Triad cancelled due to heavy rain, slippery trails

by Dan McClelland

The Tupper Lake Triad, the annual fall event where climbers are invited to tackle all three local mountains- Coney, Goodman and Mt. Arab- was cancelled late last week, with the forecast of heavy rains on event day Saturday.

The event is sponsored each year but Tupper Lake’s ROOST office and by the Tupper Lake Rotary Club.

ROOST Staffer Sue Fitzpatrick said Monday that before the 8a.m. start that morning she visited the start area south of the village to advise any late-comers of the cancellation. It turned out to be the right decision because about 9a.m. it poured, making for very slippery trail conditions. She said about 14 climbers tried the three anyway, and several met heavy rains on Mt. Arab half way up where they got soaked and headed back down.

Sue and ROOST’s marketing manager, Michelle Clement, worked various social media late last week to advise those who had expressed an interest in the event about the cancellation.

The triad continues to grow in popularity each year, and despite this year’s set back because of the weather, many want to come to try it next year, when the event promises to be bigger and better.

Tupper Lake’s new superintendent of schools hit the ground running in August

by Dan McClelland

Since her arrival here on July 23 the Tupper Lake Central School District’s new superintendent of schools, Jaycee Welsh, has been very busy- meeting the district’s employees and many in the community, and learning everything she can about the particular workings of this school district. She has also helped polish several policies including the student code of conduct, a district safety plan and in recent weeks elementary school and district-wide “comprehensive education improvement plans.”

Mrs. Welsh was named to succeed retiring Superintendent of Schools Russ Bartlett in July after emerging as the top candidate in a superintendent’s search this spring, conducted by Dale Breault, superintendent of Franklin-Essex-Hamilton BOCES.

In an interview in recent weeks in her office at L.P. Quinn School’s administrative wing, she said she is already enjoying the Tupper Lake community and the folks she has met so far.

She was at this past month’s village board meeting and was the guest of honor on a recent Thursday afternoon at a meet and greet held to introduce her to the community at the Tupper Lake Public Library. That morning she also attended the village’s official ribbon-cutting of the new dock system on Raquette Pond. She has already participated at two school board meetings in August and was in full swing at Monday’s September meeting.

She also attended, in the company of Chris Savage, the new middle/high school principal, the Northern Forest Center’s ground-breaking of its new apartment project on Park Street in August.

Tupper Lake’s new top school administrator’s was the LaFargeville School District’s executive principal in recent years.

The 44 year old is married and has been for the past nine years to Kevin Welsh, another educator who is currently the director of data and technology at Brasher Falls school district- the head IT guy there.

Kevin, a widower when he met Jaycee, taught special education in the past and before going into education he worked in the hospitality industry at the Bonnie Castle Resort in Alexandria Bay, working in its various recreational programs.

The Welsh family are long-time Alexandria Bay people.

Jaycee is mother to two adult step children.

She began her post-secondary education in the pursuit of the study of law. “I wanted to be a lawyer. My parents were both teachers, as were my grandparents.”

She grew up in Camden, N.Y., one of three children in their family. She noted her family kn ew the family of Dan Christmas, who has been active in real estate since his arrival in Tupper Lake in the early 1980s.

She described her hometown as quite close-knit when she was growing up there, but like Malone it has seen growth and commercial sprawl on its outskirts in recent years. Camden sported three elementary schools when she was growing up there.

Jaycee attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia where she studied pre-law courses of political science and criminal justice.

“I loved the study of politics and I loved the law. But in the course of my studies I soon learned I probably didn’t have the ruthlessness needed to be a good criminal lawyer. I would have been the legal aid attorney who brought all the kids home with me!”

“There were two moments I had when I realized I didn’t want to pursue a career in law. One of my classes was graded on a curve. This was before computers. There were about 15 in the class and the professor said the bottom third will fail the class.

“On the bulletin board outside the classroom he would post the answers to tests. Students rushed there and they were stealing the answers because they wanted an edge. The course was very competitive. I graduated third in my high school class and I was doing fine at university...I’m a hard worker... but all of a sudden I realized I didn’t want to be in a profession that competitive.

“That was the first time I felt that.” She said in the summer between her sophomore and junior years she attended Northwestern Law Institute in Chicago for a week to feel out the law. They put you with third year law students to help you decide if you really wanted to go to law school. All of my fears were affirmed after that week. I realized I could love something, but I didn’t have to make it my career!”

At James Madison she was working in one of the dining services on campus and really enjoyed that, she said. Eventually she became a student manager. She then applied to be the student manager over all of the company’s 14 dining operations on campus and landed the job.

With that much bigger job came a company offer to pay for her to take a human resources degree, if I would stay on with the company after graduation.

“At that point I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do so I said ‘sure, let’s try this!’”

“There were many parts of the job I loved, but I soon learned I was overseeing a lot of customer-service training. -And I loved the teaching part of that job!”

“A lot of the focus of that job was on employee training, and I really liked that!”

“As much as I was enjoying it, I knew the position wasn’t a forever one for me!”

She said she spent many weeks thinking about all the things she liked to do, admitting she likes to do a lot of things.

“I thought back to my senior year in high when I was ahead in my credits and had some free time so I was permitted to go to a nearby elementary school for part of the day and spend it in a classroom, working with the students there, some with disabilities.”

“So I thought that maybe this teaching gene in me that I had been fighting” I needed to follow. She said she began taking education classes at night, working in her human resources position with the dining company during the day.

“I completed my special education master’s degree in a year and one half. At that time there was a huge teacher shortage, especially in special ed. I didn’t do student teaching, because I was hired right away by a school district and did my student teaching in my own classroom.”

She later completed her master’s degree and decided it was time to come home to New York.

Jaycee landed her first teaching job in New York at Carthage. Her music teacher at Camden High was a principal in Carthage at the time and she knew of some pending openings, and told her about them. She was hired there first to teach summer school. At the time she was also working to complete the numerous certifications required by the New York State Department of Education.

She taught for three years in the Carthage school system.

“At the board meeting in Carthage where I was granted tenure, I also resigned to take a position at Lafargeville as both elementary school principal and director of special education in the district.” That was 2015.

Seven years later the high school principal, who started with the district there the same year as Jaycee did, left for another position “and our superintendent knew I was ready for the next thing in my career.”

At that point she was promoted to the position of executive principal at LaFargeville Central.

While she continued as director of special education, she began doing curriculum instruction in grades K to 12, helping with personnel, working alongside a new K-12 principal who oversaw athletics and student discipline.

She was executive principal at LaFargeville before coming here.

“I’m always looking for a challenge. When my husband and I sat down two years ago to talk about what was next for me, we talked about the different districts that we would be interested in moving to. We decided if we were going to be moving a significant distance from our house in LaFargeville, we wanted to make sure we were going in the same direction. Kevin is commuting an hour and a half from LaFargeville to Brasher Falls district, leaving home at 5a.m. every day for school.

Kevin also referees high school football and hockey. The Tupper Lake football team is scheduled to play the Vikings of Thousand Islands later this fall, but he won’t be able to officiate that game because of the conflict of interest.

“I wasn’t interested in applying to be a superintendent of schools for the first time just anywhere. There have been opportunities in recent years. I wanted my first job to be the right fit for me!”

“I’ve been eligible to be a superintendent for years, but I wanted to be in the right place!”

She noted too her LaFargeville superintendent wasn’t going to retire any time soon, because of his relatively young age.

Outside of school Jaycee has logged extensive community service with the Cornell Cooperative Extension board and with the board of Watertown’s Victims’ Assistance organization. She was also a member of several golf leagues. She admits she has golfed since she was a toddler, but is still not as good as her mother, an avid golfer and retired physical education teacher. Her mom golfs in three or four leagues each week.

Jaycee laughs when she said her mom came here earlier this summer two days after she got the job to do some reconnaissance of Tupper Lake and found her an apartment. “But right after that her next stop was to check out the Tupper Lake Golf Course.

Jaycee won’t be on local 18 much for now, unless playing a round or two with her mom this fall. For right now, she has dispensed with her outside interests to devote her full attention to her new job.

One of the reasons that Tupper Lake appealed to her is that in at least one respect it is similar to LaFargeville. That community is one of three along with the more prominent and affluent Clayton and Alexandria Bay that are called “the river communities.”

“-And Tupper Lake, like LaFargeville, has a vastly different dynamic in those river communities, much like Tupper does in the tri-lakes villages.

“That’s what really drew me to Tupper Lake.”

She noted that LaFargeville is largely a farming community, a working community. It’s that same working class background that attracted her here.

“I can identify with that! I felt that Tupper Lake was the right fit for me from the start!”

