Head-on collision at Panther Mountain trailhead claims life of Saranac Lake man

Friday saw a major two-car collision near the Panther Mt. Trailhead which claimed the life of a Saranac Lake man. The photo below shows members of the Tupper Lake Rescue Squad attending to the injuries of members of the Alonge family. (Jim Lanthier photos)

by Phyllis Larabie

State police responded to State Route 3 for a reported two-car motor vehicle accident on Friday, July 23 at approximately 12:04p.m. near Panther Mountain Trailhead.

It is reported that 37 year old Bernard J. McCormick II of Saranac Lake was traveling east in a 2015 Subaru Impreza. The McCormick vehicle collided head-on with a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado operated by Nicholas Alonge, 33, of New Windsor, N.Y. who was traveling west at the time.

Mr. McCormick died in the crash.

The Tupper Lake Rescue Squad responded with three ambulances to the accident scene. Due to the number of vehicles on the state highway the Saranac Lake Rescue Squad was dispatched for mutual aid to transport the patients to Adirondack Medical Center.

Mr. Alonge was transported to Saranac Lake AMC for a broken leg. A passenger in the Alonge vehicle, McKenna Alonge, 32, was air lifted by North Country Life Flight to the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, VT for a head injury. A nine month old passenger, Emilia Alonge, was not injured. A dog also in the Alonge vehicle was not injured and was taken by Tupper Lake Dog Control Officer Wayne LaPierre until the family could pick up it up.

The Tupper Lake Fire Department was called for mutual aid from Saranac Lake Fire Department to close off State Routes 3 and 30 to traffic.

Motorists on the scene minutes after the accident occurred rendered assistance to the injured members of the Alonge family until help could arrive.

Amy Fraser was traveling with Charlie Exware when they came upon the accident just minutes after it happened. Ms. Fraser stated, “when they came upon the accident, there was smoke coming from the hoods of both vehicles.”

Mr. Exware ran up to the pick up truck and yelled to Amy that there was a baby in the vehicle. Amy said “she ran up to the truck as Charlie was trying to get the car seat out. She said “the seat was so firmly fastened in, Chuckie was having a hard time to get it unbuckled.”

She said she wanted to tell the parents, “kudos for making sure the car seat was fastened into the truck properly”.

They got the car seat unbuckled but wanted to keep the baby secured in the seat until help arrived to make sure the baby had no injuries.

Mr. Exware then removed the dog from the truck. In the mean time, someone had helped the passenger out of the truck, as another person who had arrived on scene had a fire extinguisher in his vehicle, the man sprayed it on the engine of the car and then the engine of the truck.

Mr. Exware with the help of Joe Williams, James Keniston, and Jay Delair then used a crowbar and jab saw to get the door off the truck to help the pinned driver in the Alonge vehicle.

Mr. Delair stated as he approached the McCormick car it was apparent the driver had passed.

It is reported that the Alonge family were all released Friday evening and were reunited with Fredo, the family dog on Saturday, July 24.

The accident is still under investigation by state police.

Home Run Derby, All-Star Game pack the park

by Rich Rosentreter

The first Empire League Home Run Derby and All-Star Game was held over the weekend and both attractions brought a full house to Municipal Park as fans braved overcast and rainy conditions.

Although Saturday’s All-Star Game could not be completed due to inclement weather, the game was still entertaining and the fans were able to see the fireworks show. Friday’s Home Run Derby, however, was completed to its finish and provided some drama as homers were hard to come by with a wind blowing in from the lake and competitors gave it their best slugging swings.

Despite the challenges posed by Mother Nature, the players performed at their highest level, and according to Jerry Gonzalez, a co-owner of the Empire League, everyone on the field had a good time.

“It’s not easy to hit home runs here and when you add the wind to it, it becomes a little more difficult,” he told the Free Press following the home run contest, adding that the players adapted by trying to locate spots where the ball had a better chance of carrying over the fence. “You could see they were trying to hit the spots where you could actually hit it out, and they found them, you could see they were going from center, to right then left field until they found that spot in left where they could actually get it out there.”

“But it was fun, toward the end the guys finally got into a groove and started hitting some out and they felt it,” he said, and then was asked if he was still happy with the turnout and show despite the lack of homers in bunches. “Absolutely. This isn’t the major leagues. It’s a big park and these guys are obviously big and strong, they’ve got the mechanics. They’re here for a reason and they’re working. It may take a few swings to get one out of here, but they got there.”

The derby

The Home Run Derby featured two Riverpigs, Edward Salcedo and Drew Thomas - and both made it to the championship round, two of only three players to go that far. In the opening round, Drew Thomas blasted a ball over the fence that nearly went foul, but got him on the homer board - and the Free Press was right on top of the action to talk to the hometown players after each one batted.

“I was just trying to get a little under the ball, the wind is blowing hard in, but I thought if I connect with it, it might go,” Drew said moments after finishing his first round. “I was worried it was going to go foul. I saw it going towards the Canadian flag, then wrapped around it. I was lucky.”

Following his turn, Drew moved into the next round, and was the first batter - and he again connected with a home run, taking him a round further into the semi-finals. After that, he said it helped that he was able to get right back up to bat.

“It felt just as good as the one last round,” he said. “Just let the ball get deep and let it drive. I’m feeling hot. I was warmed up and kept on swinging.”

Edward Salcedo also homered to advance to the semi-finals - but was getting close to his ten outs before hitting one out of the ballpark.

“It feels good,” he told the Free Press after connecting, adding that he was getting a little nervous when he got to eight outs. “I just went to calm down a little bit and tried to hit the ball. It feels good, I feel confident.”

Salcedo made it to the final round but could not connect and was eliminated.

“It’s OK, now I’m going to sit down and root for my teammate,” he said. “I had a lot of fun, but there’s too much wind.”

As for Drew, he had started with having teammate Magglio Ordonez Jr. pitch to him, but later changed to have old college friend Colin Conroy, who is from California, do the pitching.

“I love Magglio, but I wanted to switch it up. I’ve known Colin forever and thought he’d bring me some luck,” he said. But the switch couldn’t stop Malvin Matos of the Plattsburgh Thunderbirds, who went on to win the Home Run Derby.

Still, Drew said he enjoyed the event - and the pitching switch did play a role.

“I’m disappointed, but I did have a blast here. I’m glad I made it to the final round, because at one point I didn’t think I was going to hit any, but then we switched pitchers and I started hitting some,” he said.

“I had a great time, I think the fans were great, I loved the spirit they were in. The community is awesome. I just love playing here,” Drew added. “This was my first home run derby ever - maybe since I’ve been in seventh grade! I didn’t win, but Malvin had some pop in him!”

All-Stars

The All-Star Game on Saturday was fortunately able to start as any chance of playing baseball was in doubt as a steady rain fell - it pitted the East Division (New Hampshire Wild and Plattsburgh Thunderbirds) against the West Division (Tupper Lake Riverpigs and Saranac Lake Surge).

Andrew Noviello of the Wild, who later captured the Most Valuable Player Award in the All-Star Game, blasted a three-run homer in the first inning to give the east team a 3-0 lead.

In the home second, the west would make a comeback as the rally was started by two Surge players. Edel Luaces led off with a double and then the steady rain began to impact the pitchers as Brandon Gutzler walked to put runner on first and second to bring up a string of Riverpigs.

Drew Thomas walked to load the bases. Miguel Molina walked to bring in a run. Ron Krsolovic dribbled a slow roller for an infield hit and drove in another run to make the score 3-2. Robert Antunez then walked as the east pitcher could not find the strike zone to bring in another run and tie the score 3-3. At that point, perhaps in the spirit of good sportsmanship, the action was halted due to the rain, which had continued to come down harder with each walk.

With the field empty and rain falling, the ballpark announcer then boosted the spirits of the fans by announcing that the fireworks show would soon begin. Following the fireworks, the game did not resume and ended in a tie - but at least there was some baseball action when it had seemed there would be a total washout.

One thing the All-Star Weekend demonstrated, was the high level of camaraderie all the players have among one another - even if they play for different teams.

“All these guys are friends. I mean you look around and see different jerseys, but they know each other, they spend all year long playing against each other, so they’re really close friends even though in a game it’s a war,” Mr. Gonzalez said. “They’re out here to have a good time with something like this, and it’s been great. It was a blast, it got a little more interesting at the end for the fans, but at the end of the day, it was a lot of fun.”

Empire League to host All-Star Weekend; Nashville star and more

By Rich Rosentreter

The Empire League will host its All-Star Weekend on Friday, July 16 and Saturday, July 17 that includes a home run derby, a game pitting the league’s best players against each other, a comedy show and benefit concerts, one by Nashville recording artist Jamie Lee Thurston. And after the league is done showcasing its best players, the festivities will conclude with a fireworks show.

The special weekend gets under way at 3:15 p.m. on Friday, first with a show by the Completely Stranded Comedy Troupe followed by a concert at 5 p.m. by The Rough Suspects, a “rock, blues and drunken country” group at the bandshell. After the music, the Home Run Derby will take place at 7:05 p.m. at the adjacent Municipal Park.

On Saturday, Jamie Lee Thurston and special guest Tim Brick will perform starting at 3:15 p.m. followed by the All-Star Game at 7:05 p.m. and fireworks after the game.

All proceeds over the weekend will go to regional and local charities, among them, local veterans, North Country Honor Flight, Josh’s House, Veteran’s Place and High Peaks Hospice, according to Eddie Gonzalez, the president and director of the Empire Baseball League.

“That’s what it’s all about, it’s a fundraiser,” he told the Free Press. “Fans should come to join our fundraiser with music in the bandshell and right after the music ends, come on over to the field to see a baseball show.”

Tickets for all events on All-Star weekend are available online at tupperlakeriverpigs.com or at the venue- unless tickets get sold out, in which case tickets will not be available at the gate.

All-stars

Baseball-related festivities during All-Star Weekend will pit the Empire League’s East Division (New Hampshire Wild and Plattsburgh Thunderbirds) against the West Division (Tupper Lake Riverpigs and Saranac Lake Surge) in the main event on Saturday, but before that, sluggers on each squad will vie for the title of Home Run King on Friday in the Home Run Derby.

There were eight players selected for the derby: Edward Salcedo and Drew Thomas of the Riverpigs; Edel Luaces and Brandon Gutzler of the Surge; Malvin Matos and Richard Miller of the Thunderbirds; and Andrew Noviello and John Lantigua of the Wild.

Everybody gets a preliminary qualification round, then there’s a semi-final round, players have to advance, Mr. Gonzalez said, then it gets down to the final two, who will then square off for the championship round. It will not be the same format as the one in Major League Baseball, which uses a time clock.

“This is our own model,” he said. “We’ll have ten outs instead of a time clock limit.”

On Saturday, the Empire League will put its best players on the field in the All-Star matchup - something that is more than a game.

“Even year the Empire League hosts an All-Star game in recognition of the players that have been doing an outstanding job statistically, and they deserve to be selected into this All-Star game. In that game we bring the western and eastern divisions and we have four teams, so the rivals get to play together. It won’t be everybody on the team, just selected guys,” Mr. Gonzalez said, adding that the players on the Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake teams are looking forward to uniting after several competitive battles between each other. “There’s been a couple of heated games actually back and forth, and it’s been definitely showing that they’re rivals. Fans got a chance to watch a lot of heated activity between the two teams, but at the end of the day, we’re all here as a family with the same mission which is to help these young ballplayers get an opportunity to excel and move up in their careers, so they know that we’re all one.”

According to Gonzalez, the players have pride even in a game that doesn’t count in the standings - and the players have an additional reason to perform at their best compete level.

“I’m always very excited because it’s always a high-level game, we’re talking not just all the teams competing, we’re talking the best from each team, so it makes the game an even higher level,” he said. “Everybody wants to win, everybody wants to compete and want to do good because we always have a lot of scouts and a lot of higher-level leagues paying very close attention to everything our guys do, every single game, statistically everything that they do, and in an all-star game, it’s even better for them to show that they’re ready for the next level.”

Concerts

Jamie Lee Thurston is a country music singer who was raised in Vermont and at the age of 15 began performing with his father, and eventually, he moved to Nashville. He released his first CD “I Just Wanna Do My Thing” in 2003, followed by “Where’s an Outlaw When You Need One” in 2010 and “The Stayin’ Kid” in 2012.

Thurston will be joined by special guest Tim Brick, a country music performer who also hails from Vermont and his music has been dubbed “Vermont Country at its Best” by The Champlain Valley Fair and was nominated for the Independent Country Music Association’s Best Country Male Artist in 2013 and 2014. In 2015 he relocated to Austin, Texas and played in clubs throughout the central portion of that state.

More information about The Rough Suspects can be found on the band’s Facebook page, including a video of a recent performance.

Break

Mr. Gonzalez said the All-Star game presents a good break in the season, and another opportunity to cement the Empire League into the community.

“It’s a little more entertainment fun, family friendly to get together for some fun competition,” he said. “Obviously, we’re very focused on these players and all the work they do in the community, but this is above and beyond all of that, this is all about putting the community first. Every time we do an all-star game, we like to do a fundraiser and so this year we’re bringing some good artists to come and perform two straight days before each event.”

The break also represents the traditional halfway point in the season, and so far, it’s been a good one for the Riverpigs, Mr. Gonzalez said.

