New Lions Club benefit to raise money for student assistance fund; “Night School” to perform

by Dan McClelland

Several months ago the Tupper Lake Lions Club partnered with Lion Rob “Dauber” Drasye to direct and raise capital for an important student assistance fund for the students in the local school district.

For years Mr. Drasye has been canvassing the community each year, and often at Christmas, to raise money to buy school supplies, warm coats and other clothing, footwear and sports equipment for local students in need of them. All proceeds went into the fund that was maintained and anonymously orchestrated by the school district committee of administrators, counselors and teachers.

Rob’s campaigning and the fund increased with each passing year.

This past year the local contractor who is a Lions Club member asked his club for their help, and the members enthusiastically agreed.

Directing the new Lions-school district program from the club’s perspective are Lions Cindy Lewis and Amanda Amell.

So on Friday, September 8 the Lions Club will host an event at Raquette River Brewing to benefit the student assistance fund. The event will be from 3p.m. to 8p.m. There will be raffles, a Chinese Auction and other fundraising events. The Lions are looking to create attractive gift baskets for the Chinese Auction. Donated goods can be directed to either Cindy or Amanda in coming weeks.

Raffle sales will begin at 3p.m., and at 5p.m. the popular local band, “Night School,” will begin its three-hour performance. The band members- Ben and Andrew McClelland, Jay Martin, Micah Tyo, Lauren Connell and Ryan Gillis, are donating their time and talent that evening to the Lions Club and its fund to help needy students and their families here.

Information about the coming event can be directed to those ladies or to Club President Stuart Nichols at (518) 359-9779.

New Lions Club benefit to raise money for student assistance fund; also Lions to sponsor Little Wolfstock IV

by Dan McClelland

Several months ago the Tupper Lake Lions Club partnered with Lion Rob “Dauber” Drasye to direct and raise capital for an important student assistance fund for the students in the local school district.

For years Mr. Drasye has been canvassing the community each year, and often at Christmas, to raise money to buy school supplies, warm coats and other clothing, footwear and sports equipment for local students in need of them. All proceeds went into the fund that was maintained and anonymously orchestrated by the school district committee of administrators, counselors and teachers.

Rob’s campaigning and the fund increased with each passing year.

This past year the local contractor and Lions Club member asked his club for their help, and the members enthusiastically agreed.

Directing the new Lions-school district program from the club’s perspective are Lions Cindy Lewis and Amanda Amell.

So on Friday, September 8 the Lions Club will host an event at Raquette River Brewing to benefit the student assistance fund. There will be raffles, a Chinese Auction and other fundraising events. The Lions are looking to create attractive gift baskets for the Chinese Auction. Donated goods can be directed to either Cindy or Amanda in coming weeks.

Information about the coming event can be directed to those ladies or to Club President Stuart Nichols at (518) 359-9779.

In other club news, the Lions this month have partnered with Paul Chartier to sponsor Little Wolfstock IV- a robust musical event that has been the focus of many class reunions in three recent summers this past decade. The huge event is tentatively set for August 3, 2024.

Town board still committed to better site for food pantry

by Dan McClelland

After an executive session to deal with a current law suit involving many towns, Supervisor Rickey Dattola announced the board is still committed to finding a ground-floor and better location for the Tupper Lake Food Pantry.

The pantry which feeds over 100 families each week is situated in one-half of the basement of the Aaron Maddox building, with poor access down steep concrete stairs and no safe secondary egress.

There are also major heating issues there.

At a recent town board meeting town leaders were unanimous that a better place be found for the pantry- and one that is fully handicapped accessible.

At a special meeting several weeks ago Mr. Dattola had said there was a deal in the works with Knights of Columbus leader Mark Moeller where the Knights of Columbus council might donate their building to the town for both a food pantry and senior citizens’ center- both now at the Aaron Maddox Hall. He later reported the senior citizen council is happy with its present location and doesn’t want to move from the modern addition to the hall that was built two decade ago.

“We’re still working on an option for the food pantry, however,” he said Thursday evening.

“We think we have something in the works...we’re going to take a close look at the building.

“We are looking into some financing.”

Lorraine Bassett, who often attends town board meetings, thought there might be some grants available through the Tri-lakes Center for Independent Living because some people with disabilities are recipients of the food pantry goods.

Mr. Dattola said he thought the Knights building would be a good option for the pantry.

Ms. Bassett commended the board for its commitment to find a better place for the pantry.

“By next meeting we should have some more information,” the supervisor promised his members. He thought there may be some county funding available, through the diligence of Legislator Nedd Sparks.

There were reports this week, however, that the building has been sold to an individual here who might be interested in leasing the bar and kitchen side of the building to the town to situate the food pantry operation.

Next week the Free Press explores some of the inadequacies and unsafe aspects of the current food pantry location in the town-owned Maddox building.

Mercy Living Center sold

Adirondack Health has completed the sale of Mercy Living Center, selling the 60-bed nursing home in Tupper Lake to Mark Salamon, who operates a number of long-term care facilities across New York state.

Salamon is the building’s new owner, working to update Mercy Living Center’s Certificate of Need (CON) to reflect the change in ownership.

“From the outset, our primary goal has been to keep long-term care in the community of Tupper Lake,” said Aaron Kramer, Adirondack Health president and CEO. “Mark and his team know this service inside and out and seem well positioned to achieve the economies of scale necessary to improve Mercy’s overall sustainability.”

According to the New York State Department of Health, the state’s CON process “governs establishment, construction, renovation, and major medical equipment acquisitions of healthcare facilities, such as hospitals, nursing homes, home care agencies, and diagnostic and treatment centers. The objectives of the CON process are to promote delivery of high-quality health care and ensure that services are aligned with community need. CON provides the Department of Health oversight in limiting investment in duplicate beds, services, and medical equipment which, in turn, limits associated healthcare costs.”

Until the CON change is complete, Mercy Living Center will remain on Adirondack Health’s operating license, with Salamon serving as an operational consultant at the nursing home.

To learn more about Mercy Living Center, visit adirondackhealth.org/location/.

Big eclipse briefing Thursday, August 3 at Tupper Arts

The Regional Office Of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) is promoting a special event on Thursday, August 3 that is designed to explain to the local business community details of the big solar event happening next April 8 in Tupper Lake.

A presentation by Seth McGowan on the 2024 eclipse which has been billed as “Totality in Tupper” will occur at Tupper Arts that evening at 7p.m.

Mr. McGowan, who is president of the Adirondack Sky Center and Observatory, has created a committee of about one dozen local volunteers who are making plans for the big event that could draw as many as 50,000 people to this community for this once in a lifetime eclipse.

Business owners, who have the opportunity to capitalize on this major event, and community members in general are encouraged to attend. Learn how this eclipse is different and what our community is doing to prepare for it.

Those who can’t attend in person are encouraged to contact Katie LaLonde, ROOST’s regional marketing manager, for details of a Zoom link. She can be contacted at (518) 831-5388.