“When I first saw the job posting (in the statewide education newsletter), I immediately felt that. She said she sometimes possesses strong gut instincts that have always sent her in the right direction. “I thought to myself: I cannot not put my name in for that job!”

-And that brought her to Tupper Lake!

Tupper Lake Triad Challenge Race this Saturday

The Tupper Lake Triad Challenge will take place on Saturday, September 7, beginning at 8a.m. Now in its sixth year, the event is organized by the Tupper Lake Rotary Club; proceeds benefit the community through the club’s various projects and activities.

The triad challenge is a one-day, cumulatively timed race. Participants work to conquer Coney Mountain, Mount Arab and Goodman Mountain, all located in the Tupper Lake area.

According to Rotary Member and Event Organizer Sue Fitzpatrick, the three lower-elevation hikes that comprise the Triad Challenge appeal to all experience levels, including well-seasoned hikers, casual outdoor enthusiasts and families. “We’re excited to bring back the Tupper Lake Triad Challenge Race and offer an opportunity for everyone to enjoy our beautiful trails and vibrant community,” she said. “It’s a chance for adventure and fun, all while supporting Rotary’s important projects in Tupper Lake.”

Participants will tackle the mountains one after another; their round-trip hike times recorded by event officials. Those with the lowest total time will be celebrated at the post-race event taking place at P-2s Irish Pub. “Perhaps the most fun aspect of the hike is the immediate relationships that are formed among the hikers,” commented Fitzpatrick. “They often have fun conversations with each other, they encourage each other along the hiking trails, and then celebrate together at the end.”

Race Day Schedule: 8 a.m. – Check-in at the trailhead of Coney Mountain; 9a.m. – Race begins; 4 p.m. – Post-race celebration at P-2's Irish Pub.

Race registration includes a t-shirt, lunch voucher, and a post-event drink at P-2's Irish Pub in a commemorative glass. The post-race celebration features live music and awards for the top three finishers, along with the youngest and oldest finishers. Participants who complete the challenge will receive a special Tupper Lake Triad patch.

There are entrant fees for both individuals and groups. A military discount is available to honor those who serve.

For fees and other information about this growing event visit www.TupperLakeTriad.com to register. Those wishing to take part should contact Sue Fitzpatrick at 518-359-3328 or info@tupperlake.com for additional information.

There are also sponsorships available to businesses and individuals, it was noted this week. Sponsorship levels are $25, $50 and $100 and for each one there are various advertising benefits available. More information about those can also be found at the web site above.

Arrival of new dock system in park celebrated Wednesday

by Dan McClelland

Village officials were joined by about 30 of their counterparts from various local, county and state agencies on the shore of Raquette Pond Wednesday morning to celebrate the arrival of new docks- the latest addition to hundreds of thousands of dollars of state money invested in the Tupper Lake Municipal Park in recent years.

Mayor Mary Fontana welcomed the well-wishers to the 20-minute ceremony in Flanders Park adjacent to the bottom of Cliff Ave. She apologized in advance for reading from a prepared script, joking that was the best way for her to address the group.

“Our celebration today is only possible by the partnership that began over 10 years ago when residents coming to meetings and sharing their ideas that led to the development of a master plan, including these docks. The village board and committee members put in the time to sit through meetings, consultants gave their input and played the all important role of making sure what was built aligned with our community goals.

“Volunteers who dedicated their time and effort to help improve the park and provide matching funds for grants. Partners included ROOST which shared its expertise and helped us draft a strategy to help us develop this waterfront park with high quality designs and amenities that would meet the needs of residents and visitors and encourage them to return.

“Staff, who shouldered the tasks to get these improvements built. Funders, including the New York State Department of State Local Waterfront Revitalization program, Department of Environmental Conservation and its Adirondack Community Smart Growth, the Aseel Legacy Fund, the Fund for Tupper Lake and Adirondack Foundation, the Cloudsplitter Foundation- all of whom provided the funding that made these improvements possible.

“The installation of these Flanders Park docks and our new wayfinding signage are the latest enhancements installed as part of our ongoing efforts to welcome residents and visitors to Tupper Lake to our beautiful waterfront park.

“The docks were designed by Environmental Design and Research of Saratoga Springs and fabricated by Dock Doctors. The Village of Tupper Lake Department of Public works assisted in their installation and site preparation. The new docks have had several weeks of heavy usage by boaters accessing the Sunset Stage performances and for uptown dining and shopping. They are also being used by residents to get out on the water to fish and enjoy the waterways. We heard during the planning sessions that Raquette Pond is a favorite fishing spot of many so we are not surprised to see people with lines in the water.

“It won’t be long until a new fishing pier will be constructed just a short way down the shoreline. It’s been designed and permitted and we have received a Department of State grant to help construct it. We hope to be inviting you to another ribbon-cutting ceremony next summer.

“Also keep an eye out for the new scoreboard that will soon be installed at the grandstand ball field, which was also funded by our Department of State grant and matched by our many generous donors.

“I’d also like to draw your attention to the new wayfinding signs behind you which connect the Junction Depot train station, the shoreline walkway along the crossroads of the Adirondack Trail. These signs guide Tupper Lake visitors to key community assets including the Wild Center, the Adirondack Rail/Trail, the Waterfront Park, and dining and shopping in both downtown and uptown Tupper Lake.

“The signage was designed and fabricated by Rob Carr and Derek Pryor of Darwin Designs and installed by the village’s DPW crew. The wayfinding signage was funded by the New York State DEC’s Adirondack Community Smart Growth grant program, and grants from Heart Network and the Fund for Tupper Lake at Adirondack Foundation.

“We’ll also be celebrating the new signs at Oktupperfest on September 28 right here in the park and we hope you can join us for that event!”

Before about a dozen of the dignitaries present that day gathered to officially cut a red and black plaid ribbon, the young mayor called on Kate Black, the regional supervisor for the North Country region of the Local Waterfront Revitalization program at the department of state.

“Our office is dedicated to partnering with waterfront communities across the state to protect our natural and cultural assets, redevelop underused sites, provide public access opportunities and strengthen the local economy.

“Today it is an honor to be here to celebrate these achievements and to be here in Tupper Lake. The village here holds a lot of happy, childhood memories for me and it’s always a pleasure to return to see everything that has been happening here over the years. Today is particularly special as we cut the ribbon on this latest park improvement!

“Here in Tupper Lake the department has had the pleasure of working closely with the village in a relationship that spans decades.

“Today we are celebrating the latest accomplishment and the completion of new Flanders Park docks funded by our Environmental Protection Fund Local Waterfront Revitalization program. These new docks will offer boats convenient access to downtown amenities and to the Sunset Stage where they can enjoy performances. This project is the perfect example of how downtown revitalization and waterfront recreation are coming together to make Tupper Lake a lively, public destination for residents, businesses and visitors.

“On behalf of Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley and all the dedicated staff and community volunteer partners that made this happen,” the village is applauded. Your commitment both on these docks and the decades-long commitment to revitalize and realize your community vision is truly commendable. The successful completion of this project is a testament to everyone’s hard work and needs to be celebrated!

“I look forward to our continuing partnership for waterfront revitalization through our LWR program as well as the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). Congratulations on reaching another significant milestone!”

Loud clapping!

Melissa McManus, the community development director who was instrumental in winning the many LWR grants for the village, called up a dozen or so of the guests that day to help Mayor Fontana cut the ribbon.

Invited to do the ceremonial cutting were Benefactors Lee and Nancy Keet of Saranac Lake, Supervisor Ricky Dattola, DEC Forester Keith Carrow of Lake Placid whose both parents are Tupper natives and who is helping to direct the agency’s rail/trail project, Ms. Black, Jeremy Evans from Franklin County Economic Development Agency, the new ROOST chairman Dan Kelleher and Village Clerk Mary Casagrain. The cutting event is shown above.

The cutting was actually done twice, with a little adhesive applied to permit the mayor to cut it a second time.

Brownies and other sweet items were served to the guests.

Tupper Lake’s postmaster is enjoying his job

by Dan McClelland

Just over a year into his new position as the Tupper Lake postmaster, Nick DeGrace is enjoying the job.

Nick’s promotion came just over a year ago on July 1, 2023.

“I very much like it,” he said, sitting for a moment behind his desk in his office off the lobby.

A Tupper Lake native, Nick is the son of Colleen Proulx DeGrace and the late Nick DeGrace. Nick’s uncle is former Police Chief Robert “Butch” DeGrace.

The family moved from Tupper Lake to Saranac Lake when Nick was eight. His dad worked for Davison Chevrolet in Ray Brook as a detailer and his mother worked as a nurse at the hospital.

Nick is a 1985 graduate of Saranac Lake High School.

After high school he joined the work force, working in assorted jobs.