“I think it’s been the most remarkable year. We’ve sent so many players to the next level, we’ve done so much positive and influential, great things for the community, and we’re just going to continue to keep doing it. It’s just been great,” he said. “We just want fans to come out to Tupper Lake and enjoy a weekend of relaxation and fun. We want fans to know our guys and the work they’ve been doing in the community and on the baseball field - they’re starting to see that these guys are always around and they’re great individuals.”

Rohrbachs celebrate opening of major backyard expansion and thank supporters

Cory and Lilian Rohrbach were joined by Assemblyman Billy Jones and Mayor Paul Maroun for the ribbon-cutting at their new outdoor dining place last Tuesday (Dan McClelland photos)

by Dan McClelland

The product of months of construction work that has transformed their business' backyard into an attractive and unique outdoor dining place was proudly shown off to their friends and supporters by Amado owners Cory and Lilian Rohrbach last Tuesday evening.

The couple used the occasion to thank those who helped them on this ambitious expansion of their business that will now permit them to accommodate as many as 300 diners at a single seating.

The new place is called “Amado Outdoors- seasonal dining”. A new sign created by Stacked Graphics welcomes diners to it from the Lake St. corridor.

The transformation of the Amado 's back yard began last year when the couple built three greenhouse-style individual dining room buildings. It was their answer to the restrictions of COVID-19 last summer and it worked. The tiny dining rooms were a hit from the start.

Complementing them in the landscaped yard area were a number of outdoor tables. Several large trees offer shade in the patio areas.

The success they saw during the depths of last summer's pandemic inspired them to take an even bigger step in outdoor dining.

The first step was the purchase of the adjacent property on Lake Street, the long-time home of the Tyo family.

They presented plans this winter to the town and village planning board and with its blessing, started building outdoors as soon as winter broke.

What they created were four wooden pavilion-style dining rooms and a bar in the fourth pavilion, all attached and nestled right up to the house they purchased. Each dining pavilion has its own name: Sunset, Half Moon, Moose Cave and Calm Waters. The bar pavilion they named Taverna Paradiso (Paradise Tavern in Italian).

In the bar there are or will soon be 15 draft beer varieties on tap, as well as one cider and four wines- two white and two red. Eventually liquor will also be available for sale.

Everything- floors, walls, rafter-style ceilings- is done in wood, stained light brown. In each dining building and the bar overhead light spills out from what Cory calls Sputnik chandeliers hung from exposed rafters.

The five buildings are all connected and covered so diners and servers can always avoid the elements.

Invited guests enjoy drinks and fellowship on Tuesday, June 29 in the “Calm Waters” pavilion at Amado Outdoors.

One section of the landscaped area between the restaurant and the pavilions is called Happiness Square and another is called Romance Square. Between the two is a large statue of Big George- a big foot character who welcomes diners to the outdoor area from an entrance way off Lake Street. A small sign at his feet advises guests not to feed the Sasquatch.

Pea-sized gravel covers the entire outdoor area, where there are not flower beds and shrubs.

New restrooms have been created inside the partially vacant house, which also offers plenty of space for the storage for their dining room tables and such this winter.

The house is expected to get a facelift as early as next year, according to what Cory told the local planning board this past winter.

All dining this summer season will be located either in the greenhouse rooms or the new pavilions, as well as in the two landscaped patio areas. There will be no dining in the restaurant until fall.

This year Lilian and Cory have also doubled the size of their kitchen at the back of their building.

Much of the outdoor building work was completed since May 1 when the couple had just finished staining all the wood, which they purchased in bulk last year.

As of a week or so ago, tables and chairs for the patios areas were arriving daily. There will be rows of two, four and six-top dining tables there.

“For this summer we'll be set up for about 250 diners,” Cory said during an interview in mid-June.

“Our maximum seating with social distancing will be about 300.”

He explained there is no reason guests will have to be seated inside the main restaurant this summer. Each pavilion will be equipped with “strip warmers” in the rafters and small thermal cells, which many campers use.

“You have to use common sense here in the Adirondacks. We know the evenings in August and September can be cool and we want people to be comfortable.”

Heavy beige drapes surround each building- that can be opened or closed at the preference of the diners. They are for blocking the sun on sunny days and reducing the wind on windy days, Cory explained. They'll also keep out rain on even windy days.

The Rohrbachs have partnered with Tupper Arts and so on the walls of each pavilion are laminated copies of photographs of the late Kathleen Bigrow which are for public viewing and for sale, with proceeds to go the arts center.

Of the overall project, Chef Rohrbach “said this is what could be done with all the funds that were made available to businesses during COVID....Small Business Administration loans, Franklin County Industrial Development loans and “Raising the Bar” funds from New York State which helped restaurants adapt to this new environment.” The latter was a one-time grant of $5,000 and the only grant they received.

He said the various funds that were available to businesses were designed to spur re-investment. “It wasn't about putting that money in your pocket...it was to re-design your business to meet future global pandemics!”

Cory said he and his wife and their new facility are set now to greet future social disasters “because now they don't have to close” if social distancing is again required.

He said he figures their outdoor dining operation will be able to continue into early October. It's a matter of adapting with diners and staff wearing a little warmer clothing. “Look at Europe, people in the Alps dine outside much of the year.”

“If we have a chilly fall day, we can close our curtains and keep much of the heat in!”

At Tuesday's celebration Chef Rohrbach acknowledged many of the agencies that helped them along the way.

A small loan from Franklin County Economic Development Agency at the start of COVID helped fund the construction last summer of the three greenhouse-style dining rooms and new outdoor seating in a landscaped setting near them. That added dining spots for six to ten people in those three , plus nine sets of tables and chairs in the new garden area around them.

“It worked great. We were serving about 120 people a day, often turning away 60 or more people for lack of space.”

“So we decided to purchase the neighboring property which included the old house.”

The new property gave them a campus of 100 feet by 200 feet to work their magic.

Most of the carpentry work this spring was done by Cory and Lilian. The also did the excavating and stone work that went into the patio areas.

Jack and Alex Lewis did all the wiring in the new complex. They began their work in February on the kitchen enlargement which Cory said now allows them to serve as many as 300 guests.

He said they faced many challenges in re-wiring the old building where the kitchen is located.

Lilian and Cory had help too from Andrew Powers and Nick LaMere, two young carpenters associated with Mike Vaillancourt. They did some of the roofing.

“Everything from the top rails (of the walls) down were built by my wife and I!”

All of the staining was done by Lilian, her daughter Aylie and helper Emily Sipler.

The ceremony Tuesday began with the cutting of an ornamental ribbon of bows and spruce bows fashioned by local florist Ann Hoag. Mayor and County Legislator Paul Maroun and Assemblyman Billy Jones joined the couple for the cutting.

Mr. Rohrbach acknowledged the two, saying they were both “great people. “We met Billy shortly after he was elected to the Assembly and came here to have our Buffalo chicken sandwich, which he very much liked.” He said the assemblyman has been very helpful to their project, as has the mayor.

He applauded the mayor “for all he has done for us since we opened in 2016.”

After the ribbon was cut Cory addressed all the guests.

He began by giving tremendous credit to his wife Lilian, who he met 17 years ago when he was working in Brazil at the time. “We've been together every second of the day since then!”

He said everything they do they do together. “Without her, none of this would have possible because I wouldn't have had someone to keep me grounded when I need it!

Cory said Lilian was working as a lawyer in the state attorney's office in San Paolo, Brazil when they met.

“When we got together our lives just changed in such a positive way!”

He thanked Dan Montroy and Chris White from Montroy DeMarco Architecture, which did much of the design of the new complex.

“These gentlemen helped us get our ideas down on paper so we could present it to the local planning board.”

He also recognized the officers and directors of the Franklin County Industrial Development Agency, some of whom were present that evening and who included board members Jim Ellis and Steve Ermann.

“We thank them for helping us financially to make our dream a reality! We're happy they saw our vision and wanted to help us with it!”

He said what was loaned to them by the aforementioned agencies, combined with their own savings and their toil, made the project possible.

The chef remembered that on the May 1 weekend Tupper Lake saw its last snowfall, “we were out the next day hanging the top rails” of the walls.

“We had to clean the snow off it before we could begin work.” He credited his wife for driving him to get the work done.

Cory also credited the Tupper Lake Municipal Electric crew for situating a new utility pole on their property and the village water and sewer workers which replaced a 100-year old main across the property “so we are never going to have to worry about digging up this space. They got it done for us very quickly so we could meet our timetable.”

Also recognized for their cooperation and support of the project were code officers Pete Edwards and Paul O'Leary and the members of the town and village planning board. “I would extend a public thanks to them for helping us make this happen.”

Before closing that evening he acknowledged a couple of friends and patrons- Mike and Lynn Kmack and his neighbors Ray and Laurie Martin.

“-And to all of those from Tupper Lake who have welcomed us to our community since our arrival in 2016, thank you from the bottom of our hearts!”

Cory said this week he and Lilian look forward to working with other local businesses to develop a stronger summer and winter tourist trade here. “There's more to come!” he promised.

TLHS Class of 2021 enjoys outdoor ceremony; told “Never stop being your true selves”

Members of the Tupper Lake High School Class of 2021 toss their caps into the air and celebrate moments after they were told to flip their tassels over and officially became high school graduates. (Rich Rosentreter photos)

A video highlight film of the school year and the high school chorus’ rendition of the class song “On My Way” sparked a variety of emotions from the graduating seniors.

A video highlight film of the school year and the high school chorus’ rendition of the class song “On My Way” sparked a variety of emotions from the graduating seniors.

Elaina Daniels gives the closing remarks.

The Class of 2021 sits on the field and their family and friends sit in the bleachers as they listen to high school Principal Cynthia Lauzon.

Members of the graduating Class of 2021 listen intently to guest speaker Christine Campeau.

Members of the graduating Class of 2021 listen intently to guest speaker Christine Campeau.

Guest speaker Christine Campeau addresses the Class of 2021.

Molly Sullivan gives the opening remarks.

Salutatorian Alexis Staves is all smiles moments after receiving her diploma.

Valedictorian Samantha Higgins.

Principal Cynthia Lauzon

By Rich Rosentreter

The sunshine beamed upon the Tupper Lake High School Class of 2021 as they gathered on the Frank Tice Memorial Field - the site of this year’s graduation ceremony, and it was indeed a glorious end to what has been a challenging school year.

The keystone speaker was Christine Campeau, who has worked for more than 20 years as the school programs manager at the Adirondack Experience, formerly the Adirondack Museum, and she regularly visited students in the Tupper Lake School District as part of her role at that facility.

The ceremony was originally scheduled to be in the L.P. Quinn Elementary School parking lot, but an insightful and wise last-minute change was made to hold it in the spacious field area. The bleachers were full of proud family and friends, while the graduates, faculty and school administrators sat below - a giant screen was set up on the field so everyone could get a clear view of the proceedings.

Festivities got underway with Molly Sullivan giving the opening remarks, and she spoke about the challenges of the school year, with the pandemic being front and center.

“The first challenge we faced was the pandemic. School was different for all of us. We got through it just fine and some of us improved in some aspects,” she said. “Yes, we’ve had a tough year, but I believe what matters is that our class was able to push through all of these struggles. We are here today because we made it, that’s how I know all of us will continue to keep making it. I know it’s cliché to say we are closing a chapter of our lives and opening a new one, but I’d like to go off that analogy and say I know we can make it through any number of chapters that we are faced with. Welcome to the graduation ceremony of the Class of 2021, the class that was able to make it through it all.”

Miss Sullivan was followed by Principal Cynthia Lauzon who gave the introductory speech. She started by joking that she was not only introducing herself to the audience but to the graduating class as this was the first time many of them had seen her face as it was covered by a mask for the past year.

“I am sure there are seniors graduating tonight who have never seen me in person until now,” she said. “It’s nice to meet everyone.”

“I could talk about all the doom and gloom and all the fancy buzz words that we’ve all heard through this past year, I’m not going to do that. The way I like to look at it is this has been a year of firsts,” she said, explaining that both she and Elizabeth Littlefield, who is the principal at the L.P. Quinn Elementary School, have completed their first year on the job. “I’ve only been here for this school year, therefore I don’t have many detailed memories to share with you about this class, which is normally what you’d hear from a principal at this time.”

“I will stick to what seems to be the theme for this school year. I guess the theme that I took away from this year and what I want to share with the graduates - plan for what you hope or want to happen, but be ready to make adjustments along the way. There isn’t only just one way to reach your goals. I don’t think any of us would map out or plan a school year like this one. At the beginning, most of wondered what school would even look like. In the middle, I don’t know about you, but I was constantly thinking about ways to get us back to in-person more. The fact that we can all work together, entrust in the process, allows for great things to happen, like tonight. We are all here tonight to acknowledge the accomplishments of each and every one of you. The path was not easy for anyone to navigate this year, but you all found your way, more importantly, in your own way. So on behalf of the faculty and staff, we’d like you to know this: We are proud of you, proud of what you’ve accomplished, and we’re thankful we got to share this experience with you.”

“We hope you find passion and purpose, and accomplish your heart’s desires. We hope you find the courage within yourself to be and the strength to be persistent. Finally, we hope you will continue to represent this school well, and throughout your lives, you will leave each place you touch a bit better for your having been there. Congratulations and best of luck to the Tupper Lake Class of 2021.”