Camp Crossroads to present “Broadway in the Blue Line” this weekend

Camp Crossroads, a new musical theater camp for area teens based in Tupper Lake, will present a showcase of well-known musical theater songs and monologues this weekend.

The program, “Broadway in the Blue Line,” will include solos, small ensembles and large group numbers from both current and past Broadway shows such as “Something Rotten,” “Matilda,” “Mean Girls.” “Hadestown,” and “Annie.” This family-friendly show will delight audiences of all ages.

The camp, under the direction of Elizabeth Cordes, Danielle LaMere, and Kendall Davison, is an intensive theatrical experience, building singing, dancing and acting skills, confidence and teamwork. It is open to teens from Tupper Lake and surrounding towns, as well as summer residents who are interested in musical theater.

Camp Crossroads was made possible through generous donations of Joe and Rena Sellin, Julie LaMere and The John M. Glover Insurance Agency. Additional support by the Tupper Lake Central School District and Tupper Arts has contributed to its success.

Performances of “Broadway in the Blue Line” will be Friday, July 28 at 7p.m. and Saturday, July 29 at 2p.m. in the Tupper Lake M/HS Auditorium, as well as Saturday evening at 7p.m. at The Art Center in Blue Mountain Lake. Tickets are available at the door. Children 5 and under are free.

Tupper Lake Field Day returns Saturday

by Dan McClelland

The Tupper Lake Field Day returns for a second year this Saturday, under the sponsorship of the Town of Tupper Lake and its hard-working recreation department team.

The event was created last year by Recreation Director Laura LaBarge to help boost July tourist visits in the wake of the departure of the Tupper Lake Woodsmen’s Day during COVID.

This year the town is partnering with the Adirondack chapter of Arc, which used to produce well-organized Rock the Arc events here for a number of summers. Together the two local entities are expected to produce a first-rate day of fun and excitement in the Tupper Lake Municipal Park.

The parade kicks off the two year old event at 11a.m. and will proceed from the town hall staging area to the park, after passing the judges’ stand.

The parade is again directed by the community’s very capable parade director, Amanda “Bird” Lizotte.

Admission to the Field Day this year is free, providing that event-goers bring with them a non-perishable food item for the Tupper Lake Food Pantry.

The Woodmen Life lodge here is organizing the food drive to benefit the pantry and its volunteers will be accepting the items at the park gates Saturday.

All day the park will be the place for fun and good old fashioned family entertainment.

Planned are a classic car show to peak the interest of teens and adults, a corn hole competition- all the passion for many these days-, an adult tug of war and a 500 Club raffle, plus plenty of food, beer and craft vendors.

For kids there’s all sorts of wonderful things to do that day.

There are youth field games planned- which were a hit last year.

Field game sign-ups will be available all day and parents of kids who want to participate will need to be present to sign participation waivers for their children. A slime run is expected to be wildly popular. It’s always more fun when slime runners wear white shirts.

There will be inflatable apparatus guaranteed to make the kids squeal with delight. In particular there will be a bouncy jousting court and a 24-foot long water slide- the remedy for coolness if the weather is warm. The weather forecast is only calling for a high that day of 70 degrees F., but as we all know, that’s likely to change and we could have another scorcher.

Kids and adults who tackle some of the wetter events are encouraged to bring with them a change of clothes.

Carnival games with prizes will be the focus of other vendors on site that day.

Just like last year, there’s be a dunk tank operated throughout the day to raise money for our emergency services agencies.

Director Laura notes this week that all potential dunkees must be over 18 years of age for insurance reasons.

The Field Day organizers this year have engaged 10 professional wood carvers, to keep the flavor of our lumbering heritage in full view. The carvers will be in the park as early as Friday and each one is expected to create at least two pieces. They will all be auctioned off about 5:30p.m. Saturday.

From late afternoon through the evening the park will rock with live music.

At 4p.m. Tupper Lake rockers, Junction Jam, will begin the music show, following by Atom Ghost at 5:30p.m.

Those two bands will musically warm up the park for the Field Day headliner this year- an AC/DC tribute band called “Bonfire,” from New York City and which organizers say always produces a good show in tribute to the popular AC/DC, which has many fans here.

Adirondack chapter Arc is helping the town with some of the band costs that day and will treat the community, as its major gift, to what is expected to be a great fireworks show at 10p.m.

So it’s fun all day long and evening for the entire family this Saturday at the Tupper Lake Municipal Park. Plan to be there for at least part of it!

Mayor Paul Maroun not running for mayor this fall after all

by Dan McClelland

Mayor Paul Maroun is not running for re-election this fall as expected. That means that unless a mayoral candidate emerges at either the Conservative or Democratic caucuses in coming days, Republican Mary Fontana is the Village of Tupper Lake’s new mayor, come December 1.

Ms. Fontana, an outgoing and eight-year town councilwoman, was nominated by the party faithful several weeks ago over Mr. Maroun to be its nominee for the top village post.

After the caucus, Mr. Maroun said he would be seeking the Conservative Party’s nomination to run for the job he has held for 13 or so years. He wouldn’t be running, however, this time on an independent ballot line.

Mr. Maroun said Monday that he gave the matter a lot of thought in recent days and over the weekend made up his mind not to seek re-election.

Mr. Maroun lost the party nomination for county legislator last fall to newcomer Nedd Sparks, but ran as an independent. Mr. Sparks soundly defeated him, however, on election day.

During the election of 2021 when Mr. Maroun was also seeking re-election, Businessman Eric Shaheen won both the Republican and Conservative party nominations for mayor and Mr. Maroun ran as an independent. Both candidates received 371 votes in the general election- probably the first time in Tupper Lake election history a mayor’s race end in a dead heat.

It all came down to absentee ballots cast before election day that year.

Of the 47 absentee ballots Mr. Maroun won 32 and Businessman Challenger Eric Shaheen garnered 15. Mr. Maroun returned to the mayor’s job for another two years.

So why was he not trying for another term, we asked him Monday.

He said “I’ve tried the best I could to get the votes” on the village board in support of projects and decisions he felt were good for the village.

“Being the mayor is not just taking care of the issues. It’s also about talking to the trustees to get their votes to do the things you are trying to do!”

He said it requires a lot of time to properly administer the local government, involving a commitment of many hours every day.

Mayor Maroun has been weathering very rough water in the recent months that have seen fierce criticism from many village water customers over the dirty and toxic condition of the village-supplied water. He has argued the village leaders have been doing their best over the past decade to provide Tupper Lake water customers with good water. But many people are unhappy here with that answer. They want the water emergency crisis solved now, judging by the comments at two public meetings in May and June.

There’s also been tension at board meetings of late when he and new Trustee Eric Shaheen have argued over issues.

“I love being mayor,” he said, repeating something he has said several times in recent weeks. “But I’ve found there are many citizens in the community now who have taken on a not very friendly spirit of late.”

He said there is an angry sentiment in the local citizenry right now.

