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.

Tupper’s newest tourism venue rising on The Boulevard

by Dan McClelland

It’s the talk of the town these days. The construction of Julie and Jed Dukett’s new Timberjaxx Pass miniature golf and ice cream business is all the buzz here.

From the long empty site of the Hyde gas station and convenience store has been shaped by sand, concrete and dozens and dozens of large boulders the foundation of Tupper’s newest tourist attraction.

The most striking feature so far is an eight boulder high water fall, where water will cascade down on new concrete ponds.

The local couple and their company Dukett LLC were awarded one of the grants in the village’s $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative earlier this year. They are building an 18-hole miniature golf course and ice cream store on one of the most highly traveled corridors in town. The state funding was for about two-fifths of the half a million dollar anticipated cost of the project.

They say location is key to business success, and there’s is prime.

At the center of the operation working daily alongside Jed and guiding the project is miniature golf course builder Bob Horwath, who has fashioned courses all over America, in Belize, England, Mexico, Canada and in South Korea.

Bob, whose business is now based in the Binghamton, N.Y. area, said he worked for the largest miniature golf course company in the world for over 25 years before starting his own business.

“Building amazing golf courses at amazing prices,” is Bob’s motto.

A number of concrete lined ponds, which will punctuate and be part of some of the new fairways, have been built in recent weeks.

A pump house to be built on site will drive the water through the pond system intertwined in the fairways.

Many of the details of the course are kind of getting worked out as the construction progresses under Bob’s guidance, Jed admitted last week.

Like most miniature golf courses, the paths that the balls will follow will weave through an assortment of tiny buildings and landscape features.

Mr. Horwath has been building tiny golf courses for 40 years, and no two are the same.

“He just finished a course in Indiana, before coming here earlier this summer,” according to Mr. Dukett.

Poles have been erected around several of the new fairways for various structural purposes. Many will carry ropes, giving the place something of a nautical look, and keep people from falling in the shallow ponds.

Errant balls that run off into the water will be able to be easily retrieved by the golfers as all balls float. A scooping device will easily lift them out of the water.

The dozens of boulders have come from a number of local excavating contractors, including Kentile Excavating and Lemieux Contracting. “They both have stockpiles of them and were just waiting for a guy like me to show up,” Jed joked.

Jed said he found Bob on the internet and they have been communicating about his and Julie’s plan for over six years.

“I love working with the smaller guys like Jed,” Mr. Horwath said a week or so ago.

He said he likes to come up with a finished showpiece that reflects both his vision and the owners’.

Working with the pair also has been Jed’s uncle from Saranac Lake, Raymond “Gus” Dukett.

Bob, whose a hands-on builder, estimated it takes him about six months to build a new venue- from start to finish.

“I set the forms and Jed and I pour concrete together,” he said of the contractor-owner method of building that he most prefers.

A number of Jed’s friends have helped with various stages of construction so far. Jed and Julie rented two small tractors- a small Kubota and a Skidsteer from Sturdy Supply to move the sand and boulders and other heavy materials around the site at 86 Demars Blvd.

“Chip Lemieux has helped us out. Tim Larkin helped us out, Wally Kennedy has helped, Josh Gravlin and his Tri-lakes Masonry- and others helped us.” He noted much of the fill came from Mitchell’s Stone Products. All materials were purchased locally from Fortune’s Hardware, Tupper Lake Supply and Aubuchon Hardware, etc. he told the Free Press.

“The location here couldn’t be better,” said the very knowledgeable golf course builder, Bob.

Bob and Jed planned to continue building the new course through the fall. Over the winter Jed will return to the renovations he and Julie have planned in the brick building that was once a convenience store.

The only major piece of the golfing landscape that will be done in the spring is laying the artificial turf carpet that will cover the tees, greens and fairways.

“Because the carpet is so expensive, the Duketts figured that because play won’t begin this fall, there’s no point of exposing that astro turf material to the elements this winter.

Bob Horwath figures blanketing everything in the carpet will involve about 900 square yards of material.

He also noted that boulders will be accepted right up to opening day. “I can never have enough boulders,” he said with a knowing grin.

The parking lot which lines the creek on the western edge of the parcel will be eventually lined with boulders, for example.

Mr. Horwath said that judging by the experience of other communities where he has built miniature golf course the Timberjaxx Pass will give tourists more reasons to stay here longer and more things to do in the evenings after the beaches close. “You are going to see a lot of people- and particularly families- hanging out here, playing golf and eating their food.”

Jed said they plan to operate the new recreational place from May to October in coming years, and then he and his wife can figure out what they could do there in the winter.

Fifteen take Saturday’s Triad Challenge

by Dan McClelland

Fifteen hikers- some very young, and some not so young and including two teams- challenged themselves Saturday morning to the Triad Challenge- scaling in consecutive fashion Coney Mt., Goodman Mountain and Mt. Arab.

Organizers from the Tupper Lake Rotary Club and ROOST were at the staging area at Coney Mountain at 8a.m. to prepare for the 9a.m. climbers that morning for the sixth annual event and to register them.

Sue Fitzpatrick, local ROOST volunteer who often staffs the organization’s office on Park Street, brought with her the bags given to each climber that contained among other souvenirs of Tupper Lake, engraved glasses fashioned by Andrew McClelland of Stacked Graphics, showing two hiking boots, which is part of the logo for the triad event. In the photo at left Sue shows off the glass.