He and his wife Val have one son, Dane. Dane and his wife, Brittany, are are parents of two children- daughter Tessa and son, Jackson. The family lives in Vermontville and Nick said he’s tickled to be a grandfather.

“I worked at a lot of restaurants in Lake Placid after high school and then turned to electrical work, living and working in Saranac Lake.

Nick joined the United State Postal Service in September, 1998, starting as a part-time letter carrier. He did that for about nine years.

“I was outside most of my time with the post office,” he noted. He worked as a letter carrier on the various local routes for 25 years.

Last July he was appointed to succeed Postmaster Hannah Fokenmeyer, after serving as a time as acting postmaster, when she was out on medical leave.

“I knew most of the programs here so I stepped in to help and to keep things running” at the office here.

Over the years Nick had taken training under previous postmasters to eventually be the “officer in charge” at a post office here or somewhere.

He was trained over the years as an inside clerk too, but he never worked in that capacity here. From time to time, however, he would fill in to help Clerks Mike Larabie, Mary Simmons Dennis Neenan and others at the hometown PO.

Over the years Nick has worked here under a number of postmasters, including Fred Everhart, Mike Chartier, Vaughn Stevens, Kevin Hanlon and Hannah.

“All of them gave me opportunities to learn the various post office systems.”

He noted that the letter carrier’s job is physically demanding, as carriers are in and out of the vehicles, up and over curbs, up and down stairs to get the mail to the residents of a community. The work took its toll on Nick’s knees.

Mentally, carriers typically catch on quickly to their routes and develop their own systems to best service the customers on their routes.

Letter carriers also must work every day until all their mail is delivered, and its not uncommon to see them delivering mail into the early evening.

“You work from your first delivery to your last delivery.”

And when the post office is short-handed, as it has often been in recent years, the letter carriers pick up the slack to insure mail is delivered promptly and efficiently every day.

Jobs are routinely posted on USPS.com and people apply on line and take the required tests on line, he explained.

For decades postmasters in communities across America were politically appointed and it was a job that carried some local political weight.

“The postmaster is actually the highest ranking federal official” in a community, Nick said of that legacy.

“I love the job!” he admitted matter-of-factly during our interview. He said he finds it very both satisfying and challenging.

The 57 year old wants to complete his postal service in his hometown. “But I’m not going to rush to retirement, because I really like what I do!”

Nick keeps his office door open almost all the time, and judging by the comments from customers he has received, people like that.

“I’m open to everyone...I like to see people in here!”

He notes the postmaster’s job is to run the local operation and to make sure there is adequate staff to do that. “If you’re short of staff, you do what you have to do to get the mail out.” And that includes picking up a postal bag and delivering the mail on a route.

“On a recent week one of the carrier’s daughter was very ill and she had to stay home. So I went out and did her route. -And then I did my job when I finished hers!”

Monday he was out delivering mail again on one of the uptown routes.

He knows all the local routes very well, having done them all at one time or another. He’s also done the private contract routes on the outer edges of the community.

He said if the private contractors can’t complete their route, he or they try to find a replacement, but the bottom line is that if all else fails, he would have to do that route. “Fortunately,” he noted, “our contractors are very reliable.”

He feels the postal service is a good career opportunity for a person today and he feels it’s been good to him and his family.

“Everyone here knows their jobs, they know what they need to do,” and he finds that make the work environment very pleasant. “We have a very good crew here and there’s always been a good crew in Tupper!”

Crew members include Leon Jessie, Judy LaPlante, Wendy Pavlus, Nick LeBlanc, Erin Kentile, Jake Philion, Joe Kelly and Rebecca Mitchell.

“People here really care about their jobs and they understand how important the U.S. Mail is to people!”

Traditionally first class mail was the bread and butter of the postal service, but parcel post is now emerging as a mainstay, he said he has seen over recent years.

He estimated that from the time he started with the postal service the number of first class letters are a tenth of the business of the post office now, what with e-mail and other social media.

“We used to have six or seven complete trays of letters to deliver every day. Now we maybe have two?”

Catalogues and third-class mail like flyers have also decreased dramatically over the years to the point now it’s mostly gone, he noted.

Part of the post office’s mission now is working with private carriers like UPS to deliver packages locally.

“We’ve been doing that for a long time. Our express mail, for example, comes here and goes over the counter. It’s trucked to Plattsburgh or Albany and then connects with a private carrier like UPS or Fed-Ex, he said of just one change in recent years. Some of those national private carriers move the mail from there by airliner. “The postal service uses Fed-Ex planes for some of our mail.”

He explained that the postal service never employed its own air fleet and used to ship mail on the flights of commercial carriers.

“We’re basically helping each other,” he said of the evolved symbiotic relationship of the postal service and the big private delivery companies.

The postal service is the “last mile” deliverer of of many “smart post” services today.

Nick admitted that if he was to start his working career all over, he would certainly again join the postal service. “It’s a good job...it really is!”

“-And I’ve met a lot of nice people along the way!”

During his time with the post office here Nick also served as a volunteer fireman for over a decade, some of that community-service time as a department captain. He was also a volunteer on the Tupper Lake Emergency and Rescue Squad for nearly a decade.

Auction of Big Tupper properties could be as early as this fall

by Dan McClelland

Franklin County officials are planning to sell four properties associated with the former Big Tupper Ski Center on Mt. Morris at public auction as early as this fall.

The story of the pending auction date broke last week in the latest online issue of the Adirondack Explorer, a regional publication, in a story by its editor, James Odato. The story was also printed in its entirety in an issue of the Albany Times Union last week.

The parcels that will be sold by the county’s auction contractor, NYS Auctions at Malone’s Moe’s Restaurant and community room, where recent county auctions have been staged in recent years, are parcels on Mt. Morris and the Tupper Lake shorefront that are owned by Preserve Associates LLC and Big Tupper LLC. They are the main companies associated with the failed development of the Adirondack Club and Resort.

The four parcels are believed to include the former Big Tupper Ski Center lands on the mountain, the proposed Adirondack Club and Resort marina and clubhouse on Tupper Lake, lands around Cranberry Pond and a shorefront right of way at the base of the Country Club/Big Tupper town road.

County Treasurer Fran Perry, whose office will oversee any forthcoming county auction that will include those parcels, told the Free Press Monday they are hoping for a late October or November auction date. So far, however, they have not been given an open date from the auction company.

For several years Supervisor Ricky Dattola and the members of the Tupper Lake Business Group which he formed at the bottom of the pandemic that March and the new economic development committee the town board formed when Mr. Dattola was first elected supervisor, and County Legislator Nedd Sparks have met regularly with the country treasurer and County Manager Donna Kissane to explore ways for the Town of Tupper Lake to be sold the mountain parcels for back taxes before any auction.

Mr. Sparks had won the support of his fellow legislators to give title of those lands back to the town to develop a four season recreation park there, with an eye to someday reopening the mountain to alpine skiing by a private developer who would be leased the land by the town.

The town board several years ago voted unanimously to buy the properties for back taxes from the county, if the opportunity ever arose.

The back taxes, including interest and penalties, on the mountain parcel itself where Big Tupper stands, are in the amount of about $450,000. As part of any forthcoming land swap between the county and town, the penalties and interest in the amount of about $150,000 may have been negotiated away.

A monkey wrench in that plan happened this spring when, according to Treasurer Perry, the New York State legislature changed its laws with respect to municipalities selling properties at public auction for back taxes owed. “The law, signed by Governor Hochul, requires, us now to get fair market value for property sold.” The law was passed by the state this past April.

The county process leading up to this proposed auction has been long and often delayed.

The county finally foreclosed on the four parcels in a special proceeding this spring, according to Ms. Perry.

County Court Judge Craig Carriero had ruled that a foreclosure could move forward, 30 days after all stakeholders and debtors were served notice of his order.

The notice was apparently served on July 16 and a notice of appeals was entered on August 13 by the biggest debtors- the consortium of legal firms who had represented Michael Foxman and Tom Lawson and other partners in the 12-year fight to win permits for their projects from the Adirondack Park Agency.

The proposed Adirondack Club and Resort project involved a complete modernization and redevelopment of the ski center, which closed here in 1999, the construction of a major motel adjacent to it and over 600 condominiums, townhouses and private single-family residences on 5,800 acres of Oval Wood Dish Liquidating Trust lands on the mountain surrounding the ski center, and to the east wrapping around Simond Pond.

County Legislator Nedd Sparks said last week that he was “disappointed” that the county was no longer able to sell the Big Tupper properties to the town for the development of a four-season recreation park, following the adoption of the new state law.

Plans by the local business group and the town’s economic development committee include opening up the ski mountain for back country skiing, the development of more nordic trails to supplement the town’s successful system in and around the golf course, hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, etc.