“If you witnessed the ferociousness among that group the other night,” he said of the June 29 public water meeting, “Tupper Lake has changed.”

He said some of those recent personal attacks have weighed heavy on him.

He expressed frustration too that some of the people at the meeting who loudly decried the brown-colored water have never even experienced it at their homes.

Mr. Maroun said the mean-spirited ways of some here has been hard for him to understand and deal with.

He said some of the newcomers to town at the meetings “were openly vicious” in their comments to him.

Some of that community anger directed at him started during COVID, when he was forced by state health law several times to order people to wear masks to protect themselves and others.

“Friends I had here my entire life” became my enemies because I supposedly took away their constitutional rights (not to have to wear a mask). “Friends my whole life who I helped get jobs, help their families get jobs, turned on me overnight!”

“I feel bad...I love the job and I think I have always tried to steer Tupper Lake in the right direction. I’ve generated a lot positive publicity for our town across the state and nation.”

He said he was proud of the many good initiatives he’s helped to bring to Tupper Lake, like the $10 million DRI uptown business improvement grant and the new apartments coming to the former Oval Wood Dish building on Demars Blvd.

Of the apartment project, he said “people are laughing at it now, but it’s going to happen and it’s going to be a great project for Tupper Lake and the entire North Country.”

“It’s going to happen despite” the view of some here.

He was proud of the Tupper Lake Municipal Park and the many improvements the village board has made there.

He admitted there have been some on his board that didn’t feel all that investment in the park was warranted, but these are things our community needs- now and in the future.

“I’ve thought a lot about continuing, but it’s not worth me getting sick over this. -And it’s not worth losing more friends. I’ve lost friends in recent years that go back to our days together in school. I feel so bad about that!”

“I’ve enjoyed my time as mayor. “I love Tupper Lake. Wherever I go I say ‘Tupper Lake’ and people all over know Tupper Lake because of that.”

“Tupper Lake is a great community. It’s a great place to live. Yes, we have problems, but we live a lot better than people do in other parts of the country.”

He said he’ll miss the job of mayor.

Food truck operators ask for board reconsideration of huge fee hikes

by Dan McClelland

The food truck vendors who use the Tupper Lake Municipal Park each summer urged village leaders last week to re-consider what they see as a huge increase in their permit fees, citing sound logic for their request. The board hasn’t moved from its large rate hike decision, however.

For years the village charged $25 per year to itinerant vendors who sold their wares on public streets and public places like the municipal park.

Several years ago the rate was hiked to $100 for the season. Earlier this year the rate was hiked to $75 per month and then a month or so ago the board hiked its vendors’ fee again to $75 per week or $300 per month, $375 in five-week months.

Appearing Wednesday before the board were Mike Vaillancourt, who operates his Porkbusters food truck which sells pulled park and barbecued food along the firemen’s strip a number of days each week and Ed Whitman and Brian Stearns, co-owners of Dos Loco Gringos, an authentic Mexican Food food truck that the partners operate only three days there, and excluding weekends. Mr. Vaillancourt also introduced a second but smaller mobile unit there this summer, which features shaved ice desserts and hot dogs and hamburgs.

Addressing the board in the public comment period of Wednesday’s monthly meeting, Mr. Vaillancourt, reading from a single-page note, said that when he first brought his mobile food unit to the park in 2021, the rate was $100 for the season. “The fee was more than reasonable, if anything too cheap.” It was his understanding from village leaders at the time the money was to be used to offset the cost of electricity used by any vendors there, he told the elected officials.

He said the mobile food concession he and Mr. Whitman and Mr. Stearns use operate for the most part with culinary equipment fueled by gas. Any electricity used is for lights and exhaust fans, and to power refrigerators, he told the five board members.

The part-time police officer said he was told by several board members in the past that the municipal park, in their opinion, is under-used and the food vendors that have frequented the place some summer days in recent years “have helped draw visitors to it,” and encouraged travelers to stop here as they drive through town.

“It was a service board members in the past have wanted, and so we were only too happy to provide that service,” he told the current board.

Mr. Vaillancourt said when he brought his unit to the park in April to begin the new season, he was informed the permit fee would be $75 per month, not $100 for the year. “That’s a 904% increase in two years. I didn’t have an issue with that as it still seemed fair to me. So I offered to pay the entire summer’s fee upfront.”

“Several weeks later I read in the Free Press that the rate had been increased to $300 per month. I thought it was a misprint so I called Code Officer Pete Edwards, who told me ‘the board had decided to up it again!’”

“So now the rate has been raised 3,614% in just a year.”

He said he and the Dos Loco Gringo partners have invested together “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in their operations to give Tupper Lake a few more food choices it didn’t have before. He said no restaurants here offer Mexican-style cuisine or the pulled pork and barbecue products served from the two food trucks now there.

“We don’t compete against with any one else here in what we sell. If you want a slice of pizza or sub, you are not coming to us!

“Our presence in the park just gives the average worker or contractor a few more food options for several months each year.

Mr. Vaillancourt said food trucks “are popping up all across the nation in food alleys and food truck campuses.”

“The restaurants across are nation are not hurting due to lack of customers, they are hurting for lack of employees”- a situation which often requires they close entirely or curtail hours dramatically.

He said food trucks typically require a staff of one or two people, whereas restaurants most times require many more people than that to operate.

“This is why many of our restaurants in Tupper Lake now have limited hours or are shutting down. It’s because of no staff. Just last week McDonald’s here announced they couldn’t open until after lunch due to staffing issues. I’ve never heard of that before. Also last week, Guido’s had to close the entire day, due to staffing shortages.”

He said several local restaurants are for sale “because the owners are tired of working every single day,” due to a chronic shortage of staff.

“I’m worried if things don’t change in the local work force, there will be very few options” for dining out here very soon.

“Look at how many people come here to visit Raquette River Brewery. These people eat and drink here, stay in our motels, buy gas, etc. Food trucks have the same appeal. They attract people to try different vendors and different food types. They get to enjoy our beautiful park during their stops here,” and maybe consider relocating here as a seasonal or permanent resident, “or bringing their boat with them the next trip to enjoy our lakes.”

Mr. Vaillancourt concluded his presentation by asking the board to lower the rate to $100 for the month, “which will more than cover the cost of any electricity they use. He said that in any new policy and fee structure enacted by the board, included could be perhaps a five percent cap per year on future increases so the food vendors could budget accordingly.

“That way, next year we could figure on paying $105 per month” to operate in the park.

He argued that the sudden increases this year caught them off guard and they are unable to adjust their product prices as their menus were already printed for the summer season.

He said the 3,614% price increase is very difficult for their respective operations to swallow and still turn a profit. “Dealing with 5% and ten percent increases is one thing. Increases of more than 3,000% is something completely different...a huge challenge for us!”

The vendor said these unexpected permit fee increases come at the same time food prices are skyrocketing with the inflation raging across this country.

