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News

Decorative concrete sections to be replaced like new

Dan McClelland

by Dan McClelland
Several pieces of missing decorative concrete in the uptown area which saw the extensive highway redo by the state two summers ago will be replaced like new this summer, a local resident was assured last week when the village board convened.
One block of the salmon-colored concrete with its decorative markings was removed in front of the Chinese restaurant on Park Street last summer and another section is missing near the corner of Wawbeek Ave. and Broad Street.
Jim Lanthier, well known local photographer, asked the village board Wednesday about any plans to repair them, adding: “-And will they be repaired to their original state?”
Mayor Paul Maroun said they would be.
Water and Sewer Superintendent Mark Robillard explained his crew was “mapping out” the water connections along the improved state corridor last summer to update his department's records  but several of the water shut offs couldn't be found.
The crew was successful finding a shut off under the sidewalk in front the Tupper Lake Free Press office with its metal detecter  without having to tear up the sidewalk.
But another in front of the Chinese restaurant was more difficult to locate.
Mr. Robillard said they were getting “hits” with their device there and so excavated the one concrete section.
When it couldn't be found, the general contractor on the state job, Kubricky, was summoned to help and that crew also excavated a plot with a tree planted in it next to the concrete piece where the shut-off device was found.
Mr. Robillard assured Mr. Lanthier that any and all repairs would return those sections to their original state.
Trustee Ron LaScala echoed that, noting the concrete color would be matched, as would the shallow nature markings.  The village apparently was given the decorative concrete stamp used to make those markings.
“-And the corner of Wawbeek and Broad?” Mr. Lanthier pressed.
“Like original,” the trustee assured him, noting the damage had been done by the Verizon company's contractor, Morrisonville Electric,  in order to complete the installation of  the cellular  company's   new infrastructure there.
Mr. Lanthier said he appreciated the village's attention to his concerns.

Shake mud off your boots and welcome spring at Saturday's Mud Ball

Dan McClelland

by Dan McClelland
Saturday evening's the time to kick the mud off your mudders and come inside the train station  to  party at Tupper Arts' first Mud Ball.  The goal of the benefit is to generate money to pay the performers in the group's Friday evening Summer Sunset Series at the new Lions band shell announced this week (see separate story this week).
The fundraising event to help bring more arts and entertainment to Tip Top Town marks the official start of spring in the North Country.
The dress that evening will be “Tupper Lake formal”-  pressed wool pants, cleanest plaid shirt and sturdiest, but practical  footwear.  Fox hats are optional. One of the organizers, Tall Paul Chartier, promises to wear his!
Come by yourself or with  your beau or favorite gal.
The Mud Ball has been mirrored after the Snowball, which raised thousands of dollars each year for about six years  in support of the ARISE volunteer operation of Big Tupper in recent years.  
“Despite the abundance of mud and even snow outside right now in this far too long winter, inside the train station there'll be spring on Saturday night,” explains an enthusiastic Tupper Arts organizer Louise McNally this week.
To help the fledgling group raise money for culture and arts endeavors, beginning this summer, the musical trio of Ben McClelland, Jay Martin and Ian Roantree have donated their time and talent to perform popular music  from the 1960s and  1970s that evening.  The musicians do a great job with the music of the Beatles, Neil Young, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan  and other signature artists of that era.  Dancing is encouraged.
The kitchen elves at David Tomberlin's Well Dressed Food  started working today on preparations for the   platefuls of delicious hors d'oeuvres that will be served to the Mud Ball guests.  Several of the popular eatery's wholesale suppliers have made big donations of products to help with the event's fundraising.
A number of high school students have volunteered to serve the goodies from trays.
The price of the admission ticket (see advertisement this week for details) will include the entertainment, the food served and a complimentary glass of wine or craft beer.  Saturday's guests will also qualify for a host of valuable door prizes donated by local merchants and can also try their luck at winning the pot from which is expected to be a robust 50-50 sale.
The event will feature some of the best craft beer in the North Country- and perhaps the state- from stations featuring the products of Raquette River Brewing and Big Tupper Brewing, which are both donating generously to the event.
A variety of delicious wines will come from the shelves of Linda and Neal Pickering's Boulevard Wine and Spirits and from the vineyard of Bill Merritt's Merritt Estate Winery  in Forestport, N.Y.  Both companies and their owners are making substantial donations to the event to boost arts endeavors here for the enrichment of the local population and its visitors.
Tickets have been on sale all month from at a variety of places around town including Larkin's Deli, Well Dressed Food, Tupper Lake Supply, Tupper Lake Free Press, Boulevard Wine and Spirits, the village office, Cabin Fever Floral and Gifts and Jessica's Cuts and Colors and from individuals Joni Stuart, Lynn Quinn, Liz Cordes, Louise McNally, Shannon Bradley, Donna Sloan, Katie Stuart at the ROOST office and Donna Donnelly.  Those places and people will have tickets available through Saturday and tickets will also be available at the door of the train station that evening, so there's no reason not to go.
In order for ticket purchases to be tax deductible, checks should be made out to ARISE.
Tickets can also be purchased online at tupperarts.com and hitting the “donate” button.
The Adirondack Foundation, and its benevolent arm, Adirondack Gives...is also working with Tupper Arts these days to direct funds into entertaining and meaningful events here in coming months.

Tupper Arts to present Summer Sunset Series Fridays at band shell

Dan McClelland

Tupper Arts, the new hometown arts and cultural organization which was formed over the winter, this week announced the entertainment line-up for what its calling its Summer Sunset Series Friday evenings this summer at the Lions Club band shell.
The successor to the now defunct Tupper Lake Arts Council aims to introduce entertainment and arts endeavors to the band shell and other local venues, starting this summer.
It's been the intention of the new group this first summer  to showcase local talent or performers with a tie to Tip Top Town.  Each concert will be early Friday evening, beginning about 6p.m. or so and finishing well before dark.
Another key focus of the series is to bring local and visiting music lovers to a place each Friday evening that features  some of the greatest sunsets in the Adirondacks, when the suns drops behind Raquette Pond.
All performances are free to the public and entire families are encouraged to attend.  A donation basket will be circulated at all performances.  Funding for the series comes from the Village of Tupper Lake and from the fundraising of Tupper Arts, which begins this Saturday at the Mud Ball.
The Friday night series at the Flanders' Park band shell begins with a patriotic celebration on the eve of July 4th where local musicians George and Liz Cordes and Wayne and Laura Davison and others will offer many well known America favorites.  The aim is to get community residents singing along with them and in the spirit of the national holiday.
The performance will precede Tupper Lake's annual fireworks display- produced by the town and village through the chamber of commerce and always on the eve of the Fourth.
Beginning at 5p.m. or so on July 3 the local trio of Ben, Jay and Ian will open in the Lions new band shell before the patriotic performance, with popular tunes from the 1970s.
Three nights later on the first Friday in July, Crackin' Foxy, will entertain visitors to Flanders' Park.  The area group, featuring saxophonist Wayne Davison, will offer 1920s to 1940s jazz numbers as well as traditional Hawaiian musical fare.
On Friday July 13 Evan Bujold's Syracuse-based band, Late Earth is booked to perform at the Lions band shell.  The group, which has recently enjoyed some city-wide acclaim in Syracuse, performs alternative rock, blues and what it calls “antifolk.”
The entertainment of the early evening changes dramatically on July 20 when Tupper Arts volunteers booked The Guild of Thespian Puppets, a children-oriented puppet play based on popular folk tales.
On Friday, July 28 the Adirondack Arts Center at Blue Mountain, again under the direction this summer of George Cordes of Tupper Lake, will bring back Shakespeare to the park venue with the center's performance of Much Ado About Nothing.
The musical performers on stage August 3 will be the tri-lakes-based Springstreet Band, which offers popular rock.
The music turns to country and western the next Friday, when Ronnie Jones and his band offer some of the genre's favorites.  Tupper Lake's Brock Gonyea, who last year was an internet sensation with an early country and western classic he performed, has also been invited to appear on stage that evening.
On August 17, the area jazz group Moment's Notice, featuring Dan and Sadie Spada, are booked for the Lions band shell.
The musical mood moves to folk and traditional Adirondack music on August 24 when Rustic Riders and Joe Dockery will entertain park-goers.
The final performance of the Friday night summer sunset series will be the area rock and jazz group, Crowfeather, featuring ROOST staff Shawn Kittle.
See 'ya at the band shell Friday nights this summer.

Two NCCC students selected for SUNY Chancellor’s Awards

Dan McClelland

North Country Community College Students Chloe Nott and Victoria Smith have been named recipients of the 2018 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence.
Nott, who hails from Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia, and Smith, who is from Massena, traveled to the award ceremony in Albany Wednesday with their parents, college President Dr. Steve Tyrell and a contingent of college faculty and staff.
They were among 249 SUNY students from across the state to receive 2018 Chancellor’s Awards for Student Excellence from SUNY Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson. The award, created in 1997, recognizes students for accomplishments in the areas of leadership, athletics, community service, creative and performing arts, campus involvement, or career achievement.
“I am immensely proud of these students, who have demonstrated academic excellence and dedication to their campuses and communities,” said Chancellor Johnson. “From research publications in industry journals to volunteering in hospitals and local clinics to holding leadership roles at their institutions, I am inspired by each student we recognize today.”
Nott is a second-year student in the college’s Sports and Event Management program. She has excelled in the classroom, maintaining a 4.0 GPA, and has been an outstanding athlete at the college. She led the Saints women’s soccer and lacrosse teams as a captain, has received numerous awards, and last semester was named a first-team Scholar All-American. In addition, Chloe is an accomplished banjo player who has pursued her passion for music by attending bluegrass and country music festivals, taking bluegrass workshops and networking with other musicians during her time in the U.S.
“Receiving this award has been such an honor and privilege,” Nott said. “Being nominated by those at the college meant just as much. My time at NCCC has given me the opportunity to further my studies and play collegiate level sports, but also to become involved with the community and create some really special, lasting friendships.”
Smith, who is from Massena, is in her third year at the college. She graduated from the Licensed Practical Nursing program last year and is now working on her RN and Health Sciences degrees. In addition to her studies at the college, Smith has volunteered on mission trips to Uganda and India, and participated in a medical brigade to Honduras in March of this year. Smith is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society for two-year colleges, has received several awards and was selected to represent the college as this year’s Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Princess.
“I feel blessed to be receiving this award,” Smith said. “Hard work and dedication is worth being recognized, not only my work but also the effort put forth by my instructors and mentors here at NCCC. The truth is, I did not get to this point on my own. I have been surrounded by people that have seen my dedication to learning, meeting me there, then helping me surpass my goals. Thank you!”
“The college is proud to celebrate Chloe’s and Victoria’s accomplishments and congratulates them on being recognized with their peers as the best students in the SUNY system,” said Dr. Tyrell. “They are dedicated, hard-working and compassionate students who’ve enriched our campus and are fine examples of the promise the future holds for all of us.”
Each year, SUNY campus presidents establish a Chancellor’s Award selection committee, which reviews the accomplishments of exemplary students. Nominees are then forwarded to the Chancellor’s Office for a second round of review. Finalists are then recommended to the Chancellor to become recipients of the award.
Photo caption: North Country Community College students Chloe Nott, left, and Victoria Smith stand with college President Dr. Steve Tyrell after they were named recipients of 2018 SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Student Excellence at a ceremony in Albany, N.Y.

More State aid good news for Tupper school district

Dan McClelland

by Dan McClelland
For the first time in recent years the Tupper Lake Central School District will receive what Superintendent of Schools Seth McGowan Monday called “a sizable bump in state aid.”
The board of education met in special session Monday for a budget briefing by Mr. McGowan and Business Manager Dan Bower, in the wake of the recently adopted New York State budget.
The new state financial plan for the 2018-19 school year adopted by the state legislature over the April 1 weekend saw substantial increases in aid for education.
The two administrators said they would have final figures worked out this week for board members in time for consideration of the new Tupper Lake school budget at a regular board meeting Monday.
At a budget forum several months ago administrators didn't have any realistic projections of state aid revenues to share with the board or the public, other than the figures in the Governor's January executive budget proposal.
Mr. McGowan said Tupper Lake's share of state aid next year turned out to be about $300,000 more than the Governor had proposed in the final budget adopted by legislators over the April 1 weekend.
“State aid worked for us this budget,” a very pleased superintendent told board members Monday.  In recent years the local school district has seen decreases in all the various aid categories- Foundation aid, building aid, transportation aid, etc.
This year all those categories saw increases, Mr. McGowan noted.
He said building aid for this coming year was a big factor in the overall increase, given the district's  participation in the current building project that will wrap up this year in all school buildings.
Overall, he said, state aid is up about 12% over the current year.  When the robust building aid isn't factored in, the education aid in the remaining categories will increase by 4.21%.
One of the reasons for Tupper Lake state aid increase was a decrease in local property values in the district three years ago.  Education aid is always keyed to three year old property values in a school district.
Mr. McGowan said he and Mr. Bower believe there will be no reason to exceed the  state tax cap in the district's tax levy next year.
Although the tax cap adopted by the state several years ago is universally referred to as the two percent tax cap, the two percent figure rarely comes into play.
The town and village here for example in recent years have seen tax caps far below two percent, when everything is factored into what has been called a very complex formula.
Many exemptions also come in to play which help school districts like Tupper Lake's.  Consequently, this school district has seen tax caps as high as 3.5% in recent years.
Unlike past years in the district when positions have been eliminated and retiring employees not replaced, that won't be the case this year, according to Superintendent McGowan.  “Retiring positions will be refilled and there will be no staff reductions!”
In last year's budget, provisions were made to hire an additional school librarian and a district psychologist, but candidates for those positions were never found.  Mr. McGowan said those figures would stay in the new budget, with the hope good candidates could be found to take those positions.
“It feels good this year,” after years of reductions, the school chief admitted that evening.
Mr. McGowan said his sources in Albany and the district's financial planners figure  that with this year being an election year, state aid figures should stay consistent for the next two school years through 2020.  “After that it's crazy to speculate!”
Dan Bower confirmed this year's budget would be under the state imposed tax cap.  The question for the district, right now however, is how much the district will be able to increase its levy on property owners and still stay under the cap.
A good part of any exemptions this year will involve expenses and revenues associated with the current building program.
Right now, according to Mr. Bower, the district is paying for the renovations done this first year of the program with bond anticipation notes, which involve short-term borrowing.  Within several years, however, those anticipation notes have to be rolled into actual bonds, financed over 15 or so years.  How all that financing figures out will determine the amount of building aid the district will get and exactly in what future year.
“But I don't see any scenario that we won't be under the tax cap this year...and that's very good news for the district!”
Mr. McGowan told the board members that his long-range goal for the district and its financing- if state aid holds in future years- is to be able to someday soon hire more faculty members at the high school to offer more elective for students like many neighboring school districts do.
“It would be nice to enrich (our curriculum) again!”
More faculty members would also help the district better address the academic needs of younger children coming into the school system each year, he told the elected school leaders.
Increasing the ratio of teachers to students in each primary grade classroom is one effective way to help students learn, he added.
“Maybe not this budget or the next one, but eventually,” he said of the need for more teachers here.
Board member Wayne Davison asked about school enrollment projections for this coming year and was told student numbers will be up slightly this coming year.
Mr. Bower called that fact “more good news” for the district.

