Important benefit coming up for Tri-Lakes Humane Society

The Tri-Lakes Humane Society is beginning another year of exciting fundraising to support its important mission of kind and humane pet and animal care. One of the first events will be in Tupper Lake at Raquette River Brewing on Thursday, February 8 from 5p.m. to 9p.m.

It will be an evening of celebration for a very great cause- the kind and humane treatment of all local pets that come under the care of the regional society.

For every beer sold during those hours that evening, $1 will go to the humane society. The event will feature a 50/50 raffle and the sale of all sorts of souvenir t-shirts, sweat shirts and other merchandise.

Support of the event with a good turn-out that evening will help make the difference in the lives of many dogs and cats in need.

In addition to monetary donations, the organization is also in need of cat and dog supplies.

Organizers, who include volunteers from across the tri-lake communities, say it’s all about supporting our furry friends.

Area residents are also asked to pen onto their calendars the date of this year fourth annual “Bark in the Park” at the Tupper Lake Municipal park on the third Sunday of September- the 15th from noon to 4p.m. The annual event has brought animal lovers and pets together for an afternoon of fun and food to help support the area humane society, and its offices and kennels in Saranac Lake.

Plans have already started for this year’s version and it promises to be bigger and better than the three in recent years.

The humane society’s fundraising began on a high note this month with a generous $12,500 donation from Elan Credit Card, the company that provides credit card services to members of the Adirondack Regional Federal Credit Union, according to an announcement this week from Russ Cronin, ARFCU president and CEO. The credit union is also a sponsor of Tupper Lake’s “Bark in the Park.”

Rumor of food trucks coming to Park Street untrue

In her report to her board members at Tuesday’s monthly board meeting, Mayor Mary Fontana said one of her board members recently received an anonymous letter, about a recent rumor where village leaders were poised to permit the operation of food trucks on Park Street in the uptown business district.

She indicated that the rumor was unfounded and that the village board does not intend to allow food trucks there, at any time of the day or night.

Board members all concurred with her comments.

Adirondack Jazz Ensemble to perform at high school later this month

Music lovers here should mark on their calendars a performance of the Adirondack Jazz Ensemble on January 28.

The ensemble will perform a free concert at the Tupper Lake Middle/High School auditorium at Sunday afternoon at 2p.m.

The Plattsburgh-based AJE plays all sorts of great music including jazz, funk, Latin, soul, rhythm and blues and rock, plus a few pleasant surprises. It’s free and open to music lovers of all ages. It’s expected to be a performance that explodes with musical energy.

It comes to the community thanks to the Tricia Woods Memorial Music Fund and Stewart’s Shop.

Adirondack Tour de Ski coming to golf course this Sunday

by Dan McClelland

A new nordic event is coming to the town’s trail network at the golf course Sunday morning that will bring competitors from across the region.

Tupper Lake will host one of the six parts of the new Adirondack Tour de Ski that day.

Councilman John Gillis, who also directs the maintenance and operation of the town’s four-season trails at the Tupper Lake Golf Course, announced the new event at a board meeting last fall, noting that “The Adirondack Tour de Ski” is a six-venue, six-race series.”

Mr. Gillis has been part of the organizing committee since early last summer.

The races began at Mt. Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid in December, and were supposed to continue at Dewey Mountain in Saranac Lake in the following weeks. That event was postponed due to lack of snow cover until later this winter when hopefully there is enough snow. It will likely be held on a Saturday evening, under the trail lights there, Mr. Gillis said yesterday.

Sunday is Tupper’s turn and Mr. Gillis is hoping for snow, not rain between now and then.

Yesterday he was up grooming the local course, and while it’s fine right now, more snow would help, he said.

Upcoming races will be at Scotts Cobble and Cascade trails in Lake Placid and the Visitor Interpretive Center at Paul Smith’s, plus the Dewey Mt. One.

He said the way the new tour will work is that it began with a 3K race and will build up to a 15 or 20 kilometer race by the final one. “It’s geared for families. It’s a fun race series.”

The races begin about 10:15a.m. this Sunday and the public is very welcome to come out and cheer on the nordic racers.

He said the schedule is set up so most of the races will be held on Sundays and in that way it will encourage families and couples to come for the entire weekend.

“We’ve had good support from Franklin County Tourism and their program “The Adirondack Frontier.” There’s also been a generous donor come forward from Lake Placid who posted a $25,000 sponsorship.

“We should see a lot of turn-out” from around the northeast, he said he and the other series organizers expect.

He also noted that the reason Mt. Van Hoevenberg was selected as an early race next month, is because of the state facility’s snow-making system.

He said too the series is designed so if one of the host places can’t host an event due to lack of snow, it can always be moved to the Lake Placid site with its artificial snow.”

For its part in hosting one of the six races, the town will receive money from the overall tour budget to underwrite maintenance costs on the golf course trails here.

Another event on our trails- and this one in the middle of February- will be the New York State Empire Games’ winter triathlon- a brand new event for Tupper.

Tupper Arts reaches $200,000 goal to purchase, re-develop State Theater

by Dan McClelland

The leaders of Tupper Arts are delighted to announce this week that their organization’s Encore Campaign this fall to raise funds to purchase and develop the Adirondack State Theater has reached its goal in an effort of resounding success. The local arts and cultural organization met is ambitious goal in only four months.

The support from the community has been overwhelmingly strong, according to Susan Delehanty, who chairs the Tupper Arts board of directors.

She said an anonymous matching donation of $75,000 announced in September to boost the fundraising effort has been met, even exceeding the goal of $200,000.

“Locals, visitors, and seasonal residents have stepped up to save this important cultural resource in Tupper Lake. Tupper Arts will be closing on the property shortly and looks forward to beginning renovations on this iconic structure.”

On behalf of her board Mrs. Delehanty expressed her gratitude to the community for making this campaign so successful. “ We are so grateful to everyone who has supported this cause. Thanks to their generosity, the Adirondack State Theater will be saved and will continue to serve the community for the next century.”

