New zoning update work now in full swing

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

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

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

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.

APO gathers great crowd for solar eclipse

By Ian Roantree
One might think that during a solar eclipse, with the moon covering a portion of the sun, that earth dwellers might feel a slight drop in temperature as they gaze up safely, of course, with their special eclipse glasses. That was not the case, however, as the sun felt hotter than ever at the Adirondack Public Observatory’s (APO) solar eclipse event.
Over 150 people flocked to the site overlooking Little Wolf Lake Monday afternoon to marvel at the moon inching past that hot Adirondack sun which started its movement shortly before 1:30 p.m.
It would be considered a great success as adults and children alike lined up nearly all the way to Big Wolf Rd. for an opportunity to get an intimate view of the eclipse from the APOs many high-tech, high performance telescopes used specifically for viewing our native star.
Others simply laid back on the lawn and viewed the eclipse from afar through their eclipse glasses that were available for sale at the APO. Unfortunately, perhaps not expecting such a great turnout, the APO quickly sold out of eclipse glasses not long after the event’s starting time.
Many of the amateur astronomers at the event brought their own eclipse glasses. Others came with homemade pinhole projectors made from cardboard boxes, and some even came with welding masks.
Despite the lack of eclipse glasses, many attendees were more than happy to share their safe viewing with others who arrived too late to secure their own pair, which comes as no surprise from a community such as ours.

Youngster starts tab drive to help Ronald McDonald houses

by Phyllis Larabie
Genna Carmichael is eleven years old and wants to do something to help Ronald McDonald houses.
Her two year old brother Myles has been diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis, also known as JIA. In his short life span Myles has had three very serious bouts with pneumonia due to the arthritis medications that suppress his immune system.
December of 2016 was his last hospitalization. In February of this year he has been weened off one of those medications. He has been very healthy since then and his mom states, “to see him in action it is impossible to detect any effects of the JIA.”
Genna has been wanting to do a tab drive to benefit the Ronald McDonald House in Burlington, Vermont and Albanywhere her little brother Myles, has been admitted to one or the other hospital several times since he was born. 
Genna and Myles are the children of Dawn and Geoff Carmichael of Tupper Lake.
The Carmichael family have not ever had to stay at the Ronald McDonald Houses but have had to use the Ronald McDonald rooms that are at the hospitals. The family members say, “the staff there are truly amazing people and are very helpful and accommodating”.
The funds Genna raises will help support families that stay at the Ronald McDonald House by providing meals and items for families, assistance in emergencies, and giving families special moments, like small gifts for children if they have a birthday while at the house.
Genna has placed flyers around town but hasn't gotten much of a response and would love for her community to help her out. The community can help Genna by collecting and saving the pull tabs off aluminum cans, the pieces of metal that open aluminum cans, the tabs like the cans are recyclable. The pull tabs are brought to a recycling center where they are weighed and redeemed for cash per pound. It takes 1,267 pull-tabs to make one pound. In 2016 the pull tab program raised more than $6,100 in recycling revenue.
One hundred percent of the dollars raised are put into a direct operations of the charity. All the money raised provides a home-away-from-home for the families during the medical treatment of their ill children.
People are encouraged to donate their pull tabs from soda cans, tennis ball cans, soup cans, pet food cans, juice cans, and anything else that has a pull tab. Remember it is not the entire lid from the soup cans or pet food cans it is just the tab that pulls the can open.
Genna's aunt, Pam Brickey, is establishing a drop off on her front porch at 24 Pleasant Ave. People can drop off bags or containers there.
They would also like to ask that our out of town readers research the Ronald McDonald House Charities to see how they can help them out in their own areas, as they are a very worthy charity that provides much needed support to families with very sick children, many of whom are unplanned or unexpected hospitalizations that are often times far from there homes.

Town to spend $90,000 on road work materials this summer and fall

by Dan McClelland
A sum of $90,000 will be spent on road materials for 1.4 miles oftown roads in Tupper Lake this summer and fall, judging by an agreement approved at Thursday's town board meeting that governs the expenditure of town highway monies.
The permanent improvements currently underway and to follow this fall include $56,287 in repairs to Lake Simond Road a distance of 5,300 feet from the intersection of Route 3 easterly.  The work involves the application of a two-inch top coat od asphalt, compacted to a thickness of one and one half inches.
Another $25,884 will be spent on improvements to the last 1,600 feet of that town road whereNo. 4 crusher run gravel will be applied and then a three-inch binder course of asphalt, that will be rolled to 2.5 inches in thickness.  The town crew has been working there extensively this summer.
Also on the department's schedule this year is the application of a two-inch top coat of asphalt (compacted to 1.5 inches) on a 615 foot long section of Bushey Avenue at a materials cost of $7,829.

W. Scott McGraw awarded sixth annual Dr. Edward L. Trudeau Award

Adirondack Health Foundation Gala raises more than $100,000 to invest in capital improvements
At the Adirondack Health Foundation’s Black and White Bow Tie Gala, W. Scott McGraw accepted the Dr. Edward L. Trudeau Award, which recognizes those who demonstrate the qualities of courage, compassion and generosity in their service to Adirondack Health. McGraw was honored as immediate past chair of the Adirondack Health Foundation board of trustees and for leading the Foundation’s Future of Care campaign.
This year’s event, which took place on the evening of Saturday, July 8, raised more than $100,000. Honorary co-chairs Nancy and Lee Keet welcomed nearly 400 guests under elegant white tents on the Great Lawn at Paul Smith’s College, steps from Lower Saint Regis Lake. The funds raised will be invested in the Future of Care campaign.
“The Adirondack Health Foundation is incredibly fortunate to have attracted Scott’s interest and enthusiasm, and this honor is certainly well-deserved,” said Kevin Brady, chairman of the Foundation’s board of trustees. “Scott’s wisdom, tenacity, humor and humility have gone a long way toward shaping the future of healthcare in the Adirondacks.”

“This year’s Gala Committee, comprised of 38 board members, employees and community members, began planning last November. They worked tirelessly to create an exceptional evening for a very special honoree,” said Hannah Hanford, executive director of the Adirondack Health Foundation. “Thank you from the heart to our volunteers, underwriters and auction donors. Their generosity, and that of those who attended, made this year an extraordinary success. Net proceeds will be directed toward funding two critically important capital projects – a new surgical services department and MRI suite in Saranac Lake and a brand-new Health and Medical Fitness Center in Lake Placid.”  
This year marked the 20th annual Adirondack Health Foundation Gala. Generous donations from local businesses and community members made for an extensive silent auction, and exceptional items such as vacation packages and sports tickets had bidders raising their arms during the live auction at dinner. Attendees also enjoyed a short video featuring time-lapse footage of the ongoing construction at Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake, where the new surgical services wing is being built. Late last month, hospital officials and community leaders broke ground on a second building project – Adirondack Health’s Lake Placid Health and Medical Fitness Center.

McGraw, this year’s Trudeau Award recipient, spent 22 years at CBS television network and ascended to the office of executive vice president of sales and marketing for CBS Sports. More recently, he served as executive vice president and general manager of national advertising sales for the Discovery network.
In his acceptance speech, McGraw announced that total contributions to the Future of Care campaign are “north of $10.5 million, toward our goal of $12 million.” He also noted that more than 600 community members have given to the campaign, and that there has been record-level support from Adirondack Health physicians, nurses and staff.
A resident of Lake Placid and Hobe Sound, Fla., McGraw joined the Adirondack Health Foundation board in 2011. He also serves as the current chair of Skidmore College’s board of trustees.
“Like all good leaders, Scott is versatile,” said McGraw’s longtime friend and Golf Magazine contributor, Gary Galyean. “The expected and the unexpected are both dealt with thoughtfully, and an unharried answer is found and applied. As has been written about other great leaders who possess this rare quality, Scott is like the man who can move the piano and play Tchaikovsky on it, too.”
To learn more or to make a contribution to the Future of Care campaign, please visit www.futureofcarecampaign.org.