She said that the man who traditionally has directed the event, Ted Merrihew, designed a revised logo that will be carried on a new windshield sticker that all participants will receive. Ted’ new sticker is shown below, which also lists the Rotary Club, the principle sponsor of the event.

Noelle Casagrain, who completed the tri-mountain climb last year when she was pregnant for Desmond Vaughn Zande, brought the eight week old lad with her this year, riding in her back pack baby carrier.

Noelle reported Desmond Vaughn slept most the time on her three climbs. Grandmother Betsy Zande accompanied them.

Liz Weir, who was the fastest woman at the 2021 Triad and who still hold the winning time, was back early to get set for her third try up the three Tupper Lake mountains. Liz is an active runner. Accompanying her was her husband, Ron Hanson. The couple live in Argyle, N.Y. They are shown at top right.

Liz this year again posted the best time among the female entrants.

The best time climbing the three mountains among the men was completed by Steve Festin, who with his wife Christine, are from the Schenectady area, but who have a seasonal residence on Charland Road.

Steve and Christine have done a number of Triad Challenges in recent weeks, according to Sue Fitzpatrick.

Ted Merrihew, who called himself the chief timer this year, poses with another local volunteer, Lance Durfee, at the staging site.

This was Lance’s third year as a volunteer.

Volunteer Emily Kriwox also brought her young baby to help her watch for approaching climbers at the top of Coney that day. Liam John Ward didn’t seem all that interested in the commotion and conversation at the staging area that morning.

Emily’s mother, Lidia, a hard-working businessman and dedicated Rotarian, was heading to the staging area to begin the registration process about 8:10a.m. that morning.

Soon after along came the first family- twins Dala and Nova Townsend, and their brother Obee. The kids were with their mother Becky and father, Mike. The Townsends own property here but hail from Newburgh, N.Y.

Brian Burns, co-owner of Northwood Cabins, was also came out that morning to volunteer again this year. Brian took the photo below left of the winners- Steve Festin and Liz Weir.

The 2022 event was called off at the last minute, due to a small turnout and heavy rain throughout the day.

Tri-Lakes Humane Society announces “ADK Bark-in-the-Park event and annual fundraiser

The hard-working folks at the Tri-Lakes Humane Society are planning a fun afternoon on a Sunday next month at the Tupper Lake Municipal Park that is also intended to be a major fundraiser to help them underwrite some of the many services they provide in our area to help pets and their owners.

The “Adirondack Bark-in-the-Park”will feature many enjoyable activities on Sunday, September 17 for pet owners, their pets and residents of the area, in general.

There will be live music by a local band, “Night School,” from noon to 3p.m., a beer and wine tent for those 21 years of age and older, food trucks with plenty of good fare and plenty of fun things to do for people and their pets.

Between noon and 4p.m. event there will be plenty of activities and vendors for people to enjoy. Fun raffles and creative contests will be set up alongside activity stations. A new station implemented this year is the “swap tent,” where gently used pet items can be exchanged or donated. Examples include but are not limited to collars, leashes, toys, bedding, etc.

Franklin County Public Health officials will be there to conduct a rabies clinic from noon to 2p.m. Pre-registration is necessary by contacting that county agency (518-891-4471).

There will also be pet micro-chipping from 1:30p.m. to 2:30p.m. for a small extra fee.

There is admission to the event but all of it will go to support the many good works of the society. Those under 12 years of age will be admitted free. Donations of any size will be graciously accepted.

Each admission ticket can be redeemed for one free alcoholic beverage (if 21), or one non-alcohol drink, plus an ice cream treat.

The first 100 people who pre-register will receive a custom tote bag with goodies inside.

The major sponsors of the afternoon event are Adirondack Regional Federal Credit Union, One Group, Long Run Wealth Advisors and Martin and Dukett Accounting. The credit union is again the main sponsor of the event, as it has been in recent years.

Supporters who have also made this fundraiser possible include: ADK Food Oasis, Bad to the Bone Pet Grooming, Boulevard Wine & Spirits, Cabin Fever Floral and Gifts, Critters, Fairytale Dram Photography, LaVigne’s IGA, Porkbusters BBQ, Raquette River Brewery, Shaheen’s IGA, Stacked Graphics, Tupper Lake Supply, Tails of Long Lake, Tractor Supply, the Village Mercantile and UPS, as well as some other smaller vendors in the area.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the society and its many important services.

The Tri-Lakes Humane Society is a no-kill, not for profit animal center in Saranac Lake. Its mission is to advocate for the humane treatment of animals and provide care and shelter for the animals that need it most. The staff works to reunite lost pets with their owners, to find loving homes for the animals in its care and to educated the public about humane animal care, animal laws and spaying /neutering to reduce overpopulation. The shelter and its staff also provide shelter and dog control services for a number of communities.

The society has deep roots in the tri-lakes area. In 1942 a group of animal-loving teenagers founded the ADK Animal Welfare Society. About 30 years later official documents were signed and the Tri-Lakes Humane Society was created. In 1994 the society won 501-3-c status from the Internal Revenue Service, making all donations to it tax deductible.