Several months ago the Tupper Arts leaders announced that “Mr. and Mrs. Anonymous” had stepped forward to make a significant impact on the campaign underway to buy and renovate the State Theater by offering a matching pledge of $75,000. 
The anonymous benefactors’ $75,000 pledge serves as a heartfelt call to action, doubling the impact of every donation made by year’s end. The generosity of these donors has not only multiplied the potential for a successful campaign, but also inspired others to join in, Mrs. Delehanty and her board members announced at that point in their campaign.

“This initiative has sparked a wave of unity, as other compassionate donors have eagerly come forward to contribute to the match.”

When the match of $75,000 was met in the weeks following the news this fall, the campaign was only $50,000 shy of its $200,000 goal. Part of the match was a generous donation of $25,000 from Lee and Nancy Keet who had pledged to donate the "last $25,000" toward the match.

Other donations from generous supporters of the local arts and cultural organization since then filled the $50,000 gap to the goal and more.

Tupper Arts in August announced its mission to save the Adirondack State Theater, which has been a cornerstone of the community for over 100 years. In order to preserve the iconic theater, it launched an ambitious capital campaign it called

“Encore: Saving the Adirondack State Theater.”

As a part of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative awarded to the Village of Tupper Lake in late 2022, Tupper Arts was granted $700,000 to expand its footprint on Park Street by buying the theater and redeveloping it into not only a modern movie house but a community theater with a stage where local and visiting artists could perform. As a prerequisite to access these funds, Tupper Arts had to first own the building. The goal of the Encore campaign was to raise $200,000 to purchase the property in order leverage the $700,000 state grant.

At a presentation in late summer at the start of the campaign , Louise McNally, founding past president of Tupper Arts, spoke of the sense of urgency and why Tupper Arts plays a crucial role in saving the theater from demise.

“I cannot stress enough, the urgency and cultural importance of this campaign. With the success of streaming platforms, rising costs, and the aftermath of COVID-19, the future of small regional commercial theaters is very grim. Without Tupper Arts’ intervention and commitment, the theater may be lost forever. With the support of individuals, local business, and philanthropic organizations, I believe we will breathe new life into this historic space and create a venue that will captivate audiences for generations to come.”

Town board approves actions in support grant to fund Junction improvements near station

by Dan McClelland

Melissa McManus, who now serves as both the village and town community development coordinator, briefed the town board Thursday on one of her latest town projects: getting ready for the opening of this end of the Adirondack Rail/Trail and the arrival of regular train service in the next year or so.

Since the spring Melissa has directed what is called “the Rail/Trail Readiness committee,” comprised of local volunteers.

“As you all know a committee of super-dedicated Tupper Lakers has been working on getting our community ready for the coming of the rail/trail and the resumption of regular rail service.”

She said four of those members were at that night’s meeting: Councilman John Gillis, Free Press Publisher Dan McClelland and Kelly and Reese Fleury, who head the Tupper Lake Snowmobile Club and who chair one of the group’s new sub-committees.

“Through the committee’s hard work these past months, we’ve identified a set of goals, a scope of work for the station itself and what we’re talking about tonight- the enhancements around the station.”

In the committee’s discussions- some live, some via Zoom- have been the need for bike racks, repair stations, water dispensing units, picnic tables, various other user amenities- at this the southern terminus of the new pedestrian, biking and snowmobiling recreational corridor between here and Lake Placid.

The eastern most section of the new 30-mile long trail officially opened at Ray Brook in recent weeks.

Many committee discussions, too, have centered on the connections needed where the recreation trail ends east of the station near McCarthy Street to get trail users to local streets and roadways where local businesses are situated.

“We want to convert its economic potential into new spending in our business in the Junction and beyond. We know what needs to be done to improve our streets and sidewalks- we’ve done a lot of thinking about that over the years.”

She said a number of new concepts and ideas are in the works “-and we’re now in the position to go after the money to design these improvements. And happily we had a Plan A in mind all the time and that was to try and secure some federal money, in particular the bipartisan infrastructure law money you’ve all heard about.”

“There’s still some money out there banging around and we’re hoping to get some of that or potentially an earmark. Alternatively our Plan B is the state Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant that is custom-made for this kind of hub project!”

She had forwarded two resolutions in support of the latter to the board for its consideration. Both were adopted that evening in support of the state grant.

The first represented the town board’s support for the application for Junction Hub improvement funds through the $165 million in DOT TAP funds to improve pathways and make safe connections to the new train service and $44 million state investment in the new rail/trail.

Of those grants, 80% would come from the state and 20% from the community.

The second resolution she presented that was also adopted by the board was an agreement with the LaBella Associates firm of Glens Falls to provide preliminary design and engineering services to the town that are necessary to file the application of a forthcoming TAP grant. The firm will submit the town application and the preliminary work it involves to the DOT for a one-time fee of $2,500.

Jamie Konkoski, who is a member of the trail and train readiness committee, is a senior planner with the firm.

Mrs. McManus explained to the town board the preparations for this grant are really complex. “We need to know exactly how much it is going to cost to use these federal highway funds to build streets and sidewalks here.”

She said the LaBella firm was the only one that responded to the town’s recent request for proposals to help with the grant applications.

Councilman John Gillis noted that the LaBella firm has already provided important services to the town at very little cost in recent months, noting the $2,500 fee is “a drop in the bucket” compared with what the town has already received from the company. It’s a great deal for Tupper!”

Both resolutions were adopted unanimously by the four board members present. Crystal Boucher, who begins her term as a new councilwoman was in attendance that evening in the gallery but not at the board table, as her term doesn’t begin until January 1.

Councilman Rick Donah asked Mrs. McManus if there has been any progress on a better and safer path from the end of the rail/trail at McCarthy Street directly to the train station.

One of the first connections proposed by the state designers was a newly built trail through the woods from where the new rail/trail concludes to the corner where Hebert Lane meets LeBoeuf Street. The connector trail route has been viewed as both unsightly and unsafe, by community leaders here.

“We have expressed our thoughts and concerns and have brought it to all the right peoples’ attention. We’re optimistic that it will be properly taken care of until the final plans are released,” the consultant told him.