Next up was Alexis Staves, who gave the Salutatory Address and started by saying that when she wrote her speech, the last thing she wanted to write about was the pandemic.

“I want to reflect on all that we had and what we still have despite the circumstances we have all faced over the last year. The group of students that sits before you today have thousands of memories throughout the halls of both the elementary and high school,” she said as she recalled some of those memories, such as Mrs. Savage’s classroom and the rug they all remember, learning the alphabet and “Chicka-Chicka-Boom-Boom, which garnered laughs and giggles from the graduates.

“As you leave here today, I want you all to not be sad about the memories we missed out on, but recall all the memories we were able to make in our time together,” Miss Staves said. “As you continue on in life, whether it be entering the workforce, pursuing further education or going into the military, I want you all to remember the memories we have shared and continue to make new memories with those around you. There have been many tough times throughout our lives thus far and in our futures unfortunately there will be more. When the road gets rough we’ll look back to these times, the exact milestones you have been able to reach despite the challenges that have been thrown at you. These past two years have not been the easiest, but if we all learned one thing from it, is that we are capable of doing what some think is impossible, that perseverance is commendable and does not go unrecognized. Thank you to my class for all of the memories and never failing to keep things interesting. Thank you to the teachers who went above and beyond for their students. Thank you to all the janitors and bus drivers who have picked up our messes and gave us a ride home. And thank you to all who came tonight, you have helped us reach this milestone in our lives. With that being said, congratulations everyone, you made it!”

Next on the agenda was the playing of the class song, which included a school highlight video clip and sung by the high school chorus - and that provided a plethora of emotions for the Class of 2021 as graduates smiled, laughed and at times got teary-eyed.

Following the video, the Valedictory Address was given by Samantha Higgins who had a congratulatory message for her classmates.

“We’ve made it! It’s been a long, bumpy road from pre-K to today, but we made it! And now high school is in the past. We’ve come a long way and I’m proud of each and every one of us, and you all deserve to be proud of yourself too, especially this past year, we’ve worked very hard to get here,” she started, and mentioned some of the issues students faced during COVID - even though she realized not many people want to hear about that topic. “I started thinking and I realized how resilient our class is and just how much we’ve been through. I know a lot of us had a hard time even making it here today with all the work being online and being home for so long, on countless Google meets, having mics on mute when people listened to music during class, teachers being muted and trying to speak to us, cameras not working and the list goes on.”

“On top of the technology issues, I myself and others had a hard time finding the motivation to get the work done at times. But we all got through it and once we got back to school we put in a lot of hard work and extra hours after school to get our grades up so we can graduate. Even with these setbacks, we’ve all made it to the day when we finally graduate high school. It seems unreal.”

“This is the first step toward our future. In reviewing this difficult year, I feel we have learned something that will valuable for the rest of our lives. We have learned self-motivation, learned to deal with the lack of in-person socialization and new ways to try to connect with people. No matter the setbacks we faced and missing out on so many things I can say I was looking forward to since middle school, always seeing how much fun the seniors had each year,” she said, naming such events a pep rallies, regular sports seasons, school musicals and especially the prom. “However, due to these setbacks, I believe this class is still going to overcome and still be able to achieve whatever we set out to accomplish. We are unique with the fact that there is no other class that has faced what we did for a whole year. I have come to the realization that it is so important to realize that life will throw you curveballs, and you will need to push on through to achieve your goals or get through a problem.”

Miss Higgins then provided her classmates with her advice.

“Make sure you have a support system, whether it be friends, family or mentors to lean on because it’s better to have someone by your side to pull you through,” Higgins said, adding that shoe would to have been able to make it through the school year without her family and classmates. “These people were vital to me being able to achieve what I have and to succeed in high school. These are the kinds of people you need to try to find as you figure out where you plan to go next. Thank you and congratulations to the Class of 2021.”

Russell Bartlett then gave the superintendent’s address on the big screen and spoke to the audience via computer as he was out of town for personal reasons.

“I know we’ve all gotten accustomed to seeing people on Zoom and Google Meets so talking to you like this is less out of the ordinary than it should be, but this isn’t how I wanted to speak to you tonight. I wanted to be there to celebrate with you in person, but as we’ve all learned over the last year and a half, sometimes real life gets in the way of our plans. But as you have been doing since March of last year, we find a way, we persevere, and we just plain get stuff done when we have to,” he began, as he discussed terms like normal and change. “A phrase that’s been used a lot over the last year is the ‘new normal.’ It’s supposed to lead us to think about a future that involves changes we hadn’t thought of previously. Well, you know what? Normal is being redefined every minute of every day, global pandemic or not. Every discovery, every invention, every answered question, puts us on a new path that looks slightly different than the one we were on a minute ago. If you want another cliché to throw on top of the other one, let’s talk about ‘The Only Constant is Change.’ See, we like to have tidy little sayings that sum up life in a few short words - it makes things feel less overwhelming, a little smaller and more manageable. Here’s the thing: change is good. Change leads us to try different things, to ask new questions, or to look at the old way and see if there are newer or better ways. Sometimes there are new ways, and sometimes the old way is better. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t ask the question every now and then. And sometimes a giant stupid global pandemic comes along and asks it for us.”

“So all of this is my way of telling you that unexpected, sometimes unpleasant things are going to pop up in your lives. When they do, you can go ‘Woe is me, this is terrible, I should just wait until everything goes back to normal.’ But what if they never do? There’s a good chance they won’t. What if, instead, you used it as an opportunity to take a look inside and see what works and what doesn’t work well and make some changes for the better? I think that might be the lasting message that comes out of this school year, and something that the graduates sitting out here have already started to do. Again, sorry I couldn’t be there with you today, but congratulations and I’ll see you soon!”

The next presentation provided more emotions as English teacher Melissa Savage fought tears in an emotional acceptance of the Outstanding Educator Award. Her qualities as a teacher were read by Mr. Bartlett, who first introduced some of the criteria for the teacher’s award.

“Outstanding educators work to educate the whole student. While they may teach a particular grade level or subject, what they actually teach are the life skills that make for productive, capable adults,” he said before providing some quotes from colleagues and current and former students about this year’s winner:

“They educate the entire student, recognizing that each must have his or her basic needs met before they can be expected to be fully functional and engaged in class. Got some other stuff going on in your life that’s bothering you? Let’s get those things solved first, then we can attend to the things we came here to learn; reaches out to every single student, not just the good ones or the ones that seem to care the most. You can’t get away with not caring in their class, they will pull you in no matter how hard you try to stay invisible; sets high expectations for everyone, and no matter how hard you try to break them down and get them to lower those expectations, they’re the same every day; you know you’re going to have to think every day when you walk in the door to their class; super knowledgeable, structured and no-nonsense; will always challenge every student every day. Witty, empathetic, high expectations. Takes no crap. May or may not be the root of all evil and all things terrifying in the universe, but that’s why we love her.”

“I have seen her display the full gamut of emotions when it comes to her students. She is their biggest advocate, fiercest defender and greatest cheerleader,” Mr. Bartlett said as he announced Melissa Savage as the award recipient - who then made her way to the stage.

“I love each and every one of you, thank you so much,” she said, her emotions on full display from the moment she left her seat. “I am speechless, that has never happened to me before. I’m really very, very proud of all of you, I just want you to know that, and I can’t wait to see what you do in the future.”

Lily St. Onge then came on stage to introduce guest speaker Christine Campeau, who shared a story when she was visiting the local elementary school

“A third grade student at L.P. Quinn once said to me, ‘You are so not boring.’ I considered that the highest compliment I have ever been paid, until tonight. It is an absolute honor to be invited by seniors to be your graduation speaker. I have known most of these students since they were in kindergarten,” she said. “I am especially honored to be up here tonight… It is the graduation speaker's duty to offer advice. I will offer several pieces, and you can choose what speaks to you,” she said.

“First a quick one – if you do not know how to play the game of chess, learn. And when you know how to, play as often as you are able. There are many metaphors for life among those pawns and queens. Next, the old standby – work hard. Hard work nearly always pays off. Often in amazing ways. Perhaps not always in the ways you imagined and not always immediately, but there are real rewards to doing hard work. Now what is hard work? Well, mowing the lawn, stacking wood, raking the leaves; and also, reading the book – all of it; writing the paper; making the phone call. The rewards often out way the effort put in. There are times when you’re going to be frustrated, feel defeated, and just be tired; power through that and keep going and keep doing, while the rewards can be delayed, they are there.”

“Remember your lumberjack roots - grit, determination and good humor. Those jacks went out each day and worked hard and returned to camp singing songs and telling tales,” Ms. Campeau added. “I have enjoyed and appreciated your honesty and good humor ever since that kid told me I wasn’t boring - because it seems he expected I was going to be. That frank, good natured honesty is refreshing in a world that is sometimes not honest and often not funny.”

“The next piece of advice is a balance to all that hard work – find your joy. Do not let anyone take it from you, diminish it or make you feel silly or bad about it. Find what makes your heart sing. I am happiest when I see/do/hear - fill in the blank. Sometimes it takes some time to find that perfect joy, trust you will find it and when you do delight in it as often as you can,” she said. “The final piece, is something the Rolling Stones said better than I will – you should occasionally stop and look around. Quite literally stop. And look around. Prep for what is coming at you and reflect on what has passed. And recognize blessings. That joy you are looking for and that is looking for you, may find you in these moments. Things come to you when you are silent and listen. Good things. They sometimes come when you take a break from raking leaves or stacking wood, or reading that long book.”

“Thank you for giving me a final opportunity to present to you. You are brave, humorous, hardworking, amazing humans. Stop and listen now and then and notice the rewards and blessing there. And never stop being your true, honest selves!”

Finally the graduating class were presented their diplomas followed by the always emotional presentation of flowers and then the closing remarks by Elaina Daniels, who fought back her emotions as she delivered her speech - and recognized she was the final speaker of the ceremony.

“I’m not much of a talker, but at this moment I could talk forever because I’m the only thing keeping us from the end of our high school experience, and what an experience it has been,” she said. “I hope everyone here today has reflected how far they have come and realize how far they will go. Plans change and opportunities come and go. You have to fall in order fly, and I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to start flying. As long as you constantly keep pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, you will be successful. Choose happiness over everything, take care of your mind, your body and your spirit. Be kind, choose the right people, and demand respect when it’s deserved. I’m excited to see what all of you make of yourselves someday. Congratulations to the Class of 2021!”

“Crossroads of Adirondacks” trail dedicated

The Village of Tupper Lake's new “Crossroads of the Adirondacks” trail was officially opened yesterday afternoon at ots train station terminus. Built for the most part on the village's Junction Pass multi-use trail which connects the uptown and downtown neighborhoods, the new educational trail is a series of interpretive signs focusing on Tupper Lake's rich cultural heritage. After the multi-use trail which ends at McDonald's Restaurant, the “Crossroads of the Adirondacks” trail continues along the shoreline walkway of the m muncipal park to Mill Street and the historic Beth Joseph Historic Synagogue. It was developed through a collaboration of the village, the Aseel Legacy Fund at the Adirondack Foundation, ARISE and the NYS Department of State Local Waterfront Revitalization program. Lined up to cut the ribbon above were Carolyn Welsh, one of the architects of the new trail, Village Community Development Consultant Melissa McManus, Code Officer Peter Edwards, Deputy Mayor Leon LeBlanc, Mayor Paul Maroun, the Aseel sisters- Freda Bradt, Ellen Maroun and Linda Kahn, Trustees Ron LaScala and Clint Hollingsworth, Rob Carr, the key designer of the trail and Katie LaLonde, regional marketing person for the Regional Office Of Sustainable Tourism. Full coverage of the event will be published next issue. (Dan McClelland photo)

Riverpigs split over weekend; lose opener but beat Wild on Sunday

By Rich Rosentreter

The Tupper Lake Riverpigs lost their season opener 9-6 on Saturday but bounced back to win the second game of the season 7-2 Sunday against the New Hampshire Wild.

In the opener in front of a jam-packed stadium, the Rivergpigs fell behind 1-0 in the top of the second inning. In the bottom half of the inning, Tupper Lake threatened to tie the game but stranded a runner on third base.

In the home third, shortstop Walner Espinal had the crowd yelling and buzzing when he blasted a homer over the left field fence to tie the game at 1-1. Feeding on the crowd’s energy, the Riverpigs kept the inning going when outfielder Mark Shkrelja singled and Joey Skov ripped a double. Both runners later scored as the boisterous home crowd rocked the hometown stadium and Tupper Lake grabbed a 3-1 lead.

The Wild players were unfazed, however, as they rallied to tie the score at 3-3 in the top of the fourth.

Then the Riverpigs showed their fight in the bottom of the frame as Ronald Krsolovic led off with a single up the middle, followed by an infield hit by catcher Miguel Molina and a walk by Espinal to load the bases. Khalyd Cox ripped an RBI single and Tupper Lake regained the edge and a 4-3 lead.

In the top of the fifth, the Riverpigs showed off some flashy defense when the Wild were threatening with a rally and a runner on third base. The ball was grounded to third baseman Ronald Krsolovic who alertly tagged out the runner at third and drilled a throw across the diamond for a timely inning-ending double play to preserve the one-run lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, once again the crowd roared as Edward Salcedo, who has major league experience with the Atlanta Braves, crushed a home run to give the Riverpigs a 5-3 lead.