Adirondack Experience acquires famous Warrensburg protest sign

On Friday, July 21 at 7:30 a.m., Adirondack Experience, The Museum on Blue Mountain Lake, removed a familiar anti-APA sign in Warrensburg,  and added it to their permanent collection.
This Warrensburg landmark for years has been seen by south-bound travelers on Route 9. Ted Galusha erected the sign, with several area politicians and property-rights advocates, in 2005 on the side of his house to protest what he sees as the agency’s overreaching.  The ADKX is collecting this sign because it is part of the ongoing conversation among Park residents, second-home owners, vacationers and conservation advocates about the future of the Adirondack Park.
The ADKXworked with Doug Bencze, a heavy equipment operator and logger from Tupper Lake, to remove the sign on Friday morning and bring it to the museum where it will be cleaned and repaired before it is mounted in the Life in the Adirondacks exhibition.

Summer Reading Program announced

The theme for the local library's summer reading program 2017, which is set by the NYS Library, is "Build a Better World."
The staff at the Goff Nelson Memorial Library will again collaborate with Tupper Lake Central School to encourage and challenge students to read a book a day over the summer to prevent the "summer slide.”
The school usually offers prizes to students who read the most. Here are some dates for the summer reading programat the library:
June 26th: Registration starts for the Summer Reading Program at 10a.m..
Children and teens can register any time after that. We plan to have face painting, prizes, reading logs, lists of suggested books to read, and giveaways to get everyone excited about reading over the summer.
The readers meet on the four Fridays of July: July 7, 14, 21, and 28 at 10:a.m. There are plans to collaborate with the Kiwanis Club of Tupper Lake again to read some appropriate books and do crafts that are connected with the theme.
On July 21 at 10:15 a.m., Lisa & Klaus Meissner will perform for the program. They will have some stories and songs that go with our theme of "Build a Better World."

Arts Center's Saturday Series continues with Sultans of String

Arts Center's Saturday Series continues with Sultans of String
The Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts continues its Saturday Series with the return of the Sultans of String, a Canadian trio whose music includes Celtic, flamenco, Arabic, Cuban, and Asian rhythms, on August 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the Arts Center. Tickets are available online at adirondackarts.org.
Three-time JUNO (Canada’s Grammy) nominees Sultans of String are an “energetic and exciting band with talent to burn!” (Maverick Magazine, UK). Serving up messages of hope and cultural harmony alongside a musical passport of Gypsy-jazz, Arabic, Flamenco, Celtic and Cuban rhythms, fiery violin dances with kinetic guitar, while bass lays down unstoppable grooves. Throughout, acoustic strings meet electronic wizardry to create layers and depth of sound.
Celebrating a milestone 10 years together, Sultans of String have hit #15 on Billboard’s world music charts, #1 across Canada on world music charts, and received multiple awards and accolades, including a SiriusXM Award, 1st place in the ISC (out of 15,000 entries), 3 Canadian Folk Music Awards, plus invitations to perform/record with such luminaries as The Chieftains, Richard Bona, Ruben Blades, and Sweet Honey in the Rock.
The appearance of the Sultans of String is generously sponsored by the Tom Fagan Fund.
The Arts Center's Saturday Series will continue with New York City pianist Richard Dowling with a program of Scott Joplin music on Aug. 26, and the return of the Vermont folk group the Woods Tea Company on September 9. Tickets for all these concerts are available now online at adirondackarts.org. The Arts Center is located at 3446 State Route 28, Blue Mountain Lake.
The Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts is celebrating its 50th Anniversary! Visit adirondackarts.org for the most up-to-date information about our Saturday Series, Tuesdays@theAC, the Adirondack Lakes Summer Theatre Festival, the AC Kids Experience, workshops and classes, gallery exhibits, special events, and grants programs. The Arts Center is generously supported by the New York State Council on the Arts, business and individual sponsors, and members.

Blissville in Tupper Lake

Blissville in Tupper Lake
A video screening of Blissville in Tupper Lake will be held on August 17 at the Adirondack Adult center, located on 179 DeMars Blvd, at 1 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
It is sponsored by the New York State Council on the Arts, and the local organization Adirondack Adult Center, and the Goff Nelson Library.
A special treat from Blissville will be given to each attendee.
Blissville...An Investigation is a video about a remote and overlooked corner of Queens, NY.
Blissville is the former name of the town, of about 80 houses, a triangle cut off by physical barriers from the rest of the city.
In addition to the world's largest fortune cookie factory; there is a factory with the exclusive rights for making replicas of the Statue of Liberty; a sushi factory, an Afghan bakery, and a giant car crusher. Through street interviews video maker Hank Linhart investigates the origin of the name of Blissville, and the character(s) of the town.
Along the way we discover a nearby Romani village in the 1930's. The village was the largest gathering of Romani in the US and was known as the "Gypsy Ellis Island". The village was razed to make way for a highway to the 1939 World's Fair.
Through its dynamic mix of residents and industry Blissville is extremely rich in nationalities, many people on the first rung of immigration.
The video is about the tapestry of daily life and the resiliency of a small town in shadows of midtown Manhattan. The vitality of the town speaks to small towns everywhere.
Blissville is more of a ‘docu / poem’ than a documentary. (59:52 - 2017).www.blissvillestories.org
The accompanying website encourages the audience to share stories, pictures and video of their town.
Hank Linhart is a media artist who lives in Brooklyn and formerly taught video at NYU, SVA, and Pratt Institute. Previously, he co-produced Fearful Visitation an experimental documentary about the 1904 General Slocum Disaster in NYC harbor, which until 9 / 11 was New York’s largest disaster. The video premiered at the NY Historical Society and was aired on several PBS stations.

