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June 6, 2009
A Denton Publication
Go Green
Coupon Queen
New Job
Planet Minerva breaks ground on new community garden.
Win the grocery store price cycle game, if you can.
Rep. John McHugh has been appointed Secretary of the Army.
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Bikers return for favored Americade
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North Creek: The hidden hamlet By Jon Alexander jonathan@denpubs.com
By Thom Randall thom@denpubs.com LAKE GEORGE — Tens of thousands of motorcyclists will be wheeling into the region this week for the traditional offerings of the nation’s leading touring motorcycle rally, Americade. Huddling at a computer and answering a flurry of phone calls Monday, Americade founder Bill Dutcher said he was happy that advance registrations were only down a few percentage points from last year, which was a record. “Considering the state of the economy, we think we’re doing pretty darn good,” he said. This year ’s 27th edition of the world’s largest and most renowned tour motorcycle rally features new events and contests that are likely to pique riders’ interest, and keep the rally fresh, he said. The Americade event listings cite new activities of a competitive fueleconomy run, a motorcycle drill team performance atop Prospect Mountain, bowling sessions a line-dancing dinner and new tours. In the new economy run, motorcyclists will be babying their throttles over a 100-mile course to vie for the honors of owning the most frugal bike.
See AMERICADE, page 6
Local businesses have taken to placing temporary signs on state Route 28 in an attempt to lure travelers into the North Creek business district. Since its construction more than 40 years ago, the Route 28 bypass has led tourists past the business district, many totally unaware of the hamlet’s existence.
At Adirondack Museum, focus is hands-on By Jon Alexander jonathan@denpubs.com
NORTH CREEK — Unlike most Northeastern communities, the hamlet of North Creek has a bypass, as state Route 28 never enters the Johnsburg business district. For business owners, the 40-year-old Route 28 bypass has hidden North Creek from tourists as they speed by, many unaware of the community’s existence. “I was trying to get to North Creek to see some friends,” said Queensbury resident Gary Cutter. “I must be an idiot — I drove right by the whole town and had to stop five miles north for directions.” But for North Creek business owners, Cutter ’s story is not uncommon. Instead, he is a victim of the effects of the Route 28 bypass. “People are always telling me that they have been coming to Gore for 20 years and had no idea that North Creek even existed,” local business owner Katherine Feiden said. “Many just drive on by totally unaware we are here.” Feiden owns and operates The Foothills, a shop on Main Street in downtown North Creek. “It seems like 28 acts as a barrier to travelers entering the hamlet,” she said. The bypass was constructed in the 1960s by New York State in order to facilitate easier movement of people and goods through the Adirondack Park. But many business owners argue that the lack of traffic is crippling their viability.
See HIDDEN, page 2
Long Lake Town Board strikes down push for four-day week By Jon Alexander jonathan@denpubs.com
BLUE MOUNTAIN LAKE — Christine Campeau gripped one side of a twoman cross-cut saw and pulled it toward her. “Now you have to be careful to make sure your footwork is right,” she said. “The cross-cut is all in the footwork.” Campeau is the education outreach coordinator at the Adirondack Museum. Throughout the season, Campeau and her staff teach area school children how to use century-old logging technology, giving them a hands-on experience of Adirondack life-ways. After her example, dozens of fourth-grade students from LP Quinn Elementary School in Tupper Lake followed her lead and under her watchful eye, proceeded to cut a chunk off a large pine log. Museum officials are
See MUSEUM, page 4
LP Quinn students use a cross-cut saw to cut pieces off of a pine log. The Adirondack Museum is focusing on interactive, palpable elements to facilitate greater learning and understanding of Adirondack history.
LONG LAKE — Long Lake town board members were surprised this week as they learned the town highway department had began a four-day, 10-hour shift work week without their approval. “If this is being done without town board consent someone is in error,” Long Lake Councilman Lou Plumley said. According to Long Lake Highway Superintendent Bruce Jennings the four-day week allows for more efficient use of labor on town projects. “We can get more work done in a 10-hour day,” Jennings said. “I just wanted to get some of our chores done.” Jennings said the lengthened work day allows a crew to move equipment to and from a site while not cutting a huge chunk out out of a shift. Hamilton County DPW practices a four-day schedule. “I am not sure the town and the county can be compared apples to apples,” Long Lake Supervisor Gregg Wallace said. “In highway crew job descriptions it says ’as assigned’ — we could end up paying overtime wages on a Friday for unforeseen work.” According to New York State Town Law, any changes to town operating procedure must be ratified by the town board. However, no such action was requested before the highway shift changes were implemented. The town board chose to not move a measure to the floor that would have allowed for a highway department four-day
See LONG LAKE, page 8