RIP: Norma Stowell

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Schroon Laker Norma D. Stowell, a huge part of the community -- for here tireless efforts working at the school to the fire department --  passed away quietly on February. 21, 2017.

Her friends and family are invited to attend a celebration of her life at the Schroon Lake Fire Department in Schroon Lake from 2 pm to 4 pm on April 22, 2017.

From Norma’s official obit:

Born in Ticonderoga on Aug. 20, 1935, she was the daughter of the late Richard and Leonore Johndrow (Witzemann) of Schroon Lake, where Norma resided for most of her life, and was well loved in the community. She was a mom to many during her lengthy employment at Schroon Lake Central School and enjoyed a close relationship with many of the students and teachers there. In her later years, she was an employee of the Schroon Lake Volunteer Fire Department and was proud to contribute to the efforts of the fine men and women who served the emergency needs of their fellow citizens. She was a lifelong member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Schroon Lake and a believer in acts of kindness towards others. She was a talented musician and a lover of all God’s creatures. She possessed a sharp-witted sense of humor and always appreciated a good laugh.

Mrs. Stowell was predeceased by her husband, Stanley B. Stowell and her daughter Joan J Broughton. She is survived by her two daughters, Deborah L. (Gary) Wallace of Chestertown, and Judith A. (Michael) DeZalia of Voorheesville; 5 grandchildren, Travis (Jess) Wallace, Jaime (Chris) Tierney, Joshua Wallace, Amanda (Jamison) DeZalia Burks, and Kelsey DeZalia; 4 step children, Michael R. Stowell, Andrew (Tracey) Stowell, Marie (Mark) Noeth, and Benjamin Stowell; five step grandchildren, Elizabeth Stowell, Sayre and Tanner Stowell, and Ethan and Evan Staats; and two great grandchildren, Zoe & Cameron Wallace. Norma was also looking forward to the arrival of her newest great grandson, Oliver, expected this May.

No calling hours were arranged as Norma’s decision to make a selfless gift for the benefit of others to Albany Medical Center Hospital. Friends and family are invited to attend a celebration of her life at the Schroon Lake Fire Department in Schroon Lake from 2 pm  to 4 pm, on April 22.

Memorials may be made in Norma’s name to the North Country SPCA, PO Box 55, Elizabethtown, NY 12932 or the Schroon Lake Emergency Squad, 28 Industrial Drive, Schroon Lake, NY 12870. To express online condolences please visit www.edwardlkellyfuneralhome.com.

 

RIP: Louise Marie D’Amico

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Family Photo

Family Photo

Louise Marie (Deldin) D’Amico, 97, a well known Schroon Laker, passed away on March 5, 2017 at the Pines of Glens Falls.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 am (tomorrow)  Saturday, March 11, 2017, at Sacred Heart Church on Mohican Street in Lake George. More from her official obit:

"Louise was born on January. 7, 1920 in New York City and was the daughter of the late John and Adele (Bevalaqua) Deldin.

Louise had many careers in her life, but the one she was most proud of was her service during World War II, working in a war plant as a true “Rosie the Riveter.”

She was an excellent seamstress who made customized lamp shades. Louise was actively involved as a volunteer in various activities at Sacred Heart Church in Lake George and enjoyed delivering Meals on Wheels for a number of years. She was a life-long animal lover and loved bowling, which she did until she was 90. She joined the Schroon Lake Senior Citizens Club after moving there in her later years and made many friends.

Besides her parents, Louise was predeceased by her husband, Samuel D’Amico.

Survivors include her son, Dennis (Diane) D’Amico of Schroon Lake; her grandson, DJ (Jennie) D’Amico and great grandson, Nicholas D’Amico of Hebron, Connecticut; granddaughter, Dara D’Amico (Bill Hunsicker) of Schroon Lake and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 11, at Sacred Heart Church on Mohican Street in Lake George. Spring burial will take place at Evergreen Cemetery in Lake George.

