Adirondack Almanack

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2009-11-08T12:00:00.000-05:00

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4th Annual Carnivorous Nights Taxidermy Contest

2009-11-08T06:00:00.001-05:00

It's time to haul that albino jack-a-lope out of the attic; time to dust off that high quality deer butt door bell, or other animal rump art, and head down to the big city to show 'em how its done. Yes - it's strange taxidermy time and "Science Geeks, Nature Freaks, and Rogue Geniuses" will be gathering Sunday, November 15th at the 4th Annual Carnivorous Nights Taxidermy Contest at the Bell House

Sea Serpents in the Adirondacks? You Bet!

2009-11-07T12:09:00.018-05:00

Scandinavian folklore has described eskers as being formed by large sea serpents crawling inland to die. Celtic lore describes eskers as being formed by monks carrying baskets of sand inland from the sea as a form of penitence. What are eskers?They’re glacial features that kind of look like an up side-down riverbed. As a glacier retreats, it leaves behind outwash deposits of sand, gravel, and

In Newcomb: Identifying Roadside Roses

2009-11-07T06:00:00.005-05:00

Perhaps November is really not the time of year to try to identify roadside roses. Sure, the hips are lovely, and they certainly look as though they should be distinctive. Lots of trees are easily identified by their fruits alone, so why not roses? How difficult could it be?I confess right up front that while I appreciate roses as much as the next person, I am not a rose aficionado, one of

Weekly Adirondack Web Highlights

2009-11-06T15:00:00.004-05:00

Daily Politics: Owens Unruffled on Election Day NC Gardener: Garden Chores For Nov. NYBowhunter: Huge Adirondack Ten-Pointer Winter Campers: Pack Out Your Poo SKI Magazine: Ski-Less Skis? NY Outdoors Blog: Saving the Hemlocks NCPR's In Box: 9 Truths About Scozzafava Adk Research Consortium: The Great Experiment Other McCain: Conservative on Adk Halloween Each Friday Adirondack Almanack compiles

Lake Groups: Dead Zone Should be Lake George Wake-Up Call

2009-11-06T11:56:00.012-05:00

A dead zone that re-appeared in Lake George’s south basin for the 23rd consecutive year this past summer is proof, if proof were required, of the need for greener land use practices, lake protection organizations argue.The zone is an area depleted of oxygen and devoid of life that extends from Lake George Village to Tea Island, said Peter Bauer, the executive director of The Fund for Lake

This Week's Top Adirondack News Stories

2009-11-06T06:00:00.002-05:00

Dems, Women, Win In Essex County 1845 Wesleyan Methodist Church Left To Rot Crown Point Bridge Whistle Blower Champlain Ferry A Race Against Winter Voters OK Land Swap, Inmate Work 23rd CD: Owens Wins; Hoffman Concedes Essex County Bans Reporters From Polls Local GOP Plotting Against Scozzafava? Snow Returns To Region This Week Two Local Icons Remembered 1,000-Gallon Sewage Spill In Lake Flower

Adirondack Music Scene:Lowville Fond Farewell, Potsdam A Cappella, Reggae By The Rez

2009-11-05T15:00:00.008-05:00

Music can be heard this week in Lowville, Potsdam, Saratoga, Thurman, and Saranac Lake (of course). Everything from a cappella to reggae to bluegrass. Quite a few events for the slowest month in the Adirondacks.Thursday, November 5There is a big show tonight in Lowville. The Lewis County Historical Society is hosting the last scheduled US performance of Tanglefoot,a Folk Roots Band from Ontario

In Paul Smiths: Owls Of An Adirondack Winter

2009-11-05T12:00:00.026-05:00

With a full, November "beaver" moon overhead we plodded along on the Paul Smiths Visitor Interpretive Center trails. The crisp leaves of maple, birch, and beech that crunch underfoot seamlessly drowned out all sounds. We need to periodically stop and listen. I give a hooting call mimicking our native Barred Owl. Nothing on this first try. We walk through the woods some more, onto the other trail.

Nate Pelton, Almanack's Guest Adirondack Music Contributor

2009-11-05T06:00:00.008-05:00

Our regular Adirondack Music Scene contributor Shamim Allen is over in Europe for the next six weeks, so North Creek's Nate Pelton has graciously accepted the role of guest contributor while Shamim's gone. I've been trying to get Nate to contribute for some time - he knows the music scene in the southern and eastern Adirondacks well, and would be an outstanding addition to our music coverage here

Wild Clematis of the Adirondacks

2009-11-04T15:00:00.001-05:00

Any stroll along a damp patch of land, be it river or stream, canal or marsh, is bound to yield discoveries to delight the senses of any curious person. One of my favorite finds, and one that is gloriously obvious at this time of year, is Old Man’s Beard, or Wild Clematis (Clamatis virginiana). Perhaps this fluffy tufted plant has a warm place in my heart because it was one of the first plants I

