Venues will celebrate “John Brown Comes Home” this weekend.
Choir enters 44th year of holiday performances this Dec. 12 and 13.
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November 28, 2009
Douglas files suit against Ruder, Adirondack Council $2.1 million sought in collusion claim By Matt Bosley matt@denpubs.com BLACK BROOK — The owner of a lakefront campground on Silver Lake has filed a lawsuit against an environmental advocacy group and its top official, seeking $2.1 million in damages. LeRoy Douglas and the Douglas Corporation of Silver Lake filed a civil action lawsuit in Essex County Supreme Court Nov. 23, claiming the actions of the Adirondack Council, and specifically the organization’s board chairman, Brian Ruder, led to unnecessary Adirondack Park Agency enforcement against him and interfered with plans to sell some of his land. Douglas now seeks $2.1 million as relief for more than $100,000 in legal fees he’s incurred to have the enforcement matter settled and for money he’s missed out on by not selling eight lakefront parcels. In 2006, the APA issued Douglas a non-jurisdictional letter for his subdivision of seven lakefront lots, but began an enforcement file against him for allegedly widening a road on his property that passes through a wetland area. “I did everything I could in the world to appease the Adirondack Park Agency when this first started,” Douglas said. A hearing on the matter led to a settlement, but the agency decided to re-open enforcement in March 2007, claiming he failed to follow through with his promise to narrow the road. In late September, Douglas and his attorney, Matt Norfolk of the Lake Placid law firm Briggs & Norfolk, brought forth evidence they said points to illegal collusion between the Adirondack Council and the APA in regards to the case. Included among the documents was a letter from the Adirondack Council legislative director Scott Lorey to APA Enforcement Committee Chairman Cecil Wray. It specifically refers to Douglas as a developer “most in need of deterrence” and urges the APA to “carefully investigate his developments and take decisive action against all infractions of the APA Act and Freshwater Wetlands Act.” The letter is dated April 7, 2008, just days before the APA enforcement committee rejected Douglas’s application to have a prior APA enforcement proceeding against him thrown out. Norfolk also cited a series of e-mails to APA enforcement program supervisor Paul Van Cott that spoke specifically about Douglas’s enforcement matter and directed him to take specific action in order to find Douglas in violation. “I am prepared to support whatever you can do here with my own legal team to back you up and help with research and other tasks,” one of the e-mails states. “Please deal with this with all the force that the APA has in its arsenal.” The sender ’s identity in each of e-mails is blacked out with marker, but Norfolk says they came from
See DOUGLAS, page 10
Thrift store celebrates a year By Matt Bosley matt@denpubs.com ELIZABETHTOWN — The Etown Thrift Shop has now been operating for a full year, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. The store opened on the second floor of the Deer ’s Head Inn in November 2008, and has been helping to support the community ever since. It is jointly operated by volunteers from four local churches: The Elizabethtown United Church of Christ, Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church, and the Lewis Congregational Church. In its first year of business, the store was able to raise more than $3,500 for each of the four churches by selling donated items at discount prices. In addition, the store passed on more than $700 worth of clothing
Photo provided
See STORE, page 15
Unique climbing center to open soon “The Crux” hailed as state-of-the-art facility By Matt Bosley matt@denpubs.com
Staff at Pok-O-MacCready Outdoor Education Center try out the new Champlain Valley Climbing Center. Nicknamed “The Crux,” the state-of-the-art climbing facility will open to the public on Dec. 5.
Village Meat Market FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED FOR 25 YEARS
(R to L) Volunteers Kathy Gregoire, Kathy Linker, Sharon Martin, and Janis Rock show off some of the holiday-themed items for sale at the E-town Thrift Shop. The store, which benefits four local churches, celebrated its first year in service this month.
Nov. 26th - Dec. 2nd
Center Cut Bone-in Pork Roast..........................$1.89/lb. Boneless Rib Eye Steaks....................................$7.59/lb. Center Cut Pork Chops......................................$1.99/lb. Homemade Breakfast Sausage...........................$1.99/lb. Margherita Stix Pepperoni (Whole-$4.99).........Sliced $5.99/lb.
From Our Deli
WILLSBORO — Rock climbing enthusiasts and neophytes alike now have a local, indoor site where they can reach for new heights. The new Champlain Valley Climbing Center will have its grand opening Dec. 5 at Pok-OMacCready Outdoor Education Center in Willsboro, and staff there are already looking forward to showing off this unique facility. “The Adirondacks are a premier rock climbing destination and we are excited to bring this new venue for climbing to the area,” said Pok-O-MacCready spokesman Stites McDaniel. Nicknamed “The Crux,” the new climbing center will provide residents of New York, Vermont, and the surrounding area an opportunity to experience rock climbing year-round at an easily accessible location. The building, constructed with a sturdy steel frame, is entirely enclosed. It features seven sepa-
rate climbable walls with varying levels of difficulty and an additional wall for rappelling. There has already been a lot of interest shown for the new center. McDaniel said he’s had nearly 100 people from Plattsburgh all the way to Glens Falls say they intend to come try it out. “I think when people first start climbing there, it’s going to speak for itself and people will keep coming back,” said McDaniel. Many of the walls have built-in stereo speakers for a euphonious climbing experience. Windows and a skylight not only provide excellent lighting, but also help heat the building with a passive solar design. “It is a green building,” said McDaniel, “and that’s something we’re very proud of.” During warmer weather, the Crux aims to act as a launching point for outdoor rock and ice climbing adventures. The Crux will be managed by Reber native Mark Scott, who has become an experienced climber certified in training others as
See CRUX, page 12
From Our Bakery
In Store Made Meatloaf.....................$3.99/lb. Garlic Ciabatta.....................................$2.99/Loaf Swiss Cheese....................................$3.99/lb.
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Whole Bone-in Pork Loins (Avg. wgt. 22#) 2 lb. Bags of Baby Peeled Carrots...........$2.99 Cut & wrapped...................................$1.69/lb. Local Butternut & Acorn Squash...........59¢/lb. Loose Russett Potatoes........................49¢/lb. Ruby Red Grapefruit..........................89¢/each
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