Asked what she felt might be the fair market value of those properties, Ms. Perry wasn’t sure. According to the new state law, “whatever they sell for at public auction, is what will dictate is their market value.”

She said she felt that as long as Franklin County makes a meaningful attempt to get fair market value in whatever auction bids are accepted in public auction, it is doing the legal thing.

The county treasurer said this issue has been on her plate for a long time and she is “looking forward to getting it settled.”

She said she took office as county treasurer in 2018 and the next year she “defaulted” the owners of those properties “because they were not making their contractual payment” as part of a tax repayment plan the property owners and her office had agreed upon.

She said the foreclosure process was started by her office and the county board “and then COVID hit.”

During the pandemic counties and other municipalities were prevented by the state from commencing or proceeding with foreclosure actions for unpaid taxes.

She said after COVID, “because we viewed this as a difficult situation, we started the process all over again because so much time had passed. We didn’t know if additional judgements had been filed in the interim.”

“So we started our search (for those judgements) over again and our in-house attorney,” who was Dick Edwards, “and because of the difficult situation we were in with this case, felt we needed special counsel that could litigate for us.”

That’s when the county board hired the firm of Phillips Lytel, a firm which specializes in litigation in these often unusual back tax cases. Ms. Perry and her staff are working with the firm’s Rochester office, although it has a number of offices across the country.

She said the firm “handles a lot of big tax foreclosure cases, so they are very well versed in our situation.”

Like Nedd Sparks, the news of the forthcoming auction, hit Town Supervisor Ricky Dattola very hard too.

He’s optimistic, however, “Tupper Lake still has a shot” at acquiring the Mt. Morris lands.

Part of the mission of Mr. Dattola’s business group was the development of a detailed and bold plan to augment the community’s economy by capitalizing on its robust recreational opportunities. The comprehensive plan was completed in the group’s first year of work and was later adopted in its entirety by the town board about 2022.

“I’m not giving up the ship yet! I’ve talked to a number of people in recent days who have called me and offered to help. There are groups out there that work with towns and villages, to help them tackle these kinds of things.

“I’m not disappointed yet, because I don’t think we’re beat!”

Likewise he said the members of the Tupper Lake Business Group and the town board’s economic development committee are not giving up in their quest to acquire the ski center properties.

“The good thing” is the unknowns associated with the ownership of the mountain tract and the adjacent parcels are coming to an end. “At some point soon we are either going to know if someone is going to buy those properties or maybe no one will! Either way it’s soon coming to a finish!”

He said he was glad Fran Perry was “sticking to her guns” and getting this issue “to an auction” hopefully in late October or early November.

He said he believes that she and County Manager Donna Kissane and the county board members that he and Nedd have been working with over the past several years “want the best for Tupper Lake!”

“-And we’re not dead yet! We still have a shot!”

“It’s gotten harder with this new state ruling,” but we can still get control of those Big Tupper lands. “I’m still optimistic we are still going to make this thing happen!”

New MHS principal reports on bounty of free school supplies; pick-up is tomorrow

by Dan McClelland

In his first report to the board of education, the newly appointed high school principal, Chris Savage began last Monday at the board’s August meeting with a point of “Lumberjack Pride” and some very good financial news for students and their families.

He said his first item that evening was about a Generous Acts Grant from the Adirondack Foundation which permitted the middle/high school to purchase supplies for students which included binders, notebooks, pens, pencils and more- all things, he said, support students in their various educational pathways.

He said the grant was procured by his predecessor, former Principal Amanda Zullo in the last school year.

“I inherited that really substantial gift and that’s been an exciting thing for us and I got to go shopping to find the best way to enable our students success using these new school supplies.

“It provided us with a mountain of school supplies- all now sitting in the school library waiting for us to unpack and put into the hands of our students.”

Being a parent myself and putting two boys through multiple years of school, he said he understood first hand how costly all these supplies can be.

“I ordered a huge pile of one-, one and one half- and two-inch binders, dividers to go in them, loose leaf paper, pencils, pens, hi-lighters, erasers, colored pencils, supply pouches, notebooks...tons and tons of school supplies!”

“-And these are here for everybody.”

He said tomorrow, August 22, from 2p.m. to 7p.m. has been the selected day and time for parents to come with their children’s supply lists “to do some school shopping- all for free.”

He said he is also working with Mrs. Alicia Tucker in the school’s IT department “to get Chromebooks and chargers into the hands” of students so they “are charged and ready to start the school year.” The IT department will also be on hand Thursday to help install security applications and passwords for those new machines.

“It’s going to be a great afternoon and evening of school shopping at no cost to anyone!”

Mr. Savage said this windfall for local students and their families is all courtesy of the generosity of the officials at the Lake Placid-based Adirondack Foundations and its many community-minded investors.

On the progress of getting the middle/high school building in shape for the first day of school next month, he said Jeremy Dukette and his team “have done an incredible job.” Though the cleaning and preparation for the school year work continues, it is nearing completion, he told the board.

The former and long-time elementary school teacher admitted to the board members that having taught for many years in the district, at the start of each new year he is always so impressed to see how much work has been done by the custodial staff over the summer to get things ready for the return of students each September.

“The transformation to those buildings that happens over the summer time” is something quite amazing to behold.

He said this summer, as he has worked in his post in the upper school building, he is actually seeing all that work first hand.

Principal Savage said the athletic department was scheduled to hold its fall sports meeting on August 14. The varsity football team began practice this past Monday and all other fall sports begin next Monday, August 26.

“In addition we’re preparing for Regent’s exams (this past Monday and Tuesday). I have a team of proctors and scorers- teachers who are ready to see these kids succeed and get another try at them. We’ve had many students in the building this summer, taking advantage of credit-recovery opportunities and preparing for those Regents exams.”

“It’s been great seeing them embrace another opportunity for their success!” he admitted to the board members last week.

He reported summer school was expected to conclude on August 16, with over 50 in grades 9 to 12 enrolled.

Sixth grade open house has been scheduled for September 3 and is an opportunity for students and their parents “to come in and see the school and meet the staff. Fifth graders have already paid the building a visit in recent weeks.

“Just another opportunity to put nervous minds at ease, as Mrs. Littlefield also put it this evening.”

He said something to look forward to at the board’s September meeting is a presentation by Student Brock Fleishman on a Facebook page he has developed on Tupper Lake athletics.

The principal said the student and student athlete has been working hard on the page and is most eager to show it off to the school board next month.

President Jane Whitmore asked the interim principal about the move to change summer school this year.

“I think it has some opportunities to further success. I’ve seen some really great success stories and opportunities to capitalize and grow if we want to continue using that model,” Principal Savage told her.

L.P. Quinn Principal Elizabeth Littlefield agreed with him.

“Some of the students really put their noses to the grindstone and completed” various elements that were added this year, she told the board members.

Former Plaza Hotel now just a memory

The former Plaza Hotel, which was a bar and rooming house for lumberjacks in its early days and which contained apartments in recent years, is no more today after it was razed yesterday morning.

For years the Plaza was owned by Maurice Beausoleil.

The Northern Forest Center, which is planning a brand new nine-apartment complex on its footprint, engaged a company, Dan’s Hauling and Demolition of East Greenbush, N.Y. to demolish the old landmark on Park Street and it made short work of it.

In preparation for the demolition, the company cordoned off the entire lot with orange fencing and posted signs warning of the presence of asbestos and its harmful effects Monday. Demolition began about 9a.m., with workmen in hazmat suits pouring water on the building as sections were pulled down by a large excavator.

In accordance with state building code the crew also covered the windows of the duplex at 173 Park Street facing the building with plastic prior to the start of the work.

For most of the day Dan’s Hauling and Demolition had its large 18-wheel dump trailer parked in front of the building where the debris was placed.

According to comments by Northern Forest Center leaders at a ground-breaking observance several weeks ago, construction of the new apartment building that will cater to worker families is due to start in coming weeks.

Town officials applaud Little Wolfstock organizers, town recreation department on staging of Field Day

by Dan McClelland

At the beginning of last week’s monthly town board meeting, Supervisor Ricky Dattola took a moment to congratulate two local groups which he said produced stellar events in recent weeks.

The first acknowledgement of good work went to Paul Chartier and Daniel “Boonie” Carmichael, the two principle organizers of the August 3 Little Wolfstock IV at the town beach and campgrounds.

Of the hundreds of Tupper Lake High School alumni who came back home for the major musical reunion, he said “everyone had a great time...it was a lot fun!”

He joked there were “a lot of older people there,” and it was nice to see everyone.

He offered “a shout out” also to the Little Wolf facility’s caretaker, Paul Mullen. The supervisor said according to comments from the Little Wolfstock organizers “Paul was very helpful to them.”

“The Lions Club did a good job” as the event’s official sponsor and the purveyor of the hamburgers and hot dogs from its cook trailer.