A committee of local leaders has met with DOT and DEC higher ups on an informal basis several times this year, where the connection between the terminus of the new trail and Junction neighborhoods have been discussed. The preferred path voiced by the local committee has been directly along the railroad tracks to the station, with several safety measures put in place, rather than the remote route proposed in the state plan via Hebert Lane.

“We’re optimistic” state officials have heard our concerns, Mrs. McManus told Mr. Donah.

The grant applications are due January 9, and in response to another question from the councilman, Mrs. McManus estimated news of the awards might come as early as this summer.

It was noted that evening the completion of the rail/trail to Tupper Lake is expected in the fall of 2025, when it would be nice to have many of the improvements eyed for trail users in place by then.

If the grants come, the improvements they will fund may not be all completed until 2026, the grant writer speculated.

In a related matter that evening the Free Press publisher, who is chairman of Next Stop! Tupper Lake, which still owns the Junction station, said he had been approached by Erik Thomas, an engineer with Bette & Cring, which has won the bid to construct the new platform in front of the station and the “Y” train turnaround site beyond it between next April and December, during which time train service to the station from points south will be temporarily suspended.

Mr. Thomas asked if there was a small amount of space available in the station for a small field office and Mr. McClelland said space would certainly be found for them there to help facilitate the important work that would be going on outside the station.

At Thursday’s meeting Supervisor Rickey Dattola indicated that if the station has passed into town hands by then, he felt his board would certainly welcome the contractors to the station for its oversight of the project.

“So it looks like the train track improvements around the station have come to reality,” after several seasons of late when bid amount tendered far outdistanced construction estimates for the track improvements here, Mr. McClelland told the board.

The town supervisor said that when he attended the recent ribbon-cutting near Ray Brook that marked the opening of the first section of the rail/trail, “everyone there-including many state officials- were optimistic the project would stay on schedule and many couldn’t wait for the new trail to get to Tupper Lake.”

“I told them we have a beautiful station” and the connection of the new trail and the railroad will “be very nice when everything is done!”

He joked that when the trail eventually opens here, “we’ll be serving beer.”

Take a festive holiday stroll this weekend on Park Street, other sites

The Park Street businesses and the business community in general are inviting those wishing to bask in a little holiday glow to take the Tupper Lake Holiday Stroll. It’s happening December 15th and 16th!

Residents and visitors are invited to take a walk down a festively decorated Park Street, Friday, December 15 from 4p.m. to 7 p.m., or on Saturday, December 16 from noon to 7p.m.- enjoying the beautifully lit trees, stunning storefronts, and some fun holiday activities are to be expected.

In Tupper Lake’s Junction the Tupper Lake Train Depot will be open with vendors ready to help shoppers wrap up their holiday shopping.

By shopping at home this weekend residents will find many holiday shopping deals right here and get themselves into the festive spirit of the holiday- as they walk and stroll through the community with their neighbors.

Park Street businesses will be aglow with white twinkle lights, and will visited by a few special guests (Santa, the Grinch, and Ollie the Otter), and full of family fun!

The Town of Tupper Lake recreation department and the Tupper Lake Public Library are offering a craft and movie night for children on Friday evening. Children must be pre-registered to attend. Parents can register their children either at the library or the town hall.

Raquette River Brewing will also be hosting its annual Tree Decorating Party Saturday, December 16 where Santa is going to make an appearance.

Joining the retailers on Park Street this weekend will be Tupper Arts which has put up a number of types of new Christmas ware, including soaps, tree ornaments, trinkets and more- many of which have been made by local artisans.

-So take a stroll this weekend and check out all that Tupper Lake businesses have to offer!

PILOT proposed for “affordable housing,” commercial pieces of Boulevard project

by Dan McClelland

The Franklin County Industrial Development Agency has proposed a major PILOT program for the “affordable housing units” contained in the residential and commercial complex proposed by Joe Gehm and his partners on the former Oval Wood Dish Corp. parcel on Demars Boulevard.

The Oval Wood Dish development group- based in Syracuse- are planning two apartment complexes actually- one on the Fletcher family property adjacent to the former Ames Plaza and the other on the industrial site adjacent to the town hall. Its address is 116 Demars Blvd. The PILOT proposed is for that one right now.

For the past year the developers- formalized as the Oval Wood Dish Tupper Lake LLC- have been talking about nearly 92 “market rate” or “blended rate” apartments. Some were proposed to be upscale apartments to possibly induce seniors here to move from their family homes into nice apartments overlooking Raquette Pond, and thereby freeing up those houses for young families to buy.

There has also been talk about apartments priced in the range that tradesmen and their families can afford- as an inducement for skilled laborers, electricians, plumbers, etc. to move here from around the North Country to fill job vacancies. Many of these people currently commute here daily from distant communities as do many Sunmount employees hired in recent years.

More apartments are needed here so many people here have been encouraged by the projects.

The composition of the apartment complex proposed in recent months apparently changed, because that of the approximately 92 apartments initially proposed ,80 will now be what is called “affordable housing.”

Rents will likely be subsidized by state and federal programs, much like they are at Don Smith’s Apartments, the “battered women’s” townhouses on the back road and at Ivy Terrace. All three of those housing complexes enjoy substantial property tax abatements each year.

Complicating that switch in housing types to be offered there is a draft document given to local elected leaders about a plan where the developers are working with the Franklin County Industrial Development Agency, headed by Jeremy Evans, and that county agency has proposed a major PILOT for those 80 units.

PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) programs are a way for communities to attract development, by offering major property tax inducements.

This new one is based on a 30-year plan where the assessment upon which annual PILOT payments are based would remain at $677,400.

When Roger Sullivan owned and operated his O.W.D. Inc. plastic utensil business on the eastern end of the old Oval Wood Dish complex the total assessment for his buildings and the ones west of them that he later purchased and used for storage, the assessment was about $1 million.

After Roger’s factory was sold to another company which operated for another two years and then closed, the property was sold to Norman Bobrow and Associates, the New York City real estate firm that owns the former Ames plaza property next door.

That firm was able to convince the town assessment office to lower the assessment to $677,400- and that’s what taxes have been based upon in recent years.