Ground broken on band shell

Dan McClelland

BandShell 3.jpg
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BandShell.jpg

Ground broken on band shell
Two well-known excavating companies- Lemieux Contracting and Kentile Excavating- are hard at it these days excavating the Lions band shell site in the bottom of Flander's Park in the village municipal park, below Martin Street.  Both companies have generously volunteered their equipment and their manpower to massage the shoreline site into shape for a pour of the foundation on or around May 1.  It's amazing the progress the two companies and their owners have made in the last couple of days.  Late March weather has been very cooperative.   Chip Lemieux and his crew began the excavating late last week and Kentile Excavating stepped in Monday morning.  The photo top left shows the excavation of the site and the fashioning of giant steps in the landscape above the bandshell done by the Lemieux firm last week.  The photo top right shows Kentile owners Adam Boudreau and Jay Merrihew and two staff members rolling out a fiber membrane in an excavated area they created Monday behind the bandshell.  The area which will be filled with crushed stone and topped in soil will be the site of a giant drainage garden that will collect surface water running down the park's surface and around the new entertainment center.  A smaller channel will funnel excess water from the drainage garden into the pond. The two photos below show some of the pieces of heavy equipment the firms have donated the use of to advance the community project. (McClelland photos)

Finger Lakes winery donates wines, wine glasses for April 21 Mud Ball

Dan McClelland

Bill Merritt, the owner of Merritt Estate Winery in the Finger Lakes, continues his very generous ways when it comes to Tupper Lake community projects.
Bill, the father of Tupper Lake music teachers Liz Cordes and Laura Davison, this week donated four cases of four varieties of his wine to this month's Mud Ball, the first fundraiser of the new Tupper Arts organization at the train station. Bill has been a generous supporter of many Tupper Lake benefits in the past including the Snowball.
Not only will Bill's wines be showcased and served at the April 21 event, he has donated nearly 300 souvenir wine glasses imprinted with the new logo of Tupper Arts, so almost everyone who attends the charity Mud Ball will have a keepsake of the evening.
Tickets to the event will go on sale later this week at a number of local venues including Well Dressed Food, Larkins' Deli, Tupper Lake Supply, Tupper Lake Free Press, Boulevard Wine and Spirits, the village office and Cabin Fever Floral and Gifts.  There are expected to be a  number of people around town selling tickets for Tupper Arts.  Some of those folks include Joni Stuart, Lynn Quinn, Liz Cordes, Shannon Bradley, Donna Sloan, Katie Stuart and Donna Donnelly. Tickets will also be available at the door that evening.  Jill Trudeau at the Adirondack Club and Resort is helping to coordinate the ticket sales.
Tickets may also be purchased in advance at the new web site launched by the new arts organization, tupperarts.com and hit the “donate” button.
In last week's issue an advertisement put the ticket price at $50.  They are, in fact, only $25 per person.

New “Tupper Arts” group founded on work of two previous groups here

Dan McClelland

By Dan McClelland
Publisher's note: Two weeks ago we carried a story about the creation of a new arts and cultural organization in Tupper Lake which is called Tupper Arts.  The key promoter of the group is Louise McNally, who has directed the Tupper Lake Art Show for the past two years and who organized last summer's Street Festival in the uptown business district.  The new group comes on the heels of a rich legacy of the promotion of the arts here with at least two different organizations.  Donna Sloan, who was instrumental in the work of the Tupper Lake Arts Council for decades, this week put together something of a brief history of those groups from old scrapbooks kept, from the minutes of meetings she kept as the council secretary and with conversations with key people who still live here.  We offer our thanks to Donna for that work.
On February 6, 1979 “Tupper Lake Presents...,” a new arts group in town was formed.  It was incorporated as a federal not for profit organization in 1979 and the designation was renewed five years later.
Some of the instrumental people were Fran Collier, who was the principle founder,  Ray and Dickie Jenkins, Molly Sherry, Chrys Dudbridge, the name a few.
On November 1980 a new “Tupper Lake Presents...” office established above Free Press building and there was no rent charged by the newspaper company. The group remained there for several years.
In November 1982 the arts council volunteers, along with community supporters purchased the long idle State Theater along with the leaders and board of Project PRIDE, the principle mission of which was to clean-up and energize the community.  The group leased to Jeff Szot (JS Cinemas) of Canton. Theater had been abandoned since 1975.  Years later the building was later sold to Mr. Szot and many of the initial investments were repaid. Muriel Ginsberg and Mary Mercurio were part of the  driving force behind Project PRIDE (People Really Interested in Donating Energy?), as were co-chairs Bruce VanVranken and Judy McCartney, who both became involved with arts council through PRIDE.
For the arts council and the community the years 1979 to 1993 were extremely active with many concerts, plays, workshops, musical groups, movies, dances, poetry readings, storytellers, instrumental and dance classes, children’s events, etc.
The files of the arts council during the years of 1993 to a decade later are missing, so information about its work would only be found after copious research in the annals of the hometown weekly.
From conversations she had with past members Mrs. Sloan found that bother Elaine Yabroudy and Newton Greiner were very involved in leadership roles.
Julia Gagnier and Erin Dangler took over at one point. They added dance lessons and violin lessons.
Their dream was to open a community arts center, but it never became a reality. That goal remains today in the new mission of Tupper Arts, according to Mrs. McNally.
The name “Tupper Lake Presents...” was changed to Tupper Lake Arts Council in 1997.
The years 2003 to 2014 saw a resurgence of activities by the  arts council. It was at one point re-named Tupper Lake Arts Council (TLAC). Eileen Hayes and Seth McGowan were the first co-chairs.  In many ways, through the hard work of volunteers, the arts and cultural group was re-energized. Others involved in those years were Beth Johnson, Karen Greiner, Randy Jones, Dan Bower, Trish Anrig, Meredith Warwick, Elise LaBrake, Sue Svoboda and  Donna Sloan.
Events include New Years Eve galas at the Wild Center, Celebrate TL Street fairs, Big Band dinner/dances, Pendragon plays, Shakespeare in the Park, Cabin Fever Art Classes, Opera Night at Little Italy, Mystery Dinner Theater, Night at the Races, scholarships given out for dance, instrumentals, and drama study, etc., etc.,
When Eileen and Seth stepped down, Beth Gagnier took over for a short while and soon after Trish and Meredith stepped up with Donna remaining as secretary
In 2013 the Tupper Lake Arts Council leaders contributed $10,000 to theater toward about $80,000 in new digital equipment, necessary to keep up the transformation to digital films in the industry.
The next year group leaders tried to energize and regroup, but there was not enough interest from people in the community.
In 2015, a much smaller group at the arts council took over annual art show from Goff Nelson Memorial Library staffers, who had run it for nearly a half century.
Later that year the board fell apart through lack of interest in events and only a handful of people doing it all.
In 2016 Louise McNally and Susan Lawson took over art show and moved it to train station for the first time.  The number of artists increased as the organizers looked to people from across the region.
Last year Louise took over completely, and moved the show again to the former Ginsberg's Department Store building on Park Street.  It was highlighted by the creation of what was called the “Celebrate Tupper Lake Street Festival,” which marked the completion of the state refurbishment of Park Street.  That was a big Saturday last August.
“Tupper Arts” will sponsor this year's August art show and a street festival, which is expected to run down the length of Mill Street from Park to the lake.
The new group and the two before it share a common thread: the willingness of local folks to work hard and volunteer their time to bring first-class entertainment through a variety of creative endeavors to Tupper Lake, its residents and its visitors.  Watch for reports and advertisements of “Tupper Arts” activities to come in upcoming issues.

Town leaders accept new Mt. Morris road

Dan McClelland

by Dan McClelland
With the blessing of Highway Superintendent Bill Dechene, town officials at a special meeting March 19 accepted a new road recently completed by developer Nick Brunette.  
The road offer was first presented to the town board at its regular meeting on March 8 by Attorney Kirk Gagnier, but without the highway superintendent in attendance, officials were cautious to proceed. Mr. Dechene had been out plowing with his crew all night the night before.
By town law it is up to a town highway superintendent to accept any new roads.  Under town law too, any accepted road must meet town road-building standards, which include among other things adequate drainage and certain depths of gravel.
Road work by Mr. Brunette apparently started five years ago, according to comments that evening.
The 1,300 foot long road, 50 feet wide, is situated behind No. 1 fairway and near the No. 2 tee area at the Tupper Lake Golf Course.  It leaves Tamarac Drive at a point between property owned by Peter Kinzel and another owned by his neighbors, Richard and Ellen Smith.
Mr. Brunette's new road will open up a 23-acre piece of property he owns there for development with seven new lots. The new road, which shaves a piece of the corner of a third lot owned by George Ross, ends at a section of acreage owned by Jim and Rickey Dattola.
At the earlier meeting Attorney Gagnier said Mr. Dechene has been inspecting Mr. Brunette's work since it began five years ago, and last Monday the highway chief confirmed that.
At the second meeting, the attorney said Mr. Brunette's subdivision won approval from the planning board, following soil tests and other development requirements.
The road butts up to property owned by Rickey and Jim Dattola, which brought the comment from Supervisor Patti Littlefield that should they ever want to develop that parcel, the access road is now there.
Mr. Dechene said Nick's new road meets all the town's current specifications for acceptance.
It was noted in the discussion, however, that Mr. Gagnier, who is also the town attorney and Mr. Dechene have been talking of late about updating the town's road acceptance policy.  Board members have also apparently been talking about.
Referring to any new specifications, the supervisor speculated the board may want to require developers to install a binder coat or asphalt surface on any road offered to the town in the future.
She said Mr. Dechene is currently working up cost estimates for future developers to apply at least the binder coat on any new road offered.
Councilman John Quinn offered the resolution to accept the new road with the initial acceptance of the highway chief.
“I'll move it,” he told his colleagues Mrs. Littlefield and Councilwoman Mary Fontana, “but I want to ask Bill, you've been involved...does it meet our specifications?”
Mr. Dechene said it did.
“So I'll go with his recommendation, because he's the man!” stated Mr. Quinn.
The motion won all three votes at the table.
Absent that Monday afternoon at 3p.m. at the special meeting were board members Mike Dechene and Tracy Luton.
As the discussion moved to the topic of a new committee to study town road specifications and acceptance policies, Mr. Gagnier wondered if the board wanted him to ask Mr. Brunette to serve, since he has been just through the process.
Supervisor Littlefield said that while he could be asked to serve on the new group, it might be easier just to have the committee interview him about the experience.  Other developers here may also be asked to meet with the study group.
John Quinn offered to serve on the new committee, and suggested Planner Paul O'Leary, Mr. Dechene and the attorney also be asked serve as well.  A motion later in the discussion appointed those four to the committee, with a completion date of two months from now eyed.
He said there were a number of things he'd like to see in any new road specifications developed, including, among other things a paved surface and engineering plan.
“Our specifications aren't bad...we just need to improve upon them,” the councilman noted.
Mr. Gagnier said the planning board members should also be involved in the creation of any new town road specs as those requirements are found in the town's subdivision regulations.
“We always want the planners to make sure any developer is keeping their eye on the road specifications!”
In the deliberations of the planning board he said there may be times when a small subdivision doesn't need to be served by a town road and a private road will do.  A waiver from the planners can make that happen, he added.
The supervisor suggested contacting officials in nearby towns where road acceptance specifications have been recently updated, to review those policies.
Bill Dechene noted that there should be a provision in any new set of road rules, calling for acceptance by the town to only occur between May and October- as unusual things can happen to roads in the winter and spring months.
He added that Mr. Brunette's new road had been completed and inspected by him in September.  “He completed everything I asked him to!”
He said turnarounds should also be required at the end of all future town roads, as it is often difficult for town snowplows and other large vehicles to safely turn around.  Mr. Dechene gave as an example a recent mishap where a school bus got stuck in Walter Zurawski's yard at the end of River Road, when it tried to turn around.
“Most times we have to use private driveways to turn around, and there's always the chance someone might shut us out!”
“I look forward to the construction of new homes in Mr. Brunette's subdivision,” was the supervisor's comment that afternoon on the issue.

