Adirondack Living — March/April 2024

A DIRONDACK

FEATURED

KIWASSA LAKE p. 18

SHORT FAMILY HIKES p. 8

Scott McKim

Photo: Aaron Marbone

Westport: Camp Wogo Lago, quaint 2 BR, 2 BA cottage on the shore of Lake Champlain, peaceful setting, spectacular views, many new upgrades, easy access to airports and I-87, being sold furnished. Enjoy Lake life! $712,500

Wilmington: Private 22 acre nature park & tourist attraction on the Ausable River, year-round profitable business, Adk style main lodge, gift shop, restaurant, cafe & bar seats for 46, event/ wedding venue, offered turn-key. $8,700,000

Westport: Amazing estate like setting on Lake Champlain, 3.83 acres with 235 feet of private beachfront, large open living spaces with 16’ sliding glass doors overlooking the lake in the living room and primary bedroom. $1,795,000

Saranac Lake: Charming lake house is nestled in a prime location adjacent to the Upper Saranac Lake Boat Launch & across from the prestigious Saranac Inn Golf Course, 2 BR, 2 BA, 1627 sq.ft., being sold furnished. $675,000

Wilmington: Commercial Opportunity on 6.9 acres, 11 room B&B, owner’s quarters, working pub/restaurant. Current owner has made many substantial improvements to the property, very close to Whiteface Mountain. $2,196,700

Lake Placid: Spacious 5 BR, 3.5 BA home located on a cul-de-sac in the Fawn Ridge neighborhood is being sold fully furnished with many recent upgrades, close proximity to outdoor recreation, dining, shopping & local events. $1,425,000

Lake Placid: Commercial/Residential Oppt’y on 74+ acres bordering NYS land. Established Inn with Owner’s quarters, sugar house, retail storefront, carriage house, garage, workshop, log cabin, sauna, barn, 3100’ of brook frontage. $3,200,000

Lake Placid: Located in Placid Meadows, 11.23 private acres, beautiful mountain views, 4 BR, 3.5 BA, open floor plan, finished walk-out lower level, heated in-ground saltwater pool, landscaped grounds with trails, borders NYS land, deeded access to Alford Pond. $1,150,000

Keene: 10 acres with an updated 3 BR, 2 Full BA,home, close to hiking trails, build your Dream Mountain Retreat and produce income with existing, spacious, well maintained, manufactured home. $299,999

THE NEXT GENERATION OF REAL ESTATETM

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REAL ESTATE | CLEANING PROPERTY MAINTENANCE | DESIGN/BUILD

Fish Creek Park, Saranac Lake

Tucked between Fish Creek Pond and Upper Saranac Lake, this 2 bedroom seasonal cabin offers the best of both worlds. Enjoy direct access to the water for fishing, boating, and swimming, as well as proximity to hiking trails, skiing, and all the recreational activities the region has to offer -- the boat is even included! Take advantage of this opportunity to make your Adirondack dreams come true. *Short term rentals are allowed up to 60 nights per year with inspection and permit. $345,000

Canaras Ave., Saranac Lake

Adorable 3 bedroom/1.5 bath village home packed with charm and close to everything! Beautiful hardwood floors and original detailing, all new kitchen appliances, a new furnace, incredible 3-season porches upstairs and down, and spectacular views of McKenzie on a double size lot with fantastic side and back yards. And thanks to charming built-ins and a full-size basement you won’t believe how much storage is tucked away in 1200 square feet! This home surely has it all - See for yourself! $250,000

Old Military Rd., Lake Placid

This nearly 25-acre parcel with subdivision potential on Lake Placid’s Old Military Road, which includes frontage on the Chubb River, has maximum appeal. Central to area schools, hospital and shopping, this large parcel in the Gateway Corridor could be developed into sizeable lots or allow a single owner significant privacy. $749,000

Tupper

Saranac

Potsdam

Plattsburgh

Massena

Massena

Ogdensburg

Saranac

Potsdam

TOP 5

Short Family Hikes in the Inlet Region

By SPENCER MORRISEY

Rocky Mountain

ACTIVITY: Hiking

DIFFICULTY: Moderate

DISTANCE: 0.6 miles, one way

DIRECTIONS: The trailhead is located just east of the Uncas Road and state Route 28 intersection in Inlet, along Route 28 at the same location as Black Bear Mountain.