Then came the top of the seventh inning - and some key errors that would cost the Riverpigs the ball game. The Wild plated six runs in the inning to take a 9-5 lead. Tupper Lake managed to score a run in the bottom of the ninth but a rally fell short.

Riverpigs Manager Jonathan Albaladejo said the one bad inning was the difference in the game, but he was focused more on the learning experience for the players and their improvement.

“The two home runs excited the crowd,” he said after the game. “We did a lot of things really well I think. We did some good things at the plate, we just need to improve on the defensive side. We made some little mistakes that should not happen and that’s why we’re here, it’s a developmental league and we’ll continue to work and hopefully in two weeks none of that will happen.”

“I’m sure we’ll win plenty of games,” Albaladejo added. “We’ve got a good team and I think we’ll do a lot better than we did tonight.”

On Sunday, the Riverpigs did play a better game and won. The crowd wasn’t as big as the opener, but still the stadium was full of Tupper Lake supporters. The Riverpigs fell behind early as the Wild jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Tupper Lake cut the deficit to 2-1 until the bottom of the fourth when they took the lead for good, once again taking advantage of the long ball.

Walner Espinal put the crowd into a frenzy as he smashed a homer with a runner on base to give the Riverpigs a 3-2 lead and the local team never looked back. Killian Bloat kept the rally going with a single and was followed by a drag bunt single by Robert Antunez. Both runners moved up on a Wild miscue and Edward Salcedo ripped a single to right field to drive in both runners and give Tupper Lake a 5-2 lead.

The Riverpigs tacked on two more runs, including another homer by Espinal, who leads the team with three in two games, for the 7-2 win.

Tupper Arts opened “Give Us Your Best Shot” Photography Show Friday

Lovers of art and photography here need to make the Tupper Arts headquarters on Park Street a must-stop this month during the “Give Us Your Best Shot” photography show.

The free exhibit, which comes on the back of the very successful and third Kathleen Bigrow photo exhibit last month, features wonderful works of photography from some of the best shooters in the region.

The new show runs until June 27 every Wednesday to Sunday from 11a.m. to 5p.m.

The photos below are just some of the great pieces you'll find there. Tupper Arts volunteer Ed Donnelly coordinated and hung the framed pieces.

Tupper Lake honors the fallen at Memorial Day observance

by Dan McClelland

It was a sunny day but the mercury was only hovering in the 40s. Over 100 local residents, however, came out Monday morning to the Veterans' Park on Park Street to honor the fallen during another very patriotic Memorial Day event.

This year was a return to full observance after an abbreviated event during the COVID-19 pandemic last year. Only a few in the crowd sported masks.

Assembled as always were the seven or so members of the Tupper Lake Honor Guard and two dozen members of the Tupper Lake High School Band, under the direction of Laura Davison. The 20-strong band included a few guests, who included Laura's husband Wayne, their daughter Kendall and her cousin Annachristi Cordes, both band alumna.

The band entertained the crowd in glorious fashion with the performance of a half dozen of so patriotic tunes, including a medley of the anthems of the various arms of the military. The playing of “Taps” was performed by Lowden Pratt.

There was a new master of ceremonies this year doing a job generally done by Memorial Day and Veterans Day MC Mark Moeller, who continues to be a major behind the scenes organizer. This year's MC was Terry Tubridy, commander of the Marine Corp. League Adirondack Leathernecks.

This year's event also featured both the opening and closing prayers by the same person- the Rev. Rick Wilburn, pastor of Tupper Lake Baptist Chapel. The minister filled in for James Ellis, who normally delivers one of the prayers but who was out of town Monday.

There were no boy scouts present this year to lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance, so Honor Guard Commander Mike Larabie led the crowd in the patriotic pledge.

The guard also opened the ceremonies, as the band played the national anthem. Later the guard performed the firing of three volleys, in honor of the fallen.

This year's guest speaker was SFC Mike Fouse, an Afghanistan war veteran who was one of the first special forces soldiers deployed in that country after 9-11.

Originally from Pennsylvania, SFC Fouse currently resides in Malone. His daughter accompanied to Monday's event.

MC Tubridy said SFC Fouse's father was a marine and as such the family lived all around the country.

The retired special forces soldier opened with a joke involving his enrollment in the U.S. Army and the rivalries between those who serve in the various arms of the armed services.

“As Terry mentioned my father was in the Marine Corp.” He said on the day he went to enlist in the military, after the tests and the physicals, he returned home that evening. When he got home his dad inquired how the day's events were, to which Michael told him he tried to enlist in the Marine Corp. but failed the physical.

“He looked at me and said 'you failed the physical...how can that be as you were a college athlete and you failed the physical?'”

“I told him, yeah, I could fit my head in the jar!”

“He promptly looked up at me (my father was about five foot, five in height), pointed at the door and said 'get out!'”

“Being the wise person I was, I left, not wanting to raise the ire of the little Marine!”

His joke brought laughter but some groans from Marine veterans in the audience that morning.

SFC Fouse told the crowd he was honored to have been asked to speak at this annual event that honors the fallen.

“Thirty years ago America engaged in a new war in a volatile region. Iraq had invaded the sovereign nation of Kuwait.

“It was active aggression that could not stand. The United States led a coalition of 35 nations with a bold and clear mission to liberate an occupied country. Among the half million U.S. troops deployed to the middle was army specialist Cindy Beaudoin, a freshman at the University of Connecticut. She had enlisted in the U.S. National Guard as a medic in the 42nd medical company.

“The Hartford Courant reported that the young specialist had a chronic back problem and that she could have gotten out of the deployment.

“Cindy, the daughter of a Vietnam War veteran, wouldn't hear any of that. 'I've course I'm going, silly. I couldn't let my best buddy go off alone,” she told a friend and fellow service member.

“On February 28, 1991, just hours after President George Bush declared a cease fire to end the Gulf War, Specialist Cindy Beaudoin was killed in action when her convoy struck a land mine. She was 19 years old!”

He said like many service men and women going off to war, she wrote a letter to be delivered to her parents should she not return. He said in it she wrote: “ I'd come here to be a hero. I came here because my country needed me to be here. As much as I hate being so far away from home, I'm here with thousands of other soldiers helping to bring down a very deranged tyrant. If I should die while helping to achieve this, then I didn't die in vain.”

He said Cindy did not die in vain; neither did the other Americans who we honor here today on Memorial Day.

“Nonetheless, wars are often unpopular. There's a good reason for this. It was Union General Sherman who said 'it is only those who have neither fired a shot, nor hurt the shrieks and the groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, more vengeance, more desolation. War is quite literally hell!'”

“We should always remember that the decisions leading to war are those of the policy-makers, not the veterans themselves.

“Sometimes the missions are clear cut! In World War II millions were liberated and truly evil regimes were toppled. Other times the missions will have the clarity of a fog-shrouded forest on a dark night. The price can still be unbelievably painful, as Emma and Willy Lieberwich experienced.”

He said the Jewish couple fled Nazi Germany for New York City with their two young sons in 1938. Seven years later Ferdy and Albert Leiberwich made the ultimate sacrifice for their new country fighting against the Germans in Europe.

“In his book, Brothers in Arms, author Kevin Callahan noted: 'the memory of those two brothers who escaped Nazi Germany only to perish in its destruction lives on!'”

“-And that's why we're here today! To recall not just the memories of Cindy Beaudoin and the Leiberwich brothers but to honor the sacrifices made by one million heroes who died while defending this country since the American Revolution.

“That sacrifice is painfully shared by the Gold Star families and close friends to these heroes.

“Most of us will not truly understand the depths of their despair unless we've experienced it ourselves. But we can always offer our support, we can wear the poppy, we can place flags and wreaths, such as we're doing today; we can donate to charities that provide for the families and we look at their surviving brothers and sisters in arms and say: 'thank you for your service.'”

“Organizations nationwide like the American Legion, the VFW, the Amvets, the DAV...they recognize that when rounds are coming your way, there is no such thing as 'a small war.'”

More than 1,600 Americans have lost their lives fighting in covert operations and cold war battles that occurred between the designated war periods since Pearl Harbor.

“We honor their sacrifices much as we honor those we lost on Iwo Jima or upon the frozen, chosen reservoir.

“We're here today to honor all our fallen heroes,” he said, naming many places where wars have been fought.

“The locations are unimportant. It is in the hearts of these men and women that truly matters. It is the devotion within that led them to sacrifice their lives for a country we all love!

“As Specialist Beaudoin wrote here parents: 'when you start to miss me, look inside your heart and you'll find me!'”

“We should all look in our hearts. We may not find our heroes. But we can examine what type of country we live in. No matter what critics say about America, can a nation that produces such remarkable men and women, be anything but a force for good!

“Can we do more to create a country that is worth such sacrifice? Can we insist that our policy-makers always consider the true cost of their decisions? -And only send men and women to war when all other options have been exhausted. War is often not the best policy, but the heroes that those wars produce, are the best of America!”

Following the address Mr. Tubridy took the microphone and announced that wreaths were to be presented to the monument by local girl scouts, the Red Hat Society, Knights of Columbus, Council 2177, the Village of Tupper Lake, the Town of Tupper Lake, the Tupper Lake Honor Guard, employees and resident of Sunmount DDSO, Tupper Lake Central School District, Tupper Lake Volunteer Fire Department, American Legion Post 220, Veterans of Foreign Wars post 3120, Adirondack Leathernecks No. 1268 Marine Corp. League, Amvets Post 710.

After a rousing medley of service songs, Mr. Tubridy called American Legion Commander Mark Moeller to the podium to talk about a subject near and dear to veterans here and all across the country.

“First of all I would like to thank the high school band. The band comes out each year to every ceremony at the Veterans' Park- rain or shine. Please give them another round of applause,” which the crowd did in robust fashion.

He also pointed to the landscape remodeling of the park in recent days by volunteers including Brent Cooke, Mary Kay Kucipeck and Usher Farms, which donated all the new plants and flowers.

He also thanked that day's guest speaker. “Michael didn't talk about himself, but I will. If you look at Michael's uniform you'll see the green beret of our special forces, you'll see the combat infantry badge, three bronze stars, a V-device for valor. Michael was one of the first soldiers into Afghanistan after 9-11. When he talked about the exemplary soldiers, men and women who serve in our armed forces today, Michael was not bragging about himself. But I will.

“He was one of those exemplary soldiers, an American hero. We thank you, Michael, for your service!”

More loud applause.

“Michael is here today with his daughter, who should be very proud of her father. He said SFC Fouse continues to help veterans today at Homeward Bound retreats where veterans come up for weekend retreats to relax in the Adirondacks and to help them deal with the invisible wounds of war like PTSD.

Commander Moeller reported that the local chapter recently purchased 100 acres near Lake Titus and will soon start building a retreat center of its own.

To build the new center the chapter volunteers have started a capital campaign. “I wouldn't make a commercial announcement on Memorial Day if it weren't for helping soldiers.”

He said a raffle is currently underway at Shaheen's Supermarket where the grand prize is $400 in groceries. Tickets are $20.

“I want to thank Shaheen's Supermarket as it generously donated the $400 in groceries that we were planning to pay for from our ticket sales. The people at Shaheen's are always great to our veterans!”

He offered to stay after the ceremony to sell tickets to anyone who wants them.

After Rev. Wilburn conducted the closing prayer, Mr. Tubridy extended an invitation for everyone to join them at the VFW post for refreshments.

Lumberjacks sweep Chateaugay; Shaheen tosses no-hitter

Grant Godin follows through after delivering a ball on May 4 against the Parishville-Hopkinton Panthers. The batter took a swing and missed. (Rich Rosentreter photos)

by Rich Rosentreter

The Tupper Lake Lumberjacks varsity baseball team took a pair of wins on May 18 in a doubleheader sweep of the Chateaugay Bulldogs by scores of 13-0 in game one and 14-0 in game two. As of Monday, the ‘Jacks were in third place in the East Division with a 4-4 record.

The Jacks' pitchers dominated the Bulldogs as Griffin Shaheen pitched a no-hitter in the second game while striking out nine batters and Grant Godin surrendered just one hit and took the victory in the first game notching 10 strikeouts. Both games were shortened due to the “mercy rule” and that it was a doubleheader.

Manager Paul Pickering said his team played well and he was happy with their effort against a winless Bulldog squad in the twin bill.

“The team came out ready to play and I was very pleased with our performance. Grant and Griffin pitched well and gave them fits on the mound. Chateaugay was a young and inexperienced team and we got out to a fast start,” he told the Free Press. “The team was responsive to knowing they were a much better team and played baseball, but didn’t run the opponent into the ground. I’m very proud that the team was compassionate but still aggressive. Both games were good wins and we were able to work on some stuff to prepare ourselves for other games.”

In the first game, the ‘Jacks got on the board after Griffin Shaheen singled with two outs and Grant Godin and Owen Whitman walked to load the bases. Ryley Hill got an RBI when he was hit by a pitch to give Tupper Lake a 1-0 lead. The Jacks added four more runs in the second inning for a 5-0 cushion before blowing the game wide open in the fourth inning with eight runs.