Michelle A. LaMere Library dedication gathers great crowd to celebrate memory

Dan McClelland

Family and friends of Michelle LaMere entering The Michelle A. LaMere Library for refreshments after the ceremony.

Family and friends of Michelle LaMere entering The Michelle A. LaMere Library for refreshments after the ceremony.

by Ian Roantree
On any given month, a regular Board of Education meeting falls on the first Monday of the month.
But last Monday—the first Monday of the month—no meeting was held. That’s because March’s regular Board of Education Meetings was saved for a special ceremony for this past Monday, March 12.
In the narrow hallway of the L.P. Quinn Elementary School entrance stood nearly a hundred friends, family and members of the community that came together to celebrate and commemorate the life of Michelle LaMere and take witness to the naming of L.P. Quinn’s library to the Michelle A. LaMere Library.
In the hands of some were books, for one of the ways to celebrate the memory of Michelle LaMere was by taking part in a Family Reading Night, which was organized by Margaret O’Leary, Juli Dukett and Meehan Bourgeois.
When the clock struck six, Board of Education President Jane Whitmore approached the podium situated in front of the library entrance. The crowd that had been chatting amongst each other had suddenly fellen quiet.
To officially commence the evening, President Whitmore began, “Thank you all for coming. At this time we will call the March Board of Education meeting to order.”
Behind her stood the Board of Education members, and above, yellow paper covered the wall.
She then asked Board of Education Vice President Jason Rolley to lead the pledge of allegiance.
Mrs. Whitmore then invited Superintendent Seth McGowan to speak.
“There are few people who believed so strongly in the importance of reading as Michelle LaMere. The power of the printed word ranged for her from the delight in children decoding letters into sounds, to putting those sounds into words, then into sentences, then into paragraphs, then into books, ideas and ultimately, into dreams.
“A room filled with books for Michelle, AKA Mrs. LaMere, or “Meechelle”, or simply “Meesh”, was the gateway to unleash those dreams. And not just for school aged children, but for children of all ages.
“As a teacher, Michelle always encouraged us to stretch our imagination through literature. As an educator, Michelle encouraged us to stretch our knowledge through research.
“Make no mistake, she was never quiet about it at all, and she modeled both everyday with a book for enjoyment in one hand, and the latest publication on the best practices for teaching of reading in the other. It was hard to keep up, and I for one felt inadequate.
“It was her unending energy and passion for the printed word, and it made us all better teachers and more importantly, better people.
“It is symbolic that this corner of the L.P. Quinn Elementary School has a door leading to the inside of the building, where the learning takes place, as well as a door leading out and into the community where life takes place.
“And it is at the same time the center of knowledge and a bridge to imagination. And so it is fitting that this, this same room is filled with books, and is being dedicated to a person who inspired a generation of readers with the gift of reading, inspired  a generation of writers with the gift of voice, inspired countless generations as a role model and friend, and will be remembered always by each who passes through these doors.
“I am proud tonight on behalf of the board of education, to dedicate this library to Michelle LaMere, and doing so, welcome you to The Michelle A. LaMere Library.”
And in that moment, the yellow paper that covered the letters was carefully pulled down revealing the newly-installed letters and plaque that was placed on the wall to the left of the library entrance.
The lettering and plaque was installed by the Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds, Pierre St. Pierre, who spent nearly a week’s worth of time over weekends and nights to prepare the wall above the entrance for the lettering.
St. Pierre expanded the eight foot wall to 14 feet to fit the lettering and recessed the ceiling to add lights.
The crowd of friends and family then funneled through the doors stepping foot, for the first time, into The Michelle A. LaMere Library.
Inside the newly named library, family and friends enjoyed refreshments while they reminisced and shared memories of Michelle.
While some stuck around the library for coffee and cake, others took to the hallways of the elementary school to find a cozy spot to read their favorite books. Cafeteria manager Bob LaMare provided the family readers with cookies and milk.
Mr. McGowan said, “although we suspected that there’d be a large turnout, this is a little overwhelming, but certainly not surprising.”
McGowan went on to send out thanks to those who made the evening possible.
“Thank you to Dr. Pinard for your help and support, and Shauni Shumway who took care of the fine details.
“And of course the board of education for its unanimous support for this name in honor of Michelle. And finally to Tom, Ali and Robbie LaMere and the entire extended family of Michelle for allowing us to use her name for this library that will forever commemorate her life’s work.”

The newly installed plaque honoring Michelle. 

The newly installed plaque honoring Michelle.

 

New Lewis in charge now at Tip Top Electric

Dan McClelland

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by Dan McClelland
There's a new Lewis in charge at Tupper Lake's Tip Top Electric on Cliff Ave.
He's Nate Lewis, the son of Robert N. and Cindy Lewis of this village, and like his dad  before him Nate has been working for the family-owned business since he was a teenager. He's the third generation of the family to own and operate the well-known and well-respected Tupper Lake business.
Nate purchased the business from Bob at the first of the year, and while the name is the same, he's operating under a new limited liability corporation, Tip Top Enterprises.
After graduating from high school here, he studied electricity at Canton ATC  before joining the Tip Top Electric staff in 1999.  He worked summers there during high school and college.
The firm was started in 1953 when two local electricians- Bob Lewis, Nate's grandfather, and Darwin “Tony” Gensel, then both employed by King's Electric, went out on their own and jointly formed Tip Top Electric.  Their first headquarters was a garage on Arden Street, owned by Mr. Lewis' mother.
From the start the business was popular, catering to many local residents and their electrical needs and eventually winning more and more commercial accounts including the Altamont Milk Company and the Draper Corp. plant.
Over the years it gained many more commercial jobs including the electrical work on the original Big Tupper Ski Center lodge, O.W.D. Inc., Major Rod, Elliott Hardwood and renovations to Mercy Hospital.
Servicing the repairs of many area camps, including those at Big Wolf Lake and Whitney Park was also part of the successful business plan.
In 1955 the partners moved their business to Wawbeek Ave., across from Wawbeek Quick Stop and  1959 the partners purchased the company's present quarters at 15 Cliff Ave.
For years the partners did electrical repairs, some refrigeration work and the installation of electric systems.  For years too, beginning in 1957,  the place was the local headquarters of General Electric appliances and household goods.
For years the firm boasted three full-time employees, aside from the partners.  Shaheen Shaheen worked for the firm for many years.
The partners and their wives, Lu and Marie,  celebrated 25 years in business with an anniversary dinner with family and staff in February 1979.
In 1974 the younger Bob Lewis joined the firm on a full-time basis, after working there summers since he has 14 years old and after completing study in electrical technology at Canton ATC.
In September, 1982 the senior Bob Lewis died prematurely and the ownership of the partnership went to Mr. Gensel under a buy-sell insurance agreement the partners had forged years earlier.
In 1983 Bob Lewis purchased his father's half of the business from Mr. Gensel.
Leading up to that purchase Bob also started Lewis Insulators, working weekends and evenings installing insulation in a number of residences and businesses here in the early 1980s.  That company was eventually folded into the new partnership with Mr. Gensel.
Bob and Tony ran the business for several years together  until Bob eventually bought out his partner in 1986.
From that time on he ran the business as the president of his company, with valuable bookkeeping assistance from his wife, Cindy.
For a time too Tip Top Electric was a Skidoo dealership here.
In the late 1980s Bob introduced a heating and plumbing division to the company, which continues to thrive today.
Under Bob's direction the firm over the years grew its customer base in size and geographical area across the Northern New York and Vermont.
For many years Tip Top Electric has been aligned with large area contractors like Cascade Builders  and together they have tackled a number of large projects in Lake Placid, St. Regis Lake and across the area.  Locally they have also worked closely with contractors Bob Becker, Jim Frenette and others.
According to Bob, Nate has been running one of their crews for a number of years.
One of the firm's mainstays over the years has been plumber and electrician Chris Gallagher who has been with Tip Top for 25 years.
Other employees include Steve Gagnon, Ian Gillis and Zach Smith.
Bob will continue to work for his son, whenever he's needed.  He admitted this week it is satisfying to be able to turn over the business to his son.
When the Free Press interviewed Nate last week he promised to dedicate himself to the family business like his father and grandfather did before him.
“Tip Top Electric has a reputation of good work and good service.  We're known for honesty, hard work and doing right by our customers.  Those things are all priorities for me!” he told the hometown newspaper.
He said in addition to tackling various residential and commercial projects across the North Country, he is looking forward to more jobs at home what with the coming of the Adirondack Club and Resort.

Bandshell work to commence May 1; July 4 opening planned

Dan McClelland

Contractor and clerk of the works Tom LaMere reviews construction plans with some of the people who will be involved with the building of the  new bandshell in Flanders Park at a construction meeting in the village office early last week. …

Contractor and clerk of the works Tom LaMere reviews construction plans with some of the people who will be involved with the building of the  new bandshell in Flanders Park at a construction meeting in the village office early last week.  From left standing are Excavating Contractor Mark “Chip” Lemieux, Trustee Ron LaScala, Electric Superintendent Marc Save, and Excavating Contractor Adam Boudreau.  Sitting at the board table were Trustee Clint Hollingsworth, Code Enforcement Officer Pete Edward and Engineer Kurt Bedore. (Photo by Katie Stuart)


by Dan McClelland
The pouring of the foundation of the new bandshell in the Flanders section of the Tupper Lake Municipal is expected to take place on or about May 1, with the arrival of the timber peg framework and such about May 15.
The foundation will be poured by Moore's Flatworks and Foundations LLC, which was the lone bidder on recent village bids for the project. The firm bid $20,933 for all labor and construction  of forms for the foundation pour.
The village last fall awarded the contract for constructing the post and beam style frame to New Energy Works of Farmington, N.Y. for $76,890. The bid amount includes $70,960 for the construction of the framework, constructed of Douglas Fir and $5,930 for tongue and groove roof decking of the same wood.
With the wooden beams of the new performing arts structure will come a crane and crew from the timber frame contractor.
Once the skeleton is in place, the Lions Club volunteers and supporters in the community will devote a number of  days to roofing the bandshell, and installing the glass sides and storage-room rear area.  That work is expected to take place in the final weeks of May.
The construction schedule is, of course, based on the weather.
The excavation of the foundation area will be tackled by the village crew prior to the May 1 start and the electric crew will run new electric lines to the site to provide both temporary power for the building crews and for the electrical system that will be installed.
The crew will also install the 200-amp service in the structure and the on-site lighting planned, much of which will be at ground level.
Final details for the construction of the new building on the Raquette Pond shoreline at the base of Mill Street came together last Monday at a construction meeting of the various players, hosted by Community Developer Melissa McManus at the village.  Those who attended or who connected via conference call included Trustees Clint Hollingsworth and Ron LaScala,  General Contractor Tom LaMere,  Electric Department Superintendent Marc Staves, Adam Boudreau of Kentile Excavating, Mark “Chip” Lemieux of Lemieux Excavating, Engineer Kurt Bedore, Code Enforcement Officer Pete Edwards, Village Clerk Mary Casagrain, Lions Club President Dan McClelland,  Meaghan Lynch   from Terrain, a landscape architectural firm from New York City and bandshell designer Andrew Chary.
The plan is to have the transformation of the park area below Martin St. completed, for the most part, for an Independence Day opening of the new performance venue.
Contractor Tom LaMere has offered to oversee the bandshell construction. Tom is an active member of the Tupper Lake Lions Club that led the successful $40,000 fundraising campaign this past year that is part of the local share of the state grant won by the village from the state department of state to build the new performance park  with wide seating tiers down  from the Martin St. area to the shoreline area where the bandshell will be situated.
In front of the shell will be a 1,050 square foot dance area constructed of two-inch thick stone from Champlain Stone of Fort Ann. Engineer Kurt Bedore, who did much of the site work for the project and soil testing,  was able to secure the stone for the project at a fraction of the normal cost.
Mike Donah  has donated the services of  his Adirondack Fireplace company to lay the stone. The rectangular pieces will be floated in what is called “polymer sand.”  
The meeting last Monday began with a briefing by Mrs. McManus and Village Clerk Mary Casagrain of the village's procurement policies and bidding requirements. Also reviewed was the department of state's change order policy.
Andrew Chary was assigned to contact Phil Moore of Moore's Flatworks to insure everything was on track for the early May pour.
In the event the firm cannot fulfill its bid commitment, Mr. Chary was empowered by the group to contact a new concrete finisher that is currently working in the area.
Tupper Lake excavators Adam Boudreau and Mark Lemieux have both agreed to donate their talents and their firms' machinery to a major part of the project- the reshaping of the landscape there and new drainage.
It was noted there may not be enough fill on site to create the tiered seating areas in front of the bandshell and so arrangements will be needed by the village to bring in extra fill.  It will be trucked there in village trucks with village operators.
Mrs. Casagrain reported  the village currently has contracts with Paul Mitchell Stone Products and with Upstone Materials,  the company that last year purchased the Graymont Material company for sand and stone materials.
Engineer Bedore reported that his five foot deep boring tests at the bandshell site revealed nine inches of topsoil, twenty inches of loam and clay at 30 inches.  They hit ground water at 32 inches, he reported.
Pete Edwards said the site is both solid and well-drained so there should be a problem with heaving from the frost.
Mrs. McManus urged all those involved in the community project to keep close track of their hours, machinery hours and material purchases as all qualify as local contributions in the overall state grant funding of the major share of the project.