When the apartment project was introduced by Mr. Gehm and his partners its worth upon completion was estimated at about $30 million. With high construction costs seen this past year and high inflation across the nation, most people in the construction business assume it will take probably $40 million to build it.

In the IDA proposal, the project’s cost is estimated at $39.1 million.

Missing from the original plan now is the commercial production brewery that the developers had been encouraging Raquette River Brewing’s Joe Hockey and Mark Jessie to create there. The successful brewery partners have since abandoned that plan. The local brewers now have a small shop in Lake Placid.

The proposed PILOT is based on the 80 affordable housing units and 15,000 square feet of commercial space proposed there, to include a number of business services and commercial tenants.

In the developers’ revenue plan is also several million dollars in Downtown Revitalization Grant money from the village’s $10 million grant win in 2022, some State Historic Preservation Program money and a major chunk is reportedly state tax credit funds. The project actually hinged on lots of that tax credit assistance, former Mayor Paul Maroun has told the community many times this year. It was reportedly approved in recent months.

The county IDA is looking to get their clients a 30-year PILOT where the current assessment of $677,400 would remain in place through 2055 for those certain units where rents would be likely geared to income.

In 2023 local taxpayers are paying $14.98 per $1,000 in village taxes, $1.83 per $1,000 in town taxes, $4.79 per $1,000 in county taxes and $16.39 per $1,000 in school taxes, for a total of $37.90 per $1,000 on their current assessments.

Many property owners, and particularly those with waterfront property on the local lakes, have assessments of $600,000 or more. Some of the great camps around our lakes are assessed at well over $1 million.

So based on the proposed continued assessment of $677,400 the developers would pay $50,000 as a payment in lieu of taxes the first year in 2026 when the project was finished and that would eventually grow by about 2% a year to year 30 in 2055 when the payment would be double that or be$100,800.

The PILOT proposed by the county IDA also would see no taxes paid on the commercial space in the complex until year six or 2031 when the first payment would be $7,500. That sum would grow each year by two percent or so to $12,063 in 2055 for a 25-year total of $240,227.

If there was no PILOT, the developers would pay $95,710 in village, town, county and school taxes in 2026 and $169,967 in 2055- on the 80 units or $3.9 million in total.

Based on the IDA plan the PILOT payments would total $2.27 million over the 30 years, versus $3.9 million without one, for a savings to the project and its developers of $1.6 million.

When that’s combined with two other incentives- a county mortgage tax exemption of $131,670 and a county sales tax exemption of $1,065,378- the developers would see total financial assistance through the county agency over the life of the PILOT of $2.8 million.

All of the local leaders- including Supervisor Rickey Dattola, County Legislator Nedd Sparks and Mayor Mary Fontana- are concerned about the PILOT advanced by the county IDA. There have been several recent meetings with County Manager Donna Kissane, who is also not a fan of the proposal, to explore in detail the impact of the PILOT plan on Tupper Lake’s future tax base, which has seen very little growth in recent years.

If the apartment project doesn’t materialize, the current taxes on the parcel with its decaying buildings are estimated at $26,978 in 2026 and by the year 2055, any owner would be paying $47,910 per year, based on the $677,400 per $1,000 assessment.

Village wins another big grant for more park improvements

by Dan McClelland

Friday the village leaders were notified the village has won $533,500 from the New York State Department of State to continue trail and other improvements to the municipal park.

It’s the latest piece of the village’s ongoing and very successful waterfront revitalization program through the state department that has produced major developments there like the continuation of the shoreline trail, a new entrance way to Flanders Park, the “Sunset Stage” bandshell and the Little Logger Playground. It’s another grant for the village written and won by Community Development Director Melissa McManus.

The grant money will be used to build two new hard-surfaced handicapped trails from the edge of the park on Martin and Mill streets or from the grandstand parking areas to the shoreline walkway and to a new fishing pier that will be built out from it, Mayor Paul Maroun announced this week.

“It will be so everyone will be able to get to this new fishing pier-” regardless of their mobility, he said. “It’ll help handicapped people easily get to our shoreline areas each summer...and a great enhancement for our park!”

The village was passed over in last year’s Waterfront Revitalization Program grant round. Over the years, however, the village has won hundreds of thousands of dollars through it.

Last year’s application scored light in some areas and Mayor Maroun said in the review of it, several areas were strengthened, making for a better application.

Grant monies will also be used to have construction plans designed for a new “club house” or locker room complex so both the Riverpigs and their opponents will have their own changing rooms, with showers, bathrooms, etc., he noted.

The building would also have room where referees and umpires can use for games here.

Mayor Maroun envisions the new building in the park each winter as a warming and restroom area for snowmobiles to use, as well as for ice fishermen wetting their lines on Raquette Pond.

This grant will not include the development of a beach at the park.

The new fishing pier is eyed for a piece of the shoreline, just right of the bottom of Cliff Ave., where a new boat launching site and dock are planned.

Russ Bartlett retiring as superintendent of schools

by Dan McClelland

Among the personnel actions of the Tupper Lake Board of Education this month was the announced retirement of Superintendent of Schools Russell Bartlett. Mr. Bartlett will step down from the district’s highest post at the close of this school year.

Mr. Bartlett joined the district faculty nearly three decades ago in 1994 as a science teacher.

He served as athletic director from 2010 to 2015 and then as high school principal for about five years, before his appointment to succeed retiring Superintendent of Schools Seth McGowan. This year is his fourth year as superintendent.

Outside of the classroom and the administrative offices, Mr. Bartlett also coached girls varsity soccer for 13 years and junior varsity basketball for a time.

Much of Mr. Bartlett’s focus these past four years has been working with the district’s financial advisors and architects, along with Building and Grounds Superintendent Pierre St. Pierre and Business Manager Dan Bower, on the comprehensive and very detailed $20.4 million building improvement plan recently endorsed by school district voters.

Construction of the various projects eyed in the plan- which includes all the district buildings- is expected to commence next year.

The board will commence a search process in coming weeks to find a replacement for Mr. Bartlett.

In other personnel actions at the November board meeting, the board:

-accepted the resignation of Diane Helms from her position as yearbook advisor. Lori Staves was appointed as Diane’s replacement.