Ed Whitman said their Mexican food truck only operates three days a week- Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. He said that figures out to only 12 days a month most months. “So why am I being asked to pay fees for 30 or 31 days of operation? That doesn’t seem quite right! For over half the month, we’re not even set up there!”

He said it is by choice that they operate only those three days a week, but they shouldn’t be penalized for that.

He proposed their fee be pro-rated, based on the days they operate each month. “We don’t mind paying for the days we’re there!”

“Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want it for free. We just don’t want to pay when we are not there!”

Mr. Vaillancourt said he appreciates the board’s position at trying to set one rate for all users, acknowledging it’s difficult to do fairly.

“I don’t think we are taking away from any restaurants here,” Mr. Whitman asserted. “If people want Mexican food they are going to come to us. If they want barbecued food they go to Mike.” He said there are no Mexican or Barbecue restaurants in town. What we serve adds to the variety of food available to residents and visitors.”

His partner, Brian Stearns, said he believes food trucks add to the overall appeal of a community to visitors and increase the quality of community life for local residents.

Mr. Vaillancourt said people have asked him why he doesn’t open a “brick and mortar” restaurant. He said the last two places that opened here with those special foods lasted less than two years.

Tupper Lake’s current tourist season, without the winter economy we enjoyed when Big Tupper Ski Center was open, is now very limited, making it difficult for restaurants to survive, he reminded the board.

He said he and Mr. Whitman and Mr. Stearns have always limited their evening hours or not operated after 4p.m., as another way not to compete with local restaurants.

“We’re trying to keep our costs down. I haven’t raised my prices in three years. I just hope you guys will consider” returning to the rate you set earlier this year.

He said his operation is dramatically limited this year by people available to work for him.

“This year I had to close nine out of 22 possible days last month, because people didn’t show up for work!”

“Staffing is a huge issue for all of us!” Increasing the permit fees by more than 3000% just adds to the challenges of doing business here, he explained to the village leaders.

Mayor Paul Maroun assured the food purveyors his board “would certainly discuss it again.”

Trustee David “Haji” expressed his support for reconsidering the latest rate hikes. “I agree 100% with them,” he said of the positions of the food truck operators.

John Ellis offered his support for the presence of food trucks in the park. He said they play an important role here, particularly on a Monday or Tuesday, when most of the restaurants are closed here.

Trustee Eric Shaheen stated that he felt the current rates of $75 per week were fair. “At $300 per month, that’s $10 per day. So basically you are offering to pay for three days a week at $30, he said to Mr. Whitman and Mr. Stearns.

“Correct,” Ed Whitman told him. “We don’t mind paying $120 per month!”

The trustee and local businessman said he didn’t think that $300 per month was an unreasonable charge.

“I’m not here to argue with you, Ed. We argued a lot before we came up with these new rates,” he said of recent board discussions.

He said too he understood Mr. Vaillancourt’s point about the 3,600% increase. He said, however, it can’t be viewed in that way. The vendor fees are something that have been dramatically underpriced for decades. That’s just my opinion!”

Mr. Vaillancourt said that food trucks differ from regular restaurants as they are at the mercy of the elements. On cold and rainy days, business is always bad, he told the village leaders. Often times on those kinds of days- of which there have been many so far this season, the wages of his employees are two and three times his sales- and that hurts.

He also said food trucks can’t serve alcoholic beverages, which is often a big draw for conventional restaurants.

The Free Press asked Mayor Maroun at the close of the meeting, as the board was about to adjourn to executive session, when he thought the board might consider the food truck owners’ request and he said he would likely have to call a special meeting to discuss it publicly.

What happened, however, was the board reconvened very briefly in regular session after the private talks that same evening, and agreed to take no action on the request, leaving the current $75 per week rate in place. The press and the members of the public all left when the board adjourned to executive session, so there was no one present to witness the action or lack thereof, when the board convened briefly in regular session.

Important village water meeting June 29 at high school

by Dan McClelland

The public meeting unhappy and concerned water customers have been waiting for since a large public village meeting over a month ago has been called for tomorrow, Thursday, June 29.

Mayor Paul Maroun announced Monday that Senator Dan Stec and Assemblyman Billy Jones were both available to attend the important session to listen to residents’ concerns. The mayor promised upset water customers at his board’s May meeting he’d bring all state parties together soon to publicly discuss the various problems with the village’s current water system- as soon as the two state lawmakers were free.

Both have been in Albany in past weeks as the state legislature is still in session.

Senator Stec and Assemblyman Jones both informed him in recent days the June 29 meeting would fit into their schedules.

The session will begin at 5:30p.m. in the high school auditorium which has seating to accompany over 200 and a stage for the presenters that evening.

Mr. Maroun has also encouraged the state department of health and environmental conservation to send their representatives to the meeting to share the state and legal perspectives on the brown water containing high concentrations of iron from the wells at Pitchfork Pond and the toxin-containing water from the Little Simond source. Also expected to attend are the village engineers from C2AE of Canton that guided the well project.

50th annual Tupper Lake Arts Show begins today at Tupper Arts

Beginning today Tupper Arts on Park Street will host the 50th annual Tupper Lake Arts Show- featuring some of the best paintings, photographs and ceramics produced by local and area artists.

It’s a home-grown show with deeps roots here that has intrigued gallery-goers for decades. For many years the event was held at the local library before Tupper Arts rejuvenated it.

The event runs through Independence Day and those who appreciate great art in a wide cross-section of artistic media- from wood-working to textiles to sculptures to painting should plan to visit the Tupper Arts gallery Wednesdays through Sundays from 11a.m. to 5p.m.

Most everything will be for sale, organizers say. Admission is free.

Mayoral updates on water issue

In response to calls at the recent village board meeting from members of the new residents’ water group on Facebook, Mayor Paul Maroun reports this week that Senator Dan Stec and Assemblyman Billy Jones have both been invited for a Tupper Lake meeting to delve more deeply into this issue. A response from the two state lawmakers is expected soon so a meeting date can be finalized.

The mayor also reports that the state Health Department officials the village are working with are hopeful to start treating the well water with a new phosphorous product soon to stem the iron coloring.

Former Oval Wood Factory: “It’s a go!”

by Dan McClelland

“It’s a go!” was the word from Joe Gehm, the lead developer in the former Oval Wood Dish Factory housing project this past week.

The developers were waiting for a package of state tax credits to help them build the estimated $35 million apartment complex on Demars Blvd. which will include a new production brewery by Joe Hockey and Mark Jessie of Raquette River Brewing.

Mayor Paul Maroun, who has been working with Mr. Gehm and his partners on the apartment complex project in recent years, announced the good news at the May board meeting.

He read a letter from Commissioner Ruth Anne Visnauskas of the Homes and Community Renewal Agency of New York that approved the developers’ application submitted last fall.

“HCR has approved awards of up to $1.216 million of Low-Income Tax Credit, $500,000 of NYS Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, $5.2 million of New York State Housing Trust Fund, $1.4 million of Federal Housing Trust Fund, $5 million of Housing Development Fund, $2.133 million of NYS Home funds and $500,000 of Community Investment Fund to assist in the development of 80 affordable residential units.”

