Schroon Laker Update

G’day All:

It’s been about a week since we last updated Schroon Laker. On that sunny Wednesday last week the world was rapidly changing and continues to do so at warp speed. Our memories of that day include watching Schroon Lake’s kite skater sluicing on the ice, the walkers  -- with and without dogs --  joggers and runners, hoofing  up and down Route 9 and the noise from construction crews at Pitkins and the new 9 Mile Coffee Building.

(Pitkins is getting a total make-over and 9 Mile Coffee was getting ready for a soft opening, now planned sometime in the future.)

That day we ran into Joel Friedman ad Tony Kostecki, both optimistic about the future.

Up the road in North Hudson, Paradox Brewery Founder Paul Mrocka was overseeing canning of what they had in their finishing tanks. Production is on hold for a couple of weeks.

Two nights before we were with folks enjoying a glass at Sticks and Stones, the last night Steve and Gary had a full service.

Our last stop was at the Dollar General, where a large semi was being unloaded for much needed supplies, including, we were told, toilet paper.

Our family is hunkered down in Montclair, New Jersey, with everyone safe. I’m working remotely as the Senior Broadcast Producer for CBS News 48 Hours, helping our staff get the show on the air each week from our remote offices and edit suites: that would be our living, dining and bedrooms, kitchen tables and whatever space is available. Our two sons are occupied and our daughter, a senior at Syracuse, is finishing her year via online and video classes. Like millions of young men and women, there will be no traditional graduation coming up in May.  

So I’m now back on the Schroon Lake grid, and will continue to report on happenings around town. We pray that everyone in greater Schroon is safe and well, and like you we can’t wait to get back to what life was like before COVID-19 became part of our vocabulary.

And if there’s are sure signs that summer is around the corner, it’s that email from Craig at the Schroon Lake Marina asking when we’d like our boat back in the water…and that shelf full of sun screen at the DG.

If you’ve got news to share, drop us an email at schroonlaker@me.com or leave us a note in comments.

Could Schroon Be The Christmas Capital Of The North Country?

UPDATED WITH TONIGHT’S TIMES

The Community Church’s bell choir and SLCS’s jazz band and chorus will perform at the school at 7:00.The spirit of Christmas  -- including a week’s worth of celebrations  -- is alive in Schroon Lake

Under the guidance of the Schroon Lake Chamber of Commerce Director Sue Palisano, her deputy Nicole Howe and the dedicated volunteers of Schroon’s Old Tyme Christmas Planning Committee, this year’s extravaganza is the best ever. (And we’ve seen a few of ‘em).

First off, a plug for tonight’s festivities: there’s the Community Church’s Bell Choir, and Schroon Lake Central School’s Jazz Concert and 6th Grade Concert at the Schroon Lake Central School.

This is the second year of the celebration under the direction of Sue.

“Last year gave me a good sense of what we needed to do this year. Nicole had conceived the Polar Plunge a few years ago. So we thought, you know, what else can we do continue to make this a celebration that wasn't even just one day, but, you know, but multiple days,” Sue told Schroon Laker today.

The committee started planning in earnest before Thanksgiving and started soliciting donations for baskets and looking for involvement from the greater community.

What’s new this year?

“Folks are going to do things that they did last year and we have a lot of, of new things this year. For example, the Friends of the Library, are doing a special holiday bookstore. We've added a holiday lights parade. We're starting really small on that to test the waters. But we've got our fire department and EMS and trucks from Pottersville and North Hudson. Some individuals are doing quads and trucks.

“The Holiday Light Parade starts at the School at 5.30 pm and runs down Main Street to Dock and up to The Strand Theatre, where Santa's being dropped off for his visit with the kids. Also new this year is an Ornament Hunt, which kicks off at 2pm. There’s 140 hidden around town. We still have all of our favorites, the horse and wagon ride and caroling and the tree lighting arts and crafts for kids at the library and at the town store and music all around town.

“We very much miss The Community Church not being here, but they are actually doing a bake sale at the Seagle Music Colony office”

And what gets Sue excited?

“The basket raffle and we're doing our festival of trees again this year. That was a big hit last year. Everybody's just totally outdone themselves this year. The trees are absolutely beautiful and we have over 50 baskets and gift certificates for the raffle, which has just been awesome.”

This year’s trees are sponsored by Glens Falls National Bank, Dollar General, The Upstate Insurance Agency, Peak Properties and the Seagle Music Colony.

So come on out. Go for a plunge. Listen to some good music and high five the fat guy in the red suit.

What’s your favorite part of the celebration? Tell us in comments.

Congratulations John Welch: Citizen of the Year 2019

John Welch (center) Groomer of The Year at the 2019 NYSSA Conference and Educational Forum

The Schroon Lake Area Chamber of Commerce has bestowed this honor John Welch, a much-valued member of the community.

Among his many achievements, John is probably best known for his tireless efforts at the Schroon North Hudson Snowmobile Club.

During the sled season John is at work while most of us are sleeping keeping our area trails in tip top shape. Off season he leads efforts to keep the trails clear along with a dedicated group of volunteers

Recently John  was named Groomer of The Year at the 2019 NYSSA Conference and Educational Forum in Niagara, New York

And many locals and out-of-towners can attest that John’s day job, as the “J” at J and L Automotive, has saved their bacon by diagnosing car and truck troubles — and getting them them back on the road.

The Chamber is planning a reception to honor John, details to come.

Boreas Ponds Tract Sold To New York State

New York state has purchased the Boreas Ponds tract bordering the Adirondack High Peaks near North Hudson for $14.5 million, completing a 69,000-acre land acquisition begun in 2012, The Nature Conservancy announced Thursday.

Mary Esch, from the Associated Press reports the 20,758-acre tract, with its trio of connected ponds reflecting the state’s highest mountains, is now protected as Forever Wild under the state constitution. It features 50 miles of rivers and streams, a variety of forests and a network of logging roads.

The council is part of the coalition seeking to have the tract classified as wilderness, which excludes mechanical access including bicycles.

North Hudson Town Supervisor Ronald Moore is a member of a coalition of local leaders seeking easier access into the tract to accommodate a wider range of users than just the most physically fit.

“There’s a wide infrastructure of logging roads that could sustain multiple uses including horseback riding and bicycling,” Moore said.

The DEC will propose a classification plan that will be subject to public hearings and comment before being sent to the governor for approval.

It’s part of the conservancy’s 2007 purchase of 161,000 acres of former Finch timber company land to protect it from development. Gov. Andrew Cuomo pledged to buy 65,000 acres of the most ecologically significant tracts of that land along with 4,000 acres of other conservancy land in 2012. The rest is protected by conservation easements that allow sustainable forestry and continuation of leases with hunting clubs.

“This project is a model of how to keep large landscapes conserved and connected, to sustain both wildlife and people for future generations,” said Frances Beinecke, former president of the Natural Resources Defense Council and trustee of The Nature Conservancy’s Adirondack chapter.

A state Department of Environmental Conservation spokesman confirmed the purchase, adding, “Additional details will be announced in the coming weeks.” The agency didn’t say when the land will be open to the public.

The deed was filed on April 5 with the Essex County clerk.

Environmental groups have been campaigning for the tract to be added to the 203,000-acre High Peaks Wilderness to create a motor-free preserve larger than Rocky Mountain National Park. Local officials advocate a less restrictive “wild forest” classification for part of the parcel, allowing people to drive on the 7½-mile logging road that leads to the ponds.

“Organizations from around the country have been waiting to applaud this Adirondack purchase since 1988 when we first called for it to become Forest Preserve,” said William Janeway, executive director of the Adirondack Council.