Black Bear Mountain

ACTIVITY: Hiking

DIFFICULTY: Moderate

DISTANCE: 2.25 miles, one way

DIRECTIONS: The trailhead is located just east of the Uncas Road and state Route 28 intersection in Inlet, along

Route 28 at the same location as Rocky Mountain.

Ferds Bog

ACTIVITY: Hiking

DIFFICULTY: Easy

DISTANCE: 0.2 miles, one way

DIRECTIONS: From the intersection of state Route 28 and Uncas Road in Inlet, follow Uncas Road. Continue for just over 3.5 miles to the small trailhead on the left.

Cascade Mt. Waterfall

ACTIVITY: Hiking

DIFFICULTY: Easy to moderate

DISTANCE: 3.6 Miles, One Way

DIRECTIONS: From the intersection of state Route 28 and Big Moose Road in Eagle Bay follow Big Moose Road. Continue for around 1.25 miles to the Cascade Lake Trailhead on the right.

Snake Pond

ACTIVITY: Hiking

DIFFICULTY: Easy

DISTANCE: 0.5 mile, one way

DIRECTIONS: From the intersection of state Route 28 and Big Moose Road in Eagle Bay follow Big Moose Road. Continue for around 8 miles to Twitchell Road on the right. Follow Twitchell Road for 1 mile to the small trailhead on the left.

Sam, left, and Clyde Baker stand in front of Rice Furniture on Main Street in Saranac Lake. Sam is becoming the fourth generation in the Rice family lineage to run the business. (Staff photo — Aaron Marbone)

Rice Furniture Enters New Era

By Aaron Marbone

As Rice Furniture heads into its 77th year of furnishing homes in the Saranac Lake area with couches, flooring, window coverings and wall art, it is changing hands but staying in the Rice family lineage.

Clyde Baker — whose wife Sue’s grandfather, Carver Rice, started the business in 1946 — is preparing to hand it down to their son Sam, who will be the fourth generation of the family to run the business.

Clyde and Sam describe it as a “rebirth,” akin to a Phoenix rising from the ashes, like the store did after a fire destroyed the building on a freezing December night in 1958.

After Carver operated the business for two decades, his son Bob Rice took it over. After Bob’s death in the early 2000s, his daughters Barb and Sue took it over with Clyde running the business.

“Really, Bruce Shanty ran the business all the time,” Clyde and Sam said in a statement.

Eventually, Barb stepped aside to pursue a career in government, working as Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Assistant Secretary for Economic Development and now serves as the head of the Adirondack Park Agency.

Shanty has been with Rice Furniture for 44 years, starting in 1979. He’s now easing into retirement, working three days a week, but Clyde and Sam said “his work ethic cannot be overstated.”

Blanchard has been with Rice Furniture since 2007 and retired at the end of 2023 to spend more time with her grandkids. Clyde and Sam said her “warm spirit and eye for detail will be missed.”

Along with Sam, there are two new employees at the business

Daniel Bruce, who has been with the company for two years now, moved back to the area after spending 18 years in the New York City

art world. His local art gallery “Stepmother Nature” is set to open in Bloomingdale later this year.

Clyde’s sister, Colleen Olson, recently retired from the Saranac Lake Central School District and is working at the store part-time.

Sam moved from Albany in the fall, leaving a job with the state Liquor Authority to go into the family business.

“Miserable,” he said of the state office job. “When you’re just staring at a computer for eight hours a day, not even being able to get up really, it’s like ‘Alright, I need human interaction.’”

He likes being mobile and doing sales.

“It’s all customer service,” Clyde said of the furniture business. “That’s what we’re all about.”

Sam worked at the shop doing deliveries during summers in high school and college. He always had the option to come back, and it crossed his mind after graduating from law school, but he wanted to see what his options were first.

Sam has a background in sales, a master’s degree in law and a bachelor’s degree in film and media. He said becoming the fourth generation in his great-grandfather’s store “feels natural.”