 

 

Brewski, Fire & Ice successful even without snow

Dan McClelland

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by Dan McClelland
This weekend's Brewski and Fire and Ice Golf tournament at the Tupper Lake Golf Course saw almost the exact same weather conditions as a year ago when the two events were first paired.  The lack of snow didn't hurt the fun, nor the turn-out.
Both this year and last year ample snow cover for both outdoor events in early February was wiped away in   repeated days of rain and unseasonably mild winter temperatures leading up to the combined event.
But despite the atypical February conditions,  the driving range area of the golf course was rocking with good times all afternoon!
The Brewski, sponsored by the Tupper Lake Chamber of Commerce and the Tupper Lake Lions Club's Fire & Ice golf tournament drew a crowd of well over 200 as people came to compete at winter golf or to sample the craft beer products of eight regional breweries or both.
This year's crowd came from all across the North Country and southern Ontario.
Like last year John Gillis and his volunteer crew of trail groomers had the golf course trails flat and well maintained- all ready for the Brewski, until the rains and thaw came.
In years past skiers and snowshoers have navigated the trails in the  woods at the golf course where they encountered craft beer purveyors along the way.  
Without snow last year the   four or so beer vendors were moved over to the Fire & Ice site on the driving range, as they were again this past Saturday.  With eight vendors and one distributor present they ringed the five-hole course.
The companies represented were Tupper Lake's Raquette River Brewing and Big Tupper Brewing, Valcour Brewing Company of Plattsburgh, Township 7 Brewing of Dickinson Center, Oval Brewing of Plattsburgh, Lake Placid Pub and Brewing, Big Slide Brewery of Lake Placid, Blueline Brewing and High Peaks Distribution,  which brought along products from Livingood's Restaurant and Brewery and Saranac Beer.
The town's tracked trail groomer and trailer, stewarded by Eric Lanthier, with help from Jim Frenette and others, came in handy moving kegs across the driving range to the vendors' booths.
Saturday brought an overcast day with no rain, with the mercury rising to the low 30s.  It made for a great day to be outdoors.  Last year saw a torrential downpour of rain at about 4p.m. and high winds during the day, but this year the day was calm and dry.
The Lions outdoor tourney, while only attracting seven teams of three, drew a tremendous amount of enthusiasm from both the competitors and the dozens and dozens of beer-drinkers who cheered them on.
After twin five-hole rounds the team captained by Vickie Pickering and her two minions- husband Ricky and Bob Beaudette, emerged as the champs with a best round of 19.  Vickie's team was the loudest of the tournament, spectators noticed. Vickie also routinely posed for passing photographers  throughout their rounds.
Second best Fire & Ice golfers were Bob Lewis and Hayden and Paul LaMere.  The good-looking trio boasted some big drives but inconsistent green play.
Our money was on the trio of Cindy Lewis, and Jim and Debbie Gaudet- but one never knows the intricacies of winter golf without snow, does one?
Competitive couple Pam and Scott Edwards, supported generously by the talent of Spencer Lanthier, claimed to be last year's best.  This year was a different story, apparently.
Mayor Paul Maroun, who has teamed up with Bill Maroun and Carol Fuller for a great degree of success at past tourneys, was conspicuous by his absence this year, a victim of the flu.  
No matter how the golfers finished every player seemed to enjoy this year's snow-free play.
Throughout the afternoon crowds of as many as 30 beer samplers moved from vendor station to vendor station to try out the products.  There were many excellent beer recipes shared including some impressive stouts which boasted alcohol contents approaching 11 percent.
Another popular spot that afternoon was around the Lions fire next to the cook shack, where there were often 40 or more folks gathered.   The freshly bucked-up wet pine donated by Gary Drasye and Lions Club President Dan McClelland's dry stuff underneath made for a nice afternoon fire the was enjoyed by many of the visitors.  The club president didn't singe his hair this year.
The Lions club organizers were happy Joe Salamy didn't ignite himself, as he kindled the fire initially.
The crew in the Lions cook shack was like a well-oiled machine, serving up Lions favorites all afternoon.  In addition to the usual Lions fare dogs and burgs, a big favorite that day were Shaheen's Supermarket sweet sausages, smothered in green peppers and onions. Working the grills with appreciated skill Saturday were Lions Chris Zaidan, Rob Drasye and Joe Salamy.  Helping too was Danielle Gagnier.
Free pickles from John and Patty Gillis'  till-less garden above Moody were a bonus each serving, thanks to the local couple who always help out at the winter event.  The few patches of ice which were present again got a coating of sawdust from the John's wood-working shop at the base of the mountain.
A number of other volunteers worked the registration booths inside the pro shop.  Chamber leaders Hayley McCottery and Sue Fitzpatrick stayed busy selling $20 Brewski tickets to well over 190 beer drinkers.
Selling 50-50 tickets and golfer registrations for the Lions there too were members Gerry and Mary Sojda, Bob and Sioux Collier and Tall Paul Chartier.
Chamber officials said this week the 2018 Brewski was the biggest yet in the half dozen years it has been run at the golf course.
An interesting and welcome addition this year was the availability of eight balloon-tired bikes brought by Zander Connor of the staff of Lake Placid's High Peaks Cyclery.
The business was apparently prepared to donated the use of cross-country ski equipment and snowshoes for participants, had the snow cover stayed.
Zander told chamber officials, the fat-tired bikes were very popular at Saturday's event, and more so than at other events he's taken them to around the region this winter.  People were riding them all over the driving range area and up and down the Big Tupper access road Saturday.
The office the chamber shares with ROOST on Park Street was very busy with calls in recent weeks from people all over who were eager to ski or snowshoe the Brewski.
The chamber's events director, Miss McCottery, told someone over the weekend she figured the crowd might have reached 500, had the snow cover held.  There were also apparently a number of other beer vendors who called to find out more about the Brewski and about coming in the future.
After three or four hours of winter golf and beer-drinking, many people in the crowd wandered off the mountain down to Lakeview Lanes, where the local bar was eventually  packed.
There it was announced that the winner of the Lions Club 50-50 drawing of $2,020 was Piercefield's Linda Pickering.  She may take Neil on a well-deserved vacation.
In all the Lions netted about $3,000 in proceeds from the Fire & Ice, which included the golf registration fees and the sale of signs advertising local businesses, which this year were posted prominently on the side of the cook shack in the absence of snow to stick them in.  All that money will be re-invested in Tupper Lake in the Lions community-service projects.
Spearheading the Fire & Ice team again this year were Lions Tom LaMere and Stuart Nichols.  More than a handful of Lions including Paul LaMere, Mark LaVigne, Gerry Sojda, Joe Salamy, Rob Drasye met with Miss McCottery, John Gillis and others most Tuesdays from Christmas on  at Tom LaMere's shop to plan the big February event- and their planning paid off, despite  an uncooperative Mother Nature!

Impressive story-telling opens two-day celebration at local brewery

Dan McClelland

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by Ian Roantree and Dan McClelland
A weekend celebration at Big Tupper Brewing of Tupper Lake's logging and lumbering heritage and the men and women who worked tirelessly in the woods to earn livings for their families in decades past began Friday evening with some good old fashioned storytelling by Tupper Lake's Bruce LaVoy, a longtime forester here.
Bruce shared two local stories and then a popular Robert Service poem to the delight of several dozen folks assembled around the fire of an outdoor patio fire pit.  Despite the cold, everyone stayed for the entire half hour, to laugh with Bruce and enjoy his detailed stories.  It was an impressive and near-flawless performance by the local story teller.
“Ladies and gentlemen, skinny and stout, I’ll tell you a story I know nothing about. Admission is free so pay at the door, pull up a chair, sit on the floor.
“One fine day in the middle of the night, two good boys got up to fight. Back to back they faced each other, drew their swords and shot each other.
“A blind man came to see fair play, a mute man came to shout hooray.
“A deaf policeman heard the noise and came to stop those two dead boys.
“He lived on a corner in the middle of the block, in a two story house on a vacant lot.
“A man with no legs came walking by and kicked that policeman right in the thigh.
“The policeman fell and made no sound, and fell in a dry creek bed and suddenly drowned.
“A big black hearse came to carry him away, but he ran for his life and he’s gone today.
“I watched it all from the corner of a big round table, and I’m the only eye witness to the facts of this fable.
“And if you don’t believe my lies are true, ask the blind man, he saw it too.

“Everybody here knows that Tupper Lake was pretty much founded by French Canadians. French Canadian lumberjacks came to work in the woods, they were cooks in the hunting camps, they were hunters and guides and trappers.
“With that background, I was walking down the street in Tupper Lake one day and I overheard this conversation.
“Went down town ‘der the utter day, met my old friend, Trapper Bill. We sat down to talk as good friends often will. I said, ‘what’s that thing there you got on your back?’ ‘That’s a baby skunk I got in that old sack.’
“‘Bill, you trapped a skunk? And you didn’t kill him yet?
“‘Oh I won’t hurt that little fella, I’m gonna keep him for a pet.
“‘Oh Bill, those baby skunks are awful tender so I’m told. he’ll probably freeze to death some night, that wind is hella cold.”
“‘Well Bill’, he began to scratch his head, ‘that baby skunk won’t freeze to death he’ll sleep with me in bed.’”
“‘Well Bill, your notions awful swell, but tell me, what are you going to do about that awful smell?’”
“‘You think that bother him? Not one little bit That baby skunk’, says trapper Bill, ‘He’ll soon get used to it.’

“You ask me to tell you about loggers and that sort of thing.
“As I sat down one evening, I was in a small cafe, an 80 year old waitress to me these words did say.
“‘I see that you are a logger and not just a common bum. Because no one but a logger stirs his coffee with his thumb.
“‘My lover was a logger, there’s none like him today. If you pour whiskey on it, he’d eat a bale of hay.
“‘He never shaved them whiskers from off his horny hide, he’d just drive them in with a hammer and bite them off inside.
“‘My lover came to see me 'twas one freezing day, he held me in a fond embrace that broke three vertebrae.
“‘He kissed me when we parted so hard that he broke my jaw, I could not speak to tell him that he forgot his mackinaw.
“‘I saw my lover leaving sauntering through the snow, going daily homeward at 48 below.
“‘The weather that tried to freeze him it tried his level best, at a 100 degrees below zero, he buttoned up his vest.
“‘Well it froze clear thorough to china, it froze to the stars above, at a 1000 degrees below zero, it froze my logger love.
“‘The men went out to find him and if you believe me sir, they ground him down for axe blades to chop the spruce and fir.
“And so she lost her lover and to this cafe she comes and here she waits for someone to stir his coffee with his thumb.”