Calling hours are scheduled from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 11, at Sacred Heart Church prior to the service. The family would like to sincerely thank the staff on the fourth floor of the Pines in Glens Falls for the love and care they gave Louise during the past year.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Louise’s memory to the Schroon Lake Emergency Squad, 28 Industrial Dr., Schroon Lake, NY 12870. For those who wish, a special remembrance may be made to the family by visiting sbfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Regan Denny Stafford Funeral Home, 53 Quaker Road in Queensbury".

 

A Bear In Schroon and Some Big Surprises

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Barnaby SHORTLY AFTER the RESCUE. PHOTO COURTESY ADIRONDACK WILDLIFE REFUGE.

Barnaby SHORTLY AFTER the RESCUE. PHOTO COURTESY ADIRONDACK WILDLIFE REFUGE.

Last September, a mangy looking bear was spotted scavenging for food in the backyard of a Schroon Lake homeowner.

The Adirondack Wildlife Refuge, in Wilmington, got a call reporting the bear appeared sick and was holed up in a shed. That’s when Wendy Hall, from the refuge swooped in for the rescue.

The bear was given the name Barnaby, and when he arrived at the refuge, was starving and riddled with internal and external parasites. He weighed just 35 lbs. Barnaby quickly gained a cult following through the Adirondack Wildlife Refuge's Facebook Page and his friends and followers began a flow of donations, from barrels of acorns and apples, to honey and protein rich nutritional fluids. What happens next will make you smile!

More from Rose Gomez from TV station WCAX:

"The bear was so sick, and it weighed so little. Its weight should have been somewhere around a hundred and it weighed 35 to 40 pounds. It was starving to death. We easily got it into a "have-a-heart" trap that was actually a coyote "have-a-heart" trap," the refuge's Wendy Hall told WCAX.

“They brought the bear back to the rehabilitation center and began sharing the story of the bear's recovery on Facebook, and even named him Barnaby. Hundreds of people donated food and supplies for the bear's recovery. "We set up a concoction for him that we fed to him every day to help get rid of that, and now he's just very full of fur and healthy," said the refuge's Alex Hall.

In a few short months, Barnaby gained around 100 pounds and began hibernating this winter. That's when the staff realized Barnaby was actually ‘a she’

"We were so concerned about just getting him to eat and getting worms out of him and just trying to keep him alive, we didn't really take an opportunity to examine him all that closely, and he's a wild bear. He was not really all that interested in being examined," said Mark Laske, a Wildlife Rehabilitator.

Barnaby--now called Barnabee--gave birth to two cubs inside the enclosure's den, and officials say if the bear hadn't gained all that weight, it's likely the cubs would have never been born. They say most bears mate in June, but have cubs in January.

Barnaby turned out to be Barnabee, SHE IS PICTURED HERE ON MARCH 3, with her cubs beneath her. REFUSE STAFF ESTIMATE she went from 35 lbs LAST September to about 125 lbs now. PHOTO COURTESY ADIRONDACK WILDLIFE REFUGE.

Barnaby turned out to be Barnabee, SHE IS PICTURED HERE ON MARCH 3, with her cubs beneath her. REFUSE STAFF ESTIMATE she went from 35 lbs LAST September to about 125 lbs now. PHOTO COURTESY ADIRONDACK WILDLIFE REFUGE.

 "The eggs are fertilized, but fetal development actually doesn't start until about five months later, so if at November time, if that fat content's not high enough, no cubs will happen, so this doesn't happen. Experts in the field have actually told us this is unprecedented -- It's pretty unique," said Chris Mattern, a bear specialist”.

Though the bear's story has been shared online through videos and photos, they are not allowing any visitors to see her in person. They are planning on releasing her and her cubs back into the wild in just a few months, but they will be bringing in some new cubs that they say eventually will be open for the public to see".

Were you the homeowner  -- or do you know who it was -- who saved Barnaby/Barnabee's life? Let us know in comments. Got your own Bear story? Share with us know in comments.