Clyde, 60, said Sam is following a similar path as he did. Clyde was around 30, just like Sam is, when he came to the shop from working at the Adirondack Daily Enterprise and Lake Placid News.

Sam will slowly take over Clyde’s role over the next three to five years as Clyde slowly retires through a “much-needed exit strategy.”

“One thing that worries me about him being ‘done’ is that he’s not someone who has ever been able to sit down, relax and twiddle his thumbs,” Sam said. “So him being ‘done,’ I don’t know what that’s going to look like, because it might just look like him showing up here regardless.”

Historically the Riverside Inn, the Riverside Bar has been for generations a friendly gathering place that is enjoyed by both residents and area visitors. Now looking for a new owner/operator the tavern is currently open for business five evenings a week. It features a large wrap around bar, some small separate dining areas, and a kitchen for preparing the appetizing foods or specials always offered on the menu. The entire bar area was renovated in 2022 and affords an option of either indoor or outdoor seating in the summertime. There is ample off-street parking for customers and its entire upstairs is full of potential. Currently many of the one-time boarding rooms on the second story are used for weekly rentals with access to a washer and dryer area for use by its guests. Many of the original interior design finishes are still in place with second story plank floors, a tin type ceiling and wainscoting in the billiards room, window moldings and cast-iron radiators. With renovation and creativity there is the possibility of conversion of the upstairs to a hostel or transform the bonus space into owner housing.

Keeseville

Price: $199,000

~ Bath Just Remodeled ~ Main

Level Primary ~ Fireplace with Woodstove Insert Walkout Basement ~ Wrap Around Deck

Jay Price: $343,000 MLS# 178997

398.6 ACRES on TURNPIKE ROAD

398.6 Acres

Black Brook Price: $320,000 MLS# 201217

58 Acres Comprised of Two Contiguous Lots ~ 5

Acres with APA Approved Home Site ~ Electric Utility Available at the Roadside ~ Off Grid Camp with Mountain Views, Spring Water, Solar Panels and More ~ Extremely Quiet Surroundings

Jay Price: $269,900 MLS# 178565

MLS# 200768

AN ACRES INVITATION

2 Bed, 1 Bath ~ 694 Sq. Ft. ~ 0.9 Acres

Hardwood Cabinets ~ Woodstove and Electric

Baseboard Heat ~ Covered Screen Porch

Workshop with Additional Storage ~ Explore the Adirondacks from this Quiet Forested Setting

Jay Price: $245,000 MLS# 178414

LOT 6 MELLOW WAY

8.12 Surveyed Acres ~ APA approved for construction ~ Soils tests completed ~ Private road access ~ Extremely quiet surroundings Building envelopes are marked ~ Electric Utility in place ~ All you need are your new home plans

Wilmington Price: $165,000 MLS# 179112

PARADOX LAKE CHALET

Don’t

lake views. 2 bedrooms & a remodeled full bath

main floor. The primary bedroom is upstairs with a renovated bath & separate loft area. At ground level there is a spacious walk out family room w/ separate laundry room, storage, and utility closet. Excellent rental history. Fully Furnished

DREAMING OF A WINTER WONDERLAND?

Loans made easier. It may feel a bit overwhelming, especially for first-time homebuyers. But not to worry, we’ve done this before—many times. Our loan officers are committed to making the process as easy as possible. Remember, all loans are handled locally, by bankers who know the area.

When you’re ready to buy a home, the first thing you should be armed with is knowledge of your credit and financial history. Knowing this and ensuring any issues are rectified will allow you to be in the best position to get the home you want.

A prequalification certificate for a mortgage will let you know how much house you can afford. These days, many real estate professionals won’t show houses without one.

Creating a detailed budget of all income sources and livings expenses will also help you know how much house you can afford. You should factor in expenses beyond the mortgage: property and school taxes, home maintenance costs, homeowner’s insurance, and more.

Homebuying made easy.

Don’t forget to include any outstanding debts and your plan to pay them off.

Becoming acquainted with the different kinds of mortgages will help you explore your options. There are many options out there beyond the traditional— like our no closing cost mortgage* option. We can help you choose the most appropriate mortgage for your situation.