“You know you can’t talk about cold and winter and ice and that sort of thing, without remembering Robert Service. Robert Service was a British guy that came to Alaska during the gold rush in the early 1900s. He wrote down the story that made him famous, really. The Hermit of Shark Tooth Shoal, the Cremation of Sam McGee, the Blasphemous Bill Mackie, and I was going to save the Cremation of Sam McGee for last because that’s my favorite, and since we’re sitting out here in the cold, we kinda oughta talk about Sam McGee.”
Bruce recited the popular poem perfectly, inflecting a little accent where appropriate.
He began, “There are strange things done in the midnight sun by the men who moil for gold; the Arctic trails have their secret tales that would make your blood run cold;
“The Northern Lights have seen queer sights, But the queerest they ever did see Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge I cremated Sam McGee.
“Now Sam McGee was from Tennessee, where the cotton blooms and blows. Why he left his home in the South to roam 'round the Pole, God only knows.
“He was always cold, but the land of gold seemed to hold him like a spell; though he'd often say in his homely way that "he'd sooner live in hell."
“On a Christmas Day we were mushing our way over the Dawson trail. Talk of your cold! through the parka's fold it stabbed like a driven nail.
“If our eyes we'd close, then the lashes froze till sometimes we couldn't see; it wasn't much fun, but the only one to whimper was Sam McGee.
“And that very night, as we lay packed tight in our robes beneath the snow, and the dogs were fed, and the stars o'erhead were dancing heel and toe.
“He turned to me, and 'Cap,' says he, 'I'll cash in this trip, I guess; and if I do, I'm asking that you won't refuse my last request.'
“Well, he seemed so low that I couldn't say no; then he says with a sort of moan: "It's the cursed cold, and it's got right hold till I'm chilled clean through to the bone.
“Yet ain't being dead—it's my awful dread of the icy grave that pains; so I want you to swear that, foul or fair, you'll cremate my last remains.
“A pal's last need is a thing to heed, so I swore I would not fail; and we started on at the streak of dawn; but God! he looked ghastly pale.
“He crouched on the sleigh, and he raved all day of his home in Tennessee; and before nightfall a corpse was all that was left of Sam McGee.
“There wasn't a breath in that land of death, and I hurried, horror-driven, with a corpse half hid that I couldn't get rid, because of a promise given.
“It was lashed to the sleigh, and it seemed to say: "You may tax your brawn and brains, but you promised true, and it's up to you to cremate those last remains.
“Now a promise made is a debt unpaid, and the trail has its own stern code. In the days to come, though my lips were dumb, in my heart how I cursed that load.
“In the long, long night, by the lone firelight, while the huskies, round in a ring, howled out their woes to the homeless snows— O God! how I loathed the thing.
“And every day that quiet clay seemed to heavy and heavier grow; and on I went, though the dogs were spent and the grub was getting low.
“The trail was bad, and I felt half mad, but I swore I would not give in; and I'd often sing to the hateful thing, and it hearkened with a grin.
“Till I came to the marge of Lake Lebarge, and a derelict there lay; tt was jammed in the ice, but I saw in a trice it was called the 'Alice May.'
“And I looked at it, and I thought a bit, and I looked at my frozen chum; then 'Here," said I, with a sudden cry, 'is my cre-ma-tor-eum.'
“Some planks I tore from the cabin floor, and I lit the boiler fire; some coal I found that was lying around, and I heaped the fuel higher.
“The flames just soared, and the furnace roared—such a blaze you seldom see; and I burrowed a hole in the glowing coal, and I stuffed in Sam McGee.
“Then I made a hike, for I didn't like to hear him sizzle so; and the heavens scowled, and the huskies howled, and the wind began to blow.
“It was icy cold, but the hot sweat rolled down my cheeks, and I don't know why; and the greasy smoke in an inky cloak went streaking down the sky.
“I do not know how long in the snow I wrestled with grisly fear; but the stars came out and they danced about ere again I ventured near.
“I was sick with dread, but I bravely said: 'I'll just take a peep inside. I guess he's cooked, and it's time I looked,' then the door I opened wide.
“And there sat Sam, looking cool and calm, in the heart of the furnace roar; and he wore a smile you could see a mile, and he said: 'Please close that door.”
“It's fine in here, but I greatly fear you'll let in the cold and storm—since I left Plumtree, down in Tennessee, it's the first time I've been warm.'
“There are strange things done in the midnight sun by the men who moil for gold;
“The Arctic trails have their secret tales that would make your blood run cold.
“The Northern Lights have seen queer sights, but the queerest they ever did see, was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge I cremated Sam McGee.”


Finishing that long poem, Bruce barely took a breath and then continued on with a local story:
“There used to be a great big building at the end of Wawbeek and they tore it down part of it because, and Ill tell you why, I was working in northern michigan in the upper peninsula, I was running log loader for a timber company, and they were the last people to have logging camps, and we were hanging out one night and a cook started talking and he said, 'you guys all know about Jigger Jones, dontcha?'
“No, I said.
“This Jigger Jones worked in Tupper Lake a little town back in the Adirondacks where they did logging.”
“Well, son of a gun, my ears picked right up, ya know! What’s this going on here? I’ve never heard of Jigger Jones! He said his grandfather told him all about this logger that came to Tupper Lake when the logging was first getting started. His name was Jigger Jones and he was a real character, but everything he did turned to money.
“He came to Tupper lake with one team of horses, and in the next year he had two or three, and the year after that he had a whole bunch of horses and the money kept rolling in. Someone told him that they were going to build a railroad and theres gonna be a bunch of men! So he built a couple of great big cook shacks. This what all that that cook was telling me about, he he hired some cooks, and he started feeding all of these guys working on the railroad. And the money is rolling in! He’s got an awful pocket of money, and he's doing real well. Then the loggers decided, “you know if we build a dam down there where they set the poles, we can flood this whole area and we can float our logs a lot of easier. Well Jigger Jones like the idea of that so he went and got himself on the board! And then they got talking about it, and yeh, they’re going to rise the water level. Well, that big flat area down there where we call the bowling alley now, that was all great big tamarack, full of big tamarack. And they got to talkin’ and they said the water is going to rise and it’s going to kill all of those trees!
“Well Jigger Jones said 'I’ll get those trees outta the way for ya don’t you worry.'
“Well, they got the going on the railroad and he’s making money there, and they got the dam, and he’s makin’ money there. And he goes and tells his boys ‘we’re going to cut all of those trees in that flat area and take that tamarack, haul it up to the sawmill, cut into rail road ties, and we’ll sell em the railroad ties! The loggers said, 'we can cut the trees but we can’t get em outta there. How are we gonna get ‘em outta there?’
“Well they scratched their head and Jigger Jones sent a bunch of men down there and they cut those trees anyways, cut all the branches off them, and all the time, the teamsters are complaining, complaining,  complaining. So he went and sent a teleram, and he said 'I’ll give you boys a little longer yet, and the horses were stuck and the horses were breaking legs and we just cant get them outta there.' Well someone came up to Jigger Jones and said 'you got a railroad car full of baggage at the railroad station. He said, 'oh yeah Good!'
“Well I’m gonna take you back to that building, the boat house. And they were tearing it down, and they go way back in the corner of one of the little rooms and there are all these horse harnesses that were rotted and just as rotted as could be! And they're taking 'em out and they're haulin’ em away and some of the guys knew about horses and they were sayin, ‘man these are the funniest harnesses! The leg places aren’t right and the hangs don’t fit right and the belly straps! These aren’t right for horses.'
“And they’re throwing them in the back of the truck, and hauling them away, and they got way to the back of the room and there’s some more of those...
Bruce paused to clear his throat then said “I better have a beer!” Then he continued.
“There’s more of those harnesses hanging there and they pull them out and there’s brass plates on the older ones and on it says ‘Jigger Jones, Logger’. Awhh!! It all falls together now! Because, in that railroad car there were a whole bunch of alligators. And he brought those alligators into that swamp, and he fitted those harnesses to the alligators, and that’s how they pulled those logs out. But, it wasn’t free, it costed him! He was doing great, he had four alligators to a set, and he was pulling them up, pulling them up, and one of the alligators... kachunk... took his arm clean off so that cost him.
“But that fall, there was one helluva big cook-out in Tupper Lake with everyone in town.
“Jigger was very very rich and he didn’t like that arm sleeve swinging so he got a golden arm made and that filled up his sleeve, and he just tied it on there but at least the sleeve was danglin’ there and he was very proud of that golden arm. When he was doing all of this, he bought the farm that was across the boat launch site, up where the big white house is, and said, ‘when I retire, I’ll just farm and take it easy.'
“Well he got older and older, and people in town got talking ‘He made money loggin’, he made money on that railroad, he made money on that dam. Everything he did, turned to money!’ He was rich!
“And again, at that same time, there was a young lady going to the high school here, and she said ‘you know, I could marry that old man and I would be rich!’ So it wasn’t very long, she was seen heading up to the old farm with a cherry pie. And it wasn’t long after that she was up there with an apple pie. But Jigger Jones is no dummy, he knows what’s going on. ‘But you know here I am an old man, and I got all this money and nobody to leave it to. There's nothing wrong with having a young wife.’
“And it wasn’t too long that they got married. And they lived up in there for a couple of years and everything went along great. So he brought his wife around to his barn and he had a great big box full of American Eagle gold; that's how they paid him in the railroad! It was a big box of it! So he showed his young wife this, and then he went into the house and around behind the chimney there was a great big box full of $100 bills and that box was full of those $100 bills. And the old man died, finally, and they buried him up behind the house in the fields under some big trees. And they had a little ceremony and they buried him, and a few days later and she got going through the paper work and thought ‘I’m gonna go get the gold’ so she went and brought it in the house. ‘Well, I’m gonna go count all those $100 bills’ so she went and counted them all up. Then she got into his bank book and it was a bank book from the Tupper Lake Bank. ‘Holy Mackerel! I knew I was rich but I didn’t know I was that rich!’
“There’s another bank book from the Saranac Lake Bank. ‘Holy Mackerel there's a bunch of money in there too!’
“So a couple days went by and she’s sitting there at night. ‘Boy, that golden arm must be worth a fortune. We buried him with that golden arm and it must be worth a lot of money.’
“The next day she couldn’t take it, so at night, she went and got a knife, she got a shovel, she got her lantern, and she went out there in the fields and she dug up that grave. And she pried the cover off the box, and she took that knife and cut the straps that held that golden arm, and she grabbed that golden arm, pulled it out, put the cover on the box, put the dirt back in and took her knife and shovel and ran home. She got to the porch and remembered “oh I forgot the lantern!’
“She looked back and she could see the lantern and it was swinging! The old man used to swing that lantern with his right hand because the left hand was gone. It’s coming closer to the house. The old man is coming. She ran in the house and locked the door and looked out the window. And it’s coming closer and closer, and she can see the old lantern swinging. She ran up stairs and ran into the bedroom. Creeeeeek! She could hear the door open and bang as the door closed.
“Clump...clump...clump! It sounded just like the way the old man used to walk. She got in bed and covered up her head.
“Clump...clump...clump,  up the stairs she could hear him. She's in bed and she’s got the blankets over her head. ‘Who’s got my golden arm!?’ Now he’s standing right over top of her. And she can hear him, ‘Who’s got my golden arm!?’ You got it!” Jigger growled and with a lunge he grabbed the arm of Donna Sloan who was sitting  on a picnic table close to the fire and everyone, including Donna, let out a scream.
Bruce's performance was greeted with hearty applause by those huddled around the fire.
The activity moved inside with a performance by musician Ben McClelland, who entertained the merrymakers there with his well-performed  cover songs from the sixties and seventies.

Village board considering “discontinuation” of Balsam Ave.

Dan McClelland

by Dan McClelland
The village board is considering selling Balsam Ave. to the owners of Raquette River Brewing  to allow them access to a lot behind and above their popular brewery where they'd like to build a production brewery.
At last week's village board meeting Mayor Paul Maroun distributed a letter from the brewery owners, Mark Jessie and Joe Hockey, regarding the discontinuation of Balsam Ave. as a village street and set March 21 at 6p.m. as a public hearing on the issue.
A year ago this month the brewery owners asked the village to extend Balsam to access the lot currently owned by the Sarazen family and the undeveloped corner of Balsam and Berkley.  Village leaders sent the request to their attorney, Nathan Race, for his consideration.
Speaking to the village board a year ago Joe Hockey said “Balsam Street would need to be extended approximately 150 feet to provide access to the property. The extension would be built through a wetland. I contacted Adirondack Park Agency (APA) biologist Mark Rooks to look at the proposal. It was determined that the project would require a permit issued by the APA bypassing the JIF process. It is approximated that 7,500 square feet of wetland would be disturbed. This would require the village to mitigate (create new wetland) approximately 15,000 square feet. Mr. Rooks, while looking at wetland maps of the village identified a possible mitigation site.”
It was recently discovered that the street is actually owned by the town and at a recent meeting of the town board, the officials took steps to transfer it to the village, which typically owns streets in the village corporation.
Extending the street to the Sarazen lot will require crossing a local stream with a small bridge or large culvert and filling in some wetland areas.  Under Adirondack Park Agency law, when a wetland is filled, a wetland area at least twice its size must be created.
If the village steps away and sells the street, the sale would put the responsibility for and  maintenance of  the existing road, extending it farther to the private lot  and any required filling of the wetlands to accomplish the extension on any new owner.  In this case it would most likely be Mr. Jessie and Mr. Hockey.
Mayor Paul Maroun noted briefly that evening that the discontinuation of the street requires several steps for the village.
The only person to comment on the issue that evening was Trustee Ron LaScala, who said the brewery owners now own both sides of the short street, since Joe Hockey's recent purchase of the house at 137 Main Street.  “For us to continue the street will required a considerable investment in engineering and construction costs.  It may be better to discontinue (ownership) of the street!”
He said with the brewery's planned purchase of the lot for the production brewery and the owners' current ownership of both sides of the street, the street holds little use as a public street for the village.
Mark Jessie said over the weekend the construction of a larger-scale production brewery to produce more product for their patrons and to increase distribution is still very much apart of their plans.