Standout players for Tupper Lake were: Grant Godin who went 2 for 2 with 3 RBIs along with his 10 strikeout, one-hitter; Owen Whitman who went 2 for 2 with 3 stolen bases; Owen Gonyea who went 1 for 3 with an RBI and 3 stolen bases; and Griffin Shaheen, Ryley Hill, Jay Gagnon and Noah Varden, who each contributed an RBI.

Jayden Farnsworth follows through on a swing during a May 4 game against the Parishville-Hopkinton Panthers.

In the second game, it didn’t take long for the ‘Jacks to jump out in front as they plated five runs in the first inning. Leadoff batter Owen Gonyea got it going when he reached base on an error and then swiped second. With one out, Griffin Shaheen, Grant Godin and Owen Whitman had consecutive singles followed by a double by Jayden Farnsworth. Ryley Hill reached on an error and Jack Desmarais singled to cap off the ‘Jacks offense in the inning.

In the second inning, the ‘Jacks picked up where they left off as Griffin Shaheen got the inning going with a single and a steal of second. Owen Whitman, Jack Desmarais and Owen Gonyea all contributed hits in the inning and Shaheen added his second single of the frame as the ‘Jacks scored seven runs and had a commanding 12-0 lead.

Tupper Lake added two more runs in the third as Ryley Hill, Jack Desmarais, Noah Varden and Owen Gonyea had consecutive hits to highlight the inning.

Standout players for Tupper Lake were: Owen Gonyea who went 2 for 3 with 3 RBIs and 3 stolen bases; Griffin Shaheen who went 3 for 3 with 3 RBIs and 4 stolen bases along with his no-hitter and 9 strikeouts on the mound; Ryley Hill who went 2 for 3 with an RBI; and Jack Desmarais who went 3 for 3 with an RBI.

On May 21, the ’Jacks lost a 7-6 heartbreaker to the Norwood-Norfolk Flyers as they had a 6-2 lead going into the sixth inning and lost in extra innings.

Once again the ‘Jacks started the scoring with two runs in the first inning, but the Flyers responded with one run in the bottom of the inning and one run in the second to knot the score at 2-2.

The ‘Jacks came through with some clutch hitting in the third and fourth innings as they plated two runs in each stanza to take a 6-2 lead. Then the Flyers began to claw their way back. In the sixth inning, Norwood’s first two batters drew walks and both base runners would eventually score to close the gap to 6-4. In their final at-bat, the Flyers rallied once again by plating two runs to tie the score at 6-6 - with the tying run crossing the plate with two outs.

In the bottom of the eighth inning Norwood’s leadoff batter walked, stole second and scored the game-winning run on a double to give Tupper Lake the loss.

“We capitalized on some errors and scored some runs early. The bats went quiet and Norwood capitalized on some errors also. We had the situation we wanted in the bottom of the seventh, up one with two outs and a runner on second,” Pickering said. “The Norwood player had a good hit and they tied the game. We couldn’t hold them in the bottom of the eighth and it was a tough loss.”

Still, the Tupper Lake manager had lots of praise for his team.

“We did a lot of great things in this game. Jace Desmarais played excellent in center field and tracked down several hard hit balls. Our pitching was solid and I’m happy with the outing Grant Godin had,” he said. “We were in position to win. We have to do a better job getting on base and putting the ball in play. This team never gives up and puts forth their best effort every outing. As a coach that’s what I want from my team is their best effort, we came up short on this one.”

Standout players for the Jacks were: Jace Desmarais who went 1 for 4 with an RBI and 2 stolen bases; Griffin Shaheen who went 1 for 4 and an RBI at bat and had 4 strikeouts while giving up 3 earned runs on 5 hits on the mound; and Grant Godin, who was the starting pitcher and had 7 strikeouts while giving up just 1 earned run and 3 hits.

The Jacks are scheduled to play a home game today at 4:30 p.m. against the St. Lawrence Larries and then the team will honor its seniors during a home game at 11 a.m. on Friday against Madrid-Waddington.

Still five days to take in historic photo exhibit

Fun at the skating rink at the Tupper Lake Municipal Park in the winter of 1980. Recognize any of those young faces.

The winners of the arm wrestling contest at the O'Villa Club on Cliff Ave. on May 26, 1979. Holding trophies in the various weight classes were from left Paul LaMontagne, Randy Amell, a double winner that day, his brother and former town supervisor Roger Amell and Jimmy Houghton. In back were Rick and O'Villa Roberts, who organized the event at the local bar and Al Connor.

Organizers of the Tupper Lake American Legion Easter bunny project: from left: Harlan LaFave, James Rovito, Norm Cote and Ed Thibodeau.

The Corky Arsenault band, taken at the Riverside Restaurant on October 23, 1955. Note Dorran Boushie on drums.

Time is running out to take in the excellent exhibit of the late Kathleen Bigrow photos currently offered at Tupper Arts on Park Street. It's the work of Tupper Lake's Jim Lanthier Jr. and Ed Donnelly, both hard-working Tupper Arts volunteers. These photos from the past are just four of the nearly 100 “hometown shots” visitors will see there this week Wednesday to Sunday from 11a.m. to 5p.m.

This is the last week so plan to take in the exhibit which is guaranteed to bring back many memories.

Village leaders, developers escort Assemblyman Billy Jones on walk through of Oval Wood Dish complex

Set to take a tour

Assemblyman Billy Jones and his staff took a tour of the former Oval Wood Dish buildings Friday with masked-up village leaders and the development team from the Lahinch Group of Syracuse- the second visit in recent weeks. From left ready to set off on the tour of the massive dozen-building premises were (from left): Mayor Paul Maroun, who has been working with the Lahinch group for over a year, Developer Joe Gehm, Christoper Trevisani of Housing Visions of Syracuse, Assemblyman Billy Jones, Developer Michel Dunyk and Village Trustees Ron LaScala, Clint Hollingsworth and Jason McClain. (McClelland photo)

by Dan McClelland

Village leaders and the developers of the ambitious conversion of the former Oval Wood Dish Corp. complex on Demars Blvd. treated Assemblyman Billy Jones to a tour Friday afternoon of the long dormant former industrial site and all the wonderful things proposed for it which include 92 new apartment units.

On the tour of the place that day joining developers Joseph Gehm and Michael Dunyk of the Lahinch Group of Syracuse was Christopher Trevisani, vice president of business development for Housing Visions, another Syracuse company which specializes in revitalizing urban neighborhoods.

Mr. Gehm may be a face familiar to some here and in Long Lake as he and his family have owned and enjoyed a summer residence in Long Lake for a number of years.

Accompanying Mayor Paul Maroun were Trustees Clint Hollingsworth, Jason McClain and Ron LaScala.

Assemblyman Jones served on the Franklin County Legislature with Mr. Maroun before being elected to the state assembly to succeed Assemblywoman Janet Dupuis several years ago. They are good friends.

Absent from the event was Charlie Breuer of the Hueber-Breuer construction company, another member of the Lahinch group’s development team, Joe Gehm explained to the group that afternoon. Hueber-Breuer was the company that directed the building of the village's Emergency Services Building several years ago.

Accompanying the state lawmaker were two of his aides, Molly Ryan and Greg Janisewski.

Joe Gehm told the group they are looking to put 92 apartments in the complex of buildings, as well as some commercial tenants.

“What they are doing is very good stuff,” Assemblyman Jones said at the start of the tour. “We were just talking at the village office that there are a lot of good things going on right now in Tupper Lake with recreation, the waterfront projects, the business district developments and new businesses there.”

“I was just telling Paul and the board members what a difference five or six years has made on your main street,” he noted. “It’s unbelievable. I remember coming here with Paul when we were both county legislators” when Park Street didn’t shine as well.

He said one key to a thriving community is having available and affordable housing. “-And this is what these gentlemen are doing,” pointing to the developers.

“To take this location and refurbish it” to create available housing is part of Tupper Lake’s coming evolution.

Part of the complex most recently housed Roger Sullivan’s O.W.D. Inc. plastic utensil manufacturing. Mr. Sullivan sold it to the Jarden company which operated it for about two years, before closing in the early 2000s.

“Good housing is something you need in a community” to be sustainable and they will help provide that, he said of the developers’ mission. “Right now there is a lack of housing stock in Tupper Lake and this will certainly put a big dent in that! ”

“My hat's off to them and I look forward to seeing the end product. It’s going to be great for this area!” the state lawmaker concluded.

The Lookout restaurant at the golf course has new look, new operators

by Rich Rosentreter

The new floor in the patio area.

Jaime and Rachel Armstrong, new proprietors at The Lookout restaurant, formerly The Burgundy Steakhouse and the 19th Hole Restaurant, at the Tupper Lake Golf Course, pose with their dog Louie in front of just one of the new editions at the venue - Bruce the Moose. (Rich Rosentreter photos)

Change is par for the course. There are new proprietors, a new name and a new game plan at the restaurant at the Tupper Lake Country Club - formerly known as The Burgundy Steakhouse. Its new identity is The Lookout and will be run by Jaime and Rachel Armstrong. It was slated to open its doors for the season last Saturday.

The Armstrongs have been running The Lookout since January of last year, but their efforts to make improvements and fully open have been slowed due to the COVID pandemic. And although neither has a background in the restaurant business, the couple said they are confident they have what it takes to build a successful operation.

The couple does have a local connection, as Rachel was born and raised in Tupper Lake, and her mother, Lydia Kriwox, owns Usher Farms on Underwood Road. Her husband Jaime is from Hudson Falls – and has been a familiar face at the local country club as a top-rate golfer. He said he has had an interest in running the restaurant for some time and when the opportunity presented itself, he pounced.

“It’s always been on my radar. I’ve played here many years in the Pro Am and still play and last year. I made an off-the-cuff comment to my friend Scott Delair, whose father used to cook here, Joe Delair. I was like ‘I’d love to buy this place; it has so much potential.’ So as luck would have it, there was an opportunity last year. I threw my hat in the ring, had an interview and now we’re here,” he said.

Jaime has previously worked as the director of golf at Kingswood Golf Club in his hometown for 15 years, and that is where he acquired some of his kitchen experience.

“I did everything. I oversaw the food department. I know my way around the kitchen. I know how to cook. This is definitely new, but it’s exciting and Rachel and I are building something.”

As far as the name, that was selected partly due to a local connection.

“Somebody said there had been a fire tower on the mountain and they called it The Lookout,” Rachel explained. “And that’s also what you do when you’re sitting down here in the restaurant or patio, you’re looking out, and seeing the beauty of why we live here.”

Facelift

Improvements at the restaurant started from day one when the Armstrongs took over the establishment last spring - and the original game plan was for The Lookout to open in the spring, but because of the pandemic, they weren’t able to open until June.

“It slowed everything down,” Jaime said, adding that one of the main issues was filling a kitchen that was gutted because the previous proprietors had owned most of the kitchen equipment and he had to replace everything in the room. “It was tough with COVID getting people to come in and hook up the new equipment. It was troublesome to get everything hooked up and operating.”

“We now have a fully functioning kitchen,” Rachel added. “It’s all new and better. All new kitchen equipment, new ranges and coolers – everything in the kitchen is new.”

The golf course board and the town board purchased many of the appliances in the kitchen in a cooperative effort to rebuilt it over the past year.

But the kitchen isn’t the only thing new at The Lookout – and many improvements have been made to the building and facilities.

“We did an entire facelift. We painted everything from the ceiling down. We have a new floor on the porch, a new entranceway and a new patio. Now we have outdoor eating, and that was a big thing with COVID,” Jaime said. “We painted the bathrooms and the women’s room is being re-done. We’re making a party room on the porch and making a doorway, and there’s still more to be done.”

“We’re trying to give a new look to the building. There’s new shrubbery out front,” Rachel said, laughing as the spring snow covered the new patio and the new-look outdoors was coated in white.

“We’ve been working on the bar. We have a fully stocked bar and a new tap system,” Jaime added. “The kegerator is new. We now have a full selection of craft beers. I think we’re able to offer more for different clientele.”

Attracting new and different clientele is only part of the plan for the Armstrongs. They also want to attract the local community – some of whom may have not been to the eatery at the local golf course for years.

“I think this place has a real deep history in Tupper Lake and seeing it thrive, I think, will bring the community back to it like it used to be. The community loves the history of this place,” Rachel said. “We want to make it accessible to the community again. This used to be the number one place for weddings and that has slowed. We know what we have to offer and we know the potential of it. We want the town to come back. It’s really a privilege to be in this position to offer this jewel back to the town.”

Of course, the new proprietors will not forget about the main course – the golfers.

“We cater to everybody, but we take special care of our golfers. They’re our lifeline and we know that. I don’t want to say we’re golfers first, but we’re very golfer oriented. Like I said, I played on the Pro Am, we have in-house tournaments. I relate to them a lot and I learned from playing here in the tournaments in the past,” Jaime said. “I get it being a golfer. I know when I’m golfing, I know what I want and I guess it’s easy for me to relate to them and we take care of them.”

“The golfing community has been super supportive. The feedback has been great all-around, from the town to the golfers,” he added.

The menu

Another new feature at The Lookout will be expanded offerings on the menu – from food to beverages.

“We have a great menu that we’ve been working on all winter; it’s a full spectrum,” Rachel said. “Jaime really brought a new fresh facelift to this. Instead of the traditional steakhouse feel, it’s the new, fresh feel.”