-accepted the resignation as Katrina Villeneuve as a teacher aide.

-accepted the resignation of Dkota Wright as a bus driver and cleaner.

-appointed Christina Pearce to a 52-week probationary appointment as teacher aide and bus monitor.

-granted maternity leave to Danielle LaMere as of March 8 through the end of the current school year.

The board also approved the appointments of the coaches for winter sports.

Broyce Guerette was appointed for another year as coach of the varsity hockey team. Josh Tomkin will be his assistant and Evan LaBarge is again a volunteer coaching assistant.

Brian Bennett is returning for another year as varsity boys basketball coach and Hayden LaMere as junior varsity basketball coach. The modified team’s coach will be Grant Godin.

Travis Dupuis is again the girls basketball coach, and he will be helped as a volunteer by Carl Sorensen.

Amy Farrell and Hannah Klossner are again the indoor track coaches and Dennis Klossner was appointed again as the weightlifting coach.

The board adjourned to executive session that evening to consider tenure appointments, to be announced at an upcoming meeting.

Kiwanis Club inviting kids to have “Lunch with Santa”

The Tupper Lake Kiwanis Club will host a “Lunch with Santa” on Saturday, November 25. The chance to meet the Jolly Ol’ Gent before Christmas is free and open to all children in the area. The lunch, courtesy of the service organization, will run from 11a.m. to 1p.m. and will be held at the Holy Name Parish Center at 40 Marion Ave., the former HGA.

Veterans’ Day observance Saturday

Tupper Lake will again observe Veterans Day on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month- and that’s Saturday at 11a.m. at the Veterans’ Park on Park Street. As usual the event will be attended by the Tupper Lake Veterans Honor Guard and the student members of the Tupper Lake High School band. Both the honor guard and the band brightly color and add pageantry to the national holiday which remembers the men and women of our military- both present and past.

Each year the four veterans posts here alternate hosting the Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies here. Saturday is the American Legion Post’s turn.

Guest speaker this year will be native son, long time teacher, local veteran and former town councilman, Jim Kucipeck.

On Friday at 2p.m. veterans groups here will honor veterans who currently reside at the Mercy Living Center.

Tupper Arts excited to announce very generous matching pledge of $75,000 from anonymous donor toward the Encore Campaign

Tupper Arts leaders are excited this week to announce that “Mr. and Mrs. Anonymous” have stepped forward to make a significant impact on our community by offering a matching pledge of $75,000. 
The anonymous benefactor’s $75,000 pledge serves as a heartfelt call to action, doubling the impact of every donation made by year-end. The generosity of this donor has not only multiplied the potential for a successful campaign, but also inspired others to join in.


This initiative has sparked a wave of unity, as other compassionate donors have eagerly come forward to contribute to the match.

When the match of $75,000 is met, the campaign will only be $50,000 shy of its $200,000 goal.

Lee and Nancy Keet who have pledged to donate the "last $25,000" toward the match, are among other donors who have seized the opportunity to make their contributions count twice over.


“We are profoundly grateful for the incredible generosity of this anonymous donation” said Louise McNally, founding past president of Tupper Arts. “This matching pledge has the power to amplify the impact of every donation, big or small. It is a testament to the spirit of giving that defines our community.”

The matching initiative has drawn support from the community, and there is still time for others to participate before the December 31 deadline.



Susan Delehanty, current president of Tupper Arts board of directors added, “This is a special moment for our community. We encourage everyone who believes in the power of collective giving to take advantage of this opportunity and become a part of this historic campaign. As we approach the year-end deadline, there is an invitation to join together as a community to ensure the State Theater will remain an integral part of Tupper Lake’s future. The matching pledge exemplifies the goodwill within our community, and the time for others to act is now.”

To make a contribution and have it matched, you can donate online at tupperarts.org, mail a check to Tupper Arts Inc, 106 Park St Tupper Lake, or drop in to pick up an Encore Campaign fundraising packet.


Coats for Kids handout days November 1, 2 and 3

The coats for kids that were gathered from the coat drive will be distributed at the Holy Ghost Parish (HGA) 40 Marion Street in the gymnasium on November 1st, 2nd, 3rd. There is no income requirement, meaning that anyone who needs a coat for their children and teens are welcome to come for winter clothing. We have coats, hats, mittens, scarfs, and some snow/ski pants available. This effort was organized by Family Matters Resource Center and The Tupper Lake Public Library. For more information contact Bethany Cassell at bcassell@ccccnc.org or 518.359.8167.

Train returning to Tupper Lake twice this month

Repairs to the railway from Old Forge to Tupper Lake following the major storms in August will allow a limited restart of passenger excursion services to Tupper and back on Sunday October 22 and Sunday October 29, 2023.

“The efforts to repair the extensive washouts at two locations have been extraordinary,” said Frank Kobliski, president and general manager. “The High Peaks Limited, our premier return trip service from Utica to Tupper Lake, with a scheduled stop in Old Forge, will operate on the two dates. We have begun to contact passengers with ride credits from earlier cancelled trains to offer them first choice, prior to opening ticket sales to the public,” he added.

Mr. Kobliski said the teamwork by suppliers, the railroad’s business partner New York State Department of Transportation, and staff and volunteers are a testament to the importance of the new destination in the center of the Adirondack region.

“The foliage season will be over,” Mr. Kobliski stated. “However, the distant vistas are stunning and easier to see without leaves on the trees, and animal sightings increase too. We anticipate the community of Tupper Lake will welcome the restoration of service,” he added.

Customers are asked to check on the railroad’s website www.adirondackrr.com for tickets.

The Adirondack Railway Preservation Society, Inc. (ARPS) operates the Adirondack Railroad. It is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) volunteer-based organization with main offices in Utica, New York. Since 1992 it has provided a memorable experience for more than 1.85 million passengers, operating on the former New York Central Adirondack Division located in upstate New York.

Oktupperfest/Brewfest at Flanders Park Saturday; park your cars in outer municipal park

by Dan McClelland

The town recreation department is combining two very tried and true successful fall events into one this weekend when the Oktupperfest/Brewfest will be staged in Flanders Park.