New advisory group charged with charting brighter future for golf course

Dan McClelland

New advisory group charged with charting brighter future for golf course by Dan McClelland
A new sub-committee of the town board is being formed to thoroughly dissect the operation of the Tupper Lake golf course and to recommend ways to help it flourish in the future.
The decision to create an advisory group came at Thursday's monthly town board meeting following a long discussion between members of the town board and the Tupper Lake Golf Course board, who had been invited that evening.  Representing the group that operates the town-owned golf course here were Mike Sovey, president, Gerry Goldman, vice president and Jim Boucher, board member.  Bruce Smith, a long serving past member of the board, was also joined the lengthy discussion.
The golf course representatives that evening welcomed the help of a new advisory group, which will be chaired by Town Councilman Mike Dechene, who currently serves with Supervisor Patti Littlefield, on the town board's golf course committee.
Membership of the new five- or seven-member group was not exactly nailed down that evening with the board giving Mr. Dechene  a week or so to talk to a number of people in the community with a golfing background who might be interested in serving.  Names suggested that evening included former golf course board members Ray Martin, John Moore, Ron Belleville, Steve Skiff and Steve Stevenson.  The committee will also include at least one member of the current golf course board, possibly Jim Boucher, who has an educational background in golf.  Golf Pro Evan LaBarge is expected to be a member.
President Mike Sovey began the dialogue Thursday evening, presenting the board with a tentative schedule of events there this coming season.
Town Supervisor Patti Littlefield called it “a pretty full schedule,” and Mr. Sovey said he was confident the number of planned events would grow.
“We're changing the way we're doing things this year!” He gave as one example, a new decision not to close the facility to public play on tournament days from now on.  “We lose too much money on those days” by closing the course to non-tournament players, he explained to the town leaders.
“We're really trying hard to turn things around to try to make as much money there as we can!” Mr. Sovey asserted.
The supervisor told Mr. Sovey and his colleagues that they had been invited there that evening “as a preamble” to a decision to appoint an advisory group to take a close look at golfing trends in general and here in particular with an eye to important improvements needed.
“We want to look at all the things that go into the running of a golf course- revenues, membership, maintenance, etc.” she told them.
She said her board “has been watching closely in recent years” the declining financial and membershiip situation at the golf course and would like to establish a committee.  “We know you are struggling and we want to help!”
The operation has seen many board member changes in recent years, staff changes and equipment problems, she noted.
She said there would not be more than two town board members on any new advisory group, and certainly not three as that would constitute a quorum of the board.
Financial problems and membership declines are a common problem for courses today, Mr. Sovey told here.  “A lot of courses are closing.  We're working very hard” to keep this one open!
Mrs. Littlefield reflected on the dramatic  decline in members.  “The members have dropped from 500 about ten years ago to 100, right?”
Mr. Sovey confirmed her analysis.
She said one of the big issues for her board is the outstanding debt owed to the town by the golf course board for the overhaul of the upper nine holes about 20 years ago.
Under the agreement, she said, there's supposed to be a $30,000 payment on the town bond  every year through the close of the current lease in 2020.
“You're a little behind,” so we've asked the country club board in recent months to tell us what it can pay each year and whether or not “it intends to fulfill its obligations” to the town and continue to run the club.
“Your contract expires in 2020 and we need to know if you plan to renew- and hopefully you will- and are you proposing to try to make those bond payments!”
The supervisor said the delinquent payments of $30,000 last year and $30,000 this year is money owed the taxpayers of the Town of Tupper Lake, who “footed the bill” for the course improvements.  “We feel we have to protect their investment...and that's why we're having this conversation tonight!”
Even though the town has retired the bond which covered the cost of the improvements, $120,000 covering four payments is still outstanding, it was noted by her.
“There was no payment last year, and this year we've said to you what is your plan? You have to give us something,” Mrs. Littlefield told the delegation.
She said some people in the community have suggested forgiving the debt but in checking with the state comptroller's office she learned the debt must be repaid to the town.
“We have to work together to figure this out!” she asserted, and Mr. Sovey agreed.
She said it was the recommendation of her board- after discussions at recent meetings- to create a town board sub-committee comprised of people here with an expertise in golfing “to take an outside look at what's happening at the Tupper Lake Golf Course” and the sport in general.
She said the advisors would be charged with looking at the entire operation.
Using the group's recommendation after a six- or seven-month study, “we'll all sit together and determine the best way to keep this thing going...whether it's the club that is running it, the town board running it, or putting it out to bid to a private party who would like to lease a golf course,” the  supervisor stated.
She said her hope is the two boards will find the best solution without a lot of disagreement.
“This is all for the good of the town and the course, because we all want it to succeed!”
“Don't you think this is a good idea?” she asked, to which the golf course representatives indicated they did.
“We all work very hard!” Mr. Sovey said of his board members.  “My phone rings more often from the country club than from my place of work.  “We're beating our heads against the wall to find ways to increase our revenues...and they're not there, not in Tupper Lake anymore!”
He said the current administration continues to reach out to visitors and out of town residents to patronize the local 18-hole facility. “But you can't bring in outside revenues if the integrity of our course is sub-par...no pun intended!”
The board in recent years has devoted a lot of its resources to maintaining the place, which has taken considerable man hours and payroll, according to the president.
The board, he said, is taking some of its direction from “our very young and energetic golf pro, Evan LaBarge.”
“We're putting a lot of our trust in Evan and hoping he can draw more people from his many golfing contacts!”
“Membership has declined so much it's killing us!”
He said that every year they pray for a good year...and each year they keep hoping this will be the year!
Gerry Goldman said the board “reorganized the staff” for this year and what he called “a positive development.”
He said they know there have been several revenue opportunities overlooked in past years which they hope to revisit.
There are also a number of new ideas they hope to employ.
“Unfortunately I don't think any one of those things can solve an organic issue in the sport today that people don't want to spend four hours playing golf.”  He said there have been all sort of ways suggested to cut playing time, some of which have “horrified” veterans of the sport.
He called some of the new rules proposed “ridiculous.”
Mr. Goldman said a golf course in Tupper Lake is incredibly beneficial to the community- both for its recreational value and its promotion of tourism.
He said when the Adirondack Club and Resort comes- and it looks like it's coming- it will need a golf course.  The developers have promised their investors that, he added.
“I don't see any way the golf course isn't present and running- as we go forward as a community!”
He said the debt incurred by the club when the improvements were done and financed by the town “is legal and I don't think anyone would argue we don't owe you the money,” he told the town leaders.  But when the debt was incurred we had 300 plus members and now we're down to 100!”
Mr. Goldman said that while the course continue to take in solid green fees each session, the dramatic loss of members and the $600 they each contribute each year is crippling from a financial standpoint.
Mr. Sovey noted that in the face of declining members the club recently offered a twilight league membership at a reduced price of $275.  He said while that helped somewhat it generated only a fraction of the funds paid by full members who have left over the years.  “But $275 is better than no money,” he explained.
Councilwoman Tracy Luton said an elderly golfer who served on the board when there was 300 members told her recently there are few places as impressive as the Tupper Lake Country Club, sitting on a mountain overlooking a lake.
“Many of us were hoping the (ACR) development was going to come sooner than it has” and the years of delay have left the future of the golf course hanging in the wind.  
The developers intend to require their new lot owners on Mt. Morris and the lands beyond to become members of the hometown course, which should dramatically boost membership over time.
Ms. Luton said the arriving resort will dramatically improve course finances.
Mr. Goldman said consistent leadership has been difficult there since Golf Pro Brent Smith left some half dozen years ago.  “We're probably had a turnover on our board approaching 30 people since then!”  Some of the board members who resigned aren't even members anymore, he added.
The frequent turnover in board membership has created “a lack of institutional experience,” he said he feels.
Mr. Goldman suggested four or five long-time golfers and golf course leaders here who should be considered for membership on the new advisory group.
He applauded the creation of what he called “a new planning committee between the two boards, because new, good ideas are a necessity for us now!”
The supervisor agreed with him “the older guys” will bring history to the discussions ahead.
Councilman John Quinn said both of the board have a big thing in common- neither one wants the golf course to close.
He said he didn't want to see the town board running the facility. “I want you guys to succeed,” he told the course brass.  “If there's any way that it can be done through a cooperative venture between you and  w the town or outside partners, let's do it!”
Jim Boucher spoke up at that point.  “I began playing golf there when I was ten!”  He said he attended a golf course maintenance course in college, and worked for a time at private courses downstate but decided later not to pursue a career in golfing.  He said joined PGA at one point and was a member for many years, with the help of Brent Smith.
He said he only  joined the golf course board in recent months, after taking up golf again last year.
“I think I have a lot of ideas” to help the facility which he intends to share at upcoming golf course board meetings.
“One of the last years I worked in golfing was at a big private club in Albany.  At one point it celebrated its 75th anniversary and three years later it went bankrupt.  So it's very common for golf courses to fail!”
Participation in the sport around the country is dwindling, and for small town golf courses like ours the fight to turnaround membership declines is even more difficult, he told the town board.
He said one thing he has noticed this past year is the absence of children on the course.  “We need to get more kids involved.”
During the years of operation of Big Tupper Ski Center here, free skiing was routinely offered to local children.  That same thing could be done at the golf course, he suggested.
The supervisor thought many volunteers will come forward to teach youngsters how to golf and run programs for them here.
Mr. Boucher expressed confidence there are many ways for the local course to improve its revenues through various new activities.
Mrs. Littlefield welcomed his input and ideas in the new improvement mission launched that night.
Like Mr. Quinn she said she doesn't want to see her board running the golf operation on Mt. Morris, but wants the current arrangement to succeed.  Mike Dechene echoed that sentiment too.
Gerry Goldman told the group: “This is a small town, and if we don't pull together, we're done. We may be done anyway, but if the work ahead turns into a cat fight between the town board and the golf course board,” the facility's future is grim at best.
The best way to avoid conflict between the parties is open communication, Mr. Quinn stated.   “We all must be able to connect in a timely and efficient manner.”
The comment was in reference to the  frustration among town board members several months last fall when Supervisor Littlefield and Councilman Dechene weren't informed of golf course board meetings.
When Mr. Sovey told him his board's next meeting was February 20 at the VFW post at 5p.m., the supervisor said he and Mr. Dechene would be there. She said they would be looking for the name of a golf course board member to serve on the new sub-committee.  She said too they would bring a list of knowledgable golfers with them who are interested in serving to share with the golf course representatives.
Mike Sovey said his board is currently in need of a new secretary/treasurer, in the wake of the recent resignation by Stuart Amell.
Mr. Goldman said it is important for the town to charge the new committee with specific tasks as part of the study work ahead.
The supervisor said they intended “to lay out their plan” in full at the March 8 town board meeting.