“It’s not the typical country club menuN now we have a little bit of everything, a nice lunch menu, tons of beers. I would say Adirondack dining, I wouldn’t say fine dining,” Jaime said. “You can get your pub fare or you can get your lobster tails and steak. We use fresh produce from local farms. That’s the type of stuff that’s in now, farm to market to table.”

“We have a Tao chicken sandwich, which is fun. We have a bison burger, we have an Usher Farm chopped salad,” Rachel said, adding that there’s a choice of craft beer, including Raquette River Brewing.

“It’s very affordable and you’re going to get the views and take in the scenery and that’s what we want to take advantage of – we want to make people aware that we’re here and we’re fresh and we’re young. And it’s not The Burgundy Steakhouse at the Country Club, it’s something different,” Jaime said. “There’s a little bit of something for everyone. The place needed a new vibe. We’re trying to capture a lot of different audiences with what we offer – it needed a different, younger approach.”

With that thought, the Armstrongs said they hope to connect with all segments of the community and visitors – as they believe some people have forgotten the gem alongside the golf course. To emphasize that point, Jaime told the story of some friends who recently came to visit him at his new establishment.

“They said ‘We forgot about this place.’ We want people to remember and know we are here and attract people back again,” he said, adding that he hopes word spreads about The Lookout. “In the past, there were some parties that would go elsewhere and we were able to get them back here, so that was nice. I think word of mouth is very important, especially in a small community.”

“We want to have events here and we want to maintain that country club feeling, but just make it accessible and a destination for locals and visitors again,” Rachel said. “I think that approach was lost somewhat.”

One form of event The Lookout hopes to host are weddings as couples can tie the knot on the tee overlooking the fairway – a location that has a special place in the hearts of the Armstrongs -they were married at that spot last year.

“We did and it’s absolutely gorgeous,” Rachel said. She is expecting the couple’s first child in the upcoming months. When asked, she said that she does not golf.

“But the baby will,” Jaime said with a laugh.

Support

The Armstrongs also recognized the support and help they’ve had as far as giving The Lookout a new beginning.

“The town has been wonderful. Patty Littlefield has really spent a lot of time helping us with the renovations, she’s paid for a lot of the materials. And the golf board has been supportive. They’re really happy to see the improvements and have been happy to pay for the materials for the improvements,” Rachel said. “It’s only going to help them in the end by improving the building.”

Jaime said it’s a win-win situation for everyone.

“We’re happy, we wanted to do improvements. I think it’s going to be great. I think we’re going to attract more parties and more clientele just by being able to offer an up-to-date place. It needed a facelift and it needed some changes. It needed a patio - and the new patio is going to be huge, outdoor dining has taken off due to COVID,” Jaime said. “People will want to come here just for the patio, they’ll want to sit outside and look down the green and the awesome views and have some lunch or some drinks.”

“It’s not grandma’s steakhouse anymore,” Rachel said, adding that she has plans to decorate the patio area since her mom has a greenhouse. “I’m going to plant a wall of sunflowers along the wall.”

As far as opening for the season, the couple said they plan to open Saturday, May 1 and have the lunch menu available. There is still some work being done, but the couple is ready for business. Patrons can sit down inside to eat or take out.

Rachel said that The Lookout already has three weddings booked for this year, and those interested in booking an event can visit their Facebook page for more information.

The couple is also open to suggestions for menu and drink items.

“We have had suggestions from people and taken them to heart. One woman is a regular golfer who had a regular drink so it has been named ‘Mary’s Margarita’ on the menu. We’ve had request to carry certain liquors and certain beers and we added it,” Rachel said. “We’re pretty adaptable and I think that is one thing about us not being from the restaurant background and set in our ways, so when people say ‘Hey, I want a taco bar for our wedding,’ we like say: 'sure let’s do it!'” We’re all about ‘this is new and we’re building something,’ and we’re excited.”

“We will consider requests within reason,” Jaime added. “We like to do that kind of stuff. We’re not like a cookie-cutter. We might be a little unorthodox, but we like it that way. We’re excited – and we hope the community comes to check us out.”

Residential, commercial development proposed for Oval Wood Dish complex

by Dan McClelland

At a time when Tupper Lake is very short on apartments for rent comes an ambitious residential and commercial development by the new owners of the former Oval Wood Dish Corp. complex on Demars Boulevard.

Thursday two representatives of the Syracuse-based Lahinch Group- Managing Member Joseph Gehm and Member Michael Dunyk- escorted members of the local media, local officials and Senator Dan Stec through the old factory quarters while detailing some of their ambitious plans.

The tour was organized b y Mayor Paul Maroun, who has been working with the developers for over a year and by Trustee Ron LaScala, who has also been meeting with the two.

The tour that afternoon began at the entrance to what used to be the office area of the Tupper Lake Veneer Corp. in the western most end of the vacant complex.

In recent years the recent owners, Norman Bobrow and Associates of New York City, have been using that area and other sections of the nine-building structure for winter storage of boats and other vehicles.

The former Tupper Lake Veneer section will be used for indoor parking of the vehicles of the residents who will live in the apartments that will comprise most of the remainder of the complex.

The temperature that afternoon inside the vacant buildings was a few degrees warmer than the outside, hovering about 40 degree F.

The complex is like a fortress with concrete walls often several feet thick in places. In many of the tall factory rooms the high roofs are supported by heavy iron trusses.

Joe Gehm explained one of the reasons they selected the complex for their latest development “is that it has very good bones.”

The company has successfully completed a number of development and real estate projects in both Syracuse and Utica in recent years.

The developers are calling the indoor parking area building No. 1. It’s where the Tupper Lake Veneer company’s employees for decades peel veneer from wet logs for plywood manufacturing off site.

In that first part of the building, according to Mr. Gehm, “the windows will “be upgraded.” The new indoor garage, large enough for a parking space for each new tenant, will be unheated.

There will, however, be a water-oil separation system installed to handle any water run-off from vehicles which enter in the rain or snow.

“Installing heat in the garage” would be cost prohibitive, Mr. Gehm noted.

He predicted that this past winter would likely be the last season that the structure will be used for vehicle storage. Since their purchase several weeks ago, most of the boats and cars stored there this winter have been claimed by their owners.

He also said once they gain all their local and state permits, “we could have shovels in the ground by year’s end.”

The two developers also figured the project from start to finish will only be 12 to 14 months in length.

They said they are hoping to find local contractors to tackle the building work ahead.

Much of the former industrial complex is made up of long fingers of buildings, 60 feet or so in width, 300 to 400 feet in length. Many of the pieces are separated by green areas.

The western most finger is now called Building No. 2. Dividing it is a long concrete wall with large openings.

“We’re trying to figure out what uses could be here,” he told the group. “Ideally, we want to do some co-working space...to tap into people who are commuting to work here now or who are working remotely in the Adirondack Park and may want to have an office here or a shared desk.”

He said they would also like to find what he called “a commercial tenant” looking for office space in Tupper Lake for that section of the complex.

“Building No. 2 we haven’t really pegged out” for a specific purpose yet, he explained.

Moving easterly in the structure into what they are calling building No. 3, another relatively narrow but formidable 50 foot high structure, Mr. Gehm said they intend to build what they call “market rate or higher-end apartments. Both sides of that piece look out onto green areas.

There would be about 27 new and larger apartments on both floors and on both sides of that building. Some of the second floor apartments would have a good view of Mt. Morris and the southern vista at Moody.

The height of the building will allow the developers to feature cathedral ceilings or loft-style architecture in the second floor apartments.

Mr. Gehm said he was amazed the roofs of the buildings are in relatively good condition and there’s been very little water damage where there have been leaks.

During his tenure as owner of the Lady Diane plastic utensil manufacturer, O.W.D. Inc. Roger Sullivan had many new roofs installed on the various buildings his operation used.

Mr. Gehm said that the tenants of the new complex will have plenty of green space to enjoy between the fingers of the structure.

The new apartments, he said, will be framed inside the sturdy walls. “If the walls had been brick, we would have likely kept some of them exposed, but since they are made of concrete and cinder blocks, they will all be covered.

To preserve the historic features of the old industrial complex, they will have to recreate those effects in the design of the new structure, versus exposing the old walls and such, he noted.

“With the winters we have up here the walls and ceilings will all be well insulated,” he added.

Mr. Gehm said that the character of the original factory will be preserved in many elements of the new design.

“In every one of our projects we’ve done across upstate New York, we’ve incorporated historical artifacts and photographs” along hallways and in common areas.

“Our most recent building in Syracuse, which was the Addis building and a former department store we worked with the Onondaga Historical Association.” He said they gained many old photographs of the building in earlier times and pieces of clothing that were sold there.

“We’d love to do that sort of thing here too!”

He said the final design selected for this development will reflects its history as Tupper Lake’ largest private employer in the early and mid-1900s.

“We’ll be using every part of the complex” in one way or another, Mr. Gehm said during the stroll to another finger which is now called building No. 4. In this one there will be three or four larger apartments on each side. “These will be apartments for a blended workforce” who are middle-income earners. There will be no low-income apartments in this project, the developer stated.

“Some of these will be for young people entering the work force” and rents will be structured to reflect that, he explained.

The tour moved down one of the high and narrow corridors connecting the former manufacturing rooms into what was the Oval Wood Dish Corporation’s three-story high gymnasium, once home to basketball games between employees, boxing matches and other athletic events.

“This was a fully operational gymnasium at one time,” said Mayor Paul Maroun. “There were apparently many local teams” who played basketball and other court sports here.

Not only was the full gym available to their employees and their families, but the Hull family members who owned and operated the company also cleared and developed a spacious picnic grounds for company social functions across the Raquette River near what locals call LeBeouf’s Bridge.

In the gymnasium Senator Stec recounted an old story his father used to tell about when he travelled back and forth between his home in Poughkeepsie and the ranger school in Wanakena which he attended and he regularly passed by the Oval Wood Dish operation here. Senator Stec said he also passed it regularly when he lived as a young man in Queensbury and attended Clarkson University in Potsdam.

“Every time our family passed through Tupper Lake my dad would always talk about the days when the factory was operating and tell us about that was the place they made the wooden spoons and the wooden bowls. He had such fond memories of this place!”

The senator said it will be wonderful “to repurpose this old building” and see it thrive again.

He predicted the structure is so solid “it will last forever.”

Mr. Gehm said his engineers have thoroughly inspected the building and found they were structurally solid.

“Of course we are going to have to replace many of the roofs.” Some of the roof supports may be reused.

The roof of the gymnasium building or what they are calling building No. 5, is supported by large metal trusses, which may be retained, depending upon what its eventual use would be.

Mr. Gehm said right now the “preliminary plan” for the former gym is two floors of apartments, numbering about 16. “But if we can find the right commercial user for this space, I think that would be better!”

Later that afternoon the developers toured the factory premises again, this time with Mark Jessie and Joe Hockey of Raquette River Brewing, who are reportedly considering it as a possible site of a production brewery they have talked about in recent years that they would like to open.

“We’ve met with Mark and Joe several times over the past year. We don’t know of their permanent plans yet,” Mr. Gehm confided. “We’ve also met a lot of other folks in the community in recent years,” he added.

Asked what sort of businesses or shops that the developers hope might come to the mixed-use complex, Mr. Gehm admitted “anything that fits well with the mayor’s vision for the village and anyone who wants to create a vibrant mixed-use live and work environment.”

Many successful urban rental developments feature both apartments and various types of shops, offices and commercial enterprises.

Mayor Maroun, the proposed development’s biggest fan here, said he believed this project will dramatically change the face of Tupper Lake. It will eliminate the eyesore that has stood in the middle of the village for decades.

In all, Mr. Gehm said, they are proposing to create as many as 92 new apartments, at a time when apartments are badly needed here.

Trustee Ron LaScala, a local landlord rebuilding the former Plaza Hotel building on Park Street, said he can advertise one of his apartments online and “in an hour, it’s rented.”

“We’ve heard there’s a big market for apartments here, Mr. Gehm stated that afternoon.

The apartments they hope to create will be mostly one- and two-bedroom ones. Perhaps a few three-bedroom ones too. “We’re looking at a true mix of tenants- from entry-level workers at Sunmount to the retiree from New York City who might be looking to leave the city.”

Michael Dunyk said on the next stroll to the next section of the building that he and Joe and their firm have several other partners lining up to help them do this project, including the Hueber Breuer company which constructed the multi-million dollar emergency services building for the village several years ago.

This development will apparently have a $30 million price tag.

The Lahinch Group is currently doing several project’s in Syracuse’s Franklin Square, where a former industrial site is being revived with new uses. The site was redeveloped starting in the 1990s and now is mainly high-end condos, Mr. Gehm said.

Their company has also refurbished other former industrial sites including the 100 year old Oak Knitting Mill in Syracuse, which was completed in 2017. The company’s current offices are located there. There are also 38 loft apartments there.

Building No. 6 which is where O.W.D. Inc. had situated some of its large robotic plastic molding machines during its operation in the east end of the complex will be home to as many as two dozen more apartments. Some of the large window areas that were closed with cinder blocks will be reopened for new windows in the new apartments.

Mr. Gehm said all the apartments will have access to Demars Blvd. Plus there will be other doors leading to the green areas between the buildings.

Also planned are a fitness center and community rooms for the tenants’ use in the back of the complex, near the parking garage.