The state grant and credits are part of New York “Workforce Housing” initiative, directed by HCR.

The developers had applied for many of those same funds a year ago, but didn’t win the funds. The new award was made by the state in late April.

Mr. Gehm said they are currently working on completing all of their construction documents. “We’re hoping to have a closing date on construction financing by the end of the year.”

“This is our main project with the 80 apartment units and the Raquette River Brewery.”

Mr. Gehm and his partners are also working on a second project on the Fletcher family property behind the former Oval Wood Dish complex.

Mr. Gehm hopes for a ground-breaking on the first phase early in 2024.

A 12-month to 14-month construction period is anticipated for occupancy by its new tenants in 2025.

As part of the funding package to help finance the project, at the May meeting Mayor Maroun announced that the Village of Tupper Lake was awarded $1.6 million for phase 1 of the project, which involves the redevelopment of 126,000 square feet of vacant former industrial space in nine connected buildings- a combination of workforce housing, market-rate housing and various types of commercial space, including the production brewery.

He said it was part of the Restore New York Communities Initiative.

He said the village grant is in addition to $32 million in private funds, low-interest loans and the state tax credit package.

The tax credits approved by Governor Kathy Hochul will come, he said, in the amount of $1.75 million per year for ten years. The balance of the state funding package, he noted, comes in very low-interest loans.

He called it wonderful news for the community, as a partial remedy to Tupper Lake’s tight housing market where it’s very difficult for people to find apartments and houses, so they can move here and fill currently unfilled job positions- many of them in the construction trade and in direct care at Sunmount.

Three meaningful but enjoyable events set Saturday

by Dan McClelland

Three meaningful but potentially fun events are on tap this coming Saturday, as Tupper Lake moves into its early summer agenda.

The Jamie Rose Power Walk will be again staged Saturday where friends and family members of the late Jamie Rose Martin will again do their best to “break the silence of domestic violence.”

The event is a tribute to Jamie, who was murdered by a former domestic partner a half dozen or so years ago. It’s a call from the grave by the young mother for the community to do whatever it can to stop the scourge of domestic violence, which comes in many forms.

The event will be between 11a.m. and 2p.m. at the Tupper Lake Municipal Park Rotary Pavilion.

The registration cost includes a souvenir shirt, a swag bag and a donation to the Jamie Rose stop domestic violence fund.

To register go to jamierosepowerwalk.racewire.com.

There promises to be plenty of raffles, good music and games.

More details can be found in our “Events Calendar,” sponsored by the Merrill J. Thomas/ The Gillis Team, which appears in this issue for the first time this summer season.

After the power walk, the attention will turn to the VFW Post No. 3120 at 196 Park Street where the local veterans are staging what they are calling “a triple toss fundraiser” for the Veterans Memorial Park in the center of our uptown business district on Park Street.

Monies raised will help the local veteran organizers buy an Amish shed for storage there, and to update the landscaping and sprinklers there, which were originally donated by the Brainard Beausoleil family over a decade ago.

There’ll be plenty of picnic-style goodies served at the post from 3p.m. to whenever the fun is done.

The triple toss will be comprised of three games- corn hole, shuffle board and darts. Teams will consist of two players and their will be first, second and third prizes for the best shooters and tossers.

Saturday here will also be the start of Tupper Arts’ speaker series featuring an afternoon with Dr. William Tortolano, beginning at 2p.m.

The learned speaker’s talk will be on the Group of Seven, an early 20th century group of influential Canadian painters. It’s free but donations are always welcome to support the arts organization’s many events throughout the year. The Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts is the co-sponsor of the lecture.

On Friday evening the weekly Friday night stargazing begins for the season at the Adirondack Sky Center and Observatory at 178 Big Wolf Road. It’s a free laser guided tour of the heavens. Call (518) 359-3538 for details.

Memorial Day observance planned Monday

It’s the Adirondack Leatherneck Marine Corp League’s turn to host the Memorial Day service at the Veterans’ Park on Park Street Monday at 11a.m.

The two veterans’ events here each year always feature performances by both the Tupper Lake High School Band, under the direction of Laura Davison, and the Tupper Lake Honor Guard, led by Mike Larabie.

This year’s guest speaker will be Tupper Lake Town Supervisor Rickey Dattola.

Wreaths will be laid at the monument of those veterans who have passed. All local organizations are welcome to join and lay a wreath.

Poppies are being given out this week at Saturday’s “Party on Park” and at the two local supermarkets. Donations to the local poppy fund go to help local veterans.

Two fun events for residents, visitors Saturday: Mud Ball and Tupper Lake Adult Prom

by Dan McClelland

Tupper Lake adults have two events in the community to enjoy this Saturday evening.

Tupper Arts is thanking its many supporters here with the Return of the Mud Ball- a fun event that has drawn nice-sized crowds in the years it has been held here.

It’s the popular arts group’s way of encouraging its patrons and many friends to shake off the winter blues and come out and dance.

This year’s Mud Ball will again be held at Raquette River Brewing.

The very dance-able tunes of the 1970s and 1980s will be supplied in robust fashion by the talented six musicians of Tupper Lake’s “Night School.” So wear your comfortable, dancing shoes!

The admission, as in the past, is free and the first drink of the evening is on Tupper Arts.

The evening will also feature a raffle and silent auction, with proceeds to benefit Tupper Arts and all its programs throughout the year.

Mud Ball happens Saturday from 5p.m. to 8p.m. For information about it or any of the many classes, performances and exhibits sponsored by Tupper Arts, visit TupperArts.org.

A new event that same evening is the Town of Tupper Lake Recreation/Youth Activities Department’s adult prom, entitled “What’s My Age Again?”

For those here with fond memories of their high school prom and maybe their first official date, it’s sort of a trip back in time to a 90s-themed prom. The adult prom (18 years and older) doesn’t begin until 7p.m.- so there’s enough time to take in both events that evening. The prom runs to 10p.m.

The Adult Prom will be held at the Tupper Lake Country Club restaurant, under the operation this year of Scott Bell and his staff. Scott’s calling his new place “The Clubhouse.”

There will be appetizers and a cash bar, and music will be served up by DJ Max Nason of Saranac Lake.

Tickets have been selling well, reports Recreation Director Laura LaBarge, but people shouldn’t delay as only 200 tickets are available. The $30 per person tickets may be purchased by using the scan code shown on the town department’s advertisement in this week’s paper.

The idea for new adult prom event came from the town’s new recreation director. Laura explains that she loved the proms when she was in high school and attended every one in your years at Tupper High.

“Every once in a while I’ll be out somewhere in the community, and someone will tell me: ‘wouldn’t it be nice to have a prom for adults here?’”

Adult prom have been popular in other communities, she noted last week.

Laura said she’s hoping people will take in both events that evening.