Little Wolfstock returns to beach Saturday

by Dan McClelland
There are few class reunions held in the North Country that can rival the big one in Tupper Lake when hundreds of Tupper High alumni are treated to ten hours of some of the best music they grew up to during their high school years.
On Saturday Paul Chartier's Little Wolfstock returns to its birth place in 2012 at the town's Little Wolf Beach and Campgrounds for the second time.
The daylong festival of great music and fond remembrances by classmates of high school began in 2012 when organizer Paul Chartier was asked to help with his Class of 1972 40th reunion.
“I'd never done anything like a reunion and I was willing to try butit got me thinking.  I didn't want to do something traditional!” he told the Free Press this week.
He remembered the class of 1971 reunion organized by his friends Stuart Nichols and Bob Lewis the year before and how of the 130 graduates that year, only about 35 people- including spouses- showed up.
“It seemed to me that for all that work, the end result was a disappointment for those organizers!”
The Tupper Lake native, who is now retired after a career in communications and graphic design at Sunmount DDSO, said he figured if he organized a reunion for all the classes of the 1970s he might be able to create an event that would draw 350 people, not just 35.
When he added the unique musical twist to the event, his first Little Wolfstock that year drew upwards of 1,000 people.
“I'm a lover of live music, and so with all the talented musicians Tupper Lake has produced over the years, I figured let's get them all together” to play for their classmates.  It was a formula that worked in a big way.
Contacting every Tupper Lake musician from years gone by he could, the first event produced about a dozen performances- individuals, duets and bands.  Some musicians- like Clark Blanton of Long Island and Jim LeBlanc of the Carolinas- came long distances to join the show.
A second event in 2014 produceda similar musical line-up and there are more than 16 acts planned for Saturday.
“The first year we barely had enough powerin the new town pavilion,” he remembered this week.  A long extension cord was run from the shelter area to the concession stand several hundred feet across the beach's parking lot that first year.
By the 2014 event the town had installed a new 200-amp electric services just to power the pavilion area.  Musical groups today need a lot of electricity to run their sophisticated sound boards, amplifiers and such.
That year Paul invited the classmates of the 1960s, the 1970s and the 1980s and numbers swelled to almost 1,500.  It was what those classmates wanted and the interest showed in the numbers.
“We started calling it the 'largest reunion' in the Adirondacks!”
From the start Paul knew he only wanted to do it every two or three years, because to do it annually would tarnish the draw.
For his 2017 Little Wolfstock he has invited everyone who ever attended Tupper High School and their friends, including past and present teachers, staff and administrators.
“It's a very open format this year...essentially everyone is invited!
“It's a giant bring your own picnic,” he noted, adding that the Tupper Lake Lions Club food shack will be there to feed those who don't pack a lunch or dinner.  Lion Tom Sciacca, well known local chef, is directing that effort.
Paul's approach to the successful reunion is keeping all costs down.
The only major expense is the services of Vermontville sound technician Russell Farr, who brings everything with him the musicians will need to power and amplify their guitars and other equipment.
“That's how we can have so many different people performing one after another,” he said of the reason he's retained Mr. Farr.
To pay for his production costs, organizers will be passing a hat that day among the various local graduates in attendance.
The local Lions Club is a co-sponsor of the event, and so the service organization's liability insurance will be in play.  The town has also waived the usual user fees for the pavilion and has agreed to bring more portable toilets on site to handle the big crowd that is expected.
“Any money left over we always donate to a local charity or community organization,” the organizer explained.  Last year it was the food pantry; this year any surplus funds will go to the children of Jamie Rose Martin, in care of her sister Jen Tice, he said this week.
The event will feature both “a big stage” in the pavilion and a little one too.  That way smaller acts will perform between bigger ones for a constant flow of great music.
Lined up so far for the main stage (in order of appearance) is Dennis Pickering's “2 Bits,” Clint Hollingsworth and friends who now call themselves “Bad Influence,” Evan Bujold and his band “Late Earth,” soloist Jess Mayotte, Jim (Boushie) & E., Brock Gonyea, Ben and Jay (Ben McClelland and Jay Martin), “Spring Street” featuring Dan Spada and Josh Pratt from Tupper Lake, “The Jones Boys, “Hammer Lok,” making its first appearance at the event, Tom Snye and his band “Bittersweet and wrapping up the big party, beginning at 9p.m. will be Jeff Gonyea's band “Legend.”
“Legend,” for a finale, will call other musicians that day back to the stage for a rousing all-star jam, headlined by “Sweet Home, Alabama!”
Part of the big finish too will be a choral attempt at the Tupper High school song, “Deep in the North Land,” the lyrics of which were written by L.P. Quinn.
Some of the talents expected to perform on the smaller stage over the ten hours are Jim Lemieux, Kurt Gagnier, Dale Reandeau and Erin Booya, Clark Blanton, Jeff Boushie, Deanna Courtney and “Chi Chi” Glanda and her son.
“I have a variety of other musicians who have said they may appear.”
The organizers said the talent pool is still open this week.  “If you are a musician from Tupper Lake, I'll do my best to squeeze you in!”
Mr. Chartier can be contacted at 359-3562.
As a person who has been a fan of local music throughout his lifetime here, he figures there are more people and groups performing music here right now that at any time in Tupper's history.
“If everything goes as planned it'll be non-stop music from start to finish!” he predicted.
In his planning work, Daniel “Bonnie” Carmichael has been a big help, he told the Free Press.
Another familiar face the graduates will see on the grounds Saturday will be Ken Carmichael, known to many here as “Mr. Fun,” and who has the tee shirt concession this weekend.
Jerry Fletcher will be furnishing extra trash barrels for the event and Greg Jessie will be bringing over from his residence a short distance away some of his foos ball tables from his large collection to generate a little good-natured competition.
Lion and Town Councilman John Quinn has signed up “for light detail,” and is expected to string a number of strands of Christmas lights to give the grounds a festive feel.
The event will be held rain or shine, and Mr. Chartier is hoping for a repeat of the first two Little Wolfstocks.  In 2012 rain and thunder threatened but held off all day and the last time in 2014 it was a sunny day with a nice breeze from the west.
The extended forecast this week, as of press time yesterday,  is calling for full sun, so let's keep our fingers crossed.
“I'm hoping to see people of all ages and from all classes herecome out.,” invited Mr. Chartier.  “It promises to be another great time!”

Warrior Run blessed with plenty of mud and fun; Schofield takes first place

By Rich Rosentreter
    As expected the rains provided a great day and ideal conditions over the weekend for Tupper Lake’s sixth annual Warrior Run held at the Raquette River Brewing and included an obstacle course on the Bencze family property – both new locations for the site of the race-day activities.
    The first place finish went to local resident Susan Schofield who finished with a time of 26 minutes and 21.2 seconds. The top local male finisher was Doug Bencze who finished in 12th place with a time of 33 minutes and 56.9 seconds.
    According to race organizer Krit LaMere, there were 140 contestants in the race. She discussed race day with the Free Press.
“Overall the race went very well! It very much exceeded my expectations,” she said. “I didn't really know what to expect with the location change but I think it went better than I could have ever expected.”
LaMere said the feedback she received was all positive.  
“I heard nothing but good things coming from the racers, and have received quite a few messages since from racers telling me how much fun they had,” she said. “Most people that have ran the race in the past said that it was a bit easier mostly because they didn't have to go up the mountain thee times, but still enjoyed themselves.”
One of the favorite things about the Warrior Run is the simple fact that people enjoy it and the challenge it presents – and the fun had is not limited to those doing the obstacle course.
“The best aspect about this race is most people just do it for fun, they just want to get together with friends and family and get muddy,” LaMere said. “My volunteers shared with me how much they enjoyed watching everyone help each other along the way get over the tougher obstacles and such.  The racers really come together just to have fun!  
Of course the muddy conditions helped add to the fun.
“After the rain Friday night and Saturday morning the trails got pretty muddy, which is always a plus for the race,” LaMere said. “The rain stopped just in time for the start and that let us enjoy the rest of the day.  The brewery was packed from start of the day until they closed that night, which is a wonderful thing!”
According to LaMere, the local support for the race effort was important as well.   
“We are so glad to be able to include an amazing business like Mark and Joe have.  They were very accommodating to us and all the racers, letting us pretty much take over most of their space for the majority of the morning, even allowing the racers to clean off with their hoses when they got done,” she said. “I also really liked hearing people thank Doug and Sarah for the use of their land, I heard and saw a lot of people make a point to shake their hands and thank them. That to me was wonderful they should be acknowledged and it was really nice of the racers to do that.”  
“This event is one of my favorites, mainly because people really enjoy it and after spending months building the obstacles and working on everything else that goes into it is nice to see the people enjoying your hard work.”
Another great aspect of the Warrior Run was the fact that so many families came out to enjoy it, LaMere said.
“It is a great family event, we had a quite a few families run together, which I also like to see.  Parents with their children, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters we had them all!  Our youngest racer was nine years old and she finished - mud and water soaked - probably 15 -20 minutes before her mother and sister, who is 11,” she said. “When I asked how she liked it, she answered by saying ‘I want to do it again, it was so much fun.’ Stuff like that make it all worth it to me.”  
“The volunteers were great, and I think enjoyed watching the racers as much as the racers enjoyed themselves. From what I was told there was many spectators in the field, which I was uncertain about” LaMere added. “I wasn't sure if people would make the walk to watch, but they did. Some even walked along the course to cheer on their racer.  I am glad they did that. The more people get involved, the better the event.”
Local finishers
    Others from Tupper Lake and Long Lake who finished the course are as follows: Mark Yamrick place 14th with a time of 34:12.8; Hannah Zehr placed 28th with a time of 36:34.2; Mary Fontana, 20th, 35:03, Stephen Akiki, 27th, 36:28; Ben Farkas, 39th, 39:32, Cathy LaMare, 40th, 40:20.2,   Maegan Duhaime placed 42nd with a time of 40:44.8; Caty Hockey placed 44th with a time of 40:45.7; Cecile Peterson, 45th, 40:57, Rose Peterson, 46th,  40:57; Kelly Monks, 47th, 40:57; Tom Monks, 48th, 40:57; Bobbi Levesque placed 57th with a time of 42:53.8; Lawrence Baker placed 60th with a time of 44:05.6; Christie Lee Geiger placed 63rd with a time of 44:13.1; Jen Friend placed 65th with a time of 44:24.3; Alexis Staves placed 79th with a time of 48:01.2; Joe Benoit, 80th, 48:44;Amanda Amell placed 82nd with a time of 49:45.0; Krista LeBlanc placed 83rd with a time of 49:45.6;  Tom Benoit, 97th, 53:48; Katje Benoit, 98th, 53:49; Sarah Kentile placed 100th with a time of 54:50.1; Jeanne Kavanagh placed 101st with a time of 54:55.3; Danielle Marquis, 114th, 58:58; Virginia Yamrick placed 115th with a time of 58:56.0; Maureen Shaheen placed 135th with a time of 1:08:51.6; Nicole Reandeau placed 136th with a time of 1:08: 51.8; Lori Jessie placed 137th with a time of 1:08:52.1; Billie Gadway placed 138th with a time of 1:08.52.1; Dorrie-Rene Sapone placed 139th with a time of 1:08:52.2; Joan Skiff placed 140th with a time of 1:08:52.6.