Shortly thereafter the society was given an old restaurant building on the western edge of Saranac Lake at 255 George LaPan Memorial Highway. After much renovation, it has been its home ever since.

Tri-Lakes Humane Society is the shelter for 11 towns including Tupper Lake and Long Lake. It has helped over 1,000 animals from Tupper Lake since 1972 alone. Giving food, water, shelter, medical attention and all essentials for a new beginning to all animals that come through its door is central to its ongoing mission.

The society’s staff and volunteers are able to care for between 300 and 400 animals every year.

Aside from town contracts, Tri-Lakes Humane Society depends solely on donations. Many fundraisers are planned each year to help the shelter to receive the resources needed to continue providing for the animals in need.

In recent weeks the Free Press interviewed Kim Charland, an active volunteer board member of the society, and Victoria “Tori” Tanner, the executive director, and both were excited about the September 17 event in the local park.

They explained that this is the third time the event has been held at the municipal park here, noting that this year they hope to make it the best and most enjoyable yet.

Full details of the event can be found at infotrilakeshumanesociety.org.

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.

Preserving Tupper Lake History: Tupper Arts launches ‘Encore’ capital campaign to save historic Adirondack State Theater

Tupper Lake is very fortunate to have a year-round movie house still in operation. The Adirondack State Theater is a cherished landmark that has been the cornerstone of the community for over 100 years, but it is in dire need of restoration. To ensure the preservation of this iconic theater, Tupper Arts is excited to announce the launch of an ambitious capital campaign: “Encore: Saving the Adirondack State Theater.”

In a statement released this week, Susan Delehanty, current president of the Tupper Arts board of directors announced, “Tupper Arts has the unique opportunity to renovate and restore the beloved 1914 movie house, which has been a mainstay in the community for over a century. It’s important to save this historic venue, but equally important to preserve a vibrant hub for arts and entertainment.”

As a part of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative awarded to the Village of Tupper Lake, Tupper Arts was granted $700,000. As a prerequisite to access these funds, Tupper Arts must own the building. The goal of the Encore campaign is to raise $200,000 to purchase the property in order leverage the $700,000 state grant. A successful campaign will ensure the theater will continue to show first-run films, in addition to film festivals, themed viewings, and live performances.

Sally Strasser, the current owner of the building, is ready to pass the torch and sell the venue. However, she understands the importance of keeping the theater an integral part of the community and would like to stay involved by helping Tupper Arts navigate the movie industry business. “Sally has a wealth of knowledge about the business and was instrumental in organizing the Go Digital or Go Dark Campaign that saved the theater two decades ago,” said Mrs. Delehanty. “We are fortunate to have her as a consultant on the exciting new venture for Tupper Arts.”

At a recent presentation, 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.”

There is a major challenge facing the Tupper Arts leaders, Mrs. McNally explained this week. They have only four months to raise the $200,000 that is required as the local share of the $700,000 DRI state award award.

Evie Longhurst, the new director of operations at Tupper Arts, has a unique perspective on the campaign. “As a new resident to Tupper Lake, I have been welcomed so warmly to the area and my new role at Tupper Arts. When I first learned of the opportunity to save the State Theater, I was excited by the prospect. The town spirit I have experienced in Tupper Lake is something new to me. The energy and passion of the people of Tupper Lake has been a joy to witness.

“I am confident our community will rally together to save this treasured landmark.”

The Encore Campaign has several levels of giving, including naming opportunities.

Donations of $1000 or more will receive their name on the back of a theater seat, a $25,000 donor can name the upstairs balcony theater and a $50,000 donor can have their name on the newly renovated and expanded main theater stage.

Donations to the campaign can be made online at tupperarts.org, mailing a check to Tupper Arts Inc. 106 Park St, Tupper Lake, or drop in to see the volunteers and pick up an Encore Campaign fundraising packet.

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.

Eclipse committee chair briefs business leaders of what to expect next April

The Adirondack Sky Museum and Observatory purchased local billboard space on upper Park Street to promote next year’s “Totality in Tupper” to passing motorists this summer in the hope they may return here for it.

by Dan McClelland

Earlier this month Seth McGowan, president of the Adirondack Sky Center and Observatory, presented details of the total solar eclipse coming next spring to over a dozen community and business leaders here. The solar eclipse is at the heart of an event called “Totality in Tupper” next April 8.

Mr. McGowan’s presentation was organized by the Regional Office Of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) to brief business owners here on some of what they may expect when thousands of people come here for the once in a life time celestial event.

The program began with some video footage of a similar event that was held in Hopkinsville, Kentucky in the summer of 2017 which drew thousands to the rural community for the best view of the eclipse.

“There are two sectors of the community who we wanted to talk to this evening about the coming 20-24 eclipse,” Mr. McGowan began after the five-minute video. He said one group was the community at large- “everyone who lives here”- and the second the business owners and managers.

He said the event has been dubbed “Totality in Tupper”- the 2024 eclipse.

“The event is not only an Adirondack Sky Center event- although we are all about eclipses- this is a community-wide event!”

A number of people attended the community briefing on line, it was noted.