With Community Bank, you will have a lending specialist who takes the time to explain every step of the process and gets to know you. You’ll make decisions together that will impact your future. So choose us, an expert and partner you can trust.

APPLY FOR YOUR NEXT MORTGAGE ONLINE

Scan the QR code to get started or visit cbna.com/mortgage to explore our family of mortgage products, prequalify, and apply online today.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

• NOW OFFERING VA FINANCING

• First-time homebuyer programs

• No closing cost mortgages*

• Fixed-rate loans

• Mortgage refinancing

• Home equity loans and lines of credit

• New construction and renovation loans

• Flexible portfolio mortgage programs

NO CLOSING COST MORTGAGES

*

• A ordable housing programs

A home is one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make. So it’s nice to know that if you ever have a question or concern, you can walk into a local branch or pick up the phone and speak to your mortgage banker, one on one. We’re committed to giving you the dedicated service and attention you deserve, meaning your mortgage banker will be with you at every step of the process.

• Property investment loans

• Land loans

It pays to bank close to home. Your local mortgage

• Conventional and secondary market loans

• Double and single-wide mobile home loans

• Government and a ordable housing programs

• Insurance and other products

We can save you a great deal in upfront costs on your next home. Whether your household is expanding or you just want to upgrade your nest, the savings on closing costs can easily add up to thousands of dollars. You could use those funds for a larger down payment. For first-time homebuyers, that’s extra cash that can be used to make your new house really feel like home. You can also use the extra money to invest in a home improvement project that will help you sell your home for more down the road.

Alex Nenno, NMLS# 1804677

Mortgage Loan Consultant

alex.nenno@cbna.com

518-523-6500

2166 Saranac Ave

Lake Placid, NY 12946

Kylie Seaman, NMLS# 2372683

Assistant Mortgage Loan Consultant

kylie.seaman@cbna.com

518-523-6014

2166 Saranac Ave

Lake Placid, NY 12946

cbna.com/mortgageoptions Member FDIC

Kiwassa Lake

87

Carl “CJ” Hagmann

Associate Broker sayrentals1@gmail.com

CJSayRealEstate.com

This listing features a classic Adirondack cabin situated on a large lot located along the coveted shores of Kiwassa Lake. This is a fabulous private location just a few miles from the village center with over 300 feet of natural shoreline and sandy bottom. Equipped with a two-stall boathouse and a one-stall garage at the top of the drive, this is a well-maintained year-round home. With 4 bedrooms and 3 baths, including a steam room, this home is perfect for a full time resident or someone who has always wanted a comfortable home on the chain of lakes for the summer months. There are amazing lake and wildlife views from every window. The primary bedroom opens to a deck overlooking the expansive grounds and lakefront. A mudroom opens into a custom kitchen with granite countertops and high-end appliances. The main living area has a Great Room feel centered around an original stone fireplace and cathedral ceiling with exposed beams and clear views of the lakefront and beyond. Kiwassa Lake is one of the best swimming lakes in the area and is a highly desired area to own a home. With room to expand on the main building or utilize more of the land, the options are endless for this property. Other outbuildings include a wood / storage shed and garden shed. Operated successfully as a short-term rental for nearly the past decade, this property has great flexibility for the next owner no matter what their plans. This is a rare find on the chain of lakes.

Priced to sell at $1,750,000. MLS # 201298

Commercial Waterfront

The Prescott House ADK is a very well maintained, one-of-a-kind, historic building on a large 2.30-acre lot. 19 guest rooms, 4 with private baths, 15 with access to shared baths and two 2BR long-term units with their own baths and kitchens. With a stately, welcoming appeal it has a stellar, high-rated track record as a short-term rental destination. Also perfect for wedding parties, family reunions, hiking trips through the area and so many other opportunities. Huge potential for growth and expansion to larger events with the added advantage of being directly in the heart of Saranac Lake. Offered at $1,299,000 MLS # 179245

Carcuzzi Car Care Center

A full service auto service center with excellent financials, perfect location and loyal customer base. Turn key business, building and all equipment.

$1,290,000 MLS # 200802

Downhill Grill

Located in the center of it all on Main St., Saranac Lake with plenty of parking in two large village lots. Downhill Grill is a main stay for the locals and visitors alike with its festive atmosphere, full kitchen and bar! Offered complete with building, all furniture and equipment.

