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February 13, 2010
A Denton Publication
Free
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Author
On stage
LPHS names King and Queen of Winter Carnival.
Acclaimed author gives presentation at North Country School.
Pendragon Theatre celebrates 30 years of entertainment.
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Legislators debate halting state land purchases, cuts to environmental fund
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Winter Carnival rouses village
Environmentalists blast proposals By Jon Alexander denpubs@denpubs.com ALBANY — State legislators vowed this week to overturn Gov. David Paterson’s proposed reduction in the state Environmental Protection Fund, as nearly a dozen environmental advocates blasted the idea, while criticizing his associated proposal to freeze state land acquisitions for the next two years. Faced with a pending $7.5 billion budget shortfall in fiscal year 2010-2011, Paterson has proposed slashing the unexpended balance in the Environmental Protection Fund to $143 million — a $79 million reduction from last year — while not spending any money at all for state land acquisition. The cash is to be moved into the state’s general fund. Dozens of environmental advocates objecting to the proposals as they testified before a joint hearing of the state Senate and Assembly Environmental Conservation committees. Adirondack Council Legislative Director Scott Lorey told legislators that stripping the EPF of its funds is not only bad environmental policy, but could also devastate local economies. “There are many good reasons for protecting open space. One example is that local governments receive financial assistance from state tax payments on forest preserve lands,” Lorey said. Adirondack Mountain Club Executive Director Neil Woodworth said Paterson’s proposal to cut nearly 130 jobs between the state Department of Environmental Conservation, the Adirondack Park Agency and the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation will leave the state agencies unable to manage what they already own. The cuts, he said, represent a disproportionate burden on environmental programs. “Across 24 state agencies and offices in the state, a total of 630 full-time jobs are being cut,” Woodworth said. “Remember, over 130 are being cut from our environmental and park agencies.” Democratic legislators, including Long Island Assemblyman Steven Engelbright vowed to restore the EPF funding and salvage the environmental programs. He said state leaders needed to reassure citizens a “positive future” existed for them in New York State. “The last thing we need to do is have our parks become a big neon billboard that says New York is collapsing, run for your lives,” he said. State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Carol Ash told legislators that Paterson's proposed cuts would result in the closure of dozens of parks throughout the state. And although legislators said that they are hoping to restore at least some of the EPF funding, they were less resolute in their opposition to the land acquisition moratorium. According to DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis, the current EPF proposal would allow procuring state easements, but not outright fee acquisitions. Hamilton County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Farber and Adirondack Local Government Review Board Executive Director Fred Monroe also testified before the joint committee. Farber argued that in-park land acquisitions have been made hastily. “We need to make sure that we have done
See CUTS, page 4
Hundreds of onlookers gathered for the fireworks show that accompanied the Ice Palace lighting ceremony Feb. 6, one of many events that comprise the 2010 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival. The Carnival continues through this weekend with its annual Gala Parade and closing ceremonies. Photo by Matt Bosley
By Matt Bosley matt@denpubs.com SARANAC LAKE — The 113th Saranac Lake Winter Carnival got off to a rip-roarin’ start last weekend, and the festivities are far from over. Carnival chairman Jeff Dickson said in a Feb. 8 interview that, based upon attendance at last weekend’s activities, this year ’s Winter Carnival is “going very well thus far.” Hundreds packed the Harrietstown Town Hall the evening of Feb. 5 for the Winter Carnival coronation ceremony, the inaugural event for the 10-day festival. And even more were in attendance, it seemed, for the ceremonial lighting of the Winter Carnival Ice Palace Feb. 6. A crowd of at least 300 gathered along River Street and cheered loudly as, just in
years past, colored flood lights illuminated the old-west-fort-themed palace and fireworks exploded overhead in a lengthy, prismatic display. “It was a very large and enthusiastic crowd, and they seemed to really respond to the show,” said Dickson, “and people seemed to appreciate the tribute to our former chairman, Don Duso.” Duso, who passed away Jan. 10 at the age of 78, was named Grand Marshall of the 2010 Winter Carnival posthumously in honor of his decades of volunteer service organizing the annual event. He had chaired the Winter Carnival committee through 2009, his 23rd and final year. The lighting ceremony paid tribute to Duso with a stationary pyrotechnics display that put the words “Thank you Don” up in lights atop the Ice Palace along with the image of an American flag. Duso, a Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Chief with more than 50
years of service, was a Korean War veteran. “We understand that there will be at least one wedding in the Ice Palace this year,” Dickson added,” and that’s always fun when that happens.” Volunteers made an especially timely effort to construct this year ’s Ice Palace, parts of which had to be scrapped after unseasonably warm temperatures in late January caused areas of the partially-constructed structure to melt. “It’s clear that they did a wonderful job salvaging most of it,” said Dickson, noting how changing temperatures from the past few weeks are evident in the varied thickness of blocks that comprise the Ice Palace walls. “It’s just kind of an interesting contrast as you make your way up,” he said. “Obviously, it came out great.” Winter Carnival royalty arrived on the
See CARNIVAL, page 4
AMC opens new facility in Tupper Lake TUPPER LAKE — After eight months of construction, Adirondack Medical Center's Medical Office Building (MOB) in Tupper Lake is finally open to patients. While the final touches are being put in place, the Tupper Lake Health Center is being moved from its current location adjacent to the AMC-Mercy Skilled Nursing Facility to across the street in the newly built Medical Office Building. The Health Center held office hours for patients at its new location for the first time Feb. 8. “We are extremely proud to be able to offer residents in the Tupper Lake region this new facility to provide expanded health care services,” said Patrick Facteau, Chief Financial Officer for AMC and Tupper Lake resi-
dent. “Not only does the new health center offer increased space and privacy, we believe it will serve as a valuable recruitment tool for physicians and other health care providers.” As of Feb. 8, patients are being asked to register at the new MOB. While health center and laboratory services will be offered in the new facility, medical imaging will remain at the existing site until mid-March. Medical imaging will be moved to the new building upon the arrival of a new piece of imaging equipment. “We just ask that people remain patient as we bring this process down the home stretch,” said Mr. Facteau. “We are grateful to the community and the support they have
shown us throughout the duration of this project.” Parking for the new MOB is available at the new site, while other spot for parking are still available across the street at the AMCMercy location. Within two weeks, it is expected the old physicians building where private practices currently operate will be demolished to create additional parking spaces for the new MOB. Besides the Tupper Lake Health Center, Laboratory and Medical Imaging Services, the new MOB will house office space for private physician practices. To schedule an appointment or for more information, contact the Tupper Lake Health Center at 359-7000.