He said his organization has a number of partners working with it in planning the big event- ROOST, the town and village of Tupper Lake, The Wild Center, the Goff-Nelson Library, the local school district, Adirondack Frontier (the county) and Tupper Arts, among others. Tupper Arts generously donated the space for the meeting that evening and some refreshments for the guests.

For about six months a planning committee, consisting of about one dozen volunteers representing various groups has been meeting at least monthly developing plans for it.

He explained the goal of the sky center: “to bring the wonders of the universe to everyone.” He added that “you don’t need to be an astrophysicist to be stunned and study and enjoy the heavens above.”

Mr. McGowan said his organization hosts regular public observing programs at its roll-off roof observatory at Little Wolf- typically on Friday nights.

“We also do private star-gazing parties.” He showed a photo of a young man looking through one of their telescopes at the heavens above, with his parents standing around him. “We do a lot of outreach to schools,” using their portable and inflatable planetarium.

“We go to the schools all across our region, doing these sorts of programs” where the kids get a view of the planets and the solar systems of the universe. They love it!”

The organization also conducts summer programs and after-school programs for students here at their headquarters on High Street.

“One of our keystone events will be the 2023 annual astrophotography conference, which takes place over the course of four days here in Tupper Lake. We have people from all over the country coming each year to take advantage and photograph our dark skies! We teach...we learn from each other...it’s a great experience!”

He also mentioned the sky center’s online series where some of the most knowledgeable scientists in the field of astronomy present lectures.

He also showed a slide of an overhead view of their Little Wolf site, and the coming museum and planetarium proposed there.

Moving on to the topic of the evening, he said what happened in Hopkinsville in 2017 “is key to us” in preparation for the big solar eclipse this coming April.

The retired teacher and school administer offered the audience what he called “an astronomy lesson”- how eclipses are made and why 2024 the eclipse is going to be so different than anything we’ve ever seen in Tupper Lake before. He called it “the baking” of an eclipse.

He showed slides of two types of eclipses and their mechanics. “A solar eclipse is simply when the moon gets in front of the sun and casts a shadow on the earth. There’s all sorts of solar eclipses,” noting he would explain some of them later.

“Eclipse is just a vocabulary word that means something gets in the way of something else so that you can’t see it.”

The other type of eclipse is a lunar eclipse. “That’s when the earth gets in front of the sun, if you were standing on the surface of the moon.”

“Lunar eclipses happen all the time and they are no where near exciting for that reason as solar eclipses.”

“There are a number of things that need to be in place for a total solar eclipse to occur,” he continued.

He said the earth is not “up and down” but on a 23-degree tilt. He said it’s lop-sided essentially, and it spins around that way as it rotates around the sun. The other things that needs to be in place is that the moon doesn’t orbit the earth in a perfect circle. There is a five plus-degree tilt to the moon in its orbit around the earth.

“So you can only imagine the geometry that has to be in place for the moon’s shadow to be cast on the earth.”

The earth rotates around the sun every 365 days except leap years and the moon rotates around the earth every 27 days. “All of those factors go into the recipe of making eclipses!”

He said add to that recipe the ingredient that the moon doesn’t orbit the earth in an exact circle- but as an ellipse, and sometimes its farther away from the earth than at other times.

“The same is true of the sun, so add another quarter cup of the earth varying in distance, as it orbits the sun. Some times its closer, some times farther away.”

He said too the earth’s tilt doesn’t change, regardless of where it is around the sun.

The faces we see of the moon in the evening sky is dependent upon where it is in its 27-day orbit around the earth, he explained.

“So there’s lot of stuff going on” to result in a rare solar eclipse.

“On average the moon is 238,000 miles from earth- but sometimes it’s farther away and sometimes it’s closer!”

“The same is true of the sun- sometimes closer, sometimes farther away. Some times it’s 91.4 million miles away, some times 94.5 million miles away. On average it’s 93 million miles away!”

Another factor is that as things are closer or farther, they appear to get larger in view, or smaller.

In a total solar eclipse, the sun would be the farthest away and would appear smaller and the moon is closest and appears larger. “The moon at that point appears to be the same size as the sun in the sky.”

He said there are two times in the course of a year when the moon’s five-degree tilt and the sun’s orbit intersect, and they are called nodes. They are the times when eclipses happen, he explained.

“So they are all the ingredients in the recipe for solar eclipses. Let’s do the math!”

“The sun is about 400 times wider than the moon, but it’s also 400 times farther away.” In an eclipse they appear about the same size in the sky, however.”

If the 23.5-degree tilt of the earth and the 5.14- degree tilt of moon are factored in and it occurs at a node, and the sun is farther away and appears small and the moon is closer and appears larger, we get a smaller sun and a bigger moon, then we get a total solar eclipse, he told the group. He said all those conditions are necessary for the rare eclipse to occur.

“This is rare and it hasn’t ever happened in Tupper Lake... ever!”

He said, however, there was a partial solar eclipse in 2017 which brought a number of eclipse fans to town. “We weren’t in totality, although we were in the penumbra of the eclipse. The moon that time moved across the sun but didn’t completely cover it.

Many places around the country also saw partial eclipses that year. Much of the country will experience partial eclipses in 2024, but Tupper Lake and places near it will see total eclipses.

“An annular eclipse is the opposite of a total eclipse when the sun is closer and appears slightly larger and the moon is larger because it’s slightly farther away and appears smaller. We get this ring of fire around the sun!”