$999,900 MLS # 179061

66 Mill Pond is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to own the parcel with a one-in-amillion view of Whiteface Mtn. This classic country home has been meticulously cared for and cultivated within the same family for decades. The main house is comprised of three bedrooms with a loft and two full baths. It’s situated on a flat 4.3-acres with a large green lawn bordered by 500 feet of frontage along the Lake Clear Outlet. The waterfront is sandybottom and offers easy access for swimming for all ages. A wood-stove warms up the sitting room, along with an additional den and very solid dry basement for extra storage. The two-and-a-half-car heated garage offers a well-kept second-story apartment with beautiful hand-crafted hardwood coverings from floor to ceiling. Lake Clear Outlet connects to Lake Clear for miles of scenic paddling, wildlife, and fishing.

$1,590,000 MLS # 200911

Enjoy all 2.30 acres of quiet peaceful waterfront life with 200’ on Mill Pond with some of the best year round fishing, miles of paddling or XC skiing, and exploring. Close to Saranac Inn Golf course, the NYS boat launch on Upper Saranac, Paul Smiths college and the VIC.

$499,500 MLS # 200914

Completely remodeled 3 BR, 2 bath with frontage of Sumner Brook in Bloomingdale. $239,000 MLS # 201131

PEOPLE & PLACES

ABOVE: Officially, 92 cyclists put on their best bathing suits and paraphernalia to race on a 32-degree bluebird day at the Blue Buns Wheel-a-Palooza on Sunday, Feb. 4. But many more shirtless and nearly pantsless brave souls joined in unofficially.

BELOW: Fireworks explode at the Ice Palace on Saturday, Feb. 3 after a long, full day of events.

RIGHT: Daniel Miner puts “de tail” on a rabbit carved from a stump during the Paul Smith’s College Exhibition in Riverside Park on Saturday, Feb. 3.

SARANAC LAKE WINTER CARNIVAL

The theme for the 2024 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, held from Feb. 2 to 11, was “Creepy Carnival.” Events included parades, fireworks, woodsmen’s exhibitions and sporting competitions. As always, a crew of volunteers built an Ice Palace on the shore of Lake Flower, and a king and queen were crowned: Ricky Sullivan and Liz Murray. This annual 10-day celebration dates to 1897 and is designed to add a little cheer during a long, cold Adirondack winter. Staff photos — Aaron Marbone

LEFT: Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Queen Liz Murray adjusts King Ricky Sullivan’s crown during Coronation on Friday, Feb. 2.

ABOVE: Brandy Clark calls her shot at the Ladies’ Fry Pan Toss on Saturday, Feb. 3.

RIGHT: Royal Page Ethan Ott leans and sways as the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival pages dance at Coronation

Ready to sell? Trust the local experts at Merrill L. Thomas.

With over 80 years of experience serving the community, we know the Adirondacks like no one else. Our dedicated team offers personalized service and unmatched expertise to help you list and sell your property seamlessly. Don’t settle for anything less – list with Merrill L. Thomas and let us guide you through every step of the process. Contact us today to get started.

Inside Home Warranties

There’s a way to ease worries about a major systems breakdown

Conventional insurance policies have you covered if a new home purchase is damaged by mishaps like fire or you’re the victim of theft. Unfortunately, critical systems are not mentioned as part of these policies, leaving owners in a tough position if air conditioning, plumbing or appliances fail because of everyday wear and tear. That’s where a home warranty comes in handy.

HOW THEY WORK

A home warranty can be bought by a homeowner, or included with the purchase of a home as part of the closing agreement. Those who are buying an older home are often encouraged to protect themselves with a warranty, since systems may be approaching the end of their natural lifespan. Once an agreement is in place, companyhired technicians repair and/or replace covered items and systems as needed over the life of the warranty. Replacements will be new items of a similar quality and price. As with typical insurance policies, home warranties can be extended — usually on an annual basis.