New zoning update work now in full swing

Dan McClelland

Meeting 5.jpg

by Dan McClelland
The process by which a local committee of volunteers directed by a professional consulting firm will update this community's zoning laws to guide, among other things, future development was explained at a information session Tuesday.  Judging by the more than 60 people in attendance there is considerable interest here in the project.
The hour and one-half long session took place at the Emergency Services Building's community room.
The zoning project update was directed by David West of the Ithaca-based firm of Randall and West, a firm which works with villages and towns on issues of zoning and green design.
The community's zoning law and land use code were created in 1962 but were substantially revised about 20 years ago with assistance from the Adirondack Park Agency planning staff, directed by Jim Hotaling.  It has been stressed by planning board members and others in recent years that the law, as it is written today, is badly in need of changes.
Opening the session Community Development Consultant Melissa McManus, who has won millions of dollars in grants for the village and town this past decade, explained the zoning update work came about from funding the community won in 2014 to develop a revitalization strategy.
She said that work developed “a new vision for Tupper Lake.”
As part of that new strategy, a representative from the New York State Department of State, which funded the work, thought that the community's zoning laws were again in need of updating, she told the group.
She said Planner Paul O'Leary agreed “so we put in a request for the money and got it.”
That led to hiring of Randall and West and the appointment of a town and village committee to work with them all this year.
She said of the new ordinance and plan to be developed this year, “I would wish for you a new zoning code you all want...which prohibits what Tupper Lake doesn't want!”
She hopes what will be produced will be “a clearer code” that will be easier for residents and new arrivals “to understand what can and cannot be done!”
The successful grant writer  said that later this year the task force will produce “a draft” of a new zoning code which community residents and others will get to review before adoption.  A second public meeting will be held at that point in the process.
“This is a serious process and we want to make sure everyone gets a chance to weigh in on it!”
David West explained the zoning update process now underway is “part of a larger process” which began with a state Smart Growth grant and the development of the community revitalization strategy.
He said he has been meeting with the community's new land use code steering committee, who include Planning Board Chairman Shawn Stuart, planning board member Jim Merrihew, school district business manager Dan Bower, Councilman John Quinn, Village Code Enforcement Officer Pete Edwards, Matt Kendall, a member of the village's zoning variance board, Trustee Clint Hollingsworth, Town Attorney Kirk Gagnier, retired Sunmount administrator  Mary Chartier, Noel Short, acting superintendent of schools in Long Lake, Department of Transportation Engineer Tom Maroun and Main Street resident Jen Beauchamp.
Mr. West said that unlike most communities in New York, Tupper Lake also has the requirements of the Adirondack Park Agency to comply with in its zoning laws.  “You're in your own different bubble!”
The professional began with a discussion of zoning and land use planning in general.
He said the current laws “need to be changed” in some areas, because otherwise the community and its leaders could be liable for lawsuits by disgruntled people.
Mr. West said “zoning protects private property owners” while advancing public interest.  It also manages development in a community in a way that should be clear to everyone.  “When you buy a piece of property is should be clear what you can do with it!”
He also noted through the zoning process, it gets the person to the “permitting stage” and forward with a project from there.
Zoning laws, which sometimes include design guidelines, can strengthen communities by setting rules, he continued.
He said traditionally communities have been created two ways.  The first or the traditional way is when a community has a center “with a variety of uses” and then houses were built around it, “from which residents can walk to businesses or schools.”
The other planning method, adopted in recent years, is to set aside separate areas for different things, he said.
“Tupper Lake has some of the traditional format and some single uses in a large pod!”
Mr. West said “a planning overview” includes three things: assessing existing conditions, by looking at the current code; creating a new vision within new regulations; and updating procedures in the existing code, many of which are likely outdated by law or common practice.
He pointed out, as an example of an outdated procedure, there's a requirement in Tupper Lake's current zoning code that “plans be submitted in India ink on vellum.”
Mr. West said Tupper's current code is “hard to deal with.”  One table on one page sums up all the zoning uses, for example.
The existing zoning law here also contains what he called “a huge list of special review uses,” which call for each application to be subject to a public hearing.  “The courts have not looked well on special review uses” and it could result in the town and village being liable.
“They are not the best way to a permit.  When the planning board says no, for example, an applicant may consider a lawsuit to determine if there was good reason for that.”
He said a better way is to create a list of permitted uses (types of businesses) and decide how many you want to see in the center plan.
In the existing plan, a person can't open a hair salon in the village or town without a special review use permit.
“It's up to the planning board (for every type of business proposed) and that's not a  good way to get your storefronts filled, said the consultant.
Mrs. McManus noted at that point that the state has seen “a real evolution” in zoning in recent decades.
There are many difficulties in the local laws, Mr. West noted.  In the village, for example, the code requires building lots to be bigger than what currently exists.  “You want to be able to maintain existing densities in your neighborhoods...you should allow neighbors to be able to build just like what's next to him.”
In Tupper Lake, he said, the rules of the APA also come in to play.  “You want to make sure your zoning in town jives with APA rules.  For example, if APA law requires a 40-acre lot (on which to build), there's no point in having the town code require less!”
Mr. West said that one of the benefits of adopting an APA-approved land use code is the gaining of local jurisdiction of what are called Class B size projects. Typically these are moderately sized projects.  He noted, however, that comments to him already indicate  that most community leaders are  not interested in that.
He said it is important for communities to “make the code process as smooth as possible for landowners.”
Mr. West said Tupper Lake has adopted some excellent architectural design and site guidelines, as part of its revitalization strategy, and they need to be considered in any new zoning plan.  He pointed to the design work formulated in recent years for future Demars Blvd. development.
He outlined the process this year.  The first step was a review of the existing laws by his firm and the committee, which has been completed.  The second step was that night's public session.  In the months ahead his firm and the local committee will draft a new ordinance- based in part on suggestions from the group that evening.  The draft, which will be completed by early summer, will be studied by town and village leaders and a second public meeting will be scheduled later in the years, after which a state environmental quality review will commence, before the final plan is accepted.  He said the entire project should be “wrapped up by year's end.”
He listed the various categories in the existing law, each which come with their own set of setbacks and minimum lot sizes.  They included: high density residential, which is most of the village, high density residential special zone, medium density (one acre minimum lot size), low density, medium density shorefront (three acre minimum lot size), rural residential (eight acre lot minimum), low density shorefront residential, residential/commercial (mix of residences and businesses), highway residential/commercial (one acre minimum lot size), commercial, shorefront residential development, conservation zone, open space recreation, recreation/timber and the planned development district, created for the Adirondack Club and Resort.
He said one of the things the group will study is the permitted uses which may be allowed outright in the various zones. Few exist now.  Those things should be permitted “by right.”
Mr. West said the job of the planning board would be clearer and easier if there were specific permitted businesses in commercially zoned areas.
When those types of businesses come before the planners, it is what is called a “site plan review.”  That way the board could review the applicant's plan and approve it without a public hearing and a month's delay.
He said some types of businesses which are not typical to a commercial district could be kept in the special review use category, where the planners would examine on a case by case basis and who may reject it if there are good grounds.  One such special review use, he said, might be the operation of a dog kennel, where there may be concerns for the neighbors.  “The planners may require conditions for insulation for noise,” he gave as an example.
Jim Lanthier told Mr. West that Tupper Lake needs new businesses, and he said “hopefully there will be a day when we need this new plan!”
Mr. West said the intention of their work is for the community to be ready “when these new things come!”
Mr. Lanthier said a more pressing need for the community is addressing the out of date and deteriorated signs of many businesses here- particularly those on Demars Blvd.
Mr. West new sign guidelines will be part of any new zoning ordinance here.
Retired high school principal Jim Ellis, a long time member of the planning board here who worked extensively on the 1990 revision to the current laws said the APA staffers were instrumental in achieving those revisions.
There are still many flaws, including the fact timber harvesting is a use found in every land use category, he told Mr. West.
The biggest challenge with zoning, he said, is administration. “You can have the best plan,” but you need enforcement.  He said one building inspector for the entire community is not enough.
“There's nothing new in the world of zoning...unless you administer it properly,  you lose!”
He recommended submitting any new zoning and land use law to the APA for its adoption, so the community can obtain jurisdiction over what the state agency calls Class B-sized development projects.
On the issue of enforcement, Mr. West said that “with small staffs, there's only so much you can enforce!”
Little Wolf Lake resident David Reed asked if the new code would have less rules to follow.
Mr. West said it wouldn't- only it would be simplified.  “We don't want to throw out the important things...just to make sure the process is as clear as possible.”
“Is the goal to get an APA-approved plan?” Mr. Reed pressed.
“This is an APA-approved plan, as it currently exists,” Mr. Ellis told him.
Wes Jennings said a lot can be learned by the examination of other communities' zoning plans.  “In Albany, for example, every business must leave 20% of the property green!”
Mr. West said that generally zoning effects new construction and major changes to a parcel.  “The way zoning works is that whatever is there before adoption (of a new or revised ordinance) can continue!”
Most things in the village right now don't comply with minimum lot sizes in the code, he said.  “They are called existing non-conforming!”
Pointing to the uptown business district between Stewart's and Wawbeek Quick Stop, Planning Board Chairman Shawn Stuart wondered what is the purpose in that area of establishing a minimum lot size, since no place complies.  “What's wrong with a tiny store?”  The more the better for the community, he stated.
Mr. West figured the community might want to look instead at setting maximum sizes of lots in business districts, so one large firm couldn't buy an entire block “and put up a huge store.”
Mr. Stuart wondered that within the current zoning, if someone could build a new store in the vacant lot beside Trillium Florists- given the required set backs and parking requirements, even in the current law.
Mr. West thought someone could, with the current processes in place.
Betty Woods thought there should be a category in  any new zoning code for churches and public services buildings.
She was told in the current code they are called “assembly”- defined as places where people gather.
Mr. West said that the various definitions in the existing code- many of which may be outdated- would be examined for clarity.
Realtor Rob Gillis called for the creation of more commercial zones- and particularly the entire route from the village down Route 30 to Moody where the Adirondack Club and Resort will be built.
“All of Moody should be commercial/residential all the way to Blue Jay Campsite,” Mr. Gillis reasoned, saying the entire corridor is serviced with village sewer and water.
Mr. West called Rob's point a good one, saying the availability of water and sewer services should always be part of lot-size and use  discussions in zoning.
Mr. Gillis said there should also  changes made with building set-backs in the various zoning codes, most of which, he said,  are not realistic here.
The consultant suggested the community may want to consider asking the APA to make the Moody corridor part of the less restrictive “hamlet” zoning, like the village.
“You may want to ask the APA for a map amendment, now that there are sewer and water services there!”
Planning board member Bob Collier suggested that things like sign and lighting rules be “addressed more broadly” and perhaps separately than just in the code.
Mr. West thought they could be.  He said a planning board typically looks at the plan, with respect to the code and any additional guidelines in play.  “A board can approve a project that does not meet all the guidelines..as it has the power to enforce or not enforce certain ones.”
Jim Ellis also recommended there be only one zoning board which grants variance to the code here in the details of the revised plan, rather than separate village and town ones.
Jim Lanthier suggested the group look at the recent changes Lake Placid and Saranac Lake made to their codes.  “They are quite good!” he told him.
Mr. West said the group would examine their laws in the study process.
There were cards distributed that evening for people to jot down their ideas and letters can be sent to either the town or the village.
As a final exercise that evening the attendees were encouraged to write down all the “permitted uses” they thought should be included in the four main commercial/residential zones and also those types of business that should be examined as a special review use, which requires both planning board and public scrutiny.
Mr. West called that evening's room full of people “a great turnout.”  Typically in many communities, he said, you have to pull teeth to get people to attend.