This is the first year that the now town-sponsored event has been staged in Flanders Park. In recent years it was successfully staged by the Tupper Lake Chamber of Commerce at the golf course and for decades in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s at the Big Tupper Ski Center.

It’ll be the second time in as many weeks that Tupper Lakers and their visitors have a chance to celebrate in traditional Bavarian style. This past weekend saw three big Oktoberfest days at Raquette River Brewing. Despite steady rain all day Saturday, the event saw two drier days on both flanks and the arrival of hundreds of merrymakers to enjoy the live music and myriad fun activities.

The town recreation department’s big event Saturday will feature craft beer from notable North Country brewers include Raquette River Brewing, Hex and Hop, Nine Pin, Big Slide, Maple Brewing and Lake Placid Pub and Brewery.

In addition to the Brewfest components of Saturday’s event will be a monster dash, hay rides, a bounce house, a craft fair, food trucks on site and more. The weather looks like it may cooperate for an afternoon of outdoor fun Saturday, noon to 6p.m.

The streets adjacent to Flanders Park- the lower lengths of Cliff and Mill below Lake Street and Martin Street will all be closed to vehicular traffic and parking, by order of the village board at the organizers’ request, to provide enough staging area for the annual event. Local traffic for residents there will, of course, be permitted.

Recreation Director Laura LaBarge said she and her team of organizers are encouraging people to park in the outer area of the municipal park, west of the ball field and across from McDonald’s Restaurant. People can walk from their cars behind the ball park fences and across the Little Loggers playground to Flanders Park and its bandshell, from where live music will entertain guests all afternoon.

The shoreline walkway will also be closed that afternoon in order for the hay ride operator to make runs along it.

Mrs. LaBarge said she has timed the walk from the public restrooms to Flanders Park and its only three minutes- and a shorter distance when the event was staged at the golf course. She promises plenty of signage to direct people that afternoon to designated pedestrian paths.

DRI’s “Energize Uptown” project awards announced; Over $495,000 awarded to six projects

The Village of Tupper Lake and the Franklin County Economic Development Corp. (FCEDC) are thrilled to announce the Tupper Lake Energize Uptown Fund (Energize Uptown) awards this week.

Energize Uptown is an initiative that will provide matching grants for interior and exterior building improvements, site upgrades and enhancements, as well as business assistance.

The village was awarded $600,000 through the Tupper Lake Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) for the project. FCEDC will administer the fund on behalf of the village. This transformative endeavor will leverage both public and private funds, resulting in an investment of over $1,200,000 in Tupper Lake.

Awards include:

*$100,00 to China Wok (99 Park Street) for façade renovations and interior commercial renovations.

*$147,500 to Broaster Chicken on Park (105 Park Street owned by Kim and Nelson Landry) for façade renovations, creation of an outdoor dining space and interior commercial renovations.

*$140,000 to Frary Funeral Home (24 Cliff Avenue) for façade renovations and equipment to expand business operations.

*$100,000 to Three Lakes Holdings LLC, Flink Maswick Law PLLC, (56 Lake Street) for façade renovations, landscaping and interior commercial renovations.

*$10,300 to Greg Gachowski (82-86 Park Street) for façade improvements.

There is still $42,000 in funding available, and the Village of Tupper Lake and FCEDC will be accepting a second round of applications until November 8th. More information, including the application and program guidelines, can be found at https://adirondackfrontier.com/doing-business/financial-resources/main-street-program/

Mayor Paul Maroun said, “We are so pleased with the quality of the projects that were awarded funding and we can’t wait to see how the completed projects contribute to the continued transformation of Park Street. We express appreciation to New York State for believing in our community and investing $10 million in Downtown Revitalization Initiative funds to support Tupper Lake.

FCEDC CEO Jeremy Evans said, “We congratulate the Village of Tupper Lake and all of the grant awardees. Tupper Lake is truly on the rise and we look forward to working with the project sponsors to complete their projects. This project is another way FCEDC has been able to support downtown revitalization across Franklin County through the Adirondack Frontier Main Street Program.”

About the Franklin County Economic Development Corp.

FCEDC is a unifying economic development organization that helps entrepreneurs start and grow businesses, fosters a shop-local, community-first culture, and works to attract visitors with the hope they’ll become locals. Through the Adirondack Frontier Main Street Program, FCEDC provides strategic planning support, technical assistance, funding support and promotes placemaking.

Town exploring housing grant possibilities

by Dan McClelland

The town is exploring new housing grant opportunities to help property owners fix up their houses, in the fashion the community’s many Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Small Cities Block Grant programs have in the past.

Councilman John Gillis explained to his colleagues this month some of the housing grant programs now available.

He said earlier this month he met with the town’s new economic development director, Melissa McManus and Michelle Capone of the Development Authority of the North Country (DANC) who runs its housing arm- writing and administering grants.

“We discussed possible avenues that Tupper Lake could explore, and it really comes down to the nuances between which avenue you take versus what the requirements are.”

He said in some housing assistance programs, “they take a mortgage on the property if you are awarded a grant, so the homeowner doesn’t turn around and flip the renovated property.”

“We talked a lot about Michelle’s experience” in the various programs. “Right now she’s working with three or four municipalities in the region.”

He said the DANC housing pro has brought a lot of rewards to many St. Lawrence County communities in terms of housing programs.

The two programs she recommended were the state’s Affordable Housing Corp. and the Community Development Block Grant program. “Each has different niches and different requirements!”

“She has also suggested we go for a funding level of $400,000.”

He said the village is just completing such a program.

Any new town grant program based on what we can get done in the two and one year time line of the grant program.

“You get these grants and you only have that period of time to get the work done. Capacity-wise, we don’t have all kinds of contractors here who want to jump on these grants, and some of them who don’t want to.”

He said the grants typically open in the spring or summer, with awards announced in the fall or early winter.

“To get a head start, the town, as lead agency, could contract with DANC to research and write the appropriate grant application. The cost would not exceed $3,500. DANC would then do a press release to let local residents know about the availability of the rehab grants for their houses.”

