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Saturday,ÊO ctoberÊ10,Ê2015
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www.SunCommunityNews.com
In SPORTS | pg. 8
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Playoff push
In OPINION | pg. 4
Small govt. big problems
Local teams look to improve seeding
Unfunded mandates hurt municipalities
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In SCHOOLS | pg. 3
JCS students honored
Scholarship assembly highlights achievements
Gore Mountain/North Creek Harvest Fests returns By Ryan Edwards
ryan@suncommunitynews.com
NORTH CREEK — Columbus Day Weekend means one thing in North Creek: the annual Harvest Festivals at Gore Mountain and all around the hamlet itself. Every year Gore Mountain hosts a season-ending celebration before they close to the public to prep for the upcoming winter season, accompanied by similar celebrations at a number of area businesses. This free event features live entertainment all weekend, a hearty fall food and drink menu, Adirondack vendors, helicopter rides, an array of children’s activities, scenic gondola skyrides and much more. Reservations are encouraged for 5-10 minute helicopter tours. Make yours by calling 3611380. Other available activities include a climbing wall and bungee trampoline, disc golf and miniature golf, a magic show, a petting zoo and pony rides, giant slides, bounce houses and an obstacle course and downhill mountain biking. Also in the hamlet of North Creek, the weekend will offer special fall menu items at area restaurants, crafts and sidewalk sales from area artisans and crafters, a number of special activities at area businesses, and a new and used ski and snowboard equipment sale at the Ski Bowl from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. >> Story Continued | pg. 2
DEC rep addresses Moose Festival By Bill Quinlivan
feedback@suncommunitynews.com
INDIAN LAKE — It was before noon on the Saturday morning of the recent Moose Festival held in Indian Lake. Already, a crowd of what eventually topped 80 audience members began to assemble in the Indian Lake Theater. The audience was coming together to hear New York State Department of Conservation’s Wildlife Biologist, Ben Tabor, address the current state of moose in the Adirondack Park. The presentation was entitled, “Status of a Recolonizing Moose Population in the Adirondack Park.” Ben was also supported by another of the researchers, Dr. Paul Schuette, who was in the audience. Dr. Schuette is from SUNY ESF, which is partnering with NYDEC to undertake this important research. Before getting into Adirondack Park specific moose information, Ben Tabor, provided an overview of the moose population with regard to geography, pointing out that New York State is really on the southern edge of the moose population tier. In fact, moose populations in other eastern states, most notably Maine and New Hampshire, are far larger than that currently found in New York State. Of course, most know that the summer diet of moose relies heavily on “salad” pulled from bottoms of ponds, but Ben also pointed out the fact that Moose like to feed on newer growth
found in understories beneath more mature tree stands. Ben explained that moose have a diet that relies on young deciduous trees such as sugar maples and birch and in winter add bark from red maple trees. They especially need the thin green layer between the bark and the wood of the tree. This layer is extremely high in its concentration of nutrients. Moose, according to research, rely on thick conifer forests for thermal protection from the cold of winter and the heat of summer. This fact makes siting for the purpose of estimating population density challenging. Much of the current research has thus far relied heavily on observations and “wrangling” undertaken with the use of helicopters. Moose are not only counted, but are safely “wrangled” by a special team from New Mexico using net guns (no drugs). Once wrangled, the moose are collared and blood samples and other observations such as tick counts are taken before the moose is set free. The data so far are pretty promising for New York State. It is roughly estimated that the moose population in the State resides somewhere between 500 and 1,000 animals. In the Adirondacks, the best estimate is that there is 0.1 moose for every square kilometer. Given the observation data thus far, moose seem to favor conservation easement areas in the Adirondack Park and private lands within the park. >> Story Continued | pg. 3
Lawmakers okay bed tax expansion
Tax to go into effect on Jan. 1 By Pete DeMola
pete@suncommunitynews.com
ELIZABETHTOWN — Essex County lawmakers approved an expansion of the bed tax to vacation rental units Monday. The law, which will go into effect on Jan. 1, is estimated to bring in $250,000 in revenue the first year. Lawmakers signed off 17-1, with Supervisor Shaun GIllilland voting against the measure. “A tax is a tax is a tax,” said Gillilland. The law wasn’t well thought-out, he said. The lawmaker said he was concerned about the county’s ability to enforce the law, which will he said will create a potential new administrative burden. Should homeowners fail to register their units, they may fall into a bureaucratic thicket. “Like the SAFE Act, all of a sudden we’re turning law abiding citizens into criminals,” said Gillilland. County officials have said they do not anticipate enforce>> Story Continued | pg. 7