All proceeds from Tupper Lake’s first adult prom will go to the town’s youth programs, which include youth sports and the summer day camp, to name just two.

She said she is hoping to create several “signature drinks” at Scott’s new bar- “perhaps with funny names to mark what she hopes is the evening’s nostalgia.

To help with the fundraising there will be a
Chinese auction for ten or so gift baskets- full of all sorts of goodies- that will be raffled off and awarded. A very nice, very expensive Yetsi cooler will also be given to some lucky ticket-holder that evening in a separate drawing.

As the popularity of the town’s various youth programs increases- with growing numbers- so go the costs, and hence the reason for this new event, explains Mrs. LaBarge.

To add a little silliness to Saturday’s event, the recreation director has arranged to have a do it yourself photo booth on hand to snap posed photos of prom-goers and their friends.

Many of the participants will be sporting the tradition dress finery of proms, while others many take a less formal approach, in keeping with Tupper Lake custom.

But the aim, according to Mrs. LaBarge, is to return that evening to the 1990s and its trademark music, dust off their old prom duds, and relive some old memories with friends.

New budget doesn’t fund three police positions, but produces tax rate like two years ago

by Dan McClelland

The tax rate that Tupper Lake village taxpayers are looking at when they get their tax bills next month is about the same one they were looking at this time two years ago.

That’s because the board, at various workshops in recent weeks cut about $190,000 in projected spending for next year.

A new smaller budget was adopted by the village board at a special meeting last Monday.

In the proposed budget the board has been reviewing in recent weeks, total spending for next year was forecast at $3.395 million- which was a spending decrease over the current year of 0.17% or $5,841.

After an expected fund balance of $100,000 and projected revenues in the new village year beginning in June of $1.049 million, a tax levy (amount paid by village taxpayers collectively) of $2.346 million was in prospect. That levy projected was up by 4.57% or $49,189 over the village’s allowable state tax cap of $2.296 million.

In the proposed budget before the cuts in recent weeks a tax rate of $16.459 per $1,000 of assessed valuation of property was in view.

Since early April when the draft budget was released to the board by Treasurer Mary Casagrain there have been cuts- the most significant of them in the $1.3 million proposed budget of the Tupper Lake Village Police Department.

In the proposed budget of Chief Eric Proulx were $647,639 in salaries for the chief, three sergeants and four uniformed officers. Also included were about $155,000 in salaries for replacements for Officer Mike Vaillancourt, who retired this year and Officers Brandon Duchaine and Kris Clark, who resigned their positions this past year.

Because the department can’t find officers to replace them, the village leaders removed $190,100 from the final budget, which included the $154,500 in salaries, $1,600 in the clothing allowances for the three, and $34,000 for social security payments and hospital and medical benefits for those positions.

Another major adjustment- this time on the revenue side of the plan- was an increase of $20,000 in new revenue from the increased price of garbage stickers in the new year (See related story this week).

So in the final plan total spending that funds the police, fire, public works and office departments in the village’s general fund spending was cut to $3.2 million- down by 5.75% or $195,941. It produced a new tax levy of $2.136 million which is under the allowable state tax cap by 4.79% or by $160,919.

The final budget forecasts a tax rate of $14.98 per $1,000- down by 79 cents per $1,000 below the current tax rate and only a penny per $1,000 assessed valuation over the rate in 2021-22 budget two years ago.

At a special meeting last Monday, the board began by rescinding the motion it made in recent weeks and dispensed with the local law which would have permitted it to override the state-mandated tax cap.

“No matter what we do with the budget tonight, we are now under the tax cap, so we need to rescind the tax cap override we passed earlier,” Mayor Paul Maroun said calling for a motion to rescind it.

“We do it every year once we know we’re under the cap!”

Trustees Eric Shaheen and David Maroun made that motion and it passed unanimously.

At one point in the meeting the board adjourned briefly to executive session to consider a budget-related personnel matter.

In advance of going into private deliberations, Trustee Eric Shaheen said the main reason the budget was decreasing and would be under the tax cap is that the three vacant police positions were not included in the budget spending forecast.

“If there were police officers we could hire, we’d be in a different situation right now. If we could have filled those positions, it wouldn’t have been an easy budget year. We would have been well over the tax cap!” Mr. Shaheen stressed.

“Following up on what Eric said, it’s not our fault” we couldn’t find police officer candidates to fill those positions, stated Mayor Maroun. “We tried to find candidates to hire.”

Responding to some of the comments he’s read on social meeting, Trustee Shaheen stated: “We did not choose to do 12-hour shifts” and reduce police coverage here to one shift per day. “There is no one out there to hire...nobody.”

He said when the New York State Police can’t hire enough troopers, the state prison system cannot hire enough correctional officers, “it’s 100% out of the village board’s control” to find police officers.

“We can’t pull people out of the air!”

The Free Press publisher asked the board about its canvassing and recruitment efforts around the state and region, other than just canvassing off county civil service roles.

“The chief did,” Mayor Maroun assured him. Chief Proulx apparently made many calls to other departments around the state looking for officers to hire here.

“Look at corrections,” noted Trustee “Haji” Maroun, himself a state correctional officer. “They got rid of the test- and I don’t know how they did it with civil service rules. But it’s application-only now when people apply to be correctional officers.”

Mr. Shaheen said the state police have also dramatically lessened their once strict hiring requirements. “The state police cannot find people to become troopers!”

Mr. Shaheen claimed that New York State’s poorly thought out bail reform laws introduced by former Governor Cuomo is one of the roots of the problems that young people don’t want to become police officers today. “It has crucified police officers in this state. No one wants to become a police officer. Until bail reform is changed, you won’t see a difference!” he insisted.

Trustee Leon LeBlanc made it very clear that evening that he didn’t like the decision the board made to not fund those three police positions this year. “We made it very clear to Eric (Chief Proulx) that if he comes up with someone or several people to hire six months from now, we’ll find the money some where to hire them!”

“Yes, we will,” asserted Trustee Shaheen.

“The majority of the problem with crime” in this town and in this state is the bail reform laws. “You can have 150 police officers in your town but there will still be crime, because for law-breakers there are no repercussions for any crime you do now!”

“Criminals now get arrested and then released on their own recognizance” to appear in court months later, Trustee Shaheen asserted.

“Most times no one in this state goes to jail now,” added Trustee Maroun.

“Dust Rings in Space” lecture Thursday

The Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory continues the free Live Virtual Lectures on Thursday May 4th at 7 p.m. with "Dust Rings in Space" presented by Dr. Josh Thomas.

James Webb Space Telescope has captured an amazing set of ring-like features around a pair of stars called WR 140. These rings are the result of complex interactions between winds in the binary (pair) of stars. Despite some headlines, astronomers were not baffled by these rings. Some of the basic measurements about the nature of the system and how the rings formed will be presented in this exciting but windy talk.

Join Dr. Thomas for this free zoom lecture on May 4th at 7pm. Josh is an Associate Professor of Physics and the Director of the Reynolds Observatory at Clarkson University, as well as a member of the Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory board.

