ideas and cheese you must have cheese! As an example I use a croissant, asparagus, roasted red pepper and provolone, large chop the peppers and asparagus, brush the outsides with olive oil, cook on the panini press and serve.

However, a designated panini press is optional! A skillet, grill pan, Belgian waffle maker or even on your outdoor grill will yield a wonderful panini.

Butter or oil the outside of the bread, place face down on your cooking surface add cheese, ingredients, more cheese then place bread on top. Another hot skillet weighted down with a kettle is perfect. Keep your heat medium to allow all the cheese to melt but not over toast your bread.

In a few moments you will have a masterpiece!

80 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 7 No. 1

Enjoy!

Gayle Alexander

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Crafts

By Mikaela Foster Greetings readers! If you recognize my byline and wonder where I was last year, I'm happy to report my husband and I had our first baby. He's a healthy, handsome and adventurous little boy who loves being outside. I took a break from writing to get in to the groove of being a mommy, but I'm back and am excited to introduce this new section to you: DIY Craft… with kids!

My goal for this section is to bring forth fun craft ideas that allow us to engage, explore and learn with children. As a new mom, I'm giddy with dreams of my little family digging into our expansive North Country. There is so much to learn and teach about our surroundings. I hope to encourage you all to get outdoors with some fun crafts to do together, but others will be great for cozy indoor days. And hopefully you’ll be able to find all the supplies you need without going to the store. So take a deep breath of that North Country air and let's get to it!

82 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 7 No. 1

© artursfoto/Adobe Stock

If you’re preparing for a garden, here’s a fun way to get your seeds started… by planting them in eggshells. Eggshells are a great size for starting seeds. Plus, they are biodegradable, natural and you can plant them directly into the soil. Here’s another bonus: They’ll nourish your plant!

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DIRECTIONS:

5) Fill with dirt.

1) Gather your supplies. You will need:

Use your scoop or small spoon to fill

-Eggshells (the amount is up to you)

each eggshell with potting soil. (If you

-Egg carton (or something to hold your eggshells)

small bag at your local hardware store —

-Seeds -Planting soil -Small scoop or spoon -Water (spray bottle works nicely) -Needle or nail (or something to make a small hole in the eggshells) 2) Crack the eggs; Clean & save the shells.

Whether you get your eggs from one of our local farms, or buy them from a store, save as many as you think you’ll need. If you are excited to do this craft and want to get your eggshells in a hurry, check out page 74 for an egg casserole recipe you can cook together.

Cracking the eggshells is a fun experiment in itself. I recommend working together somewhere you don’t mind making a mess. (Imagine egg all over your floor.) Try cracking them on the top or bottom, on the sides, or you can even try tapping on the shell with a spoon. You’ll get different results and can decide which shell size you like best. Be sure to rinse the shells well inside and out and let them dry. You can boil them for a few minutes if you are extra cautious.

don’t have any handy, you can pick up a but I took a little dirt from one of my plants instead of going to the store. Experienced gardeners may not recommend this.)

6) Plant seeds.

Follow the instructions when planting your particular seeds in the eggshells. If you’re new to this, each packet will give depth specifications and any other special care instructions to follow.

7) Spray with water; Give them sun.

Gently spray your newly planted seeds with water and put them in a sunny, warm area indoors. Water them according to the seed packet instructions and enjoy waiting for your seedlings to appear! The anticipation gets me every time…

8) Transplant.

Once your little sprouts have grown and are ready to be transplanted, thin them out as directed. Gently crack the eggshell around them, and plant them either directly into the ground, or into a large planter. The roots of your plants should

grow

beyond

the

eggshells

into the soil and the shells will provide nourishment to your plants and the soil.

3) Make a drainage hole.

Using a needle or nail, gently poke a hole in the bottom of the eggshell. Try poking from the inside first, and then go through the hole again from the outside.

(You might have to practice on a few shells first to see how much pressure to use.)

4) Spray with water.