Brightly colored, interesting and well organized parade opens Woodsmen's Days

by Dan McClelland
Fortunately the 2017 running of the Tupper Lake Woodsmen's Days parade escaped the rain this past Saturday.  The rain held offfor 40-minute event until it poured from about 1p.m. to 2p.m., sending many visitors home or in search of cover.
The parade this year was again under the direction of Amanda “Bird” Lizotte, with help from Amy Mitchell.
Like last year, the route was again from the town hall to the municipal park along Demars Blvd.
Organizers were hoping there wouldn't be a repeat of last year's parade on the Boulevard when parade participants were doused for the duration and so were very pleased with this year's weather.
This year's theme was “Dancing Your Ax Off,” so many of the participants were stepping lively in their presentations before the judges.
Leading the procession again this year was the Tupper Lake Honor Guard, led by its able commander, Michael Larabie.  The Honor Guard, created in 1945, is a familiar sight at veterans' observances here and the funerals of local, deceased veterans.
Following close behind the Honor Guard volunteers were the superb performers in the Norwood Fire Department's brass band, a long-time participant in the Woodsmen's Days parade going back to the 1980s.  The band's history dates back to the 1870s- making it one of the oldest volunteer brass marching bands still in existence in America today.
A float and marchers from the Edmund Bujold Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3120 reminded parade watchers of the importance of honoring veterans, both past and present.
Rolling along too this year was a patrol car from the Tupper Lake Police Department, driven by former Chief Tom Fee, and vehicle and marcher from the Franklin County Sheriff's Department.  The Malone-based agency did an identification program for children for several hours that afternoon at the park gazebo, free of charge.
Under its new chief, Royce Cole, the members of the Tupper Lake Volunteer Fire Department, sporting their dress whites and blues, stepped lively in the parade.  Many of the department's very loyal membership (about 50) marched behind their chief.  The department responds to emergencies of all kinds here, in addition to fires and averages about 200 calls a year.
The firemen were also selling chances at their booth this year for a new all terrain vehicle which was shown off in the procession.
Next in the line-up was this year's grand marshall, Jean Soucy and his wife, Karen, who was Woodswoman of the Year this year and who together presided over the event all weekend long, after being honored at the opening banquet in the park Friday night, hosted by the Tupper Lake American Legion post.
Next in the parade were the vehicles of the Tupper Lake Volunteer Ambulance and Emergency Squad and its dive team.  With 20 active members the emergency squad is led by Chief Wayne LaPierre and Jon Miller, as assistant chief.  Wayne is also captain of the volunteer squad's dive team and Stuart Burnette is the co-captain.
Accompany the squad and the dive team, riding on brightly decorated rigs was a new group this year, the Winged Eagles, a newly formed 4-H group of about 10 local children between six and ten years of age who do arts and crafts at their meeting,s as well as learn about important civic topics.  The group is led by Nicole Partinio and Lauri Dukette, who grinned and waved along with their charges.
The kids sang loudly as they passed the judges' stand in front of the municipal park.  It won them a first place in the youth category among the floats.
With his horn blasting loudly, along came Tupper Lake's well known truck driver Mike Hutchins commanding a sparkling Peterbilt owned by Champlain Peterbilt.
The next entrant was a familiar vehicle in recent parades here- Bill and Donna Lewis' white 1975 Buick LeSabre convertible- all polished and pretty- and representing the Tupper Lake Lions Club.  Riding with Bill this year was his daughter, Sue Lewis, and granddaughter McKenna Lewis.  McKenna's brother, Brady, was busy getting things ready in the Lions cookshack, so couldn't ride with the family.  Also on board were the children of Cory and Lilian Rohrbach of Amado's Restaurant,  Kristoff and Kaleigh.
The well-known wheels of Tupper Lake's very successful Mac's Safe Ride program was also all polished for the parade and driven by its founder Vivian Smith.
Judges gave the entry a third in the “originality” float category.
Representing Paul Mitchell Logging was a 2015 Peterbilt driven by Marcus Wilson and pulling a log loader and trailer owned by C.J. Logging.  The entry won third place in the “best looking truck” category.
Another prize winner in the “oldest piece of equipment” class was Gerry Fletcher's 1964 B-53 Mack roll-off.  For most of its life it wascement truck in Ontario and it later became a utility truck and then a roll-off rig.  Driving it Saturday were the Fletcher brothers, Josh and Elliot.
More music came flowing down the parade route- this time from the Elgin and District Pipe Band of Huntingdon, Quebec- another band parade watchers here are familiar with since the group performs here year after year.  Dressed in traditional Scottish garb, the pipers and drummers delighted the judges with a special number in front of the stand. The group is led by Pipe Major Wanda Goundrey and boasts members from both Canada and the U.S.
-And then the judges, who this year included Tim Larkin, Tracy Sparks, Rob Madore, Russell Villeneuve, Supervisor Patricia Littlefield and Nicole Fuller, heard this loud buzzing.
It came from the Wild Center's busy bees- staff, volunteers and friends- who performed a very inventive “Waggle Dance” for the judges, with their wings all jiggling.  Even the Wild Center Otter was sporting bee wings.  The yellow and black knee socks were a perfect touch.
Their performance was all about a special project at the Wild Center called “The Adirondack Pollinator Project”- a call to everyone to help pollinators of all kinds (bees, butterflies birds, bats and other small mammals) thrive.  Apparently the “Waggle Dance” is a real dance that bees do to communicate inside their hives.
The bees, instead of candy, distributed seed packets and honey sticks, a nice twist this year.
The Wild Center bees won second place in the humor category.
Lizotte Logging Inc. of Tupper Lake then produced two nice entries- all cleaned and shined for the procession: a 2006 Peterbilt hauling the load of spruce logs, driven by Jay Rice, and a 2009 Kenworth with a load of hemlock pulp, stewarded by Scott Lizotte.  With their dad were the Lizotte kids, Jeannelle and Maddox.
The 2006 Peterbilt driven by Jay was deemed by the judges to be second best in the best load of round wood category.  It also won the prize for oldest working truck in the parade.
The next big piece to roll in front of the judges was a Volvo loader from Tupper Lake Hardwoods, driven by mill worker Andrew LaMere.
Behind Andrew was a big yellow skidder owned by C.J. Logging- whose owners have been big supporters of the the hometown event for years.
The new skidder won “best piece of equipment” in the parade.
A float carrying staff members and friends from the Adirondack Arc, which is dedicated to providing opportunities to those with developmental disabilities, roared up to the judges' stand in full musical flavor.  They were using their parade participation to promote their big event in August- Rock the Arc, which is a great day of good music, food, games and a chance to win $10,000.  It's the not for profit's big fundraiser of the year, which is important in the face of severe state funding cutbacks of late.
The agency's float won a first place in the “originality” division.
The Shriners from Malone were back in style this year with a float and their clown and a couple of volunteers on the unusual bikes.  They've been a part of the Woodsmen's Days parade for decades. The colorful float depicted the Shrine hospitals inMontreal and Boston.
All the fraternal group's work goes to support 19 orthopedic and three burn hospitals on this continent where many unfortunate children from the North Country have been helped at no cost to them or their families.
The antics of the Shriners won them first place in the “humor” class.
The Village of Tupper Lake's water and sewer department was very well represented in the parade with Joe Cormier driving a big dump truck, Nate Durfee and his son, Nolan, aboard the department's impressive Vac-On truck which sucks nasty things out of sewer mains and other hard to get places, Max Willett and his son, Cooper, aboard the department's backhoe and a pick-up truck driven by Supervisor Mark Robillard, accompanied by his children, Luke and Lyla.
Remington Trucking of Parishville, owned by Pat Remington, won the prize for most log trucks entered in the parade.
First was a 2013 Kenworth pulling a load of lumber from Tupper Lake Hardwood, a 2009 Western Star driven by Brent Bedard, a 2013 Kenworth with a load of logs cut and stacked on the trailer by Lizotte Logging (third prize for best load of round wood) and a 2009 Kenworth driven by Josh Perry.
The Remington Trucking company's yellow tractor won first for “best looking truck” and its gray-colored Peterbilt won second place in that division.
Next in the line-up was the village electric department's newest bucket truck- a hybrid that is state of the art- driven by Lineman Chris Zaiden.
As Chris passed the judges' standthe association acknowledged their thanks to the department and its crew members who worked all week to provide power and set utility poles for the big logging event.
Father Douglas Decker and youth group leader Dennis Jones carried a banner announcing their group, the St. Alphonsus Holy Name Youth Group which is made up of junior high and high school students here.  The fun the kids often have when they meet was very evident in their cheers and lively behavior that morning.  Aboard the float was Pope Francis displaying God's everlasting mercy. The group won second places in the humor and youth categories for their creative float-building work.
Taylor Rental, with locations in Saranac Lake and Plattsburgh, entered the parade with a number of pieces of equipment they rent- everything from floor sanders and chainsaws to excavators and skid steers and lifts.  Many of those pieces were on display all weekend at the firm's booth on the park grounds.
Not to be outdone by the sewer and water crew, the village's DPW workers put three pieces into the parade line-up: a front end loader driven by Brian Kennedy and dump trucks driven by Matt Merrihew and Charlie Bencze.
Following those vehicles was a 2013 Kenworth trailer pulling a load of Tupper Lake Hardwood logs entered by French Trucking of Fine, N.Y.   Driving the big rig was Homer Dubey, accompanied by his children Emma and Taran.  French Trucking won the first prize for best looking load of round wood.
Following the French truck was another Volvo loader from Tupper Lake Hardwoods, driven by Carter Haye.
Justice John Ellis was at the wheel of one of new trucks at hisUncle Rick'sEllis Automotive-  a 2017 Chevrolet 2500 Duramax Diesel High Country Edition.  Riding with their dad were Olivia and Scout Ellis.
All decked out in the beach gear was this year's contingent of life guard at Little Wolf Beach.  Driving the lifeguard's float was Waterfront Director Chris Savage, who was joined by Logan Savage and Jade Dukett, this year's head life guards in the town program.  The beach is open daily from 10a.m. to 8p.m.
That float won a second for originality and third in the youth division.
Bringing up the rear of the parade was a very clean truck and work trailer owned by Rick Martin's construction and remodeling business, all decked out in lettering and designs by Tupper Lake's Stacked Graphics.