To register for this free zoom event, go to the Adirondack Sky Center.org/events or our facebook page.

The Adirondack Sky Center inspires people to discover and explore the “Wilderness Above” through curiosity, observation and scientific investigation. All previous lectures have been recorded and available for viewing on the Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory YouTube channel.

To learn more, visit adirondackskycenter.org info@adirondackskycenter.org or call (518) 359-3538.

“Party on Park” is on, but food, beverage mobile vendors out

by Dan McClelland

“Party on Park” is still on for the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, but there’s a new condition.

In its final approval of the street-closing of the two blocks of the Park Street business district Monday night, the village board, at the insistence of Trustee Eric Shaheen, voted to not permit mobile food or drink vendors to participate.

The street closing still awaits approval from the Watertown office of the state Department of Transportation.

Mr. Shaheen first raised his concern about including the mobile food units in the coming event and the harm they could do to the actual restaurants and eateries in the uptown business district when the board met to continue work on the new budget Thursday.

Following the discussion that evening Mayor Paul Maroun said he talked with Dan McClelland and Josh Mclean about the food vendor condition. Mr. McClelland, as acting chamber of commerce president and retailers Josh Mclean and Garrett Kopp pitched the “Party on Park” revival plan at the regular April board meeting. The mayor said he also spoke with Tupper Arts President Sue Delehanty, who also appeared that night to back the event.

Mr. Maroun said Monday the event organizers said they could accept the board condition.

Mr. Shaheen asked Monday if the board could put his condition into a formal board motion and his colleagues agreed.

Trustee Leon LeBlanc brought the motion, noting that only that actual businesses on the street that sell food could sell it.

“But if someone wants to bring some beer-testing thing to the event, that’s fine,” he added to his motion.

“Why is that?” Trustee David “Haji” Maroun asked. “It would be a booth.” He noted that Stewart’s Shop in the uptown business district sells beer, asking why it should have competition from a beer vendor.

At the past two “Party on Park” events Raquette River Brewing has brought samples of its beer to give away.

“I’m talking about food, Haji,” Mr. LeBlanc stated. “I want the people who come to the event to go into the restaurants to eat. I don’t want food vendors on the street!”

Mr. Maroun wondered if organizers had requested an exception to the town’s open container ordinance, as Tupper Brewing had done when it hosted events on Cliff Ave. in past years.

Mr. LeBlanc said that was not part of the request by the retailers to the board.

“So what kind of vendors” do you want to permit to operate on the street, the mayor asked them that evening.

“No food or beverage vendors,” Trustee Shaheen suggested.

“Well, what about a brick and mortar business here like Raquette River Brewing that has a vendor cart?” the mayor asked his board members.

“If they sell food, then no,” Trustee LeBlanc told the mayor.

“The visitors can’t be drinking alcohol on the streets anyways. That’s a local law,” Trustee Jason McClain told his colleagues.

Trustee David Maroun suggested that Well Dressed Food, which sells Raquette River products in its restaurant, could sell that beer there. The local restaurant features sidewalk tables all summer, and it could be served there.

Trying to gauge the board sentiment Mayor Maroun wondered if Annie Eldred, who owns Cabin Fever Floral could bring a mobile flower cart to the event and the board members felt she could, since she operates at brick and mortar business here.

“So it’s just food and beverages” we’re not allowing? The mayor asked. “I just want to make sure.”

The board members said they were the two items that shouldn’t be sold by a mobile vendor, out of consideration for the restaurants on the street.

“That was the big gripe last year,” Trustee Shaheen reminded them.

Former and convicted drug dealer warns: Drugs are killing Tupper Lake

Editor’s note: the following letter is an open letter to local, county, state and federal lawmakers as a plea for help for our community in light of what many know is a huge drug problem here. The letter was written by Tupper Lake’s Michael Delair, an admitted and convicted drug dealer and recovered drug user. In our opinion it is perhaps the most courageous statement we’ve ever been asked to publish in our nearly 50 years here.

Dear all local, county, state and federal elected leaders:

I live in Tupper Lake I am writing you in regards to the epidemic of drugs that has taken over our community and the necessity to help adequately fund our village police department, rid our town of drugs and crime and most importantly save lives.

First off let me tell you about myself. I am 49 years of age, and led a life of drugs, crime, multiple incarcerations and overdoses. It was a life I never thought I could escape from or give up. I look back now and can only imagine how many nights my mother waited up for me- just to know I was okay , not in jail or worse, dead!

Faced with the grim alternatives, my mother, of course, preferred I was in jail and alive than the alternatives of still surviving on the streets or dead. -And believe me! My life on the street was simply survival.

At the age of 18 I started smoking pot . By the age of 20 I learned how lucrative selling drugs was. By the time I was 22 years of age, I sold half the North Country drugs- and had users in Tupper lake, Saranac Lake, Lake Placid, Newcomb and Long Lake. Fifty percent of the pot that was around probably came from my hands in those years.

At 23 years of age I got into cocaine. I not only abused the drug but got involved heavily with the distribution of $15,000 worth of it through my hands weekly.

In my yard was a four wheeler, a wave runner, a snowmobile, a truck and a car. I had a top of the line sound system electronics in my house and vehicles. You name it, I had it.

But I had no visible means of income. Why didn’t someone in law enforcement notice?

My first bust was in 2005. It involved myself and several other locals. I was charged for felony possession of marijuana as I had been out of cocaine that week as my dealer was in jail. I did 18 months in county jail and spent five years on felony probation “for the weed.”

After that I got into heroine. I was making just under $15,000 every couple weeks give or take, selling it and with what went up my nose. My habit cost me roughly $75,000 (street value) through the course of a year. Looking back, it was pretty sad!

At 39 years of age I was caught in the largest bust in Franklin county involving 36 people- 27 of whom were released to probation. I received a sentence of four years in state prison. Luckily I did only 18 months as I went through the shock program and successfully completed it.

I was only home four weeks on parole and already had already accumulated 30 bundles of heroine while living in a shed on my mother’s property.

After failing a couple drug screenings I finally got my life together as I knew I was looking at ten years in jail on my next bid.

As a friend described the drug trade just about a month ago: “cash is king, baby”.

The hypocrisy in that is as of March 2 he is incarcerated, leaving his wife and children behind and alone.

I no longer live that life! I am a better person for doing so and see things in a much different way!

I have a son, his wife and two beautiful grand daughters and two grand sons. I have a girlfriend who I love with two sons, and a very caring, loving and supportive mother!

Today I choose them and put them before drugs. My past would say differently but my past can’t define who I am today.

What makes me different today, you may ask? Well, I’m doing the unthinkable. Just a short time ago my friend passed away due to an overdose here in our home town, leaving his family, friends, and two children behind.

We drifted apart a few years back. But he and many more friends who I care for are still involved in drugs, so I have to love them from a distance. In doing so in the past seven years I have lost 16 friends to drug overdoes.