Put your eggshells in the carton, (or other holding device) and spray the insides of the shells with water. Try one or two spritzes each.

Published by Sun Community News & Printing

Eventually, the eggshells will biodegrade.

9) Enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Last summer our son was gnawing on carrots, sugar snap peas and cucumbers as we sat in the dirt together. He always had the biggest gummy smile on his face.

This summer he’ll have teeth to really chow down.

If you’re planting edible plants, I wish you pure enjoyment as you eat directly from your own garden!

Vol. 7 No. 1 | North Country Living Magazine | 83

Adirondack Region Everything you need to know about what’s happening in the North Country

EVENTS

Apr. 7

events

Glens Falls — Bolton, Nolan & Perkinson LIVE at Davison Brothers Brewery; 6:00 p.m.-10:00p.m.

Free Admission. Phone: 518-743-9026

Winter Bread Market Now - May 26 Saranac Lake Winter Bread Market held at First United Methodist Church; 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.. Fresh Baked, Hand-made, Organic. PreOrders welcomed & appreciated.

Text or Call 518-302-1828

Apr. 6 Saranac Lake — NorthWind Fine Arts Gallery National Poetry Month Reception held at NorthWind Fine Arts Gallery; 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

“Poetic License” celebrates the creative connection between the written word and visual art forms with poetry readings and new, companion pieces of art. 11 Woodruff Street, Saranac Lake, NY. It is free and open to the public, light refreshments will be served.

Willsboro — Live Music held at Champlain Valley Senior Community Assisted Living & Memory Care; 2:30 p.m.. Don & Earl will perform - We serve drinks and snacks during music.

Old country, bluegrass and rock’n roll from the 50s and 60s. For more info Contact Torunn Lyngroth Aberle Activities Director 518-817-9108 ext.

407. champlainassistedliving.com

West Chazy — The Duo Plus One -John, Neil and Lisa held at Vesco Ridge Vineyards; 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m..

Where you can hear all your favorite classic tunes from rock, country, and a little bit of jazz. Piano, sax, guitar, banjo, & pedal steel. Details: 518-8468544, vescoridge.com.

Apr. 8 Blue Moutain Lake — Cabin Fever Sundays held at Adirondack Experience; 1:30 p.m.. John Taibi Horse Shoe - An Adirondack Creation

by Abbot A. Low. Explore the life & times, fact & fiction of the profound legacy of Horseshoe, NY & its founder Gus Low. Visit: theadkx.org Plattsburgh — Relay for Life of Plattsburgh Spring Fling Extravaganza held at Cumberland 12 Cinemas; 10:00 a.m.. Come join us for a family friendly, Super-Heroic, kick off event featuring a viewing of Sherlock Gnomes. Team paperwork, fundraising ideas, registration forms, and door prizes will be available at the event along with free popcorn with ticket! Tickets $8 in advance and $10 at the door.

Blue Mountain Lake — Horse Shoe- An Adirondack Creation by Abbot A. Low held at The Museum of Blue Mountain Lake; 1:30 p.m.. A timeless correspondence between Gifford Picnhot and the first foresters.

This program will explore the life and times, and fact and fiction that together have become a lasting and profound legacy for both Horseshoe, New York and its founder “Gus” Low. Free for memebers and $5.00 for nonmembers.

Apr. 9 Plattsburgh — Swing, Latin & Ballroom Social Dancing held at Recreation Center; 6:30 p.m 8:30 p.m.. Dances are Open to the Public and FREE OF CHARGE. There are no dance lessons at our Monday dances. We will review and practice dances taught at our Second Saturday Monthly Dances.

Come dance, practice and socialize with our friendly, supportive dance community, which includes dancers of all ages and abilities. Come join the fun! Dance Plattsburgh is USA Dance, Inc., Chapter #3033. Please visit DancePlattsburgh.org for more information

Willsboro — Live Music held at Champlain Valley Senior Community Assisted Living & Memory Care; 2:30 p.m.. Bugsy will perform - We serve drinks and snacks during music.