Sports stars, media figure inducted to Sports Hall of Fame

Dan McClelland

Hall of fame 3.jpg
Kathleen Bigrow

Kathleen Bigrow

by Ian Roantree
The friends, family and fans of Tupper Lake athletes came together on Saturday at the Tupper Lake Middle-High School to honor the latest inductees to the TLMS’ Athletic Hall of Fame.
After the Ladyjacks regretfully lost against St. Regis in a close game of basketball, players cleared the court in preparation of the ceremony.
Saturday was a mark for several significant moments. The ceremony marked the 30th anniversary of the Hall of Fame itself, having finding its inception in the 1987/1988 school year. For 30 years, the Hall of Fame Committee would induct 71 individuals including coaches, players and two teams—some of whom were in attendance at the ceremony.
But unlike previous inductees, one of the new Hall of Famers wouldn’t have been seen on the field or court, nor would they have been seen standing amongst the players on the bench. Instead, this newly inducted member of the Hall of Fame would have be seen all over the sidelines, finding the right angles for the perfect shots. The 2018 Hall of Fame ceremony saw the first media coverage member to be inducted.
“As we celebrate tonight, we are here to pay tribute and respect to more than just the contributions of the three we have here. We are here to celebrate the past and the present of Tupper Lake,” said Athletic Director Dan Brown, who initiated the event from a podium that stood beneath the southern basketball net. He continued, “the past is comprised of Hall of Fame athletes and coaches who paved the road for our current student athletes.
“The present is based around coaches and athletes who work hard to carry on what those before them have created—keeping tradition alive and creating new traditions for the future. The past would not live on without the present, and the present would not be here without the past. Celebrating the Tupper Lake Athletic Hall of Fame is a strong reminder of this.”
Mr. Brown went on to give a nod to those responsible for the night.
“The Hall of Fame committee has done an excellent job selecting tonight’s inductees and the level of intensity they utilize in determining their selections is impressive.”
Mr. Brown also made a shout out to past hall of fame inductees who had been sitting together in the bleachers to Brown’s right. “Without you, our athletics would not be what they are today.”
And lastly, Brown thanked the custodial staff for their support, and the athletic department secretary, Shannon Kelly, who was responsible for organizing the event and spent several hours doing so.
After finishing his opening remarks, Mr. Brown went on to introduce the first athlete to be inducted into the Hall of Fame that evening—Faith Bedore McClelland.
From the start her high school athletic career, Faith quickly made a name for herself both on the basketball court and on the soccer field, where she would be a fierce competitor, gaining a notoriety from her opponents, and a reputation from her team and classmates. Despite their love for their teammate and leader, some of Faith’s teammates hated practicing against her “because she was just so good.”
Faith was coached for five years by Jim Merrihew, beginning when Faith was named to the junior varsity team in eighth grade and then moved up to varsity when she was a high school freshman.
This week Jim shared some of his comments about her impressive high school career.
“Faith was ready to play varsity as a freshman and that was rare at the time.  She seemed comfortable with the older players and her teammates soon recognized she was a pretty good player!” he said.
The long time girls basketball coach remembered when he was coaching her JV team in a game against Northeast Clinton.
“There were four over-times and Faith got us into each over-time with her three-pointers.  Although we lost, it turned out to be a tremendous back and forth game; lots of fun for both sides!”
As a freshman on the varsity team she was often a starter and she saw a lot of court time, he also remembered.
He said that year Faith had a remarkable goal.  She was bound she would make 500 three-point goals in practices.  So every time there was a break in practice, during or before and after, she shot three-pointers.
The coach remembers her reaching her goal of 500 three-pointers.
Coach Merrihew called her a hard worker on the court and very driven.  In three-point goals alone, she was one of the top two or three players in the entire section, he noted.
He said Faith “pushed herself,” and was “very coachable,” in his words.
“She turned out to be one of a handful of girls I coached over the years who became assistant coaches on the floor.  They knew what everyone was supposed to be doing!”
“Faith didn't just score a lot of points, she was the complete game- good at rebounding, shooting, stealing, ball handling, foul shooting.”
As a top player she also made everyone around her better, he said.  His daughter who played with Faith told him that many times.
He also said she also inspired others around her to do their best.
Mr. Merrihew said Faith became a team leader as a junior and senior on the varsity team and she did it, in his estimation, “by performing on the court at a top level.”
Faith was also a remarkable defensive player. “She somehow knew what her opponents were doing...she'd step back for a moment and then explode, usually intercepting a pass and driving down the court to score.  She seemed to always know where the ball was going to be!”
“Faith was a player, a real competitor. No matter what, if it was practice, a game or simply seeing who could fill up their water bottle first, Faith wanted to do it the quickest and she wanted to be the best,” said Fred Short, who coached Faith but who unfortunately couldn’t attend the ceremony and send off his former star into the hall of fame.
While playing soccer, Faith and her teammates won several CVAC (Champlain Valley Athletic Conference) championships and became a critical figure in establishing the girl’s soccer legacy in Tupper Lake.
On the court, Faith continued to exercise her athletic abilities. By the end of her junior year, Faith raked in a total of 792 career points. Little did she know, she would come out even hotter in her senior year, scoring 402 points in a single season, bringing her total to 1,194 points, a “high score” that few Tupper Lake athletes could match or surpass. There are only four athletes that are in the “1000 point club” and Faith is the only woman to make the ranks.
A high point count isn’t the only significant feat that Faith earned as a Tupper athlete. Her other career milestones include being a three-time Division 2 all star, a three-time CVAC all star, she was a Press Republican all star in her senior year, and finished in second for points scored in the CVAC one year.
Even after leaving her high school glory behind, Faith returned to the high school to coach, passing down her athletic insights and abilities to the younger generation of Tupper athletes. Today, Faith is a caring, contributing member of the community, a business owner and mother.
After Dan Brown introduced Faith, he then introduced the next speaker, Gordie Duval, a retired track and field coach, who would then introduce the next athlete.
Like the athlete inducted before him, Josh Dupuis was known as a great athlete in more than one sport.
“Josh was a three-time first place all-conference defensive end and earned the respect of his teammates, coaches and just as important, the respect of everyone who played against him...especially quarterbacks,” said Duval.
Josh started playing football and baseball at a young age, both of which he excelled at. To stay busy during the colder months, he got involved with indoor track which “turned out to be a really good thing,” according to Duval, as that’s where Josh made a lot of his athletic accomplishments.
“His dedication in the weight room combined with help from his shot put coach, Charlie Hoffer, resulted in Josh improving his throws to establish school and section records along with a state championship title.”
During the indoor track season his senior year, Josh broke both the school and section record in shot put. The record was previously held by state champion and Tupper Laker, David Bedore, but when Josh threw the shot 60 feet and eight inches, he overcame Bedore’s record of 59 feet and three and a quarter inches. Unbeknown to Josh, his senior year would continue to be a fruitful one.
Later that year, during the outdoor track season, Josh became the first thrower in New York State to surpass the 60 foot mark, breaking the record that had previously been shared by Gene Thompson of Mineville and of course, David Bedore.
His outdoor track career would reach its peak when he made a 61 feet and 7 and a half inch throw later that season.
With that track record, Josh naturally went off to compete in the state championships where he placed fourth in the discus and became the overall New York State champion in shot put.
Josh’s sports career didn’t end after receiving his high school diploma. He attended SUNY Brockport in his post-secondary studies where he played football and track where once he again, he broke the indoor shot put record. Between indoor and outdoor, he was a five time All-American in shot put.
“I know I speak for the entire coaching staff and anyone who knows Josh in saying that he is a class act and role model for other,” said Mr. Duval, who invited Ted Merrihew and Charlie Hoffer to assist him in handing over the award to Mr. Dupuis.
The last inductee, as mentioned above, is the first media coverage personnel to be inducted into the hall of fame.
“She was something,” recalled Jim Ellis, who took to the podium to honor the last inductee of the night, Kathleen Bigrow.
“The tool of her trade was the camera. Kathleen would go to game after game after game. Football, basketball, baseball, track; what a great contest she had a chance to witness and document here in Tupper. Sports in the 1950’s saw great battles and she began to chronicle them during her time working for the Adirondack Daily Enterprise as a reporter, and later with the Tupper Lake Free Press. She reported on all sports. She was specially happy when women began to claim their place in the sports world.
 “I remember, she was here at one football game, and she got nailed on the sidelines and broke her leg while she was trying to take pictures!
“She was a tough competitor in her own right. She loved not only the fact that we had kids that were participating in sports, but the thrill of the games was the thing that really made her happy.”
Kathleen passed away in 2014 and left behind a legacy of the sports and stories she documented and the lives she touched through dedication to the community.
To accept the award, Kathleen’s great nephew and fellow hall of famer, Ray Planty approached the podium in her place.
Publisher Dan McClelland was also asked by Mr. Brown to say a few words about Kathleen. Although he abbreviated his comments that evening, after Mr. Ellis' praise, the text is published below:
“It's my privilege to be here this evening when the Tupper Lake High School Hall of Fame Committee honors my daughter in law, Faith, and my old friend Kathleen Bigrow.
“Kathleen was very generous, giving away more of her photographs perhaps  than she ever sold.  In that same generous spirit and another impressive photographer, Jim Lanthier found a rare shot of Kathleen with retired teacher Ed LeBlanc when they were out on Raquette Pond searching for what Ed used to like to call his pike-burgers.  Jimmy, who inherited Kathleen's extensive photographic collection, donated large photos of  Kathleen, Josh and Faith for the school wall of fame.
“Kathleen was ahead of a time.  She began a photography business here at a time when most women were stay at home moms.  She worked in a world of men- men who ran our governments, men who ran our schools and men, who for the most part coached our teams.
“A hard-charging, confident woman, we saw her stand toe to toe with her male counterparts in public discussions over the years, never giving an inch.  Kathleen loved to argue about taxes and politics.  A life long Democrat, she never swayed from her belief in her party.  If the Dems nominated a jackass for office, she'd tell you how well he or she “hee hawed.”  If the Republicans did, that was an jackass.
“In the 1950s  Kathleen took a job as the local correspondent for the Adirondack Daily Enterprise.  At the time Tupper Lake was covered by three or four regional dailies, in addition to the Free Press.
“Kathleen's vivid but not always factual reporting (she believed the truth was wasted on a good story) sold papers for the Enterprise, greatly expanding its circulation here.  The police blotter was her thing.
“She eventually had a falling out with Bill Doolittle or some other publisher eventually and moved to the Watertown Daily Times and filed stories and her many photos there.  The old timers here nicknamed her “Brenda Star,” after the fictitious female cartoon reporter.
“By that time she had already chronicled in thousands of photos of Tupper Lake events.
“When my former partners and I bought the Free Press from the Quinn family in 1977, one of the first things we did was hire Kathleen as a part-time photographer. It was a very wise move.  She was tireless and worked seven days a week.
“Kathleen had two major passions, when it came to covering the news.  She loved to chase ambulances, police cars and fire trucks.  Many times she beat the emergency vehicles to the scene.
“Her second passion where the kids of the community.  She loved to venture into the elementary school here to take photos of pupils working in their classrooms and on special projects.  She loved high school sports and she routinely took action and group photos of every Tupper Lake team over the decades.  It wasn't about winning or losing, it was about striving for success, doing your best for your team and staying healthy and happy as a result.
“In that regard I believe she is a very fitting candidate for our sports hall of fame.  If Kathleen was alive today she wouldn't have been happy with tonight's acclaim and she probably would have made a fuss, as she often did publicly.  But in her heart she would have been tickled!”
Saturday night Mr. McClelland closed his brief remarks by joking that if he had known Faith was going to become a McClelland, he would have paid more attention to her exemplary sports career when she was in high school.
This is how organizer Dan Brown summarized the impressive fraternity during Saturday's ceremony: “Our Hall of Famers have set the standard for play, broken gender barriers, and built traditions which everyone has come to love and respect.” Dan Brown said of the group during the ceremony.

New food concessions, conversion of house to store at brewery discussed by planners

Dan McClelland

by Dan McClelland
Exactly where Mark Jessie and Joe Hockey, the owners of the very popular brewery, Raquette River Brewing, will place up to four new food truck concessions, was the fodder of discussion at December's planning board meeting.
That evening there was a very brief public hearing on the brewery owners' plan to retrofit the white clapboard house at 137 Main Street into a ground floor store with offices on the second floor.  No one appeared at the hearing and Planner Paul O'Leary reported he had received no comments from the public on the issue, since the hearing date was announced earlier that month.
For the past two years the brewery has been selling a copious amount of brewery souvenirs- hats, shirts, mugs, etc.  The small corner of the bar area is jammed with items for sale, so opening up the ground floor of 137 Main for a new brewery store would permit the partners to expand their souvenir inventories and display them better.
When the regular portion of the meeting convened, planning board member Jim Merrihew asked Mr. Hockey, who was present that evening, if he and his partner had finalized any of their plans to add four new concessions to their operation and park them along Balsam Ave.
At an earlier meeting when the store idea was proposed to the planners, Mr. Hockey had also noted the rearrangement and the increase of the food concessions on their site.  Up to now the only food truck on site was the pulled pork and barbecue concession operated for the past two years by Don Vaillancourt. This fall Mr. Vaillancourt decided to move his mobile operations to a southern state, where the outdoor cooking and barbecue seasons are much longer.
“Will these be placed on your land or on the village right of way?” Mr. Merrihew asked Mr. Hockey.
Mr. Hockey said there have been no specific sites set yet for the concessions, and they are waiting to hear back from the village and its attorney.
He noted earlier that their company would be arranging to have the utilities for the new concessionaires installed along Balsam Ave.
“So should we approach this as if the food trailers will end up on your property?” Mr. Merrihew continued.  “-And then the village (board) can decide if they are permitted on the street right of way!”
Planning board chairman Shawn Stuart reminded Mr. Merrihew the food concessions were not part of the matter at hand that evening. “Tonight's hearing only involves the plans for the house” at 137 Main Street, he told him.
That being said, Mr. Merrihew told Mr. Hockey  they would have to return to the planners for “the food trailer positioning” issue.
The chairman wasn't so sure about that. “Whether or not these temporary structures are placed in the street's right of way or not is a village issue that doesn't involve this board.”
Planner Paul O'Leary noted, however, if the village board denies the brewers the use of the street's right of way, they would have to apply to the planning board before situating them on the side and back lawns of the 137 Main Street property.
“It would be a new use,” he told the board members.  He said too the village board may seek a recommendation from the planning board on the wisdom of placing the mobile units on the village right of way of Balsam Street.
Mr. Hockey said their plans call for situating the electric, sewer and water utilities on the 137 Main Street property for use by the new concessionaires.
Planning board member Dave St. Onge wondered if an electric line could be run from the house.
Mr. Hockey said there used to be an old mobile home at the rear of the property and the various utility lines are still in place.  He said village superintendents Mark Robillard and Marc Staves had assured them the services could be tapped from there.  He also noted that the utilities would be separately metered at each mobile food concession.
He noted, as an aside, that Jim and Kelly Facteau, owners of the Marketplace on Route 3&30 have “already committed” to placing a food truck there.
“They plan to make a substantial investment in a trailer and they need a decision,” he added.
These mobile rigs, much like the state of the art one Don Vaillancourt had built several years ago, take between four and six months to produce after they are ordered, Mr. Hockey told the planners.
Village Code Enforcement Officer Peter Edwards said if the village permits the food trailers to be situated on the Balsam St. right of way, the owners would only need to apply to  his office for a routine vendor's permit.  “They would be treated like any other vendor who comes to town!”
A vendor's permit could be issued in less than a week, he promised.
Mr. Merrihew said he really liked the plan to situate the new parking lot at the rear of the 137 Main Street lot and run a new exit along the perimeter of the parcel to come out on Main Street at the house's existing driveway.  Mr. St. Onge also liked the traffic routing plan.
Shawn Stuart wondered if they had approached the state Department of Transportation about that traffic plan and Mr. Hockey said they had and were told by DOT officials that providing there was no construction on the state highway right of way, it was not considered “a permitable project.”
Mr. Stuart asked about any plans for a handicapped accessible entrance to the new store and was told a ramp would be built along the side of the building.
Asked about a front awning, Mr. Hockey said the exterior of the house would be repainted and remodeled in keeping with the overall design of the brewery buildings.
The house's clapboard exterior and trim will be the same shades as the other nearby buildings.
The only new structural changes planned, in addition to the handicapped ramps, would be “repairs to the front porch,” he told the planners.
On a motion by Bob Collier, seconded by Doug Bencze, the special use permit for the house conversion was unanimously approved by the planners.
Following the approval Mr. Hockey noted that if for some reason the village board won't approve putting the food concessions on the village street- admitting he doesn't anticipate that- then a new plan would be submitted for situating them on his new property at 137 Main.
He noted that the issue must be resolved one way or the other very soon out of respect the  Facteaus and any other concessionaire who have considerable work to do before the start of the summer season.
Bob Collier said in the event the village didn't approve of parking them on the street, he didn't anticipate any problem issuing the brewers the permit to place them on the 137 Main Street property.
“Would it require another hearing?” he asked Planner O'Leary who guessed it might.
That prompted Jim Merrihew to explain  that it was his intention to avoid unnecessary delays when he made the comment  earlier in the meeting about “pretending” the trucks were going on his property.
Mr. O'Leary said he would confer with Attorney Kirk Gagnier on the need for a second hearing and if one was needed it could be scheduled for the January meeting to save the applicants a month's time.
The use of the right of way decision must come from the village as soon as possible, it was noted by Mr. St. Onge.

Sgt. Wesley Hoyt honored for village service

Dan McClelland

Hoit.jpg

Sgt. Wesley Hoyt honored for village service
Police Sergeant Wesley Hoyt was honored by his chief and the village board last week on his recent retirement from the village force.
His family members accompanied him to the meeting to witness the honor.
Chief Eric Proulx said Sgt. Hoyt retires after 17 years of service as a local police officer, supervisor and evidence custodian for the department.
He called Wesley “meticulous” in his daily duties “always on time for work” and completing his shifts always “with everything in order.”
The chief noted that Sgt. Hoyt called him shortly after the news of the untimely death of Sgt. Matt Dana with an offer to return to the force to temporarily fill in.
The chief added in jest that upon making the offer the sergeant made “it absolutely clear that once the department returns to normal staff letters, he was going back to retirement.”
Sgt. Hoyt was recently approved by the Franklin County Civil Service Department to temporarily rejoin the force, it was noted.
In other police news at last week's meeting, it was noted that the village had recently received a letter of thanks for help of police sergeants Jeff Carmichael and Wesley Hoyt from a Dannemora man whose autistic child was in distress at Stewart's Shop here.
The chief reported that while the Saranac Lake Police Department did not have spare officers to lend Tupper Lake PD during its current staff shortage in the wake of the death of Sgt. Matt Dana and the recent resignation of Officer Jay Peets, the Franklin County Sheriff's Department had available staff to cover four shifts this month.
Chief Proulx also reported 216 incidents involving his department during the month of July.
He also noted the new K-9 unit four wheel drive vehicle the village recently acquired from the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department is not in village service yet, awaiting a brake job.