This year, hopefully with the help of local, state and regional lawmakers, my goal is to eradicate that problem!

When my friend was left dead on the frozen ground this winter, I lost it! I lost hope in humanity, I lost control, I was filled with sadness and anger and tired of watching my friends die.

I made a promise to someone years ago to rid this town of the poison which killed a friend. But I failed miserably. More friends died, and more shame and guilt have filled my heart. Well, I made that same promise this time, and don’t intend to fail. I have taken action to find my friend’s killer and stop the influx of drugs to our community.

How, you may ask? That’s where the unthinkable comes in. Myself and my girlfriend and a few anonymous others started driving around at night and watching those individuals involved in drugs. We’ve been writing down license plates, talking via texts to addicts and dealers alike.

Our aim is to gain as much information as we can. It got expensive so we started a Go-fund Me to help cover the cost of our gas. I was ridiculed, made fun of, and told I was untrustworthy.

Slowly the fund grew to around $400 and after a few hateful comments we decided to give all funds raised to my friend’s family for a headstone for my friend, Paul. With the money we were raising we also started an account for his two children which at this point is remarkably at nearly $4,000.

I’ve harassed people through Facebook, showing texts of dealers’ dirty deeds, pics of meth, and anything else that implicates their involvement, knowing it would get back to them.

Again, I was ridiculed, harassed and even threatened to the point my own mother deleted me from Facebook as she feared the safety of me and my family and the loss of my sanity. Many friends, all good-natured and well-intentioned people, have said I am wasting my time, loosing my grip on reality and are concerned for me both physically and mentally.

I have been asked: “why am I doing this?” My reply to them is simply: “why are you doing nothing?”

Meth and heroin run rampant in our streets! Everyone complains, but do nothing. I’m not going to continue to do nothing! If I am hurt because of my actions, I would only hope it would shed more light on the situation at hand and if I die, I hope I am remembered for what I am doing, and not for what I have done in my past.

If honoring my many dead friends is not honorable than what is honor? I can only hope that through the information I have obtained it leads to the arrest of my friend’s killer, as no justice has been served for the other 15 friends I’ve lost over the past several years. That is my hope; this is my wish!

It is time for change and over the past month those changes have been happening. People have read my posts and people have started to reach out to me and confide in me about activities in their neighborhoods- sending photos and tips etc. to me.

Others have gone as far as creating a website to expose such things, some of which I don’t condone. But to be honest they are getting their points across and if hurting some folks’ feelings happens, well consider the feelings of all the families who have lost there children here.

People are tired of it- “lots of people are- and they are fighting back. We are not vigilantes but people using the power of our voice to make a change and maybe one day go back to living like we used to for decades here.

Our town is horribly different now- from the innocent place it was years ago. Who doesn’t lock their door now? Who isn’t afraid that their kid may go to the ball park and fall on a needle . We are not the Tupper Lake we used to be, yet we promote how peaceful we are. Tupper Lake is now a community plagued with death of our young adults, addiction and crime.

Are people aware are crime rate has nearly tripled in the course of the last two years- most of it drug-related crime. Why is that? Because the state’s bail reform is not working the way you think it should. Our crime rate has tripled because the same individuals who are apprehended and arrested are released and back on the street before the ink dries on the paper of their arrest. Once out they are back committing more crimes.

While much of this is my opinion, if you look at the local police blotter it’s the same several individuals arrested and released, but not jailed, over and over again! The bail system is broken in New York State.

Squatters illegally staying in local apartments and houses in Tupper Lake was unheard of a few years ago. Now it’s commonplace...people moving into someone’s residence because it’s empty and our laws say we can’t just tell them to get out. It’s a complete and utter atrocity.

To all the elected leaders of our town, our county and our state, I simply ask this:

Will you fix our laws? Will you push to seek justice for those lost to the poisons being pushed in our community? Will you find funding for our local police department so they aren’t done work at 7p.m. when all the fun begins? -Or maybe situate a treatment facility right here where drug users and addicts can go to receive Narcan and mental health counseling?

To my community, I say, it is time to stop treating what’s going on here as a dirty secret. It is time to take our town back with or without our governments’ help! If you see something, say something. It’s that simple! You can remain anonymous but what you should not do is stay silent because before long the criminals will be running our town if we do not take action now!

Last but not least, a few comments to my fellow addicts:

I was once you and still am! I have anxiety and mental health issues persist with me to this day!

I not only feel your pain, your shame and your guilt but truly understand the grip of addiction as it haunts me to this day. I routinely have vivid dreams of smoking crack , nodding out, finding my dead friend and hearing his bones crack as I lifted him dead off the floor.

But some how in some way I finally just had enough and gave it all up. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t think about it almost daily as I to want to numb the pain and quiet that little voice in my head that says “I’ll never be anything more than what I am- a junkie, a depressed and almost insane man of 50 years who sometimes thinks death would be easier than to go on living.

My critics may think I have no compassion. They may think of me as a bully and a bad guy and I’m okay with that. Why? Because I live with it. I hear all their hateful comments directed at me. And they combine on top of all the nasty things my own mind says to me on a daily basis. But I’m okay with it because I have changed and regardless of how low I feel sometimes, every day I rise and I put one foot in front of the other each and continue to fight for my sobriety.

It’s a challenge ten times harder than how I chased the drugs all those years. This is not an easy task by any means. I am no better than any of you and hate that some of you feel that way but so be it. If you ask me for help I will do whatever I can to help you- whether it just my ear to listen to you or the offer of some advice.

I pointed out to a few individuals I hope I’m not looked at as a bully to addicts. I’m the exact opposite. I care about all of you! But some of the things people have written about me on social media post, criticizing my motives and my character, just shows how truly horrible the disease of addiction is! It’s cunning, baffling and powerful.

To those living with it , they know of its power. Someone who is clean and sober may outwardly seem to be doing well on their journey, but then all of a sudden, without warning, they have a slip or even succumb to a full-blown relapse.

This type of behavior is very confusing to addicts and to their family members and friends, who often think that once their loved one goes for treatment that the problem will be fixed. Unfortunately, addiction doesn’t work that way. It’s a chronic illness that has all of the qualities listed above, along with “infinite patience.”

I would refer everyone troubled by addiction to: Stjoesphinstitute.com understanding addiction: cunning, baffling, powerful.

I will leave you with these words from a friend a mine, David Leblanc who said this to me recently: “I’ve known you since before you could walk Your mom played softball with my mom, so I watched you during games. I’ve known you since before your escapades. I saw your heart before it was hardened by crime and drugs. I see your heart even when you are raging mad. A man’s heart is what it is from birth. He’s capable of bad but deep inside of his heart, if it is good, he’s good. You just took awhile to figure out that you’re a good man. Some of us always knew! Maybe God or whoever is out there put you through all of the bad for this mission. Our town is going through some dark times, and maybe it needs a good-hearted man who’s looked into the abyss to help turn the lights back on!”

Sincerely,

Mike Delair