“The band were fantastic” from start to finish. “It was a very, very nice thing” for the community that brought so many former locals home.

Mr. Dattola also publicly acknowledged the good work of the staff of the town recreation department and their volunteer helpers on their July 20 production of the Tupper Lake Field Day- the third annual.

“I thought the entire day went very well and everyone seemed to have a really good time!”

Councilman Rick Donah, who was one of the parade judges, added to the supervisor’s kudos.

“I thought the event was very well organized” by Recreation Director Laura LaBarge and her team.”

He applauded this year’s continued focus on “youth activities” like the many kids’ games and “a family-friendly” atmosphere,” saying it was well received by local residents and many visitors.

“It drew tons of families and a lot of kids having a great time all throughout the day.”

He said he had stopped by the town hall that day to applaud Laura and Christielee Geiger, her assistantand on this year’s Field Day, and all the other good programs under their direction at Little Wolf Beach, the many youth sports and the very successful town day camp program.

“Their focus continues to be on the youth of the community,” and I think that’s the place it should be!

“The results of their many efforts are being seen by a lot of folks- both residents and visitors,” he concluded.

“We have a fantastic day camp and those guys do a terrific job with it...it’s probably the best program of its kind in the North Country!” asserted Supervisor Dattola.

Ceremony marks official start of Park Street residential project

by Dan McClelland

Northern Forest Center officials welcomed about 60 local and regional leaders and friends of their unfolding residential project to its three-lot site across from the high school Thursday afternoon, marking its official start.

The local project will involve the construction of a new building at 179 Park Street and the renovation of the house next door at 185. Originally the Northern Forest Center had intended to renovate the former Plaza Hotel, but it was later condemned in the winter of 2022-23 after pipes burst in the partially renovated building. After additional structural inspections, the center officials determined the benefits of attempting to salvage the building were not worth the risks and the costs.

Addressing the group first that afternoon in the paved driveway of 185 Park Street in front of the sidewall of the former Plaza Hotel, Leslie Karasin, Adirondack director with the Northern Forest Center who work out of an office in Saranac Lake, welcomed the invited guests, calling the major residential initiative “very exciting.”

She first welcomed to the microphone that afternoon Mayor Mary Fontana and Town Supervisor Ricky Dattola.

The mayor spoke first. “On behalf of the Village of Tupper Lake we want to welcome the Northern Forest Center here and we are pretty excited about this project. It’s going to be a wonderful opportunity for Tupper Lake and we look forward to future projects.”

“Same here,” Mr. Dattola joined in. “We’re very excited about everything in this project. The town can’t wait for it to happen. -And we want to thank Leslie. She is not only leading this effort for her organization, she is also helping us develop new snowmobile trails and new bike trails. She’s become a real asset here and we welcome her.”

He offered a special welcome to the many out of town guests in the audience, many of them state and regional officials.

“So let’s start tearing this building down and building new!” he said in his trademark enthusiastic way.

Ms. Karasin joked Community Development Director Melissa McManus, in the audience that day, had suggested trading the ceremonial shovels for sledge hammers to attack the century old and decaying former Plaza building.

Ross Whaley of Upper Saranac Lake, a board member of the Northern Forest Center, echoed Ms. Karasin’s comment about excitement, saying he was excited too.

“-And I’ll tell you why I’m excited. My postal code is 12986. That means Tupper Lake is my home. When I have visitors I can take them to a museum that is ranked the No. 1 natural history museum in the nation.

“When I’m too lazy to cook, I can take them to the Woodshed on Park, and not only have dinner, but be welcomed.

“If I need boards, I can visit Tupper Lake Supply, and I not only get boards I get the low down on what’s happening politically in the area.”

“That makes me excited!”

“Secondly I’m excited because I’m on the board of the Northern Forest Center. Why would I be excited about that?”

“Millinocket, Maine has a similar main street to this town. Today there are a half a dozen gorgeous apartments- with rents priced for nurses, for school teachers- and they are beautiful.

“Go over to Lancaster, New Hampshire. Downtown three-story buildings converted to apartments with retail space on the first floor.

“-And you know what is more exciting? Someone is doing renovations to the building next door. These projects are contagious!

“Move over to St. Johnsbury. I met a young man- maybe in his twenties- a young entrepreneur who told me he wouldn’t be in business if it wasn’t for the Northern Forest Center who gave him a grant.

“So that’s why I’m excited. Here in my home the Northern Forest Center is doing something that is going to make a difference!”

Rob Riley followed Ross calling his short address “a tough act to follow.”

He introduced himself as the president of the Northern Forest Center who lives in Concord, N.H.

“One of the things I am proud of is that we are now taxpayers in this community. We, as a non-profit organization, feel that it is important that we are not only contributing to and investing in the community, but we are paying a portion to make sure those residents we are hoping to bring to this community are accessing services and contributing to a system that really leads to a vibrant community.”

“I dare to say we’re taking a bet on Tupper but Tupper is also taking a bet on us. That feels like the right type of partnership as we look at the communities that Ross mentioned: Millinocket, Maine, Greenville, Maine, Bethel, Maine, St. Johnsbury, Vt., Lancaster, N.H.!”

“It’s that partnership that provides that deep rooted sense of why we are here and why our work matters beyond the building. It’s about relationships...it’s about people...it’s about the scholars who move this process forward in partnership with us and the review boards at the state and levels that allow this process to move forward. It was our board that allowed us to take this leap forward to buy these buildings so we could try to be part of the excitement that we see as happening in Tupper Lake!

“It all comes down to people meeting with people. In the long-term the building is only a building, but the people who will live in it will be the ones to really lean into it and become part of the community!

“-And that’s what we’re really excited about. I’ve seen this happen in the other places we’ve been. A new couple moves into town. They end up having a baby, and put kids into the local school system.” The result is growth, he emphasized.

He said this school year in Millinocket, Maine, will be the first time in many years that the kindergarten class will be larger than the graduating class, calling it exciting.

“This will be the first year in Bethel, Maine that they will see an old building that has been sitting idle and empty for 15 years that is now seeing work done to it...showing that someone cares and we care!”

“People ask what we have learned from these various projects. We’ve learned how much these buildings and these buildings mean to people. People have told me stories showing this. I’ve received four-page letters from former residents” about their fond memories of these places.

“We take that very seriously, and we take that personally and feel very proud of our community revitalization effort,” Mr. Riley told the five dozen supporters there Thursday afternoon.

“As I measure long-term, what we hope to get out of this project” is new housing, new investments in these neighborhoods. “We hope it builds community pride!”

“People feel very good about living in Tupper Lake.” While that’s already underway, he said he and the Northern Forest Center hope this new project will build more of that feeling.

He introduced some regional officials in the audience that day: Kiley Peck and Jennifer Voss from the state department of state’s office in Watertown. He said they were associated with the village’s successful DRI grant for the uptown area which helped to fund his organization’s project.

He also recognized Steve Hunt of the New York State Empire Development Agency “which is second in state funding” through the village government here.

He noted too a representative from Governor Kathy Hochul’s office had planned to attend, but had to send her regrets at the last minute.

Mr. Riley called the extra money from Empire State Development to this project was “super helpful.”

He said private money through groups like the Cloudsplitter Foundation and the Adirondack Foundation’s Generous Acts program has also been very helpful to their project.

Mr. Riley said that in addition to the state and private contributions, the balance of the cost of the project is being what he called “self-financed.”

“We didn’t have to go to the banks or other lending institutions.” Instead they used in-house “impact investments,” which has helped his organization use “lower-priced capital,” a combination of private money, state money and in-house monies.

He said too their project has attracted new investors from many nearby states in the northeast.

“So thank you for permitting us to be part of this cool project...we’re glad to be here today for this ground-breaking.”

“Our legal department said ‘no sledge hammers’,” he joked.

Next up was Steve Hunt, the regional director for Empire State Development. He joked that he was expecting to have a podium, from which to read his notes on his cell phone. He said to read those words while holding his phone was a little too challenging for him that day.

“So I’ll try to be quick. I love Tupper Lake. It’s a great community. I have a special kinship with the school mascot (the lumberjack) so any time I have the opportunity to be up here is good!”

He introduced several influential people in the audience: Assemblyman Billy Jones, Jim McKenna, co-chair of the village’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, and already mentioned Kiley Peck and Jen Voss from DOS, Barbara Rice from the Adirondack Park Agency...there are many others who helped.

“On behalf of Empire State Development, I want to thank all the partners involved in this project. When Governor Hochul was talking about pro-housing communities and neighborhood redevelopment, these are the types of projects she was thinking about. So this is great. It has a DRI investment as well as a ‘Restore New York’ grant. They are grants specifically intended to try to revitalize communities, to help build new homes. Right here on Park Street we’re going to have new homes for folks.”