He said while this phenomenon is no where near as spectacular as a total eclipse, “you do get these really intensive rings” around the sun, which you can see with proper eye protection. He noted one of these will happen this October.

What will happen next April in Tupper Lake is that the sun and the moon will appear to be the exact size and the moon will eclipse the sun, he told the audience that evening.

He also listed the phases of solar eclipses where eye protection is absolutely required.

“Any day when the sun is out, always use eye protection to view it, not just sun glasses,” he emphasized. “You need to wear specially-approved eclipse glasses.”

“You can use these glasses to look at the sun tomorrow, if the sun ever comes out again in Tupper Lake,” he joked, referring to this summer’s many overcast or rainy days.

He showed a chart of the partial eclipses leading up to a full solar eclipse and then the partials following it, when special glasses must be worn to look at the sun. He emphasized that the only time glasses need not be worn is when the moon fully covers the sun in a full solar eclipse. A full solar eclipse expected here next April will be for about three and one half minutes- the longest span of most communities in the northeast.

“For children, I tell them to leave their glasses on for the entire experience!”

The Adirondack Sky Center and Observatory has purchased thousands of eclipse glasses that will be given to every student in the North Country free of charge, he told the audience. The glasses also sport the new “Totality in Tupper” logo.

Also we have worked with ROOST to develop special glasses that will be offered for sale to everyone in the region, which carries on it an Adirondack regional logo, he announced that evening.

“We’re buying these glasses in groups of 50,000 pairs,” he said of the orders being placed.

He said the version of the glasses which will carry only the Tupper Lake logo will be only be sold to visitors in Tupper. Although the sky center is buying them “at an extremely low price” there will still be a marginal profit and those profits will be used by the sky center to pay for the free glasses for all students in the North Country.

He showed a very vivid photo of a total solar eclipse taken at the 2017 Kentucky event. It showed a tiny diamond-shaped ring or corona around the sun when the sun was not completely covered.

He showed another photo taken from space which showed a giant shadow of the moon cast on the earth.

Mr. McGowan said the corona of an eclipse is what the scientists love to study.

The dark shadow that moves across the country in an eclipse is called the umbra. “The area of darkness is where the moon completely obstructs the area of the sun.” The grey area beside the darker one is called the penumbra, where partial eclipses occur, he added.

The shadows just carve their way across the country during eclipses, according to Mr. McGowan.

“In 2017 it came in over Washington or Oregon and made its way out on the east coast.” That hadn’t happened in over 100 years, he stressed.

That year, he said, Tupper Lake was in the penumbra or grey shadow, while Hopkinsville, where he was, was in the path of direct totality.

This coming year, he said, the eclipse path comes across from Mexico and then Texas and moves diagonally across the country, eventually to New York State and Tupper Lake and beyond.

He said what happened in 2017 in Hopkinsville “became the role model.”

He said the community fathers “knew what was coming and prepared for it,” while most other places in the path of totality from Washington to the Carolinas didn’t.

For a time Hopkinsville renamed itself Eclipseville.

In addition to the thousands who packed that small Kentucky town for the eclipse, many others came to visit in the years that followed to see where it happened.

There the eclipse lasted two minutes and 41 seconds. “People that year flocked to the places of totality and Hopkinsville was one of the prime centers of viewing” because of the eclipse duration.

“In Tupper Lake in 2024 our totality will be three minutes and 33 seconds- almost a full minute longer than what was seen in Hopkinsville.”

“What happened was people went there.” His photos showed huge crowds and streets packed with people all looking through glasses at the eclipse. One of the photos showed a packed highway going to the rural community and even busier ones leaving it after two or three days of visits there.

He said in 2017 it took him and his wife Sue three hours to drive from Lexington, Kentucky to Hopkinsville on “the beautiful Bluegrass Parkway” before the event. Immediately after the event that same highway was so clogged with traffic, the return trip to Lexington took 11 hours, he has said in the past.

He said the community leaders in Hopkinsville turned their main street- which was very similar in appearance to Tupper Lake’s- into a giant festival with all sorts of street vendors and attractions. “They made a big deal out of it, and that’s another reason people went there to view the eclipse.”

He said the good publicity the small community enjoyed from the fact the visitors were treated so well lasted for years.

“It was fun. However when the eclipse ended, every car engine started” and people left in droves.”

He said he and Sue arrived for the event about three hours early and got the last spot in the Wal-Mart parking lot where they spent the night.

He said Wal-Mart was very accommodating, providing those packed in their parking lot with restrooms, food, whatever people needed.

“During the eclipse the store closed for a time to allow all the employees to view the eclipse. It was very moving and moving for everyone there that day in Hopkinsville.

He said but when the event was over the exodus onto highways not unlike Routes 3&30 was “absurd.”

The thousands who came for the event cleaned out the entire community. “McDonald’s ran out of food. Bathrooms ran out of toilet paper. Gas stations out of gas. This was all because of the influx of people who were not expected! It felt almost apocalyptic!”

He said too, however, it was almost a religious experience. Before the event the birds and the insects were making a lot of noise and when the darkness happens, everything goes silent.” He said a sort of stir occurs among the humans present and then they start to cheer, almost like a rock concert. “We were hugging people we didn’t even know...it was just that kind of experience! It was very ethereal!”