Temperatures perfect for Tupper Tinman

by Dan McClelland
On Saturday the temperature was perfect for the 35th running of the Tupper Lake Tinman Triathlon. When swimmers entered the water at the municipal park at 8a.m. or shortly thereafter Saturday both the water temperature and the air temperature were about 60 degrees F.
What wasn't perfect, however, was the brisk winds from the west which made for a very choppy Raquette Pond for the swim portion of the event.
The strong wind created waves over a foot high and made for a very challenging opening leg.
Adjectives to describe it ranged from tough to brutal, in the athletes we spoke with after the event. An aqua-bike competitor in the event which permits participants to avoid the running and third leg and which was added when Adam Baldwin was events coordinator last year, told us that in the 13 “tri's” he's faced “this was the toughest swim leg.”
Mary Ayotte, another aqua-biker from Quebec, called the swim leg “outrageous.  I was on top of the water much of the time...sort of bellyflopping.”
Mary was here preparing for the half-Ironman in Lake Placid in September where she will do all three legs.
Michelle Dion of Wayne, New Jersey, said the only other time she faced such rough water was at an event in Fire Island, N.Y. where there were rollers coming in.
She too is training for Lake Placid. “I like it here better, however, because there's so much room to park.”  She also had kudos for the fare at Tupper Lake's Marketplace Deli and Pub.  “I love their food!”
Triathletes, as in recent years, enjoyed their “pasta-loading” meals at various local eateries, using chamber coupons.
A number of this year's triathletes were here as part of their preparation for the half-Ironman in the Olympic Village.
The winds that morning also made it a little tougher for the bikers heading west to Cranberry but they also benefitted from the tail win on the way back to the finish.
Late morning temperatures reached the high sixties which made it perfect for the bike and running legs.
Last year triathletes suffered through a steaming day when the mercury topped the 90 degree mark.
Several who competed last year remembered how tough it was competing in the extreme heat that day.
The fastest person across the finish line this year was 44 year old Mike Espejo of Brighton, Mass.
For Mike, who won third in the Tinman last year, Saturday was his first major win.
“I did Syracuse last week and it has 95 degrees...far too hot!”
“This, however, was a great race!”
Mike will challenge himself again when he returns to Lake Placid in early fall for the half-Ironman (the Tinman distances of 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13.2 mile run).
“I love it here,” he said of the town, the organizers and the people.  “I love your town...and it's great that Lake Placid is only a half-hour a way.”
The winner's time was four hours, 21 minutes, 55.7 seconds.
Second man across the finish line was Greg Binns of New York City, who picked up his 15 year old son, Huxley, for the final 100 or so feet to the finish line. Greg finished seventh overall last year.
He called the race and its organization “awesome.”
Greg too was in training for the Lake Placid event.  “The wind wasn't too bad, although I did have trouble in the swim.”
What he particularly liked was the “tail wind” on the bike course and the brief shower when he was on the final run leg.
“I'd call it a perfect day, overall,” he told the Free Press.
Huxley wasn't all that happy in the arms of his proud dad.  He cried a little, probably because ofall the finish line commotion.
Kerzia Marchant of Liverpool was the fastest woman in this year's Tinman.
Last year Kerzia finished just behind Tupper Lake's Amy Farrell, the fastest woman in 2016.  Amy didn't compete this year. Kerzia's time was 4:41:02 on Saturday.
Kerzia's husband, Ryan, won the men's and overall Sprint division title with a combined time of 1:1908.5.
Kerzia and Ryan are frequent visitors to Tupper Lake and they have family members here.
Among the local faces in this year's 35th anniversary event was Len Clement, who tackled the half-Tinman Olympic version this year.  He completed the full Tinman several years ago.
He had many accolades for organizers both past and present.
“Every year if I'm not competing in some way, I'm volunteering.”
Len's wife, Tammy, is another perennial volunteer.
The local man is in training for his third half-Ironman this September in Lake Placid. Leonard's time was 4:12:27.
Veteran triathlete and Ironman Bob Tebo, retired athletic director, was again in the 35th anniversary version, like he has been so many before in recent years.
Again in the senior class, Bob completed the 70.3 mile course in a remarkable five hours, 52 minutes, 29 seconds, ahead of some people half his age.
Another Tinman competitor from Tupper Lake was Joaquin Castillo with a time of five hours, 43 minutes, 21.5 seconds.
Competing in theOlympic division this year was Shannon Littlefield with a time of three hours, 34 minutes, 12.4 seconds.
There were a half dozen folks from Tupper Lake in the Sprint division of this year's event.  They included town accountant Samantha Davies (1:32:14), Riley Gillis (1:45:29), Cory Case (1:51:31), Eli Littlefield (1:56:38), Sara Ellis (2:07:44) and Tim Littlefield (2:35:48).
This year's Tinman was ably directed by Wendy Peroza, who has been a part of the chamber of commerce event team for many years, working alongside her father-in-law Maynard, and before him with Ted Merrihew.

