A Stunning Schroon Sunset

/
 Photo by Emily Shields. Copyright 2015. All Rights Reserved

 

Photo by Emily Shields. Copyright 2015. All Rights Reserved

The above photograph, posted over on the official Schroon Lake Facebook page,  has caught the attention of hundreds of folks. It’s by Emily Shields and captures the beauty of a purple and pink sunset. It’s simply mesmerizing. We hope Emily considers entering this picture into a photo contest, it’s that good! Got photos to share: send them to us at schroonlaker@me.com

 

Fort Ticonderoga: A Family Must See

/

 Fort Ticonderoga is an American historical gem. And this year they've launched  exciting new opportunities for families visiting the site in July and August. The new Family Guided Tour at 10:40 am and 1:40 pm will lead families through the fort grounds and provide an overview for all of the exciting things to do during a visit. In addition to the tour,

Fort Ticonderoga’s ongoing Family Program gives families a chance to work together to complete tasks as they explore Fort Ticonderoga, and receive rewards for helping the soldiers with their daily duties. The interactions will inspire creativity and make history come alive!

Find out more in our Kids and Family section.

 

 

Fed Report: Jorg Borowski’s Death “Preventable”

/
Jorg with his girlfriend Donna Rice Mellan.

Jorg with his girlfriend Donna Rice Mellan.

The death of Jorg Borowski, the Schroon Lake man who died from massive burns after an accident at the International Paper plant in Ticonderoga in January, could have been prevented, according to a government investigation.

Jorg , 57, died from the injuries he received when he was working in the power plant, cleaning out burned filter bags full of combustible fly ash which ignited.

He was the long time boyfriend of Donna Rice Mellan. Many local and seasonal Schroon Lakers know Donna from the Upstate Agency and her Schroon Lake Massage and Wellness Center.

The report, released Tuesday by the Federal Government’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA)  Albany office, was extremely critical of the company and its failure to offer protection to employees.

 “While nothing can return this man to his daughter and co-workers, the company can and must take prompt and effective steps to ensure that this never happens again," said Kim Castillon, head of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Albany office. 

“This worker’s death was preventable. International Paper knew of these hazards and deficiencies and did not address them,” said Castillon.

More from NCPR: The incident prompted an investigation by OSHA, part of the U.S. Department of Labor. Last week, OSHA cited International Paper for two willful violations, one repeated violation, and three serious violations of workplace safety standards.

According to Federal inspectors, Borowski was not trained about the hazards of the job he was doing and he was not given "necessary fire-resistant clothing." They also found the fly ash system in the mill's power plant was deficient, poorly maintained, and had not been properly inspected. 

As a consequence, the Federal government has placed IP on a "Severe Violator Enforcement Program," which will means stepped-up inspections and oversight. According to a strongly-worded statement, the program is aimed at, “Recalcitrant employers who endanger workers." International Paper also faces roughly $211,000 in proposed fines.

International Paper spokeswoman Donna Wadsworth told the Albany Times-Union the company, "Worked with OSHA in facilitating their investigation." Wadsworth called Borowski's death "a devastating loss" and said, “IP is committed to safety in everything we do."