EVALUATING PROVIDERS

If you’re contracting with a home warranty provider, it’s important to do your homework. Most offer information on their website, including things that are typically covered and their user agreement. Make sure there is clear language about coverage caps and exclusions, since that will dictate their responsibilities if something goes wrong in the home. There will typically be a range of warranty

plans which allow you to expand coverage. More comprehensive coverage may seem like the way to go, but there will also be more expense involved. Those who’ve purchased a new build may not need a top-level warranty.

WEIGHING THE COSTS

Home warranties can alleviate a lot of the worries associated with moving into an unfamiliar home — but they also add another level of financial responsibility to your

mortgage. In addition to the annual premium, you’ll also typically be required to pay service fees or deductibles for each service call. The home warranty technician will then determine whether the item can be repaired or should be replaced. Your signed agreement with the company will determine its maximum liability. Warranties usually expire after one year, at which time you can decide whether to extend this agreement, terminate it or choose a different provider.

©AdobeStock

Room FoR All YouR ToYs

Winds (and temperatures) of change

An insider’s look at the Whiteface Mountain weather field station

Whiteface Mountain is known for skiing, hiking and its unparalleled views of the High Peaks. What many people do not know is that it is also home to a state-of-the-art weather research station operated by the University at Albany.

“Whiteface, the field station, is kind of a well-kept secret in a lot of ways,” said Whiteface Mountain Field Station Science Manager Scott McKim. “As someone who lives here, it’s quite a remarkable facility for the relevant and significant science that’s going on in our backyard. Not only is it a sentinel of the larger climate change signal for the east, but we have this very modern, kind

of gold-standard Mesonet that we maintain in New York state that, hopefully, more people learn about and access the data.

The Mesonet, a network of weather monitoring sites operated by SUNY, was created in 2014 with a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Its main purpose is to detect severe weather early enough to provide adequate warning and preparation time for New Yorkers. All of the real-time information collected by the stations is available to the public on Mesonet’s website and app.

Its network of 126 stations was completed in 2018. About 40 of these stations are in the

The summit of Whiteface Mountain is home to sensitive equipment that collects data about the weather and air quality. In winter, snow can accumulate on the equipment, necessitating weekly trips to the summit b y trained professionals to service the equipment. (Provided photo — Scott McKim)

North Country, with sites in Tupper Lake, Gabriels and Wilmington. A new station — its first addition in five years — is currently under construction at Uihlein Farm in Lake Placid.

The Whiteface station is unique in that it has two points that collect data: the main field station on the shoulder of the mountain, which is around 2,000 feet; and the silo and observatory at the mountain’s summit, which has an elevation of 4,867 feet.

“One of the huge things, scientifically, is we can do a lot of environmental sampling at two different elevations,” McKim said. “Elevationally dependent data is huge because we can compare them from those two elevations.”

The station began collecting data more than 50 years ago to monitor air quality and acid rain, which began negatively affecting the Adirondacks in the mid-20th century. Lakes had become acidified, killing aquatic animals and disrupting the food chain. Acid rain also drains nutrients from soil, hindering forest growth.

“We have an over 50-year data record up there that tracks the whole acid rain problem all the way up to the current state, which is a huge success story,” McKim said. “Our air is so clean now that

our lakes are no longer acidified.”

The Whiteface station still undertakes acid rain monitoring but has now shifted toward monitoring how wildfires and smoke events affect air quality.

“Generally speaking, talking about air quality, things are much, much cleaner,” he said. “We live in an amazing part of the world where we have amazingly clean air. A lot of that can be traced back directly to kinds of clean air action like putting scrubbers on smokestacks that are based upwind from us — basically the Ohio River Valley in the Midwest.”

Charting weather trends “gets a little interesting,” McKim said.

“Across the board, things seem to be getting wetter. We’ve noticed increasing floods. So, both wintertime precipitation and non-freezing precipitation we’re seeing increases through all months and all seasons,” he said. “With that being said, we do spend a lot more time in the extremes, both temperature and precipitation-wise. What we’re finding is the climate has a propensity to be much drier, much wetter, much colder, much warmer for longer periods of time. We feel that in the North Country.”

The silo and the observatory at the summit of Whiteface provide crucial data to scientists about wea ther trends as they relate to elevation. (Provided photo — Scott McKim)

Four