He emphasized that community development also includes new housing. “You need good places for people who work in the community to have quality homes to live in! ESD is excited to be part of this project!”

Assemblyman Billy Jones kept his remarks brief too, joking that at every outdoor event he speaks, that’s when a group of Harley Davidsons passes by, drowning out his voice.

“It’s great to be here in Tupper Lake. As was mentioned, you can feel the excitement here, with all the partners here today, along with the village and town doing so much work here.”

He offered a big thanks to the Northern Forest Center for making this investment here.

“Wherever I go in all of my communities throughout my district,” when you talk to school leaders, government leaders, business owners, hospital operators they all say “we need housing for our work forces.

“This is important in fitting that niche that is needed for middle-market work force housing needed...needed here and all across the North Country!”

“I want to congratulate everyone here today in being so pro-active and making this happen in Tupper Lake.”

“We must continue to push forward” to meet the needs of all communities in this region with more and better housing.

“-And as has been said. These project are contagious. Once this project is done, we’ll move a block over and then again a block over!”

“And eventually people will have the housing they need.” He called the lack of worker housing a huge issue not only in this region, but all across our nation.

He applauded Jim McKenna, who is also co-chair of the North Country Economic Development Council, for making housing a priority for his economic development group.

In closing Ms. Karasin shared some of the details of their project.

She said with all the work that has gone into the project by the host of supporters and supporting organizations, “we’re going to start to see things happening here very soon.”

“This week the asbestos abatement work” necessary has been taking place in the former hotel building. “We’re expecting the all clear news” as early as today.

She said they expect to apply for a demolition permit from Code Enforcement Officer Pete Edwards shortly.

“The community will see visible demolition work happening here soon.

She said when they first bought the former Plaza Hotel “we thought we could rehab it. But by the time we assessed the kind of rehab we wanted to do we came to the realization it made more sense to treat it as a demo project and do new construction. It wasn’t an easy decision for us, because we wanted to take the approach like the frugal, scrappy organization we are and save what we could.

Pointing to architectural sketches being displayed next to her, she said the big new building will be on a similar footprint and of similar scale to the existing one. “But it will be a new building with nine high quality apartments that we will rent to long-term tenants.”

“There will also be some renovations to the house next door, so all together we are going ten units of workforce house between the two buildings!”

She thanked many of the people who have helped in the project, including many others that afternoon mentioned.

Following public hearings here in May and the endorsement of the village board, Ms. Karasin’s group recently won a grant from the ESD’s “Restore New York” grant program.

Property owners near and outside sewer district No. 1 are being invited to create adjoining new ones

by Dan McClelland

Town officials met in special session last Wednesday afternoon and agreed to extend invitations to any property owners who own parcels near the large sewer district No. 1 to consider forming new ones alongside it at their own expense.

The invitation came as part of ongoing work by the town board, in cooperation with the Development Authority of the North Country (DANC) and an architectural and engineering firm, GYMO, with making needed infrastructure improvements to the town’s two large water and sewer districts, both termed respectively as Nos. 1.

They are the districts that were created in an earlier consolidation procedure for the town by DANC, where all water and sewer districts without debts were consolidated together into one.

Step number two of that ongoing process is to prepare for construction upgrades to the oldest of those several dozen districts in each of the Nos. 1.

The offer Wednesday is another element of that ongoing study work.

Councilman John Gillis, who has been working closely with DANC and GYMO on this unfolding work, led the discussion Wednesday before the board voted unanimously to invite property owners outside but near Sewer District No. one into it.

Before the board that afternoon was a map of the town showing the various neighborhoods around the various pieces of sewer district No. 1 that would be eligible to join it.

“So what we have to decide this afternoon is whether or not we want to canvass the residents of what would be a new sewer district,” Mr. Gillis began.

Some of the neighborhoods that could become new sewer districts or a single combined district were on Glenwood and Becky Avenues, Hosley Ave., Mitchell Lane and sections of Kildare Road, according to the map provided by GYMO.

The map showed green areas which are the existing pieces of sewer district No. 1. Brown areas showed potential new districts and larger red blocks represented undeveloped areas of the town that could also become districts.

“When GYMO first proposed these areas they thought because they were so close to our existing systems, that they might want to tag onto district No. 1.”

“It turns out the price of doing that (to tag on) wouldn’t be fair to the people in district No. 1, so GYMO now proposes any interested people should create their own district.”

The town is also considering having property owners near the main town water district (No. 1) also join, but according to Mr. Gillis, that procedure is expected to be less costly and less complicated.

“In some of those cases it would be just creating loops on some streets (that are already part of a water district), he continued.

Those changes would also boost the water pressure in some of those district neighborhoods, which will help any firefighting efforts there, he told his colleagues that afternoon.

Several existing water districts on Victor, Hosley and Lincoln Drive currently have “dead ends” which curtail water pressure, it was noted. New loops that would join them would improve the water pressure and supply in each, he noted.

“What we are doing this afternoon is agreeing to canvass these new property owners about creating their own sewer districts, he added.

“This is not about adding onto sewer district No. 1, but about whether or not you want to form (or join) your own district,” Supervisor Ricky Dattola stated, making sure everyone around the board table was clear.

The end result will likely be one new district, despite their different locations around the town, said Councilman Gillis.

“The time to do it is right now.” He said if the town adds more houses to the sewer district that currently serves a couple of houses on Larkin Ave., it might just as well as pick up the properties on the adjacent streets of Glenwood and Becky avenues.

Mr. Gillis said the financial numbers also fit well right now. “So roughly it will cost sewer district No. 1 residents $3 million to do all the needed repairs and another $3 million to add the new properties” into a new district.

Mr. Dattola asked him how many properties owners near the existing sewer district No. 1 could be merged into a new district and start enjoying village sewer services.

Mr. Gillis estimated it was in the 50s range.

So those 50 or so property owners would share the cost of the $3 million over a long bonding financial period of 30 or more years? the supervisor asked Mr. Gillis and he said that approximation was essentially correct.

“What would be the new number of this new sewer district?” Councilman Rick Donah asked his colleague and Mr. Gillis said that wouldn’t be known yet. “At this point we’re just asking those people if they would like to form a new district” and enjoy the services of the village-provided system.

“It can’t hurt to ask those people!” said Councilwoman Crystal Boucher and her colleagues agreed.

“It’s a good time to ask right now, because we have the numbers before us,” explained Mr. Gillis.

He said he thought that under state law the office of the state comptroller says a town can’t exceed $680 per household a year in sewer district fees. He said those property owners will pay whatever the cost of connecting to the sewer mains near their properties, but cannot be asked to pay more than $680 or so in amortization of construction costs of forming the district and building its infrastructure each year of the bonding period.

That information will be explained in the letter the board agreed to send to those affected property owners in coming days to get an idea of who wants to form a new sewer district and who doesn’t.

Under municipal law, whenever new service districts are formed, their creations are determined by a majority vote of those in the proposed district area. If the outcome of the vote is affirmative, every parcel must be included.

“We are also looking at the repairs that need to be done in water district No. 1 as well,” Mr. Gillis also reported. “But that is a different issue and not on the table right now!”

The board agreed unanimously to canvass the owners of the approximately 50 parcels that could be formed into a new sewer district.

Mr. Gillis said that in terms of tackling the needed repairs to the large sewer district No. 1, they are awaiting a financial determination from Town Attorney Kirk Gagnier to make sure that the $680 per year contribution cap is not exceeded.

There are apparently hundreds of property owners in that big district that would share the estimated $3 million cost of needed repairs on charges on their town tax bills in coming decades.

The supervisor calculated that dividing the $3 million repair bill into that many property owners should produce an annual payment far less than $680 per household. Mr. Gillis agreed with him.

There are a half dozen or so areas in that consolidated district that have been identified by Village Water and Sewer Superintendent Mark Robillard as in need of improvement work.

It was noted too that there may be some properties very close to the boundaries of sewer district No. 1 that they may be able to run their own lateral line to attach to it, and become a new member of that large district to save both the district and themselves considerable money.

“For example, if the district covers the first three houses on your street and you own the fourth house, if you can get there using a lateral line with a gravity feed and easily tie in,” and you are willing to pay the $1,000 cost of tapping into the village system, the cost of joining the bigger district would be relatively small, Councilman Gillis predicted.

“But we’re not opening up joining district No. 1 to people who we’d have to spend a lot of money” with new infrastructure to get them to it, he assured his colleagues.

If the plan is successful, it would free up more town residents here from their reliance on on-site septic systems.