Class of 2017 graduates get words of inspiration

Class of 2017 graduates get words of inspiration
by Rich Rosentreter
The Tupper Lake High School graduation was held on Friday, June 23 and each speaker who addressed the Class of 2017 and their family and friends provided words of inspirations, among them to enjoy life and the lessons of failing and the importance of being connected.
It was an evening of joy and tears as the latest graduates from Tupper Lake finished their high school education and will move onto either college, the military or find a role in the work force. Whether it was a message from classmates as was the case of Valedictorian Katie Zurek and Salutatorian Logan Savage, a former local graduate and guest speaker Jonathan Collier or school officials such as district Superintendent Seth McGowan and high school Principal Russ Bartlett, the Class of 2017 was provided valuable advice.
The main speakers were preceded by the welcoming remarks of senior class co-secretaries Morgan Sovey and Kaitlyn Gilman which was followed by the introductory commentary by Principal Bartlett.
After reciting some factoids he found through researching “graduation” on the internet such as the oldest high school graduate being 94 years old, Bartlett also listed several predictions such as how physical currency will probably end in their lifetimes. Then he focused on his main message.
“For me, the cool thing about this list of predictions is not so much that they will happen, but that you, the members of the Class of 2017, will be responsible for making these and dozens of other unimaginable things come true,” Bartlett said. “These things won’t be easy. They will test your limits, your nerve and your imagination, and you will fail more often than you succeed. But that’s okay. Each attempt is a learning experience that will allow you to do better on your next try.”
“Keep your chin up, remember who you are and where you come from, and get the job done, because, as the great philosopher Norgan once said, ‘Sometimes in life, people are going to go camping in your hallways. It’s how you respond to it that says the most about who you are.’”
Salutatorian    
Salutatorian Logan Savage was next up to the podium, and he stressed what he has learned through some relatives and thanked his parents and grandparents for all their support and helping him to believe in himself. He also thanked the school’s faculty, staff and classmates and said that one of the most important things in life is to pursue happiness.
“While none of us may know what direction our lives will go after graduation, there's one thing we know for sure, and that is no matter what we are doing or where we find ourselves, we must find something that makes us happy every single day of our lives,” Logan said, conveying a message he learned from an aunt. “Lives for yourself! No one else can do that for you. Do the things that make you happy.”
Following his message, the audience of graduates, their friends and family and school faculty were treated to a stirring and heart-felt rendition of “Rivers and Roads” performed by the school chorus, which included some of the seniors who would sing with this group for the final time.
Valedictorian
Valedictorian Katie Zurek was then summoned to the stage and she quickly brought the crowd to one of the most light-hearted and humorous moments of the ceremony as she took the opportunity to rap from Eminem's “Lose Yourself.”
 First, she had a quick explanatory message for her father.
“Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity to seize everything you ever wanted, in one moment, would you capture it, or just let it slip? Then she broke out: “Yo! His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy. There's vomit on his sweater already, mom's spaghetti. He nervous, but on the surface his calm and ready."
Her rap session was followed by some of the loudest applause of the evening.
“Okay, I just had to get that out there," and then Zurek began by thanking her parents, teachers, coaches, school staff members along with the entire Tupper Lake community “for supporting and believing in us for past 18 years.” Katie focused on the bond the graduates have with each other.
“The dictionary defines superlative as: of the highest kind, quality, or order, surpassing all else, or others. Supreme, but I define it as the Tupper Lake class of 2017. As students, hallway campers, friends and overall people we are of the highest kind, quality, and order. Supreme. In our senior slideshow there were pictures from elementary school, birthday parties, sporting events and ones taken just a couple of months ago, all of which were gems. But the ones that stood out to me had us wearing our kindergarten graduation shirts in them. They had a picture of our whole grade sitting on the hill outside L.P. Quinn with the words 'forever friends' ironed on across the top.”
“I think we will be the class who will actually be forever friends. We laughed and cried with each other, fought but would always make up, had fun and when we weren’t, we’d make the best of it. Each year we grew closer and came together despite what kept us apart and for that I am very grateful. Even though we are going our separate ways, if you ever need help, we are all just a phone call away. Part of the crew, part of the ship.”
“There is a quote that says, ‘Some people die at 25 and aren’t buried until 75.’ Don’t die at 25. With whatever you choose to do, don’t forget to make sure you are always enjoying your life and are helping others enjoy theirs too. A successful life is not measured by how much money you make or how many cars you have, but by how many lives you made better,” she said. “Congratulations everyone and may your hats fly as high as your dreams. From the bottom of my heart, I wish you all the very, very, very, best!”
Superintendent’s message
Following a loud applause for Zurek’s message, it was district Superintendent Seth McGowan’s turn to enlighten the graduates. This year he had a special connection to the graduating class as his daughter Sarah was among those receiving a diploma.
First McGowan stressed the theme of connectedness and also gave his annual personal accounts of many students and their time back at the L.P. Quinn Elementary School, where he once served as the school principal. Many of the graduates had an opportunity to publicly reminisce their grade school moments with the help of McGowan’s lead.
“It’s about being connected, and not to the Internet,” he said. “If you’re connected to someone or some group, then you’re not alone. I feel like I have a particular connection with this group.”
He said that although he has three children, in reality he considers all the students in the district also his children. McGowan set the stage by pointing out the tie he was wearing had the footprints of his daughter Sarah before hitting the punchline that he had under his dress shirt. In one of the most memorable moments of the ceremony McGowan unbuttoned his shirt to expose a T-shirt that had an image of the elementary school’s Class of 2005, the same group of students who were now graduating from the district.
McGowan’s message was clear - he has a special bond with the graduating class and wished them all the best of luck in their future endeavors.
Collier’s keynote
Guest speaker Jonathan Collier, a graduate of Tupper Lake High School who has had a successful career in the computer industry, gave the Class of 2017 the final words of inspiration for the evening. But before he gave his address, he was given an introduction by Morgan Sovey and Ryan Becker, who used his portion to provide a first-hand account of the role the guest speaker had on his education.
Becker said that last year he was one of the Tupper Lake students who were invited to tour Collier’s place of employment in Boston and was treated to an educational experience beyond his expectations. Given Becker’s buildup, Collier commenced his address.
“I’m excited to be here with you on one of the most important days of your life,” he began as he focused on being happy, and being a failure – at first – before finding the path to success.
“My high school experience here in Tupper Lake could be characterized as a series of spectacular failures. As a teenager, I was enthusiastic about participating in every sport and every club that Tupper Lake had to offer. And I was, without a doubt, terrible at all of them,” Collier said.
He reflected upon his failures at the school and described how each one had a role in his eventual success as it led him to what he was good at.
“On the football field, Coach Klossner patiently rotated me through most of the positions, trying to find one where I would do the least amount of damage. His efforts were in vain. My single greatest contribution to the Lumberjacks was when I broke my finger during warm-up passes and was benched for the game,” Collier said, adding his time on the track team, band and chorus to his list of failures.
“For four years, I tried to clear the six-foot minimum qualifying height in the high jump - and never made it. I wasn’t even close. In the band, I played the French horn. Terribly. In chorus, my singing voice sounded like a raccoon drowning at Bog River Falls,” he said. “I forgot my lines during the musical, I failed my first driver’s license test, and I stepped on the feet of the few girls who would dance with me at prom. I’m so glad that Tupper Lake High School gave me the chance to learn about some of the many things in life that I would be bad at. Why? Because I learned about myself, and I learned about life, by trying new things.”
“But, as I was recovering from my football injuries, I also learned that I had a knack for understanding computers, and how to get them to do what I wanted. That interest and enthusiasm for programming and technology has developed into a rewarding career that I love. I found out that - while I really enjoyed music, I wasn’t all that great at it. But – in exploring my artistic side, I discovered a passion for photography. When I started taking pictures as a hobby, I wasn’t particularly good. But I kept at it, and I learned and I got better. I now find it to be one of my most rewarding pastimes,” he said.
“These are passions that I wouldn’t have discovered without the failures that preceded them. Despite these failures, I can stand here today and confidently tell you that I am one of the happiest, and most successful people that I know,” Collier added. “What does that mean? Success? When I was graduating from high school, I thought that success - and happiness - had a lot to do with money. I was wrong. In my short life, I've been lucky enough to meet and spend time with thousands of different people across the globe. I've seen a lot of happy people, and a lot of unhappy people. I cannot give you the secret answer to happiness. But I can give you three clues. The people who you spend time with. Your family and friends. Sometimes, they drive you crazy. But they will be one of your biggest sources of happiness. If you're spending time around people who consistently make you unhappy – then start spending your time around other people. Life is too short for that.”
Collier also urged graduates to respect their bodies and suggested running as a means to staying healthy before he gave his advice on finding a career.
“You don't need to start running marathons, but you do need to pay attention to your health,” he said. “And now, the most challenging happiness indicator, your career. It's not easy to find a career that clicks with you. You don't need to get rich. Your work doesn't need to be fun, and it doesn't have to be a dream job. Life is hard. You already know that. And being an adult is hard. It doesn’t get easier with time or practice. The world doesn’t make it easy for you. But I guarantee you: if you push yourself to get outside of your comfort zone, and if you can learn from your failures, and if you put in the effort to working your way towards happiness, then you’re going to love your life. Our world is an incredible place full of really amazing experiences. In graduating today, after all of your hard work, you’re well on your way.”
After all the inspirational speeches, the Class of 2017 had one final chance to soak in their last moments as high school students. Tears flowed throughout the audience as flowers were presented to their family members or close friends, and then just like that, it was all over.
Welcome to the world and best of luck Class of 2017.