Old country, bluegrass and rock’n roll from the 50s and 60s. For more info Contact Torunn Lyngroth Aberle Activities Director 518-817-9108 ext.

407. champlainassistedliving.com

Apr. 13 Willsboro — Live Music held at Champlain Valley Senior Community Assisted Living & Memory Care; 2:30 p.m.. Cooie will perform - We serve drinks and snacks during music.

Old country, bluegrass and rock’n roll from the 50s and 60s. For more info Contact Torunn Lyngroth Aberle Activities Director 518-817-9108 x407. champlainassistedliving.com

Apr. 13 - Apr. 22 Warrensburg

GREEN THUMB PERENNIAL SWAP 5/26

Altona — All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast held at Holy Angles Church; 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.. Pancakes, French Toast, Sausage, Bacon, Home Fries, Scramble Eggs, Bread Pudding, Fruit, Homemade Danishes, Juice, Milk & Coffee.Cost - $8.00 Adults, $5.00 Children 6-12 Under 5 free. Takeout Available Glens Falls

KIDS’ EXCHANGE CONSIGNMENT SPRING SALE 5/21

Various communities

LIVE MUSIC ALL SEASON See listings for dates & times

84 | North Country Living Magazine | Vol. 7 No. 1

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West Chazy — “Double Shot” Brigid and Johnny held at Vesco Ridge Vineyards; 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.. Entertaining mix of songs old and new! Details: 518-846-8544, vescoridge.com.

5TH ANNUAL KIDDING DAY 5/21

Apr. 14

Saratoga Springs — William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar held at Janet Kinghorn Bernhard Theater Skidmore College Campus; 8:00 p.m.. SYNOPSIS: Julius Caesar is a charismatic and brazen populist who seeks absolute power. The people are divided - they love him or hate him. In Shakespeare’s timely political tragedy, a group of senators betray him in order to save the democracy.

What motivates them Patriotism?

Ambition? Honor? Greed? Idealism?

When the powerbrokers conspire to assassinate Caesar, their factions goad the ever-fickle citizens into angry mobs with charm, rhetoric, and empty promises. Can the democracy survive? For more info 518-5805439, boxoffice@skidmore.edu. theater.skidmore.edu Lake Placid — Paddling Film Festival held at Lake Placid Center for the Arts; 7:00 p.m.. Join Adirondack Lakes and Trails Outfitters and Northern Forest Canoe Trail for a showing of the Paddling Film Festival’s best films from 2018. Doors open at 6 p.m. and films start at 7:00 p.m. Come early to learn more about the 740-mile paddling trail that stretches from New York to Maine. There will be raffles, door prizes, and lots of fun. Big thanks to our film fest co-sponsor, Northwest River Supply! In advance$12 and $15 at the door, $10 Student. For more info visit lakeplacidarts.org

Glens Falls — 16th Annual Pizza Wings and Baskets of Things held at Civic Center; 6:00 p.m. - 9:30pm.

Presented by WAIT House at Heritage Hall in the COOL Insuring Arena. The event will feature pizza and wings donated by area restaurants and baked goods provided by the SUNY Adirondack Culinary program plus complimentary beer, water and soda and a cash bar. A Raffle of over 125 gift baskets will be the highlight of the evening. Tickets are available from committee members or online at Eventbrite or by calling WAIT House’s office at 518-798-4384 x101.

Admission is $20 in advance and $30 at the door. All proceeds benefit WAIT House and its mission to help homeless youth in our community.

Willsboro — Willsboro Central School Booster Club Annual 5K Run/Walk along with a Fun Run for the Kids held at Willsboro Central School; .

The race start time is 8:30am for the fun run and 9:00am for the 5K with registration beginning at 7:30a.m.

