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August 29, 2009
A Denton Publication
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Rustic fair
Adirondack Jazz
Broadband
Adirondack furniture makers to gather at the Adirondack Museum.
A 19-member band madeup of local talent will begin performing.
Local officials meet to discuss the importance of broadband here.
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Village will apply for grant to fund new Mt. Pisgah ski lift
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Farmer seeks legal fees from APA Over $200,000 sought after agency admits first major defeat in court By Matt Bosley matt@denpubs.com
By Chris Morris denpubs@denpubs.com SARANAC LAKE — The Saranac Lake Village Board of Trustees gave its full support to an effort to acquire state funding for a new ski lift at Mt. Pisgah during this week's regular meeting. Friends of Mt. Pisgah have already undertaken serious fundraising efforts to raise money for a new lift. But Community Development Director Jeremy Evans says there is also money available through the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. “The grant is for $600,000 and has a 50 percent matching requirement,” he said. “However, because the village falls below certain economic requirements, we could receive up to 75 percent of the grant.” Evans noted that the remaining funds could be represented by in-kind services. “The resolution in front of you is to apply for the full $600,000 – which is obviously more than the lift is,” he said. “We’ve been working on putting together a budget, but we do know we want to apply for the maximum amount. We also request from the board that DPW offer up to $50,000 worth of in-kind services.” Those services could include digging, setting forms for concrete and electrical work. “Anything that’s not too onerous,” Evans said. Mt. Pisgah Manager Matt Cook recently traveled to Saratoga Springs to meet with Kathy Jetson, grant administrator for the Parks Office. Cook asked her what the village’s chances were for applying for a grant to purchase a surface lift. “She told me that if we want anything from the state, we must diversify our clientele,” Cook said. “So we went into the some of the things we could include at Mt. Pisgah.” “Specifically mountain biking, a running trail, a walking trail, snow shoeing, cross-country skiing, as well as – and she was really keen on this – a trail for the elderly and the disabled,” he said. “She said, if you want us to approve this grant, you need to go big and diversify for your clientele. And it’s really exciting for me, because when I took the job with the village, one of the first things I thought of was turning this facility into more than it is.” Cook noted that the infrastructure exists and that currently the village only uses about one-third of the land that it owns at the ski center. “And for most of the year, the entire facility is left unused,” he added. Trustees voted unanimously to allow Evans to proceed with the application, which would be submitted in the coming months. The village would find out if it’s been approved sometime next spring. Cook said that he spoke with Friends of Mt. Pisgah and has its support as well. Village Manager Marty Murphy noted that by simply opening up the grant to include a multi-use, year-round option, the village’s application immediately becomes more competitive. And for his part, Mayor Tom Michael says the proposal fits with the village’s goal of expanding facilities at the mountain. “It’s further continuing our efforts to expand the uses of Mt. Pisgah,” he said. “It’s a great asset to our community, but using it seasonally just to ski, we don’t use it to its fullest potential. This grant will also help us develop hiking trails and mountain bike trails which make the place a year-round facility.” Cook also noted that efforts to install a new control system for the lift that would function this winter are moving along.
LAKE PLACID — The state has declined any further appeals in its legal battle with Lewis Family Farm, but the case is not over. Until this At an Aug. 20 press conference in Lake case, the APA Placid, Salim B. “Sandy” had an aura of inLewis announced his decision to seek $208,000 vincibility. from the APA to pay for — Salim B. his legal fees in a dispute that twice rejected an “Sandy” Lewis agency claim to jurisdiction over three houses on his 1,200-acre organic farm in Essex. When asked why he chose to do so, Lewis simply replied, “It’s just.” John Privitera, counsel for Lewis Family Farm, Inc., said New York's Equal Access to Justice statute provides a remedy for parties subjected to unwarranted lawsuits from the state.
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Salim B. “Sandy” Lewis speaks to reporters about what he believes to be over-regulation and mismanagement at the Adirondack Park Agency. Lewis announced his intention to seek over $208,000 from the APA to defray legal fees he incurred from challenging and defeating the agency in court. Photo by Matt Bosley
See LEWIS, page 8
Ironman benefits local nonprofits By Matt Bosley matt@denpubs.com SARANAC LAKE — Thanks to the Lake Placid Ironman triathlon and the Adirondack Community Trust, a few lucky nonprofits are getting a helping hand. High Peaks Hospice & Palliative Care, Families First of Essex County, and the Town of Jay were all among the dozens of recipients of grants from the North America Sports Community Fund at Adirondack Community Trust. Also known as the Ironman Community Fund, the collection of donations goes to help the many nonprofit organizations who support Ironman events, with a heavy emphasis on providing sports opportunities for children. The fund has given away more than $1 million over the past seven years to nonprofit groups in the various communities throughout the U.S. and Canada that host Ironman events. In partnership with North America Sports, Inc., ACT manages the fund as it pertains to the Lake Placid region, which has hosted the Ironman event for the past nine years. Darsie Townsend of High Peaks Hospice & Palliative Care said High Peaks Hospice was pleased to be awarded a $750 grant from the fund, which she said will be used for direct patient care. “High Peaks Hospice & Palliative Care receives no regular funds from either the state or federal governments,” said Townsend. “Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance providers reimburse approximately 85% of actual costs and Medicare is threatening a 6.6% decrease in funding as of October 2009.” Townsend said the hospice turns no
JoAnne Caswell, executive director of Families First of Essex County is presented with a $750 check from Bob Janowski, who served as a dive team captain at the 2009 Lake Placid Ironman triathlon. Each captain was allowed to choose a charity that would receive a donation from the North America Sports Community Fund. Families First will use the money to help provide a week-long summer day camp for youth with emotional or behavioral challenges. one away, regardless of their ability to pay. As a result, they rely on generosity such as that displayed by the Ironman fund. In Elizabethtown, Families First of Essex County received a similar grant. Executive director JoAnne Caswell said the money will be used to fund a week-long day camp for children with emotional or behavioral challenges. The town of Jay received $5,000 from the North America Sports Community Fund, which will be used to offset the cost of new soccer fields in Au Sable Forks’ Grove Park, said town supervisor Randy Douglas. “Due to the growth of participants in
our youth soccer program, we currently do not have the facilities to accomodate their needs,” he said. “The grant from the Adirondack Community Trust will give us additional resources to offset the cost of obtaining items such as top soil, grass seed, bleachers, a scoreboard, and other necessities.” The North America Sports Community Fund is supplied by donations, which are tax deductible through the Adirondack Community Trust. For more information on how to contribute to the fund, contact Andrea Grout at the ACT office at Andrea@GenerousACT.org or 523-9904.