Park Street celebration in the works

There's a new event in the planning to celebrate the rehabilitation of the uptown business district, which was completed last year.
Louise McNally, who last year was the co-coordinator of the Tupper Lake Art Show, and Ellen Maroun recently met with Mayor Paul Maroun to get his approval to close Park Street on Saturday, August 5 from noon to 6p.m. to move the art show up from the Tupper Lake Depot and combine it with a community celebration involving local businesses, craft and farm to market vendors, live music, games for kids and more.
“This will be a wonderful day of celebration,” Mrs. McNally said this week.  “Hopefully it will become an annual tradition.”
For his part, the mayor will gain the approval of the state Department of Transportation to close Park Street that afternoon.
More details to come.

Bicycle riders urged to attend ninth annual rodeo Saturday at ESB

by Dan McClelland
The paved entrance way and the grounds of the Emergency Service Building will be the scene of another big bike rodeo this Saturday, June 10 from 10a.m. to 2 p.m.  Every kid in town with a bicycle should plan to be there to compete in various fun activities and games, to learn the latest in the rules of the road and to enjoy a host of tasty treats donated by local businesses.
The rodeo was created by Officer Mike Vaillancourt, the village police department's bike officer, over a half dozen years ago, as a way to keep young riders safe and to help them understand traffic rules.
This year the event's primary sponsors are again the Tupper Lake Village Police Department and the Tupper Lake Kiwanis Club.
One of the event's trademarks is the distribution of bicyclehelmets to any child who attends and who needs one.   More bicycle helmets will be given away this year, adding to the hundreds and hundreds that have beengiven out to young bike riders here over the past eight years.
Other important sponsors who each donate hundreds of dollars to the event each year to insure that everyone has a great time are Woodmen Life, Stewart's Shops, the Village of Tupper Lake and High Peaks Cyclery, which will be on hand to do bike diagnostics.
“Flutterbug the Clown” is returning this year to decorate the faces of willing youngsters.  Woodmen Life will have its “bounce house” back in service so kids can jump to their fill.
There will be a bike rodeo both in the parking lot and on the grounds between the new ESB and the arena.  Last year's off-road course, that was built with the assistance of the village department of public works crew, was phenomenal.  This year young riders can expect many new surprises and ways to test their riding prowess.
There'll be lots to eat and drink- all free of charge- thanks to the generosity of the sponsors and many other local businesses.  Sweet-lovers will find plenty of cotton candy and snow cones and there'll again be an opportunity to build your own sundaes.
Every child who enters the event will have his or her name entered into a drawing for a free bicycle.
Many police officers and Kiwanis volunteers will be directing many of the rodeo events and the courses which comprise them.
On tap too are demonstrations by the Franklin County Traffic Safety Board which will bring its driving while intoxicated simulator, which points up to participants in vivid detail just how abilities are impaired when driving under the influence of alcohol.
Also on hand from the county seat in Malone will be the Franklin County Sheriff's Department deputies who will operate their child safety program.