Pre-registration fee is $10 for the onemile fun run and $20 for the 5K and $25 the day of the race. All proceeds will go towards supporting the athletic programs at WCS. Food and raffles can be purchased throughout the fund-raising event. Register at Adirondack Coast Events for the race. If there are any questions or concerns, call 518-963-4456 or email willsboroboosterclub@gmail.com Plattsburgh

ANNUAL SUPER GARAGE SALE 5/21

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Apr. 15 Ticonderoga — Somewhere in France held at Fort Ticonderoga; Curator Matthew Keagle will explore the service of Ft. Ti’s co-founder Stephen H.P. Pell during the First World War in France. Visit: fortticonderoga.org

Apr. 19 - Apr. 22 Glens Falls — Aladdin Jr - Broadway Upstate held at Charles R Wood Park.

Broadway Upstate is a community theatre group created to produce professional level musical theatre productions for the Adirondack community to experience, to educate, inspire, and excite young people with a complete musical theater experience. Thursday - Saturday, 7:00 p.m. Matinee on Saturday and Sunday, 2:00 p.m.

Apr. 21 Glens Falls — Kids’ Exchange Spring Consignment Sale 2018 held at Chase Sports Complex; 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m..

This shopping blockbuster features over 20,000 new and gently-used items, including: maternity; kids’ clothing sizes 0-16; toys and games; books; DVDs and gaming; play kitchens and train tables; sports gear; room decor; cribs and strollers; baby gear and furniture; and lots more!

Free admission and free children’s activities.The half-price sale runs from 1:00p.m.-3:00p.m. The sale is cash only.

May 21 Elizabethtown held at ELCS; 10:00 am. The race starts in front of the School, turns right on Hand Ave and follows Hand Ave to Thrift Store, finishing at The Deer’s Head. All proceeds will support the local food bank.

AuSable Forks — 5th Annual Kidding Day held at Asgaard Farm; 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.. Fun for the whole family! Meet their goats - Sample their cheeses - Enjoy tasty food & beverages! Visit: asgaardfarm.com Clinton, Essex & Franklin Counties United Way Day of Caring held at Various Communities; 9:00 a.m.

- 7:00 p.m.. Volunteer your time to make these counties a better place.

For more info on how to obtain project applications & how to volunteer, please visit: unitedwayadk.org Plattsburgh — BHSN 7th Annual Kids’ Carnival held at City of Plattsburgh Recreation; 2:00 p.m.

- 5:00 p.m.. Join your Partners in Well-Being, in partnership with Fidelis Care! Free Admission! This year will feature bouncy houses, face-painting, balloon animals, popcorn, a Fidelisaurous dance-off, information for parents and so much more! For more info 518-324-7709 recreation@cityofplattsburgh-ny.gov Plattsburgh — Annual Super Garage Sale held at Our Lady of Victory Gym; 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.. for the Plattsburgh Relay For Life, Contact Conni LeBlanc at vtbrat77@yahoo. com or 518-298-5544. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society Plattsburgh Relay For Life.

West Chazy — Nina’s Brew - Giovanina Bucci, Mike Brewster, and Isaac French held at Vesco Ridge Vineyards; 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.. A musical blend of three uniquely powerful voices dynamically layered over guitars, piano and percussion. Details: 518-846-8544, vescoridge.com.

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EVENTS

AuSable Forks

Ticonderoga — Best 4th in the North Night held at Madden’s Pub; 6:00 p.m.

- 9:00 p.m.. Join in the festivities & help raise money for the Best 4th In the North from the tips the Guest Bartenders receive. The 2018 Grand Marshal will be announced! For more info: timainstreet.org.

2nd Annual Deer’s Head Mile

EVENTS

Apr. 21 - Apr. 22 Elizabethtown — The Alturas Duo held at The Historic Hand House; Sat 7:00 p.m. & Sun. 3:00 p.m.. Piano by Nature concert with Mixed South American Folk, Classical, and Contemporary styles. Performers: Canadian guitarist Scott Hill and Chilean charango/viola player Carlos Boltez. Recommended donations are: $15 for adults and $5 for children 15 and under. Family rates are available to those with more than 3 in their party. Call for more information 518962-8899 or visit pianobynature.org

Apr. 22 Blue Mountain Lake — Tales from the Woods held at The Museum of Blue Mountain Lake; 1:30 p.m..