Adirondack Ski Resorts: What To Expect Around The Region

2009-11-04T12:00:00.006-05:00

Downhill skiing and riding in the Adirondacks could begin as early as November 27 at both Whiteface and Gore mountains, if freezing conditions allow for making snow this month. But the biggest news in snow sports this winter is the return of two long dormant ski areas (reported here at the Almanack last month), Hickory Ski Center and Big Tupper.Hickory Ski Center, a 1,200-foot resort for expert

The Almanack Welcomes New Contributor Alan Wechsler

2009-11-04T10:00:00.000-05:00

I'm pleased to announce the addition of Alan Wechsler to the Adirondack Almanack. Alan will be covering the outdoor recreation beat and his regular posts will run on Wednesdays at noon. Alan has been coming to the Adirondacks since his uncle took him on his first backpacking trip—with wet snow, followed by temperatures down to zero degrees—at age 15. He says he still hasn't learned his

Election Day Sketchpad 7: Hoffman Concedes

2009-11-04T00:20:00.007-05:00

Doug Hoffman conceded at 12:10 a.m., thanking “every single person out there who joined my team and fought for America. This was the biggest hill I’ve ever faced, and I’m a 46er, so I’ve faced plenty of them.”The crowd at the Hotel Saranac had thinned but was enthusiastic, especially when the Conservative talked about an unlikely campaign that grew into a phenomenon. They cheered lines like, “We

Election Day Sketchpad 6

2009-11-03T23:03:00.006-05:00

11:00. High hopes of Hoffman supporters have been eroding all evening. Campaign spokesman Rob Ryan has had to alter his vision from sprint to marathon, as the campaigns prepare to unleash the lawyers.There is much talk about absentee ballots. Campaign staff say they might have to spend the night at Hotel Saranac and get results tomorrow, if then. Hangers on wait for an appearance by Doug Hoffman

Election Day Sketchpad 5

2009-11-03T22:25:00.001-05:00

9:30. Fox News talent waiting to go live.

Election Day Sketchpad 4

2009-11-03T22:07:00.005-05:00

Hotel Saranac. Hoffman HQ. TV outlets have been jockeying for preferred tripod positions on the press platform all afternoon. By 7:30 all the good spots are claimed.. . . At 10:19 p.m. all those here who had said the race would be declared by 10 watch the TV quietly as Owens leads slightly in early returns. The candidate made a brief appearance in the lobby at 9:35, after a live interview with

Election Day Sketchpad 3

2009-11-03T15:48:00.000-05:00

Lunchtime. In an act of symbolic aggression, Democrat Bill Owens orders tea in the backyard of Conservative Doug Hoffman.

Election Day Sketchpad 2

2009-11-03T15:29:00.001-05:00

Noon. Main Street. One of Saranac Lake's endearing and enduring traditions is the Election Day bake sale benefit for St. Bernard's Elementary School. Scheduled to run until two o'clock, the sale closed about an hour and a half early this year, perhaps having been eaten out of business by the hoard of national reporters and photographers covering congressional candidate Bill Owens' lunchtime visit

Adirondack Youth Summit's Zachary Berger

2009-11-03T15:00:00.002-05:00

Zachary Berger takes a few moments to answer additional questions regarding his involvement in the first annual Adirondack Youth Climate Summit.Q: When you attended the Adirondack Climate Conference, held at The Wild Center, in November 2008, what inspired you to initiate an Adirondack Youth Climate Summit?ZB: Last November's conference was truly a success. I was very honored to have the

Adirondack Family Activities: First Adirondack Youth Climate Summit

2009-11-03T12:00:00.005-05:00

Registration for the 2009 Youth Climate is closed but schools, universities, parents and children can follow the two-day event via a live stream. Conceived by then 17-year-old Zachary Berger of Lake Placid after attending the Adirondack Climate Conference last year, this year's summit illustrates to all young people that their opinions and ideas can make a difference. After much anticipation the

Election Day Sketchpad

2009-11-03T11:16:00.010-05:00

Check in throughout the day for scenes from NY-23 in Saranac Lake.On what was supposed to be a sleepy off-year election day, many counties across upstate New York's 23rd congressional district rolled out new optical scan voting machines. A considerable departure from the old gray crank and ratchet machines that looked like something some glacier deposited in the town hall countless millennia ago,

Election Day in the North Country

2009-11-03T10:00:00.001-05:00

And the focus of the national media focuses on the mythic character of the region. . .

The Last Days of John Brown: A Speedy Trial

2009-11-03T06:00:00.005-05:00

Following the capture of John Brown and his associates at Harpers Ferry they were first held in the armory's guardhouse. The next day, October 19th, 1859, they were taken to the County Jail in Charles Town, about eight miles away. On October 25th (after being questioned by Virginia Governor Henry A. Wise, Virginia Senator James M. Mason, and Representative Clement Vallandigham of Ohio) John Brown

Gearing Up: Snowshoe Season is Almost Here

2009-11-02T15:00:00.004-05:00

Winter is nearly upon the Adirondacks and it’s time to blow the dust off your cold-weather gear including your snowshoes. Snowshoeing has increased in popularity and practicality in stride with technology. Gone are the days when the only choice was hand woven wood frame shoes. The framing, decking, cleats (crampons) and bindings are now made with high tech materials specialized for various