Rain doesn't dampen Memorial Day spirit

by Dan McClelland
Many people attended or participated in Monday morning's half-hour long Memorial Day observance at the Veterans' Park on Park Street, despite the rain showers that fell during the entire event.  The mild soaking, however,  didn't dampen the strong remembrance of loved ones prevalent at the observance that morning.
Ray Tarbox, newly reelected commander of the VFW Post 3120, welcomed the more than 100 that morning, on behalf of the five local veterans' organizations that hosted the event: his post, the American Legion Post 220,  the Adirondack Leatherneck Marine Corp League, the Tupper Lake Honor Guard and Amvets Post 7120.
“One hundred and fifty-one years have passed since a drug store in Waterloo, N.Y. encouraged businesses to close for one day to honor to the soldiers who lost their lives during the Civil War- an idea that was well received,” Commander Tarbox began.
“For one day businesses closed, widows placed fresh flowers on graves, townspeople placed wreaths and crosses upon headstones and flags were flown at half-mast. It was then an American tradition was born!
“From the earliest days of America's founding, our great nation has been blessed with generation after generations of patriots willing to lay down their lives in defense of our freedom and way of life. We are truly fortunate to live in a country worth fighting for...to be afforded a way of life worth dying for.
“Today and every Memorial Day we pay tribute to those heroic patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice...who bravely rose up and fought for something greater than themselves, protecting a home to which they never returned.  We honor their service, mourn their loss and remember the families they left behind.”
Mr. Tarbox then introduced the Reverend Rick Wilburn of the Tupper Lake Baptist Chapel and a veteran to offer an opening prayer.
It was followed by a performance of the National Anthem, well performed by more than 30 members of the Tupper Lake High School Band, under the direction of Laura Davison.  It was again inspiring that the local teenagers would give up their holiday mornings to perform their very moving music for the Memorial Day audience.  By half way throughmuch of their sheet music was rain-soaked and wilting, but they played on with pride and spirit.
Members of Tupper Lake Boy Scout Troop 23, accompanied by local Cub Scouts came to the front of the memorial to lead the audience in the “Pledge of Allegiance.”
Mr. Tarbox introduced that day's guest speaker, Tupper Lake's own Michael Larabie, calling it “his distinct privilege.”
Michael was born on August 20, 1950, the fourth of nine children born to Phillippe and Marcella (Desmarais) Larabie in Tupper Lake.
He attended local schools, graduated from Tupper Lake High School in 1968 before going to work at the Grand Union and American Legion Mountain Camp.  In 1972 he joined the U.S. Air Force.  Mike was first stationed at Keesler Air Force base in Mississippi and later was assigned to Las Vegas, two tours in England, to San Angelo, Texas, to an assignment in Turkey and then to a post as recruiter at a base in Pennsylvania.  According to Mr. Tarbox, Michael finished his service at the Plattsburgh Air Force base, where he retired as a master sergeant in 1992.
During his time of service, he served during the end of the Vietnam War and during the bombing of Desert Storm and in Libya.
He began federal service at the Plattsburgh base in 1993 and then transferred to the Tupper Lake Post Office the next year, where he worked until his retirement in 2014.
VFW Commander Tarbox said Mr. Larabie has been very active over the years in local veterans affairs, first joining the VFW Post here in 1994.  A life member of the post, he has served in many official capacities as chaplain for 20 years and as junior vice commander these past three years.
“Mike did a tremendous job as junior vice commander and I have no doubt he will put forth a similar excellent effort in his next role of judge advocate.”
Mike is also well known as the leader of the Tupper Lake Honor Guard, which he joined in 1994 and became commander two years later and served in that leadership role until the present.

The following is Michael Larabie's address to the hometown crowd:
“Welcome to today’s ceremony and thank you for attending. I’m honored to be speaking with you today on such an important occasion. We’re here today to honor our service members and to remember the sacrifices they have made in honor of duty, honor, country.
“The Greek philosopher Thucydides once said, “The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it.”
“We’re here today to honor our heroes, to remember their achievements, their courage and their dedication, and to say thank you for their sacrifices. Thinking of the heroes who join us in this group today and those who are here only in spirit, a person can’t help but feel awed by the enormity of what we encounter. We stand in the midst of patriots and the family and friends of those who have nobly served.
“The service members we honor today came from all walks of life, but they shared several fundamental qualities. They possessed courage, pride, determination, selflessness, dedication to duty and integrity – all the qualities needed to serve a cause larger than one’s self.
“Many of them didn’t ask to leave their homes to fight on distant battlefields. Many didn’t even volunteer. They didn’t go to war because they loved fighting. They were called to be part of something bigger than themselves. They were ordinary people who responded in extraordinary ways in extreme times. They rose to the nation’s call because they wanted to protect a nation which has given them, us, so much.
“Since the first shots at Lexington and Concord were fired and our Revolutionary War began, American men and women have been answering the nation’s call to duty.
“Millions of Americans have fought and died on battlefields here and abroad to defend our freedoms and way of life. Today our troops continue to make the ultimate sacrifices, and even as we lose troops, more Americans step forward to say, I’m ready to serve. They follow in the footsteps of generations of fine Americans.
“The idea for Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, arose from the ashes of the Civil War. Following the Civil War, at least 620,000 Americans, both Union and Confederate, had been killed and hundreds of thousands more were maimed. Through the course of the war, Americans had blasted at each other’s lines with cannons and burned cities and towns on our own soil. Americans had locked each other in prisoner of war camps and torn up the railroads connecting north to south.
“Homes, schools and churches from Antietam to Vicksburg were riddled with bullet holes. The war’s unprecedented carnage and destruction was on a scale not even imaginable a few years before, and it changed America’s view of war forever. From those dark times, it was the families who were honoring their dead that began to bring the light of reconciliation.
“Although there are different versions of how Memorial Day began, one story goes that the grieving families, both Northern and Southern, began decorating the graves of their lost soldiers with flowers and wreaths. In one city in Mississippi, people decorated the graves of both Union and Confederate troops, out of respect for the families of the Union Soldiers, and with the hope that someone would do the same for their lost loved ones in the North.
These informal honors led to the first formal Memorial Day observance in Waterloo, New York, on May 5th, 1866. Congress officially recognized Memorial Day as a federal holiday in 1887. Since then, with each passing year and subsequent conflicts, we’ve continued to honor our troops.
“We have awarded medals to many soldiers, added their names to monuments and named buildings for them, to honor them for their bravery. But nothing can ever replace the hole left behind by a fallen service member, and no number of medals and ribbons can comfort the ones left behind.
“I'd like to ask the service members and veterans who are here to stand.
“Thank you for answering the call to duty. You have made our armed forces the most respected in the world.
“Now I’d also like to ask the family member of any service member to stand. We know you have lived through difficult times and often taken the heavy load to keep the home fires burning. Thank you for what you’ve done.
“Today, people throughout the country will gather together to remember, to honor, and to pay gratitude to those who have served our country. Our gathering is just one small spark in the flame of pride that burns across the nation today and every day. It’s not a lot, but its one small way we can honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can live in freedom.
“Your presence here today and that of the people gathering all across America is a tribute to those lost troops and to their Families. It is a way to say we remember. From the Soldiers who shivered and starved through the winter at Valley Forge to the doughboys crouched in the muddy trenches of France to the platoon who patrolled the hazy jungles of Vietnam and the young man or woman patrolling the mountains of Afghanistan, we remember and honor them all.
“Thank you for attending today. God bless you and your families, God bless our troops and God bless!” he concluded.
“Thank you for your service to our great country and to our wonderful community,” Mr. Tarbox said in thanking Mr. Larabie.
The high school band then erupted into a spirited medley of songs from each of the branches of the military.  It's a performance everyone always enjoy and the young musicians didn't disappoint again this year.
What followed the rousing medley of familiar military pieces was the traditional laying of wreaths by a number of Tupper Lake groups and organizations, which included the local boy scout troop and cub scout pack, which were the first up to the monument to pay their respects to the fallen.
Other wreath-laying groups included the Tupper Lake Volunteer Fire Department, the department's ladies auxiliary andthe Village of Tupper Lake and the Town of Tupper Lake, the wreaths both placed by local youngsters.
Other wreaths came from the American Legion, the VFW, the Knights of Columbus, Moose Lodge 640,  Sunmount DDSO, Mt. Arab Masonic Lodge, Sunmount CSEA, the Tupper Lake Honor Guard, Adirondack Leathernecks and Amvets Post 710.
The final wreath was placed by a collection of girl guides and girl scouts here who donated a case of Girl Scoutcookies to each of the five local veterans organizations.
That news brought loud applause from the crowd.
The Tupper Lake Honor Guard then performed its traditional firing of volleys, as some cupped their ears.
The high school band fired up for their third and final time performing “America the Beautiful” and “The Stars and Stripes.”  A two-part “Taps” was also well performed by the father-daughter trumpet team of Wayne andKendall Davison.
The service concluded with a closing prayer by American Legion Chaplain James Ellis, a local deacon here.
The crowd was invited to the VFW post for refreshments following the ceremony.