Presentation of fascinating and inspiring tales from 5,000 pages of correspondence discovered at the Library of Congress’s “Pinchot Collection.” This material describes the conservation and restoration efforts of some 224 men and women who served in the U.S. Forest Service’s early days under Pinchot and President Theodore Roosevelt.

Free for memebers and $5.00 for nonmembers.

Glens Falls — Earth Day Open House held at Green Tree Fiber Arts; 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.. Susan Rivers, owner of Greentree Fiber arts and the Niched Gallery put her life on hold, donner her Emergency Management/ Environmental Planning hat and worked in Texas on Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts.

Back refreshed with new ideas and perspectives, Susan River shares her mixed media interpretation of her adventure through the Blue WaveStores from the Surge. For more info go to greentreefiberarts.com or call 518-330-5176 Hudson Falls — 9th Annual Peoples Pixels Project held at Strand Theater; 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.. Hosted by the Lake George Arts Project. Tickets are $10, sold at the door. The 2018 “Peoples Choice” Audience Award winner will have their film screened during the Adirondack Film Festival in Glens Falls, NY (October 2018).

Apr. 28

Willsboro — The Friends of the Paine Memorial Free Library will sponsor a Bowling Tournament held at Willsborough Bowling Center; 3:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m.. There will be two sessions,The game is “9-pin” with a $1.00 option to buy 10-pin.The fee for teams of two is $40.00 per team, payable at the door. There will be a door prize, 50/50 Raffle, and first, second and third place prizes of gift certificates or money. Refreshments will be provided. All proceeds will benefit the Friends of the Paine Memorial Free Library. For more information & reservations call the Bowling Center, 518-963-8983 or 518-963-7419.

May 4

Apr. 30

May 1 - May 30

Lake Placid — Children’s Book Week held at The Bookstore Plus; 4:00 p.m..

Story Time Event: “One World, Many Stories” Theme. We will be reading “The Big Umbrella”, By Amy Barrett Bates, “They Say Blue”, By Jillian Tamaki followed by a craft. All kids and teens will receive a free, exclusive 2018 Children’s Book Week activity poster designed by Jillian Tamaki (while supplies last), as well as have access online at Every Child a Reader to original bookmarks created by four of today’s most innovative children’s book illustrators, and an original middle-grade “One World, Many Stories” graphic novel.

North Creek — Johnsburg Central School Art Show held at Tannery Pond Community Center. For more info visit tannerypondcenter.org or call 518-251-2505

Multiple Towns — Children’s Book Week held at Various Locations; As the longest-running national celebration of books for young people and the joy of reading, over 700 schools, libraries, and bookstores will host official Children’s Book Week events between April 30 - May 6 from coast to coast in all 50 states. This May marks the 99th anniversary of Children’s Book Week; the theme for this year’s celebration is “One World, Many Stories.”

North Hudson

11TH ANNUAL CAR SHOW 5/5

May 3 - May 20 Keene, Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Wilmington & Tupper Lake — Eat ADK Restaurant Week held at Various Locations; Our goal is to introduce the Adirondack community to new menu items at local restaurants by offering a special dinner menu .

Restaurants throughout Keene, Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Wilmington, & Tupper Lake will be offering special Prix Fixe menus with pricing options of $15, $20, & $30. For more info visit eatadk.com

May 4 - May 6 Lake George — NED Western Regional Spring Convention & Contests held at Lake George JuniorSenior High School; Starts 1:00 p.m.

This event will run for three days and times vary for each day. For more details, please visit their website: nedistrict.org/2018-spring-western/

Lake Placid — May the 4th Be With You! Star Wars Day! Held May 4 at Lake Placid Public Library; All Lake Placid Mayusthe 4thschool Be With Day. Come—join after You! Wars Day! crafts, Held atand Lake forStar games, books, Placid Public Library; Day. Come more-all Star Wars All related!

