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July 25, 2009
A Denton Publication
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Rallying
Coupon Queen
Ballet Debut
Friends of Tupper Lake native to host a benefit in his honor.
Jill Cataldo shares her secrets about how to shop from home.
The Lake Placid Center for the Arts will host ‘Desire.’
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Ironman USA descends on Placid VA seeks solution for veterans’ clinic By Matt Bosley
matt@denpubs.com
By Matt Bosley matt@denpubs.com ELIZABETHTOWN — A decision to reevaluate the operation of a Veterans Administration clinic at Elizabethtown Community Hospital is now taking a different turn. The Department of Veterans Affairs had submitted a request for proposals in April seeking to relocate the clinic in the Saranac Lake or Lake Placid region. The deadline for proposals was May 15 with the goal of awarding a contract by Aug. 1. Many local veterans spoke out against the consideration to relocate the Elizabethtown VA clinic, which was one of the first established in the United States. Peter Potter, spokesman for the Stratton VA Medical Center, said administrators there are still considering some of the proposals they’ve received for operating a contracted clinic in the region, but are now leaning toward a “staff model” approach. In a staff model, Potter explained, Stratton VA would directly hire medical professionals to staff the clinic, which would be located in a rented space. It differs from the currently-utilized contract model where Stratton reimburses a clinic or
See CLINIC, page 5
LAKE PLACID — The Lake Placid region will be engulfed by triathlon fever this weekend as the Olympic Village hosts the ninth annual Ironman USA Lake Placid. More than 2,200 athletes from around the globe are expected to participate in the world-famous triathlon that features a 2.4mile swim on Mirror Lake, a 112-mile bike race through neighboring towns and a 26.2mile marathon run around North Elba. Up for grabs are 72 qualifying spots for the 2009 Ford Ironman World Championship to be held in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii in October. However, for many competitors, simply finishing the race will be their personal victory. More than 3,000 volunteers will pitch in as rescue personnel, road marshalls, medical professionals, security, bike handlers, wetsuit peelers, finish line catchers and more, manning 87 separate service areas to aid athletes. Activities begin Thursday, July 23, as athletes check in. The Ironman Village at the speedskating oval will be open Thursday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The race begins at 6:50 a.m. July 26 with the swim course on Mirror Lake. A mass start sends hundreds into the water at a time, dodging bodies as they swim the length of the lake twice. Spectators for the Swim Course are encouraged to view the race from Lake Placid Club Drive or Parkside Drive near the beach house. Teens from the Shipman Youth Center will be serving a pancake breakfast following the start of the race at American Legion Post 25, located on the far end of Mirror Lake. Proceeds benefit the youth center. The bike course sends triathletes on a long
The speedskating oval in Lake Placid will be the hub of activity for the ninth annual Ford Ironman Lake Placid throughout the weekend as triathletes prepare to compete in the grueling race July 26. Some main travel routes will be closed during the race. circuit through Lake Placid, Keene, Upper Jay, Jay, Black Brook, and Wilmington, then back around for another lap. Recommended viewing locations in the village for the bike race include Colden Avenue or the Post Office on Main Street. The run course is also a two-lap route that begins southbound out of Lake Placid. Runners pass the ski jumps before heading on Riverside Road and back. Another turnaround point is on Lake Placid Club Drive. Spectators for the run course can get excellent views from most anywhere on Main Street, Lake Placid Club Drive, or Route 73.
Appeals court rules in favor of Lewis Family Farm By Matt Bosley matt@denpubs.com ESSEX — A New York State appeals court has upheld the decision that three houses built for farm workers on Lewis Family Farm are exempt from Adirondack Park Agency This story was first regulation. posted online at All five justices on 3 p.m., July 17 on the Third www.Denpubs.com Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court ruled July 16 in support of a lower court that said the houses did not require permitting from the APA. The decision brings an apparent resolution to a legal battle that began in 2006 when Salim B. "Sandy" Lewis constructed three, two-story modular homes on his 1,100-acre organic farm. Lewis obtained building permits from the town of Essex, but did not seek an APA permit because he deemed the houses agricultural-use structures,
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These three homes built on Lewis Family Farm in Essex were determined by the Adirondack Park Agency to be in violation of permitting requirements. A state appellate court recently upheld a ruling that they are exempt from APA jurisdiction, however. Photo by Matt Bosley
which are not considered principal buildings and do not require APA permits. The APA disagreed, however, and issued a cease-and-desist order. Construction on the houses continued until March 2008 when the agency's Enforcement Committee issued a determi-
nation that the houses were to be treated as single-family homes; the equivalent of three principal buildings. Lewis Family Farm was ordered to pay $50,000 and seek an APA permit as the homes were sited on resource management land. In November 2008, Acting Essex
See LEWIS FARM, page 2
The finish line is located at the Olympic Oval and may be accessed from either Main Street or Cummins Road. The first finishers are expected to cross the line around 3:30 p.m., but the course remains open until midnight when the last of the amateurs make their inspiring final steps to the finish. The Ford Ironman finish party runs from 10 p.m. to midnight with prize giveaways for spectators.
Getting In For those seeking access into the village,
See IRONMAN, page 5
Area Road Closures Ford Ironman Lake Placid - July 26 • Route 73 - Closed eastbound from Lake Placid to Keene until 5 p.m., no parking, delays expected at Ski Jump bridge, limited two-way traffic from 5 p.m. until midnight, limited access to Adirondack Loj. • Route 86 - Closed westbound from Jay to Lake Placid until 6 p.m. All fishing areas closed from Wilmington to Lake Placid until 6 p.m. • Route 9N - Closed Northbound from Keene to Jay until 5 p.m. • Haselton Road - Closed to any traffic between Wilmington and Black Brook until 5 p.m. • River Road - Closed to any traffic between Route 73 and Route 86 from 11 a.m. until Midnight. • Main Street (Lake Placid) - Closed to all traffic between Route 73 and Olympic Drive until midnight. • Lake Placid Club Drive - Closed to all traffic between Main Street and Northwood Road until midnight. • Northwood Road - Closed inbound between Route 86 and Lake Placid Club Drive until midnight. • Cobble Hill Road - Closed inbound between Route 86 and Northwood Road until midnight. • Sentinel/Cascade Road - Closed to all traffic between the Ski Jumps and Main Street until midnight. • Parkside Drive - Closed to all traffic between Main Street and Lake Placid Club Drive until Midnight.