Timberjaxx Pass to celebrate its grand opening Saturday

by Dan McClelland

This Saturday Tupper Lake’s newest tourist attraction- Timberjaxx Pass at 86 Demars Blvd. will celebrate is grand opening from 2p.m. to 5p.m. A ribbon-cutting and blessing by Fr. James Teti will take place at 3p.m.

Those who bring along a non-perishable, non-expired food item for the Tupper Lake Food Pantry, will be able to sample one of the company’s small soft serve ice cream cone in exchange for their donation.

The event will also produce an afternoon of live entertainment by Tupper Lake’s favorite duo, brother and sister Mickey Desmarais and Claire Brown. Visitors can try out the new course or a delicious Hersey-brand frosty treat from the parlor.

Saturday’s event marks the finish of over two years of study and research and over a year of construction by the owners, Juli and Jed Dukett and a team of friends and family members. The local couple transformed the Hyde Company’s vacant gas station problem on the Route 3 corridor that connects the two sections of the village into an attractive 18-hole miniature golf course and cozy ice cream parlor that is expected to draw tourists and residents for decades to come.

The new business was one of the ten projects selected from an initial round of 16 finalists in the village’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative that produced $10 million in development money for economic development in the uptown business district and for southerly pieces of the local corridor known as “The Boulevard.”

Juli and Jed and their Timberjaxx Pass is about the second of the ten funded projects to come to fruition.

Jewelry creator Rachel King and her silversmith and gem-crafting partner, Brandon Cooke were the first DRI recipients open this summer at their new Park Street store site.

Under the state grant program, candidates had to fund 100% of their projects with their own money, and then at the finish received up to 40% reimbursement from the state department of state. The local couple invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in their new business- far beyond the grant allocation of about $199,000. If project budgets go over budget, as theirs did, it’s up to the owner to pay any overage, as they did.

Jed Friday offered great praise for the DRI’s local planning committee who he said spent many hours of their time to help grow businesses here.

Our first stop there Friday was inside the new, freshly decorated ice cream parlor.

Featured inside are two types of ice cream- hard and soft, and both made by the famous Hershey company. The couple went with the national brand because of its popularity.

Motorists have already stopped this summer when they see the Hershey sign out front.

The one counter is glass-fronted so customers can pick from the dozen colorful containers of hard ice cream that are ready for scooping.

High school student and stand-out athlete, Taylor Stoll was working the bar that morning and when asked she said the she thought a big favorite is the “Roadrunner Raspberry” in that day’s line-up. The flavors change week to week. Another bin, featuring a dark chocolate flavor, is also very popular, she told the Free Press. Its color was as deep and rich, as the flavor itself, she said.

“The kids love ‘Cotton Candy’,” a pink and blue mix, noted Juli Dukett. “It’s so popular we run out of it all the time!” It was missing that day. There’s only room for 12 bins in the ice cream case- so the flavors are routinely rotated to give customers as wide a choice as possible.

Juli showed us how to dispense the soft ice cream cones from their soft ice cream machine that serves both custard and soft ice cream in vanilla and chocolate, or the favorite, a swirl or two of both. Sprinkles are there for the asking.

A third flavor is included every week- but the black raspberry has been a steady one in recent weeks- given its popularity.

She offered us the custard sample, and while we refused initially, we relented and took it from her. It was a good decision. The creamy custard was delicious.

At the second counter there they dispense shave ice in over 32 flavors. Some of the flavors are sugar-free.

Across that counter is where the sundaes and other creations spring from- topped with cherries, chocolate, and caramel sauces, whipped cream and other mouth-watering things. “Right now banana splits are very popular,” explained Juli.

The sundae special last week was one called “Cabin Crunch Twix,” which features a tiny Twix bar. It starts with caramel topping on vanilla custard swirls and a chocolate crumble cookie, dressed out in whipped cream and cherries. “Wow!” is a common response to the first bite.

Several large signs over that counter list all the splendid and gooey goodies that can be made and served there.

Ice cream lovers can enjoy their treats inside the parlor at tables and counters there or go outside under the awning left over from the site’s gas station days.

“We’ve been very busy since we opened earlier this summer,” the local elementary school teacher said that day.

“It’s busiest when its sunny and hot. But people have even been coming for ice cream when it’s rainy!”

The new miniature course has seen the most traffic this very hot summer when it’s overcast- and comfortable to play outdoors.

She said they have seen many campers from nearby campsites coming out to play when the sun is behind thick clouds. Some mini-golfers come in the bright sun, but most prefer the cool days and evenings.

“People obviously don’t play during heavy downpours, but many will stay and play through light rain and sprinkles.

“They find our new course both fun and challenging. We’ve seen people of all ages play...anyone can play miniature golf. Sometimes they organize friendly competitions, particularly among families and groups of friends.”

The new tourist venue is becoming the fodder of bragging rights between family members and friends who live here or who vacation here.

“Our golfers love the waterfall, they love the fountains, they love the varying elevations on many of the holes.” She said they built their course with no impediments on the fairways so that wheelchair bound people can easily maneuver it and play.

She said the course was designed by miniature golf course builder Bob Horwath, who has built courses all over the world. For months last summer he worked side by side with Jed building the place from scratch.

Their course, according to the couple, is easy for everyone to play, but offers its challenges.

One difficult hole is what they call the anthill hole No. 8, where a hill similar to where ants might live en mass rises around the hole. On another the golfer either has to negotiate a six foot long, narrow bridge over water to a corridor beyond, which most always dumps the ball onto the green. If the golfer’s ball goes off the bridge it just meanders down the stream and up onto the same green.

On some holes bumpers along greens and fairways have been eliminated so your ball can easily land in a nearby pond.

The balls are easily retrievable with nets attached to poles.

Tupper native Dan Dattola was in town that day with his wife Laurie with their daughter in law Ashley and her children. Everyone was enjoying their ice cream cones under the former gas pump covering outside.

Dan, who developed both the Rockridge and Haymeadow subdivisions here in the 1980s, stopped into the parlor to congratulate Juli on their new business. “All I can tell you is this is the nicest thing in Tupper Lake right now. I hope you are successful and that you grow it bigger.”

Juli thanked Mr. Dattola, telling him she and Jed planned to work very hard to do just that.

Riley Fletcher and Cameron Sarvis came into the parlor after their first 18-hole round and were eager to sign up for a second one.

Riley and Cameron thought the toughest hole was the par 4 Hole No. 15 featuring a long and steep fairway. Juli explained they got the design for it from the Lake Placid bob run course. Riley wasn’t happy, however, that Cameron managed several holes in one that day.

The young pair said they would highly recommend Timberjaxx Pass to any and all comers. “It’s just so much fun!” exclaimed Riley.

Juli said she and Jed and their children played many miniature golf courses on annual vacations in the south over the years and from those experiences they eventually knew some of the features they wanted on their course. “We knew we wanted a waterfall and the ponds. There was an over/under hole we’ve played on other courses that we knew we wanted to include.”

Laurie Pickering and her sister Penny Larche stopped by that day for their daily “baby cones.” They said it was the highlight of their days in these unusually hot, summer months.

Sitting with Jed that day and looking out over his 30-car parking lot, he said there had been some concerns during the planning if that would be enough parking. He said even if very busy times at their new place, the parkings space there have been sufficient.

“Unlike a place like a restaurant or brewery where people might be there for an hour or more, people here can play a round of golf in between 30 to 45 minutes and then they’re gone.”

“Of course that all depends on the size of the group, and if there are large groups ahead of them.”

Of the groups their place attracts, are individuals who come by themselves to try the course or couples who come in two and often with another couple. “But we also had a lot of large family and family groups...a lot of grandparents with their grandkids.”

Some parents and grandparents come with their kids and grandkids, and just walk along with them through the course as the kids play, he also noted.

He said sometimes if the children are older and perhaps young teenagers, parents will come into the parlor and have ice cream while the kids enjoy the course. “That’s worked out well many times so far this summer...every one is very respectful of others playing the course and everyone seems to really enjoy themselves.”

As Juli said, Jed also noted they have had many compliments on their new place from customers.

He said many mini-golfers like the water holes. A ball that goes errant off the green or fairway into the water costs the player a stroke. That’s every water hole except No. 10 where the water can be played to the hole.

He called that unique double-way to play hole and the bob run hole their course’s “signature holes.”

Jed said one of the most pleasurable parts of the construction phase which began July of last year and finished this spring was working with Designer Bob Horwath.

In his research Jed thoroughly vetted the designer and learned first hand he was the best for the job. “I talked to people Bob had worked for and they couldn’t say enough good about him and his work!”

The two bonded within days and became fast friends. “We still talk at least once a week.”

He said that while many of Bob’s trademark designs are found in the Duketts’ new course, several like the two-route water course were altered and are unique to this course.