For join us after school for games, books, Pre-K-grade 5 children and their crafts, and more-all Star Wars families.

Free and open torelated! the Forpublic.

Pre-K-grade 5 children and their families. Free and open to the public.

May 5 - May 6 Lake George — Townwide Garage Sale. Come shop at various garage and yard sales around the town and village. The merchants on Canada Street and the side streets will also take part in a special sidewalk sale.

For more information call (518) 6682038. Free admission.

May 5 North Hudson — 11th Annual North Hudson Car Show held at North Hudson Volunteer Fire Department; 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.. “The cost is FREE! There will be a 50/50 AND raffles that include items donated by local businesses. FOOD AND DRINKS AVAILABLE !

Ticonderoga — Fort Ticonderoga Opens for the Season 9:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m.. Daily programming will bring to life this story through new programs and exhibits, Carillon boat cruises, living history weekends, special events, beautiful gardens, breathtaking scenery, the Carillon Battlefield hiking trail, the Mount Defiance experience, and handson family programs and immersive activities. For more info visit fortticonderoga.org

West Chazy — “Jr” - Josh and Ryan held at Vesco Ridge Vineyards; 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.. “Jr” is Ryan Miller on guitar & vocals with Josh Meyer on bass. Details: 518-846-8544, vescoridge.com.

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Published by Sun Community News

May 26 -May 27

Lake George — Hike for Hope held at Prospect Mtn; 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m..

The Hike for Hope is a challenging climb on the paved access road up Prospect Mountain. We begin at the first Overlook. At the Summit, there will be food, raffle drawings and prizes. This event raises money, brings awareness and reduces stigma in the fight against suicide. For more info contact Laura Marx, afsp.org or 518-791-1544.

Stony Creek — “Poppies Suitcase” Live from NYC held at The Lodge at Harrisburg Lake; 8:00 p.m.. Live band from NYC “Poppies Suitcase” On Memorial Day Weekend. The band is a top 40 dance band featuring Rob Marnell presently on Broadway in the cast of “Beautiful” A Carol King Musical. They will be playing a variety of music from current dance to classic rock. There is no cover charge, it will be a cash bar and we will have our free hotdogs from the cart with all the fixings!

May 21

Lake Placid — Machine de Cirque held at Lake Placid Center for the Arts; 8:00 p.m.. A furious mix of contemporary circus, comedy and musical performance. Tickets in advance $15; At the door $20. Visit lakeplacidarts.org for more info.

Ticonderoga — Mother’s Day Weekend Market held at Ticonderoga Area Farmer’s Market; 10:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m.. Come preview the 2018 Farmer’s Market. Located at “Wicker Wood” near Walmart Entrance, Across from Christopher Chevrolet and Buick. Parking in the back. For more info call 518-585 6619.

May 19

May 6 Plattsburgh — Plattsburgh Half Marathon held at US Oval; 8:00 a.m.. Relay 10K & 5K Registration is limited to 1000 runners, register early! Visit plattsburghhalfmarathon.com

Schroon Lake — Wild West Frontier Town Festival held at Frontier Town; As part of their celebration of the region’s Adirondack frontier heritage, Schroon Lake Central School will host the first Wild West Frontier Town Festival on May 19th in Schroon Lake. During the festival, part of the street near the local beach will be closed off for musical entertainment, reenactments, a Wild West juggling show, and more.

Schroon Lake

WILD WEST FESTIVAL 5/19

May 26 Warrensburg — Green Thumb Perennial Swap held at Warrensburgh Mills Historic District; 9:00 a.m. - 12 noon. Bring your plants in any size or shape container, and exchange for ones of equal size or value. All are welcome. Bring friends and make new ones. Free refreshments.