“People have asked me about what happens if it’s stormy or raining that day- because remember this will happen here in April.

“People who go to these things don’t care if they get their shoes wet. They’re coming for the experience.” He said they will come regardless of the weather.

He said the eclipse will be able to be seen even if the skies are cloudy and grey. At the Hopkinsville event, there was even thunder and lightening at one point.

Mr. McGowan said people went to Hopkinsville that year knowing the weather was going to be bad.

When the eclipse occurs it will be like night and the stars and the constellations in the sky will be visible.

Continued next week….

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/.

Stitchin’ Bees don’t make honey, they make beautiful quilts

by Dan McClelland

Typically Tupper Arts on Park Street is filled with color jumping from canvasses. But on the weekend of July 22 and 23, the color was leaping from fabric in intricately crafted designs when Tupper Lake’s hometown quilt group, the Stitchin’ Bees, took over the place.

Over a dozen members brought their wonderful quilts to display- and some brought as many as five or six and some entered more. They filled the entire show room there.

The club is a mix of permanent and seasonal quilters. The exhibitors this show included year round residents Cindy Bisson, Liz Black, Beth Retzloff, Pam Savard and Donna Sloan; Julie McKim and Redia Spada of Saranac Lake; and seasonal residents Janet Bailey, who spends her time between here and North Carolina, Leslie Gifford and Terry Kinter, both of Pennsylvania, Terry McGuire, who spend three seasons at home in Western New York and Marie Wood of Georgia.

Former Tupper permanent resident Holly Mineau, now of Texas, also entered her quilts in the show.

The show was organized and directed by Janet Bailey, who summers at Eagle Craig Lake. Her organizational skills were most apparent.

The amazing quilts hung one after another along colorful “hallways” in the Tupper Arts spacious second room.

The Stitchin’ Bees have been quilting together for about ten years. Before those ladies began creating their fabric art, Tupper boasted an earlier quilting group, the Raquette River Quilters, whose members included Gerry Godin, Maggie Gillis, Pauline Villeneuve and others. The club began in 1981 with four members. That club hosted biennial quilt shows in the basement of the local library during the 1980s and 1990s into the early 2000s- all of which which drew high praise.

The raffling off of a quilt they all made together went to benefit dozens of important community groups over the years.

The new club fashioned a beautiful quilt that was also raffled off, with proceeds shared by Tupper Arts.

The Stitchin’ Bees meet twice each month during the summer months when most of the members are here, Mrs. Bailey said during their show. “We meet summers at St. Thomas Church and officials there are very generous to us.” Some of our members are members of the congregation, she noted.

She said they send out e-mails of the meetings to about 25 quilters and normally seven to ten show up to sew together.

“And over the winter we do Zoom meetings from our homes around the country.”

She noted that the current show featured 85 quilts, entered by 14 exhibitors.

“We didn’t put a limit on how many the members could enter and we told members to bring as many as they wished.” A few club members entered almost a dozen.

Seven husbands of members hung the quilts on wooden wracks created several shows ago by Jim Bisson. Tupper Arts now allows the quilters to store the frameworks in its spacious basement.

Janet said her members would like to host a show every year going forward. It has hosted about a half dozen shows in recent years, the last one in 2019 before COVID.

“Years ago we did a couple of shows at the Big Tupper lodge and one in a local church.”

Some of the quilts were for sale. Some were family keepsakes and not for sale.

“How do you price a quilt?” we asked Janet.

“We price it by the square inch.” Right now the price is eight cents per square inch, because the price of fabric has increased dramatically in the past year, she explained.

She estimated a queen-sized quilt should sell for in excess of $500, based on that formula.

“Of the ten I’ve entered, only one is for sale,” she admitted.

Many quilters give their creations to loved ones- their children, and grandchildren and other family members. “I’ve maxxed out my grandchildren with quilts,” she joked. “My daughter too told me: ‘Mom, no more!’”

She said many quilters give away their pieces to charities to help with their individual fundraising projects.

The quilts at the recent show came in all sorts of shapes and sizes. On some the fabric colors blended together for a sort of fuzzy effect. In others the patterns and colors are crisp and sharply defined.

Some quilts featured animal sketches and cartoon characters. Some are all about lively designs, heavily accented in bright colors.

Pam Savard and Kim Davies are two members who were distributing programs at the front door and peddling raffle tickets on the afternoon of our visit. They have many quilts to their credit, but neither of them entered this time.

Pam said she has retired from both teaching and real estate and “is flying under the radar these days.” She said quilting is one of the things now that keep her busy and happy.

Kim relocated here a number of years when she was hired by Adirondack Health as nursing director at Mercy Living Center. She and her husband, Bob, built a house on Route 3 in Childwold. Right now she heads the nursing department at SUNY Canton. In recent years she completed her doctorate in nursing and her online teaching certificate and said she is hoping someday soon to work remotely from home, where she also quilts.

For those who missed the Stitchin’ Bees July show, there’ll be more in coming years, the members say. So watch out for them, as the pieces displayed at Tupper Arts last month were nothing short of exquisite!

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.

First-class parade opens Saturday’s Field Day

by Dan McClelland

The Town of Tupper Lake Recreation Department produced a first-class parade to open the second annual version of the Tupper Lake Field Day Saturday.