Mr. Gehm said they have several approval processes to navigate through before the project can begin. A permit is needed from the State Historic Preservation agency and another is needed from the National Park Service in order to qualify for state and federal housing tax credits. He said he is unsure at this point if the project will require a permit from the Adirondack Park Agency. “We have already reached out to agency staff, however,
he noted.

Some of the structure which was used by O.W.D. Inc. will be razed and replaced with lawn.

“We know there’s a lot of local support for this project and we look forward to working with the community” to bring it to life here, the developer said.

“The village is open for business,” is how Trustee LaScala put it that afternoon. “Anything we can do to help them succeed here we are going to do!”

According to Mr. Gehm, “the mayor was here on Day one. Ron was here on Day Two and we’ve had tremendous help from Melissa McManus and others. But when Mike and I talked about this 18 months ago, we thought how great it would be to make such a community impact here.”

He said what they are now calling Building No. 8 was another piece of the eastern section of the complex right next to the shopping plaza. More apartments will be created there.

Several large garage bays in the back of the building will be likely retained to help tenants move furniture in and out of the building, he said.

Mayor Maroun said village water, sewer and electric services currently run to the complex and the superintendents of those departments “are all ready to work with Joe and Mike and their group.

Questioned if any of the complex’s internal infrastructure will be preserved, Mr. Gehm said “most of the old pipes and such will have to go.”

The main entrance to the development will likely be on the western side, next to the indoor parking garage, Mr. Gehm thought.

He said they currently have a contract to purchase the Fletcher property behind the former Oval Wood Dish complex. “The Fletcher family has been very amenable to work with us and gave us enough time to figure out what we are doing here.”

“The plan there would be to work with the mayor and the community to find a good community use for it. Ideally, we’d like to connect” to the Junction Pass pedestrian trail behind it. We’re open to what folks would like to see there!”

“We’ve been talking to the mayor about some sort of outdoor venue for concerts, events and other things like a bike park.”

He also held out the possibility there may be some grants to remediate that parcel that was long the headquarters of the late Earl Fletcher’s salvage business.

Asked if they plan to retain the Oval Wood Dish smokestack which dominates the skyline in the center of the village the developer said “absolutely.”

Tupper Arts to host third Kathleen Bigrow show next month

by Dan McClelland

Photographer Jim Lanthier Jr., the chief archivist of Kathleen Bigrow’s vast photo collection, has been hard at work in recent weeks preparing for his third showing of her local photographs at Tupper Arts next month.

Two previous shows, both entitled “Through the Lens of Kathleen Bigrow,” highlighted Mrs. Bigrow’s many photos of the first two decades of the operation of the town-owned Big Tupper Ski Area. The second was devoted to an overview of the well known photographer’s photo journalism of the greater Tupper Lake area spanning nearly five decades. This show is entitled “Through the Lens of Kathleen Bigrow: Live, Work and Play” and features photos about those parts of life here.

Photographer Jim Lanthier Jr. shows some of the Kathleen Bigrow photos he has prepared for next month's exhibit at the Tupper Arts center on Park Street. (Dan McClelland photo)

This third show promises to be as interesting and as successful as his first two. Many of the photos in this new exhibit haven’t been displayed publicly before.

Kathleen was a reporter and photographer for some 25 years with the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, the Watertown Daily Times and the Syracuse Post-Standard beginning in the 1950s. She joined the Tupper Lake Free Press as its photographer in 1977 and worked there into the early 2000s. In her eighties she opened an Adirondack furniture and gift show on Park Street called “The Sorting Gap,” which she operated for a half dozen years. Kathleen died in 2014 at the age of 91.

Mr. Lanthier in recent years donated her vast photographic collection to Tupper Arts. It includes the thousands of photographs taken by the tireless photographer over her 50-year career. Under Mr. Lanthier’s guidance Tupper Arts is cataloguing, digitizing and archiving the collection for the enjoyment of future generations here.

He has recently purchased a sublimation machine and printer to transfer the photo images from the collection onto souvenir mugs, the sale of which will benefit the art center in the months ahead.

In recent years the local photographer has donated thousands of dollars in equipment and materials to Tupper Arts to prepare the exhibits for these three shows. Included in his donations are special printers and negative scanners to bring Mrs. Bigrow’s photos to life. One printer is specially designed to print from black and white negatives, as most of Mrs. Bigrow’s photo were, to produce vivid blacks, subtle grays and pure whites.

The entire back room of the arts center on Park Street is now filled with photos on display boards- all ready for hanging in the show in coming days.

For Tupper Lakers- both current and past- Kathleen’s photos rekindle many memories of people, places and events over generations here.

Re-prints of all photos as well as the new souvenir items will be available for sale from Tupper Arts on its web site when the show opens next month.

Working with Jim again on this show is another mainstay of the arts center- Ed Donnelly. Jim has printed nearly 120 photographs that will appear in the show. Once Jim shrink wraps each one, they go to Ed who mounts them on mats and hangs them on various easels and display areas in the Tupper Arts gallery. We found Ed in the arts center working on the show on Monday morning.

The show begins at Tupper Arts on the first of May and runs through May 23. The center is open Wednesdays to Sundays 11a.m. to 5p.m.

Planners approve second Amado expansion

Amado co-owner Lilian Rohrbach (right) and her helper Emily Sipler were staining some of the wood in their restaurant's back yard this week that will create five new rectangular gazebos on property she and her husband purchased this year on Lake Street as part of this year's seating expansion.

by Dan McClelland

The village and town board last month approved an ambitious outdoor dining expansion project by the owners of Tupper Lake’s Amado Cafe and Restaurant. The expansion at the popular eatery is the second in as many years.

The planners met via the Zoom computer application again this month.

The board action followed a public hearing on Wednesday, April 24 which produced no comments from the general public prior to the meeting.

Owners Cory and Lilian Rohrbach last summer added three greenhouse-style individual dining rooms to the backyard of their Cliff Ave. business. Also situated there were numerous canopied outdoor dining tables, situated in the midst of various shrubs and flower gardens.

Cory and Lilian Rohrbach will extend a garden of small shrubs and wild flowers from the one they created last year near their greenhouse-style dining rooms as a new perimeter for their expansion onto the neighboring Lake St. property. Cory said this week they open to have the expanded outdoor dining area completed by the end of May. (McClelland photos)

This year’s proposal is even more grand.

The couple this past year bought the neighboring property at 38 Lake Street, which was the Tyo family’s long-time home and are in the process of rehabilitating its landscape to accommodate five new rectangular gazebos, all connected by a covered walkway. The gazebos will be 26 feet by 16 feet with open sides.

The Rohrbachs have also set aside space on their new landscaped dining campus for a large 20 foot by 60 foot tent to accommodate wedding parcels. The large tent along with the new gazebos will seat as many as 300 wedding or party guests.

When the tent is up for an event, the gazebo closest to it could be used for their outdoor bar, Cory said this week.

Ray Martin, whose accounting practice is headquartered across the street from the project site, said at the planning board meeting “they fully support everything they are doing over there. Mr. Martin and his wife, Lori, were at the meeting on another matter that evening.

The public hearing was closed several minutes after it opened.

In the planners’ regular part of their monthly meeting Mr. Rohrbach, who detailed many of his plans when he first appeared before the planners last month, was asked by Chairman Shawn Stuart to update the board of any developments since then.

Board member Jan Yaworski noted that lighting hadn’t been discussed during his appearance before them last month.

“What’s going on with the lighting on the outside” and in the various new pavilions which will be constructed? she asked Mr. Rohrbach.

“First of all I want to say that Lilian and I are very strong supporters of the observatory project here in town. We donate heavily to it and have for the past several years.” Their annual gifts amount to about $3,000- he noted.

“We understand the need for having to have downward pointed lighting” under the community’s dark skies policy.

He said the lighting in the new gazebos will be chandelier-style with soft amber bulbs- meant to just light the tables and seating below them. The lights they plan to use there are called “Sputnik Chandeliers,” he told the planners.

All new lighting on the restaurant’s expanded campus will be similar to the soft lighting already found there on last year’s project.

“We’re looking to keep all exterior lighting low-level so even though you are outdoors you’ll feel like you are in a restaurant with soft lighting.”

“There will be no upward-shooting lighting outdoors and we're trying to keep all our lighting to a minimum. There will be some lantern-style wall sconces with shields on their tops to direct the lighting downward on the supports of the gazebos.”

Ms. Yaworski wondered about lighting on and around the outdoor tables that will be positioned around a new courtyard area.

Mr. Rohrbach said there would be ground lighting there similar to what they did around the grounds of their first expansion. “We are going to continue with that around the new gazebos.”

He said if they feel that the diners need more light on their tables they have a plan. He admitted the need for auxiliary lighting on each table usually may come late in the summer season when the evenings are growing darker. In the first part of the summer, however, daylight continues until after 9p.m.

He said they may install small downward-pointing lights on the branches of the trees that separate the two parcels there to light some of the table tops.

“Right now we don’t know exactly what we’ll be doing there, but we plan to address it on a need-to basis” as the evenings grow darker by summer’s end.

“We don’t intend to use any intense lighting. We’re very aware about the need to keep our local skies dark.”

He said they want their diners to be able to navigate their dining grounds safely, without adding to light pollution.

Ms. Yaworski wondered about any ground lighting on the pathways connecting the gazebos.

A covered pathway with small lights under the roof will connect the buildings, he told her.

On the grounds there will be a number of solar-powered LED lights which are relatively dim in nature, he noted.

A nearby street light also casts light down onto the property, he told her. He said that light and the lanterns on the gazebos should be able to provide the light necessary for their expanded operation.

The planner applauded their adherence to the community’s dark skies initiative.

Ms. Yaworski also asked him about the landscaping planned along Lake Street.

Mr. Rohrbach said they plan to continue the gardens of shrubs and ground cover they did in their first phase down Lake Street to the house there.

“We’ll probably use shrubs and small birch and maple trees” to create a buffer between the sidewalk and the dining areas. We don’t want people to feel like they are sitting in the middle of a parking lot. We want people to feel they are in the Adirondacks and in the woods,” he said of their plans to retain the large trees between the two properties.

“We plan to use low shrubs around the place so the visual going into the courtyard won’t be blocked.” The wild flowers they planted in their beds will be continued in the new gardens and perimeter areas, bedded in red mulch.

“The plants that didn’t survive the winter, you are planning on replacing them, correct?” asked Ms. Yaworski.

“Yes...that goes without saying!” the chef told her.

Planning board member Tom Maroun said he reviewed all their plans and said “he likes the whole concept,” adding: “it looks very nice.”

Volunteer Dave St. Onge said he also looked over the plans “thoroughly” and agreed with Mr. Maroun’s assessment of the project.

Another planning board member Jim Merrihew told the applicant he was “very excited” for him and his wife. “I think this is a super addition to the community!”

“My only question is you have to keep the building and you are going to have these beautiful gazebos and grounds there.” He said they will be in contrast with the tired condition of the former house’s exterior. “I assume you are going to do something with at least the wall facing your restaurant to dress it up a little bit? Do you have plans for that?”

Mr. Rohrbach indicated that may not happen this year. “The reality is our plans for our 10 Cliff St. restaurant and the 38 Lake Street property are for the exteriors of the buildings to be completely redone” some year very soon.

He said their current plans call for the construction of new bathroom facilities for diners in the house at 38 Lake Street.

Mr. Rohrbach said they are not in a financial position this year to do all the re-siding work- given the investment they were making in their new project at this time.

“However Lilian and I were talking this week about putting some stained tongue and groove wood on the ground level” of the exterior of the house near the entrance to the restroom area to improve its appearance. “We want to try to make that area as attractive as possible- either through greenery or siding so that you are not looking at the old shingles on the house, ” he told Mr. Merrihew.

For this year, one of their options may be to remove the old asphalt shingles on the section of house near the gazebos and paint or stain the clapboard siding underneath, if it's in decent condition.

“But we do have plans to improve the facades of both the buildings soon!” Both buildings will have new matching and stained clapboard-style siding in the near future, he promised the planners. The colors will match the greenhouse dining rooms and new gazebos in the courtyard.

“I’ll be honest with you,” Cory told the planning board member. “If we had the money the siding would be going on right now!”

Mr. Merrihew said he was encouraged by their project and their future plans to dress up their buildings.

Planner Doug Bencze said he really liked what the Rohrbachs were doing with their property and their business there. “They are doing a great job with it and I’m for what they are doing! They’ve been busy like bees!”

Chairman Shawn Stuart called it a “very energetic project which is certainly going to look very good here. We’re all looking forward to you seeing it through to fruition.”

Approval for the project was unanimous on a motion from Tom Maroun, seconded by Jan Yaworski.

When the project was introduced at the planners' February meeting, Mr. Rohrbach said they had considered razing the old house. But then they realized it would make a great place for modern bathrooms for the outdoor diners and as a place to store all their tables and equipment out of the weather each winter.

In recent weeks Cory and Lilian have also been doing renovations to their kitchen inside the restaurant to double its size. A hallway and a room off the kitchen that were previously unused by the couple have been reopened and renovated to accommodate several of their large coolers currently situated in the kitchen, which will open up more space there.

The Rohrbachs are currently looking to hire as many as 30 part-time and full-time waiters and waitresses and kitchen workers and cooks this summer.