Mr. Gillis said DANC staff would also assemble the applications and get all applicants set up for the program. “We want to make sure we have a waiting list of qualified applicants to show the need in the community for the grant!”

He said once all the applicants for the housing help have been assembled, DANC will determine the best program to apply to for the grants.

“If we are successful in winning a grant, DANC will do all the administration and project delivery.”

He estimated that each applicant could receive as much as $40,000 in rehabilitation funds for their house.

All contractors selected to participate in the program must carry workers’ compensation and liability insurance. He said they must also be trained in “lead-safe practices.”

The councilman said the town can get a leg up on its applications by first doing what he called “a housing condition study.”

“If we can get volunteer to do it, what Michelle suggested was, after taking some training, the person would a smart phone in various neighborhoods and visit 20% of the houses in Tupper Lake.”

He said the volunteer would take a photo of each house using the phone and describe it. When the picture is taken, the cell phone automatically geo-locates it and adds it to GIS data base.

“If we can get a volunteer to do that, it would save the town $1,500.”

He recommended the town budget $3,500 to hire DANC in its new budget, currently under development.

The village has won a number of housing grants over the years and the town has won some.

Councilwoman Tracy Luton asked him what sorts of renovations could be done by homeowners with the new grant funds and was told they must be major ones: roofs, windows and doors, insulation, heating and electrical upgrades.

“It’s not going to be a bathroom remodel. It’s going to be things that are necessities,” Mr. Gillis told her.

He said too the money will come as an outright grant, providing the homeowner continues to occupy and own that property for a set time period.

“The Affordable Housing program has one period and the Small Cities program a different one,” according to the councilman.

He said too once the housing condition survey is completed, the DANC housing staff can determine which agency’s program is more appropriate for Tupper Lake and more likely to be funded.

“Michelle said if we do our homework between now and the spring, we have a better chance for success when we apply.”

Supervisor Rickey Dattola promised the $3,500 appropriation to hire DANC to apply for these grants and administer them when they are awarded will be talked about as the board prepares its budget for 2024 in coming weeks.

In another housing matter he said there is currently an important tax exemption- called Section 457. “It’s very simple. If our three governments pass a local law that is already state-approved, and a first-time homebuyer wants to build a house or renovate an old one, the governments assess the property at 50% of its full value and it takes five years to grow to the full value assessment.

“It doesn’t hurt our tax base one bit, because it’s for vacant land, where a new house would be built, or for a house that is distressed, and would likely be leaving the tax roll soon.”

He said to put the new program in place would require creating with the village and school district a new local law. The program could start as early as January 1, 2024. The supervisor said he believes village and school officials are also interested in the new program that eventually grows the local tax base and creates new and renovated housing here.

“I’m going to stay on this and try to get it done!”

“I think this is another tool to develop more good housing here and in helping young people to buy their first home.”

Town board takes preliminary legal step to acquire train station

by Dan McClelland

Following a brief executive session with their attorney, Kirk Gagnier, at their monthly meeting Thursday, members of the Tupper Lake Town Board unanimously adopted a memorandum of understanding to pursue the acquisition of the Tupper Lake train station from the Next Stop! Tupper Lake organization.

The resolution of the memorandum of understanding, read by Councilwoman Mary Fontana, was as follows:

“The town resolves to acquire any interests Next Stop! Tupper Lake has in the train depot building, pursuant to any necessary approvals and pursuant to the town’s conditions of the transfer.”

The resolution was fashioned by Mr. Gagnier and reviewed in that evening’s short executive session and presented when the board returned to regular session before the close of that evening’s meeting.

“Basically what this is saying is that this has to go to the supreme court” in Malone “and it may come back with stipulations on the dissolution of Next Stop! Tupper Lake organization and the interest it has in the depot building, Councilman John Gillis explained that evening

“If we don’t like those stipulations, we can back out of the deal!” He said the court determination was necessary to protect the town and its taxpayers.

Supervisor Rickey Dattola, who during months of talks with the leaders of the train station organization has been very supportive of the transfer of the station into town ownership, noted that if the supreme court approves of the transfer, “then we are a go!”

“If the supreme court has issues, then we have to come back and resolve it,” he added.

Next Stop! Tupper Lake Chairman Dan McClelland, who presented many reasons why the train station should be owned by the town in his editorial last week, explained the smooth dissolution of his train station-building group and the transfer of ownership of the station have to do with whether the group’s mission of bringing new tourists here via the train is the same as the town’s going forward. “I think the court will find it is the same!”

There are two ways that the not-for-profit organization can dissolve and transfer its major asset, in this case the train depot building. One is through an application to the state attorney general’s office and the second is through a state supreme court order.

Town Attorney Kirk Gagnier told town officials he prefers the latter, as it can be less cumbersome than awaiting action by the state attorney general, which could take years.

In May town leaders heard a lengthy presentation by the board’s new economic development group about the many reasons the train station, in town ownership, could economically benefit the town and its residents.

The town committee members include Tim LaBarge, Mark Moeller, Rob Gillis, Matt Ellis, Dan McClelland, Chris Keniston and Caroline Sass.

Mr. LaBarge handled the presentation to the board that evening, after presenting leaders with a 12-page summary of their findings.

He said one of its missions, when it was chartered by the supervisor at the start of his term, is to develop a strategic plan for the town and its economy- both short-term and long-term.

“Our role is to provide advice and counsel and recommendations for your consideration in the months and years ahead. We have no advocacy role- but just to share with you regularly what we’ve found in our research about things we think will help our town.”

“If we are going to talk about recreational tourism as an economic driver for the Town of Tupper Lake, we feel that a gateway hub (comprised in part by the train station) will greatly advance our economic opportunities.

He said his committee members believe that a major town presence is very important at the point in The Junction where the railroad and the new rail/trail converge.

“We think it advances our town to its economic agenda of developing economic opportunities through regional recreational tourism!” he told town leaders.

He said that evening that the train station is just one example of things created here in the spirit of “if you build it, they will come,” the message of the Kevin Costner film “Field of Dreams.”

Others are the Rotary Track and Field, the Wild Center, the Adirondack Public Observatory, the civic center, recent developments in the municipal park and Raquette River Brewing.