For more information contact Teresa Whalen, Chairperson, Warrensburgh Beautification Inc. by phone or text 518-466-5497 or e-mail warrensburgh.beautification@ yahoo.com.

May 30 - Jun. 3 Lake George — Lake George Elvis Festival held at Various Locations; Festival events will take place at various venues throughout the picturesque community of Lake George, New York. The 15th annual event features some of the world’s top Elvis Tribute Artists. For more info visit lakegeorge.com/elvis-festival/

Peru

May 12 - May 13 Peru — Babbie Museum Opening Weekend held at Babbie Museum; 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.. Plowing & planting corn with antique farm equipment. Demos in granary & blacksmith shop. Visit 2 new exhibits - Historical Textile Production & the Apple Orchard. New Audioguide Tour to enjoy. Visit: babbiemuseum.org

Plattsburgh — Friends of Scouting Plattsburgh Breakfast held at Butcher Block; 7:00 a.m - 9:00 a.m.. The Friends of Scouting Breakfast is a fabulous tradition in our community.

Meet the local Boy Scout executives and volunteers, learn more about what your sponsorship does to improve the lives of our youth, and experience insightful contributions from our Keynotes Speakers.

Attendance to the event is $30 per person. For more info visit: trscouting. org/Events/2018adkfosbreakfast or call Chris at 607-267-9747.

Lake George

ELVIS FESTIVAL

BABBIE MUSEUM BLACKSMITH DEMOS & MORE 5/12-5/13

5/30-6/3

May 12 Westport — Music and More! held at Westport Heritage House; 7:00 p.m.. Zinky & the Billtones, jazz and latin standards. Tickets by Donation; suggested $10 per person, $15 family. For more info visit: westportheritagehouse.com

Published by Sun Community News & Printing

Vol. 7 No. 1 | North Country Living Magazine | 87

EVENTS

May 20

Jun. 5 Warrensburg — Garden Lecture and Luncheon held at The Lodge on Echo Lake; 11:00 a.m.. featuring Kerry Mendez presenting her latest book topic: The Budget-Wise Gardener: Plant the Best for Less! Money-Saving Tips for Purchasing Plants Plus CostSaving Garden Designs.

EVENTS

Jun. 16 - Jun. 17 Glens Falls — LARAC June Arts Festival held at City Park. The LARAC Festival is a juried outdoor art and craft festival featuring 200 artists and artisans which attracts visitors from a wide-ranging area. This is a weekend of family fun and offers something for everyone to enjoy. There is live musical entertainment provided by local musicians. Children’s activities; arts demonstrations; not for profit exhibitors, and concessions.

Jun. 1 - Jun. 8 Plattsburgh — 32nd Annual Rotary Fishing Classic held at Lake Champlain; For more info www.plattsburghrotary.org

Jun. 1 - Oct. 5

Jun. 1 - Jun. 10

Warrensburg — Riverfront Farmer’s Market held on the bank of the Schroon River; 3:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m.. Every Friday from Memorial Day thru Columbus Day weekends.

Producer Only, Organically Grown, Raised and Prepared Foods, Gluten Free Food, Master Gardener Station, Farm Fresh Recipes, Picnic Area, Bathroom, Community/Regional Event Information, Non-Profit and Local Business Information Table.

Live music throughout the season.

Sponsored by the Warrensburgh Beautification Inc. For more info contact Teresa Whalen, Market Manager, 518-466-5497, taawhalen@ yahoo.com, localharvest.org/ warrensburgh-riverfront-farmersmarket-M22857

Warrensburg — Warrensburg Bike Rally held at Warren County Fairgrounds; 9:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m..

This is a 10-day, free admission event!

There is something for everyone at this rally with great deals & prices on all kinds of motorcycle products and services from top vendors. For more information contact Warrensburg Bike Rally at 518-791-8728.

Jun. 1 - Jun. 3 Lake George — ESTRA Tow Truck Show ~ 35th Annual held at Festival Commons at Charles R Wood Park; For 35 years the Empire State Towing and Recovery Association (ESTRA) has displayed the newest equipment, accessories and also presented demonstrations of the trucks. Vendors have been a part of the weekend too.