Lumberjacks prepare for football season; game vs. SL slated

Pictured is action from Tupper Lake’s victory last season over Pulaski - a gang tackle by Lowden Pratt (64), Beckett Savage (5) and Grant Godin (7) as the trio makes a fourth down stop. (Tupper is in black uniforms)

By Rich Rosentreter

The Tupper Lake Lumberjacks varsity football team is set to begin their 98th season as the team is scheduled to hold its first practice this week in preparation, according to Head Coach Dennis Klossner.

Coach Klossner told the Free Press that the squad is set for action.

“Monday we issued equipment to the varsity players and on Tuesday we had a meeting with all the players,” he said, adding that there may be some players missing the first practice session since other sports are currently under way. “Thursday will be our first practice for anyone that is not participating in basketball or hockey. Those players will join us when they finish their winter season sport.”

According to Coach Klossner, the team, league and school districts are still working on the schedule, but at this point the ‘Jacks are slated to play the Saranac Lake Red Storm on April 24.

The Lumberjacks are set to begin its 98th season of Tupper Lake varsity football. Pictured is action from last season’s triumph over Altmar-Parrish-Williamstown. Offensive linemen (Tupper in white uniforms) Owen Whitman (55), Jay Gagnon (53), and Nolan Savage (73) open up a big hole for Noah Varden (3) to score a touchdown. Also pictured is quarterback Jayden Farnsworth (12). (Photos provided)

“The time and place for the game has not been decided yet. Field conditions will be a deciding factor,” he said, adding that Athletic Director Dan Brown is working the rest of the schedule. “We are going to have varsity football only for travel (road games).”

The varsity program isn’t the only one slated to see action in the near future, according to the coach.

Later in the month we will offer an intramural football program for our modified level kids,” he said.

Coach Klossner said that he, the players and the rest of those associated with Lumberjacks football are just happy to have some game action.

“Everyone is very excited about getting started and the excitement to play Saranac Lake again is unbelievable,” he said.

Look for a more detailed preview of the upcoming football season in an upcoming issue of the Free Press.

Twelve parties enter town's first snowman contest

A frozen “Campfire” created by Tesha D'Errico and friends.

You have to love “Dino,” the almost two dimensional dinosaur made by Claire Snye.

A giant snowman gracing the front lawn of Tom and Cindy Staves of Hosley Ave.

Mama and Baby Bear brought to life in snow by Odelia and Ella Combs.

Kayla Jones spent her town snowman contest time in February growing colorful one-eyed minions.

Norman and Spike were different-sized snowmen who were the work of Bayleigh Clement of Broad Street.

“Blobby the Snowman” was fashioned by Martin Street's Zaidan gang- James, Jovie and Sireea.

Te Jay and some younger pals fashioned this skater snowman, who landed skate side up.

A snowman built by Laura McGowan was joined by his friend, a husky.

The Dukett family “went under the snow,” as opposed to “under the sea” as snow folks for their excavated entry.

A pretty “Victoria” was entered by Charolet Pickering and Claire Snye.

This Woodland lady and her outdoor friends appeared in the Barrett family's backyard, where she was selling snowballs. Aaron Jarvis helped the Barrett family in this creation.

Frigid weather and very little sticky snow were handicaps for the Town of Tupper Lake Youth Activities' first snowman contest. Still the first-time event boasted 12 entries- some of which produced striking results and a lot of imagination from the entrants.

Due to COVID-19 all snowman builders had to take photos of their creations and send them to Recreation Director Angie Snye at the town hall by the close of February.

Supervisor Patti Littlefield reviewed the results for the members of the town board at the town's monthly meeting last Thursday.

The winning entry showed marshmallows on sticks roasted by a big orange bon fire. It was created on the grounds of Ivy Terrace Housing Complex, and she invited the public to check out the artistic piece in snow. It was the handiwork of Tesha D'Errico and friends.

The town supervisor said the town's judging panel decided it worthy of the grand prize.

The photo is shown above.

The second prize, went to Te Jay and her younger friends who stood a snowman skater on his head. See below.

Third prize was won by Kayla Jones and her colorful minions and the Staves family won fourth for their giant snowman.

The prize winners received gift certificates for play at Lakeview Lanes and every entrant received McDonald's coupons.

“Mountain Bliss Massage” can now be found on Park Street

The two therapy rooms at Mountain Bliss Massage on Park Street are decorated in warm colors and lit with soft lighting. The furnishings are very much in touch with the Adirondacks.

by Dan McClelland

Tupper Lake resident Jocelyn Law has just opened her Massage Therapy practice in the center commercial space in Greg and Barbara Gachowski's commercial block at the corner of Park and Cliff.

Her business, Mountain Bliss Massage, is headquartered at 84 Park Street.

“Why the name?” the Free Press publisher asked her this week.

“Mountain for the mountains we live in. Bliss for the feeling you get from a massage. Simple, right?” she said with a bright grin.

The new quarters are attractively decorated in warm colors and wood. The one side of the hallway to the therapy rooms is finished on top with drywall, the bottom in half corrugated metal roofing for an interesting contrast.

Her partner, Contractor Rick Martin, and his crew knocked out in nine working days all the improvements, which include a front reception area and two softly lit massage rooms, laundry room and bathroom. The commercial space was entirely open before.

A native of Canton, Jocelyn studied biology for a time at St. Lawrence University before moving to Costa Rica to study massage therapy at a U.S. Massage School, “Costa Rica School of Massage Therapy”, in 2009. It was an intensive program and she finished 600 hours in four months.

“I went for four months and ended up staying for three years and opened my own massage studio!” She returned to the states to finish her degree for the 1000hr NYS requirements at North Country Community College, accompanied by her son, Noa. Jocelyn received her NYS Massage Therapy License in 2014.

For the past six years she has been a contract therapist with Healing Elements of Lake Placid, operated by Gretchen Lansing. She still works there one day a week where she has developed a solid and loyal client base. She has also contracted out of the Olympic Training Center as a Massage Therapist for about six years until the outbreak of COVID-19 last March when her contract was put on pause.

“I'd still be there if COVID hadn't happened.”

She said she and the other Massage Therapists at the Olympic Training Center were the only practitioners not on staff. As contract people they were the first to get cut when budgets got trimmed because of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games being postponed.

One of the walls of Jocelyn's new massage therapy shop at 84 Park Street shows off some of the Olympic memorabilia she has received as part of the therapy she has given to Olympic athletes training at the U.S. Olympic Winter Training Center in Lake Placid in recent years. (McClelland photos)

During her time at the national facility, she provided therapy to mostly winter Olympic athletes including mostly, Bobsled/Skeleton, Luge, Biathlon, Alpine Ski. Jocelyn has traveled with three USA teams for various competitions including, Germany and Austria with the USA Bobsled/Skeleton team, numerous locations within the states with the USA Woman’s Hockey team and most recently the USA triathlon team to Bermuda. She knows personally many of this nation's finest Olympic athletes.

The young therapist said she enjoys her relationship with the Olympic Training Center- because it makes her mind work with trying to figure out how she can help the individual athlete succeed and excel in their sport.

Jocelyn met Rick Martin three years ago “in the woods” at the camp of a mutual friend. “-And we've been together ever since.”

Together they have a one- and one-half year-old son, Skyler, a baby brother for Jocelyn's older son Noah, who is almost ten years old.

Jocelyn says she is accomplished at several different types of massage therapy, which include IASTM, Trigger Point Therapy, Myofascial Release and Cupping- both manual and medicupping (machine assisted).

Cupping is a sort of suction technique, applied with various size cups and at different strengths to help promote blood flow, decrease inflammation, break up adhesions and scare tissue creating restrictions.

She also uses “hot stones” warmed in a crockpot-style device for a relaxing therapy she performs.

IASTM is her scraping technique done with a metal tool “to break up adhesions and scare tissue, increase the blood flow. They are really helpful too for people with injuries!”

Between customers the therapy rooms are completely cleaned and sanitized with conventional cleaners and ultra-violet devices.

Soothing music is piped into the rooms.

Jocelyn says she enjoys her trade “because I like helping people- and especially if they are trying to work through an issue whether chronic or acute. I enjoy giving them the knowledge and the tools to also help assist them in their wellness journey.”

She says massage therapy can help relieve some of the symptoms brought on by chronic diseases.

“I'm not going to get rid of your arthritis, for example, but I can help you manage it!”

“Some people come to me for help with injury-based” ailments. Others come because they enjoy massages, and others just as a maintenance for repetitive daily life and their job, she says.

She believes her background in the study of biology and anatomy have been helpful to her understanding of the body and the interrelationships between the various parts of the body.

“I had the anatomy background and the human body always interested me, so I thought massage therapy was a good direction for me to go!” she said of her training and start in the business.

“In massage therapy training you learn the kinesiology of everything- how this works in conjunction with this!”

Jocelyn said when she is treating patients for injury-related ailments, she often recommends a short series of visits, at the conclusion of which their condition will be re-evaluated.

Jocelyn is also proud of her reputation with her clients and she said she is not worried about generating enough business to keep her new doors open. “Mostly every new client I've had as a Massage Therapist has become a return client. It'll take time but I'll build my clientele over here.”

In addition to office visits, Jocelyn also does house calls.

Her office number is (516) 761-5112 and she can be reached by e-mail at Mountainblissadk@gmail.com. She also has a great online booking option that you can find through her website www.mtnblissmassage.com

Tupper Arts now on road to permanent home

Tupper Arts has launched a capital campaign to purchase and renovate their leased space at 106 Park St. in Tupper Lake. Tupper Arts has occupied the space since August 2018. It has been a goal of their board of directors to one day purchase the property and create a permanent home for Tupper Arts. That “one day” may become a reality for 2021.

The capital campaign began with a mass mailing to property owners in the Tupper Lake area, and an online donation page on the Tupper Arts website – www.tupperarts.org. The overall fundraising goal for the Campaign is to raise $450,000 to purchase and renovate the property.

In just a few short weeks Tupper Arts has raised over $ 32,000 towards this goal. The next phase of the campaign is to more widely publicize the fundraising effort.

Tupper Arts has just received a generous offer from Joe and Rena Sellin to put up a $25,000 matching donation. If Tupper Arts is able to raise an additional $25,000, the Sellins will match that amount. The Sellins sit on the board of directors of Tupper Arts and are summer residents at Gull Pond. In addition to their board service, the Sellins both volunteer at the gift shop and at other events sponsored by Tupper Arts.

Tupper Arts is also excited to announce that it has been contacted by another very generous donor who has offered to loan the money to Tupper Arts for the purchase of the building. With this level of support and the overwhelming response of the community to date, Tupper Arts will have a permanent home on Park St. this year.

In addition to the purchase of 106 Park St., Tupper Arts plans to redo the façade of the building with a design that will complement the surrounding business community. The design pictured with this article is the work of Jesse Schwartzberg, of Black Mountain Architecture. The renovation will be partially funded by a Main Street Grant awarded to Tupper Arts.

Other renovation projects to be covered by the capital campaign include the addition of an air purification system to ensure proper air exchange, improved lighting for gallery viewing, and improvements to the roof and infrastructure.

Tupper Arts was created a little over two years ago and continues to be run by a group of enthusiastic volunteers dedicated to nurturing the arts, artists, and community life in Tupper Lake. By supporting and encouraging local artists, Tupper Arts is helping to enrich the cultural life of the entire community as we present art exhibits, concerts, theatrical performances, dance and art classes.

Despite limited resources, Tupper Arts has presented a tremendous number of programs that showcase the cultural potential of Tupper Lake and the Adirondacks, including the annual Tupper Lake Art Show, individual artists shows, children’s classes, season’s celebrations, a fall color plein air festival, and the establishment of an artist-driven gift shop.

The Covid 19 pandemic has imposed an unanticipated and extraordinary challenge to all our daily lives. With an abundance of caution and a compressed schedule, Tupper Arts opened last summer. The welcoming response of artists and art lovers was heartwarming. The second annual Woodcraft Show and Fall Plein Air Festival were held, in addition to individual and group artists’ painting, photography, sculpture and craft events. One particularly well received idea was the first “Moose on the Loose” show featuring the artwork of twenty four local artists on plywood moose cutouts. The “Moose” were auctioned off over the Labor Day weekend with donations going to the Tupper Arts.

Upcoming plans for Tupper Arts in 2021 include the Tupper Lake Annual Art Show, the Woodcraft Show, the Fall Plein Air Festival, another show featuring the photographs of Kathleen Bigrow, and a second “Moose on the Loose.” New this year is the “Give Us Your Best Shot” photography show and an exhibit of the paintings of Peter Hornbeck, and Adirondack boat builder and artist. Other shows are being planned for later 2021. Depending upon the timing of when the pandemic restrictions can be eased, Tupper Arts hopes to see the return of the Summer Sunset Stage Concert series, and the children’s Little Loggers Friday morning performances. Sunday matinee concerts are also planned through September, which are funded through the New York State Council on the Arts Decentralization Grants. Several artists will also be offering classes for children and adults in painting, pottery, paper making, and other art mediums.

Individuals or groups who are interested in supporting the fundraising efforts of Tupper Arts can make a donation online at www.tupperarts.org , or mail a donation to Tupper Arts at 106 Park St. in Tupper Lake. Tupper Arts is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit charitable organization, and all donations are tax deductible.