“So that’s our philosophy for the Gateway Hub...if we build it, they will come,” he said of the train passengers and the hikers, bikers and snowmobilers who will come for the rail/trail.

He noted that the Gateway Hub and the train station building are at the geographic center of many of Tupper Lake’s current tourism amenities- with public trails and local travel corridors leading to all of them.

One future use of part of the train station could be a tourist information center. Another, he said, could be as headquarters of the new town recreation department.

Mr. LaBarge said that the first impression of a community can be a lasting one for visitors. “If you want to create that hearty first handshake where people come to town and say ‘boy this town does it right,’ we want to do it right.

He said the committee believes the good condition of the train station and its historic design “are not only favorable ones, but things that are unique to Tupper Lake. It speaks volumes of the railroad legacy that led to Tupper’s formation.

“People will walk into the station and will immediately get the impression its a nice facility. They may think to themselves: ‘this is the way they do things in Tupper Lake; maybe this is a place for me to start a business or buy a vacation place?’”

He cited some data- albeit a little dated- that recently predicted that rail/trail users arriving here at the depot site there could be as many as 240,000 per year. Their spending could result in an economic impact of $19 million.

Even if a fraction of that prediction materialized, that would be an impressive gain for the community, he noted.

As a proposed welcome center/information center for just these visitors along, to say nothing of snowmobilers and train travelers the station could prove immensely valuable to the community’s economy in the years ahead, he added.

The train station too is near several local restaurants, bars and convenience stores and only a shuttle ride away from other tourist amenities here, according to the speaker that evening.

Another of his slides provided some answers to why the town should own this new tourism hub.

The main one was that in town ownership, the project would qualify for many state and federal grants that a private owner like Next Stop! wouldn’t. That comes on the advice of the town’s new community developer, Melissa McManus.

Those monies would not only improve the building itself, but bring many needed amenities to the site that tourists are looking for like bike racks, picnic tables and more restrooms.

Ms. McManus said that this year’s state budget carried a line item of $300,000 to prepare the Lake Placid train station for the new rail/trail visitors, so there was no reason to believe the Town of Tupper Lake couldn’t qualify for similar funds to improve its new Gateway Hub area.

A new rail/trail revitalization group is already at work here under the direction of Ms. McManus to win funds to develop the station site. A grant “ask” list is being compiled by the volunteers for this fall for grant-writing over the winter and spring.

“So what’s our vision?” he told the town board members. “If you are inclined to purchase the train station, then we recommend converting it into a four-season center for rail, biking, hiking and snowmobiling. It also be our welcome center for transient visitors driving through.” It could become a transportation hub for every person traveling through here by whatever modal means or for people starting and finishing their vacations here, Mr. LaBarge conjectured.

It could offer travelers wi-fi connections as well as a distribution center for traditional brochures, maps and other promotional materials.

“The 800-pound elephant in the room is: are there any unanticipated or recurring maintenance costs that would be a heavy lift for the Town of Tupper Lake in the years ahead?”

“We had Contractor Chris Keniston take a look at the building and we had a building inspector also look at its condition.”

In their reports, both gave the building a thumb’s up in terms of its good condition.

“From everything are committee members have seen, the bones of the station are very good- the roof is good, the plumbing’s good, the 200-amp service is good. Some painting of the siding and soffits is needed- but that’s about all.

He reasoned that if the town does not take advantage of controlling this important tourism site and using it to the community’s full advantage, it’s like what he called “entering a death spiral.”

“If we stand still with respect to economic development, we are actually going backwards at a significant clip!”

“Not pursuing economic development” through this and other moves, “is actually a risk!”

If Tupper doesn’t seize this economic opportunity, others along the corridor may. “Those lost economic development costs could be very heavy,” he stressed to the town leaders.

On the revenue side of the building acquisition, there are a number of possible funding opportunities for the town: railroad operator rentals, funds generated from events held at the site, office space rentals, and others.

The Next Stop! Tupper Lake board has offered the building to the town for $1- based on the premise that the building was built using hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations from hundreds of year round and seasonal residents in the years between 2002 and 2008. So the organization’s leaders don’t believe Tupper Lake town taxpayers should have to pay twice for the station.

The economic development committee’s recommendation to the board at the conclusion of the report was as follows: “relatively low acquisition risks- we’re talking a dollar. -And if the acquisition costs are that low, and even if there are some maintenance costs for the town, you still have a very low cash outlay to acquire this building!”

“There’s a tremendous amount of upside in terms in economic development. So low risk, high reward. We would recommend acquisition, if we were asked to make a recommendation to our supervisor and all of you,” Mr. LaBarge concluded.

Mr. McClelland spoke briefly at the end of the committee’s presentation, saying that Next Stop! Tupper Lake volunteers have several conditions that they would hope the new town owners- both present and future would abide by. One is that part of the 29 foot wide by 120 foot long building will always remain Tupper Lake’s train station, as long as trains are running here. Another is that the current tenant, the CSEA local, be given plenty of time and certainly over a year or two to find alternative quarters. In the meantime its rent will continue to support the building as it has for the past 15 years.

The third request from the NSTL board is that town officials consider an annual contribution for the new Tupper Lake Museum in the years going forward, similar to the way it supports a number of local and regional groups in its budget each year.

Councilwoman Mary Fontana commented briefly at the end of the May presentation, saying she liked the economic committee’s plan for the site, but wanted complete research over the summer to make sure any acquisition of the building by the town was done correctly and legally to prevent any future headaches for the town.

Don’t forget “Adk Bark in the Park” Sunday

Animal lovers and people looking for an enjoyable time are reminded of Sunday’s annual “Adk Bark in the Park.” The event is a major fundraiser for the Tri-lakes Humane Society and supports its great work for pets and their owners throughout the year. A major sponsor is the Adirondack Regional Federal Credit Union. The event will run from noon to 4p.m. in the village’s municipal park. Activities are expected to include yummy pet food options, an agility course, a pet supply swap, professional photos taken, pet nail trims and more. A rabies clinic will also be held. For information call the society at (518) 891-0017 or see the advertisement in this week’s issue.