It was again under the skilled direction of veteran parade organizer, Amanda “Bird” Lizotte, who directed a number of Tupper Lake Woodsmen’s Association parades in the past. Mrs. Lizotte also rode in a parade here for the first time, at the insistence of her children.

The parade began in the parking lot in the town hall and emptied out into the village park.

Like most parades here the procession was punctuated by several police vehicles- with lights flashing and sirens sounding. Retired Police Chief Tom Fee piloted one.

This year’s announcer was again Dan McClelland and sitting in the judges’ gallery were Bridgette Shaheen, Village Trustee Jason McClain, Town Councilman Rick Donah and Councilwoman Mary Fontana, who again this year worked closely with Recreation Director Laura LaBarge planning the Field Day event.

Leading the parade was a side by side carrying officials from the Barton J. Tarbox/ Phillip Smith Amvets Auxilary No. 710. Walking along or riding were some of the members including Cindy Hoyt, Denise Divirgeles and Jeannie Kavanagh.

Right behind them was a trio of marchers representing the Tupper Lake Honor Guard, led by Commander Mike Larabie. He was accompanied by VFW Post Commander and Town Councilwoman Tracy Luton and retired Adirondack Adult Center Director Ray Bigrow.

Next came the shining and polished fleet of the Tupper Lake Volunteer Fire Department, featuring several pieces the volunteers have purchased themselves in recent years.

In one of the first trucks perched high above the crowd lining Demars Blvd. was this year’s grand marshal- Mike Russell, a.k.a. Tupper Lake’s Santa Claus.

As the announcer said, few people here donate the amount of time in community service here that Mr. Russell does.

Not only does his gifts to the community span the six or eight weeks before Christmas when he attends dozens and dozens of activities both public and private, giving every community kid the opportunity to sit on Santa’s knee and whisper their wishes into his ear many times each season.

In that same altruistic fashion Mr. Russell gives his time and labors selflessly and constantly throughout the year, doing whatever any one or any group calls on him to do.

He’s one of Tupper Lake’s biggest and loudest sports boosters, attending most matches of many school teams and has long been an active member of the Tupper Lake Football Boosters, helping to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to promote the sport and to make significant field and infrastructure improvements to the Rotary Club track and grid iron field.

Mike and his late brother Ralph cooked dinners for years at many of the community big banquets and fundraisers from the kitchen of the Knights of Columbus Hall on High Street.

It was clearly evident at the parade that Mike is deeply loved by his family.

Over 50 members of the Russell family- spanning three and four generations- participated in the parade, all dressed in bright red garb and hats as their Santa’s many elves.

Some rode in cars, like the family’s matriarch, Mike’s older sister Sally Poirier, alongside her brother, Tom. Some, including many of the younger Russells rode on a brightly decorated float and some marched behind in support of their brother, father, grandfather, uncle and great uncle, all overjoyed and proud to see Mike Russell so deservedly honored.

Russells came from all around the country. On the float were two of Mike’s elderly aunts, who came for the honoring of their nephew.

Never before have there been so many Russells in a local parade.

The Russells won first prize in the float category.

In one of the fire trucks were Merrick Cole and Cooper Willett, sporting the trophy their nine and ten under baseball team won the night before when it faced the number one seed, Saranac Lake Rapid Roofing team and won 4 to 3 for the league championship.

Like the Tupper Lake volunteer firefighters the small but dedicated staff of the Tupper Lake Emergency and Rescue Squad was well represented with several of its ambulances.

In one of their rides, EMS Supervisor Josh Clement was carrying a passenger and special guest, Wyatt Damon. Wyatt is the son of Jon Damon who passed away while on duty when he was working with the local squad in 2020.

Ambulance 568 was driven by Chief Lenny Clement and Ambulance 569 was piloted by driver Kate Beaudette and EMT Phyllis Larabie. Volunteers and supporters accompanied the rigs on foot.

The Piercefield Fire Department with its very small but very dedicated membership placed its polished pumper into the parade line-up.

Right behind it came a driver and the 2005 American LeFrance from the Long Lake Fire Department.

Andrea O’Neill, driving her prized 2007 Ford Mustang convertible, special edition with Mike Arsenault in the passenger seat, let out a huge howl of protest when the announcer purposely announced the collector’s vehicle was owned by her husband, Mike. Andrea lambasted the parade announcer at the VFW beer tent later that afternoon.

Mac’s Safe Ride, which is staging several important fund raisers this summer to help underwrite its operation, entered its van, well-decaled with its many supporters’ names and logos.

Its mission is to keep local roadways safe by keeping people who partake in drinking alcoholic beverages from behind the wheel on weekend nights. It’s a program that has been lauded by many visitors as something this community should be very proud to have to keep residents and visitors safe.

Behind the wheel of the van was one of the organization’s most dedicated drivers, Connie Kennedy.

Geomatic’s Land Surveying is now owned by Robbie LaLonde of Tupper Lake and in his trucks were a number of his friends and family members, including he and Katie’s infant son, Landen, who she held up for the judges to admire.

In the firm’s second truck was employee Joe Dembik and his girl friend, Jolene.

Dave Mattison entered his classic 1961 Chevy Apache truck.