As part of the show there is the Tow Truck Beauty Contest - 1st and 2nd place awards will be presented. The Little Towers - Children’s Rodeo takes place on Sunday at 11am. It’s a mini-truck competition for the future drivers as they race around for prizes.

Friday, 2:00 p.m.; Saturday, 9:00 a.m.; Sunday, 9:00 a.m.; free admission.

Jun. 2 - Jun. 3 Elizabethtown — Flute and Piano Duo Concert- Held at The Historic Hand House; Sat 7:00 p.m. & Sun. 3:00 p.m.. Piano by Nature concert with performers: Minneapolis-based Immanuel Davis, flute, with Timothy Lovelace, piano. Recommended donations are: $15 for adults and $5 for children 15 and under. Family rates are available to those with more than 3 in their party. Call for more information 518-962-8899 or visit pianobynature.org

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MORE EVENTS

Jun. 16 - Jun. 17

ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE events.suncommunitynews.com Dates and times are subject to change. Be sure to check our website before heading out.

NY State — Path Through History Weekend held at Museums; 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.. Check out some of the best representations of the Adirondack Coast’s history at our local museums during Path through History Weekend. Visit: paththroughhistory.iloveny.com

12TH ANNUAL

Jun. 4 -Jun. 9 Lake George — Americade Motorcycle Rally held throughout town; It’s a convention of tourers, spor t-tourers and cr uising motorcycles enjoying a week-long festival of motorcycling, including guided tours in the beautiful Adirondack Park, and the Green Mountains of Vermont. Massive trade show with nearly 250 vendors, demos and displays from most major motorcycle manufacturers, catered boat cruises, exclusive rodeos, stunt shows, laser shows, comedy clubs and much, more. For more info call 518-798-7888.

Lake George

AMERICADE MOTORCYCLE RALLY 6/4-6/9

DOZERFEST

Saturday June 2 9 a.m. - 4 p.m Airborne Park Speedaway Plattsburgh — Join the Plattsburgh Kiwanis Breakfast Club and Upstone Materials for the 12th Annual Dozerfest.

Great fun for the entire family.

Games, bounce houses, heavy equipment dump trucks and dozers for the kids to get in.

Food, drinks, T-shirts available.

Adults and children over 5, $5 admission. All proceeds go to local charities.

Published by Sun Community News & Printing

Whether you’re looking for fabulous local brews and a burger or a setting for that special occasion with family...

There is a reason we have been serving Vermonters for over four decades. Come in today and see what we are all about.

760212

GANIENKEH

GANIENKEH WHOLISTIC TREATMENT CENTER

An Alternative Health Care Center

CHIROPRACTIC - DR. PETER VANCE, D.C. MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS & FRIDAYS Over 30 years experience - specializing in headaches, sciatic, chronic pain, worker’s comp & personal auto injuries.

NATUROPATHIC - DR. DEBRA DAHLER, N.D. MONDAYS THROUGH THURSDAYS Offering holistic health care options for most health concerns. Herbalism, nutrition & lifestyle counseling.

PULSED ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD THERAPY AND THE ONDAMED RICK WHITE • MONDAYS THROUGH FRIDAYS 8AM-3PM

BY APPT ONLY • Energy Medicine is any healing modality that affects positive change in the energetic system of living beings.

3083 Rand Hill Road • PO Box 275 • Altona, NY • 518-493-6300

GANIENKEH TERRITORIAL MINI BINGO SUPER T JACKPO

$1,0a0rd0 s Full C

ADMISSION: 9 Face Cards $5.00; 2 Special Books $5.00; 10 70/30 Games $8.00 Wednesday & Friday doors open at 5pm • Games start at 6:30pm Sun. doors open at 10am & Games start at Noon.

Devil’s Den Road via Altona, NY • 518-493-2247

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