The Adirondack Arc, which is dedicated to providing opportunities to people with developmental disabilities to lead full and meaningful lives, produced an entry of dozen of the folks under its care, all true fans of The King of music, in many colorful outfits.

The star of the entry was, of course, Elvis, proving the point of many that Elvis is still with us and living in Piercefield. Great costume, Elvis!

The judges determined the entry of Adirondack Arc was worthy of the second place prize for best float.

A freshly cleaned school bus, a piece of the local school district’s fleet, accompanied by several teachers including Kate Bennett and Laurie Mitchell, was a reminder to all local residents of the importance of the institution and its education of our young people.

The district’s push these days is to get as many residents with school-aged children hooked up to the federal school lunch program. People can apply online and this year the district will be offering free breakfasts and lunches.

Girl Scout Troop No. 4170 was nicely represented by a handful of local girl scouts.

Next up was Town Clerk Laurie Fuller piloting her shined up 2002 Ford convertible and in the passenger seat was her dad, retired co-owner of LeRoy’s Auto and one time village trustee, Richard “Bucky” Clark.

Jessie Kavanagh, owner of CJE Framing and JK Motorsports rounded up all his children and nieces and nephews to sit aboard a trailer of a half dozen sleds. The very able builder and repair man was at the wheel of one of his company trucks.

MX Fuels, which recently purchased Homenergy, had one of its fuel delivery trucks shined up for the parade.

A Tupper Lake Youth softball team, coached by Erica Stevens, also joined the line-up.

Riding on two well decorated floats entered by the town recreation department were the lifeguards at Little Wolf Beach, whose job it is to keep every swimmer safe, and the town’s very popular summer day camp on a float filled with local kids. Asked to yell “Tupper Lake” by the announcer in front of the judges, they screamed it.

It may have helped the campers win third prize as a float- an honor shared by the lifeguards.

Pat Bedore, co-owner of Stacked Graphics, worked out a car loaded with tee-shirts and driven by Mary Churco and her sister-in-law, Andrea, in the passenger seat. He fired dozens and dozens of shirts into the crowd from his shirt gun, much to the delight of folks along the parade route who caught one.

As a business, Kentile Excavating entered the most vehicles- over six full-size dump trucks, some pick-ups and a piece of heavy equipment or two, all driven by Kentile Excavating employees.

Up front were the owners: Adam Boudreau and his family and behind him was his partner Jay Merrihew in big rigs and then the team of the fast growing local company were in tow.

The company founded by the owners’ grandfather, Herbert “Bucky” Kentile, specializes in land clearing, road construction, foundation preparation, the installation of utilities and septic systems plus landscaping. In winter the crew turns its attention to plowing, sanding and snow removal.

The Tupper Lake Sportsman’s Club presented a brightly colored float, with angler and club mainstay Mike Savage trying to repeatedly catch the big one with his fly rod.

The club, known for decades as the Tupper Lake Rod and Gun Club, now offers an archery range, skeet range, rifle range and is the deservedly proud sponsor of numerous events including its giant Northern Challenge the first weekend of each February and its Mountain Challenge 3-D archery shoot the last weekend of August.

The Village of Tupper Lake’s department of public works had a couple of its heavy equipment piece entered in the second annual Field Day parade this year.

Concluding the procession were several dozen motorcycle-riding members of the Gunfighters MC Club, the members of which are many former police officers and correctional officers.

Also on their bikes were some of the members of the Warthog MC Club.

Laura LaBarge and Amanda Lizotte offered thanks this week to the individuals and organizations that fielded entries this year, and hope that more will join next year’s version of it to showcase their programs and services.

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.

Scenes from the Field Days

Many come out to greet, ride on Sunday’s first train

About 150 people were at the Junction train station to greet the first Adirondack Railroad Preservation Society’s revenue train of the 2023 summer season. Trains will run from Utica to here and back every Sunday through September and possibly early October. There’s four hour lay over here where passengers are shuttled by school bus to various points in town. Although the first run north only attracted 19 paying riders, the two-hour trip from Tupper Lake- the first of its kind in decades- to Sabattis was much more popular with nearly 135 people making the trip.

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.

Heavy rain, flooding wreak havoc in Long Lake

by Dan McClelland

Heavy and continuous rains Monday and early Tuesday caused incredible flooding and severe infrastructure damage in Long Lake.

These dramatic photos show just some of the damage.

The damage prompted Town Supervisor Clay Arsenault to declare a state of emergency at 5a.m. yesterday in the aftermath of the natural onslaught of rain.

“This state of emergency has been declared due to severe flooding causing the destruction of roads, bridges, sidewalks and dams; possible damage to the Long Lake Water District’s infrastructure, downed electric transmission lines and poles and the evacuation and/or relocation of affected residents,” read the supervisor’s declaration.

The declaration gave Mr. Arsenault and town officials the authority “to preserve the public safety and hereby render all required and available vital to the security, well-being and health of the citizens of the town. His declaration also gave him authority to direct all agencies and departments of Hamilton County and the town to take whatever steps necessary to protect life and property, public infrastructure and provide emergency assistance deemed necessary by him.

Town and county and state crews were out in force yesterday to open up and repair the main arteries through the community to make travel possible again.

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.