Jed also had lots of praise for his Uncle Gus of Saranac Lake and Juli’s brother Todd and her parents, and Jack Moody who helped them in so many ways, including much of the construction.

Todd Bickford did much of the interior and exterior painting to spruce up the former convenience store, and built two modern handicapped washrooms next to it. The entire place now is decked out in bright red solid stain and black trim- and as such has become a most attractive addition to the Boulevard strip.

He said all the suppliers and local contractors they used all went the extra mile to help them finish on time. Most of the local folks like Mitchell Stone which provided dozens and dozens of truckloads of the packy sand to build the base and Lemieux Excavating which furnished dozens of large boulders for the giant waterfall and to line and punctuate the fairways and Tri-lakes Masonry which poured the many concrete surfaces sent trucks and crews whenever they needed them. Tupper Lake Supply, Aubuchon Hardware and Fortune’s Hardware were always available too with needed supplies. At one of the first holes Chip Lemieux fashioned with several boulders the shape of a turtle, and so it’s logically called “the Turtle Hole.”

The entire miniature golf course is very well lit, downward style in keeping with the community’s dark skies policies.

That downward style is most appropriate for focussing light where it does the most good in the evening- on the tees, fairways and greens, Jed and Juli have found.

In the construction work by Bob and Jed, every hole was built atop lots of drainage pipes to make sure surface water disappears from the course minutes after a big rain storm.

We toured every hole with Jed and Juli, with Jed tossing a golf ball out in front of him at each hole to show us their particular peculiarities and challenges.

By their smiles and enthusiasm the two owners are very proud of what they have accomplished here with the state’s help. They look forward to their new place being a big part of Tupper Lake’s late spring, summer and early fall seasons for the enjoyment of the people who live here and those who come here each year to enjoy this community.

Stitchin’ Bees bring vivid color, incredible workmanship with fabric to Tupper Arts

The Stitchin’ Bees quilting group brought vivid color and tons of handcrafted fabric together at Tupper Arts for another wildly successful quilting show in recent weeks.

Most of the quilts in the show, which filled almost the entire show room of the Tupper Arts center were machine-pieced by local and area quilters where the fabric pieces are sown together by a sewing machine.

A few quilts were of the variety called
art collage, where multiple pieces of fabric are overlaid on one another and secured with thread.

Some were “rag” style where squares of fabric, often flannel, are sewn together in such a way that the seam allowance is clipped. When washed a rag quilt tends to fray and soften.

Another type of quilt shown is called “appliqued” where pieces of fabric are sewn on top of other fabric, either by hand or with sewing machine.

Other quilts were embroidered where decorative stitches are sewn onto the fabric, either by hand or machine. Some quilts on display were a mix of techniques.

Thousands of local alumni coming to Little Wolfstock IV

by Dan McClelland

Thousands of alumni from decades of Tupper Lake graduating classes will be back in the shadow of their alma mater over the weekend, all celebrating like it’s the last day of classes at the fourth Little Wolfstock at the town-owned beach and campgrounds.

There have been reports dating back several months that campsites and motel rooms here will be in short supply- if available at all this weekend. Some of Tupper Lake’s growing number of short-term rentals are apparently still available to rent for the week or weekend.

Because of a community-wide lodging shortage, one of the event organizers, Daniel “Boonie” Carmichael was able to secure the permission of the village board to permit overnight camping in the Tupper Lake Municipal Park- just for this weekend.

Unlike typical reunions in Tupper Lake, Little Wolfstock IV is punctuated with live music from start to finish.

Keyboard player and singer Clark Blanton, who has performed at all of the three past musical reunions here, will open Saturday’s big event, performing from under the pavilion at the town beach. Clark is expected to perform a song he wrote this past year- paying tribute to his late friend, Tupper Lake’s Jeff LaBarge.

Clark has expanded his part-time musical career into almost full-time work as a sessions performer on Long Island, after his retirement from a career in education.

Next up at 1p.m. and 2p.m. are two more Tupper Lake natives and Tupper High grads- Vocalist Angela Jessie, performing with Evan Bujold. After Angela and Evan is Jim LeBlanc.

Jim’s musical career has really blossomed in recent years with many professional engagements in and around his home in the Columbia, South Carolina. The singer/songwriter is very popular in that area of the south.

Adding some country to the folk and rock and roll of the first performers that afternoon will be Tupper Lake’s Brock Gonyea, with his recently fleshed out traditional country band, featuring Larry Reandeau on pedal/steel guitar and Guitarist Terry Torrance.

A retired Long Lake music teacher, Mike Nearny, joins the musical line-up this year and plays about 4p.m. With Mike will be several performers from the greater Long Lake area.

It’s traditional rock and roll from the 1960s and 1970s at 5p.m. when Jeff Gonyea’s newest band, Legend, takes the pavilion stage. Playing with Jeff are long time band mates John Reandeau, Bruce Hollingsworth and Chuck Mozdzier.

After Legend, at 6p.m. will be Tupper Lake’s Junction Jam, featuring Dennis Torres, Mike Fritts, Skip Houston and Brian LaDue.

Capping off the evening in style in classic rock will be Tommy Snye’s Bitter Sweet, who will play until 9p.m. when the entertainment closes.

All of the local and area performers are again donating their time and talent to the event free of charge. All donations by participants have gone in the past three years to local charities and community organizations. That’s the plan too this year.

The official sponsor of the fourth version of Little Wolfstock is the Tupper Lake Lions Club which will have its well-known cook shack on site for those nine hours.

The Lions carry with their events $1 million in liability insurance, which the town now requires for events on town property, like the beach and campgrounds.

The local Lions will also be donating from the cook shack sales that day at least $1,000 to the Search And Rescue of the Northern Adirondacks (SARNAK). It’s the important volunteer agency in our area which furnishes lifesaving mobile radio and communications services to anyone or any group during times of crisis here.

This year’s event will also see some craft and other vendors in and around the picnic grounds there.

Although he has received some amazing organizational help from Mr. Carmichael this year, Paul Chartier, Class of 1972, remains the principle organizer of Little Wolfstock IV. He called Boonie, this event’s “logistics guy,” who has tackled an assortment of organizational tasks for him.

The event was founded by Mr. Chartier in 2012 when he was asked to organize his class’ 40th reunion. His new assignment came after several somewhat lackluster reunions by that class in earlier decades. Of the 120 kids who graduated with Paul, only about 30, including spouses, attended their 30th reunion.

So Paul decided on his own, if he was in charge of the 40th reunion, it was going to have a major organizational twist. That’s when the musically based Little Wolfstock was born at the town beach.

So that first year he opened the event up to all those who graduated here in the ten years of the 1970s- and it was a major success in the summer of 2012.

In 2014 Paul opened it to the graduating classes of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s and it grew even larger and more and more people started making their summer vacation plans around it.

The last Little Wolfstock- No. 3- Paul put together in 2017- and the giant reunion was open to every Tupper High graduate. Over 1,500 people attended that time.

“The whole idea of Little Wolfstock, and it continues this year, was to just show up and enjoy great music, most of it from local performers or former residents, and picnic, family-style.”

There are several food options this year for those who forget their picnic baskets.

Mr. Chartier figures this year’s crowd may exceed 2,000.

Financial support for the free event has come again from some alumni, as it always does, plus a promotional grant of $1,500 from Explore Adirondack Frontier, the advertising campaign of the Franklin County tourism department.

Field Day begins with colorful parade with varied entries

The town’s Field Day parade again featured many emergency vehicles and a number of well-decorated floats for the many who lined Demars Blvd. Saturday morning.

The parade was again directed with skill by Amanda “Bird” Lizotte, with organizational help from Hailee LaLonde, who rode with her husband Rick in one of the electric department’s big rigs.

In the photo above, perched in the bucket of the Tupper Lake Fire Department’s ladder truck was Santa Claus, a.k.a. Mike Russell, grand marshal of the parade of the Field Day last year.

Shown below in a photo by Christielee Geiger was this year’s grand marshal, Jeremy Dukette, piloting a school district bus in the parade. Jeremy was recognized by the community this year, via nominations as a man who gives tirelessly to the school district and its students. Jeremy is the DJ at many school dances, volunteers to help with many school activities, over and above his bus driver and custodial duties.

He was called by Parade Announcer Dan McClelland, a school employee who is loved by school children of all ages.

Jeremy also volunteers regularly with town recreation department events, whenever asked.

Village Democrats to caucus Thursday, July 25

The Village Democratic Party will hold a political caucus this Thursday afternoon (July 25) at 2p.m. at the town’s Aaron Maddox Hall on Demars Blvd.

A required notice of caucus, filed by Caucus Chairman Daniel “Boonie” Carmichael, was published in last week’s legal notices.

According to the rules of the caucus, only registered Democrats and only village residents are allowed to participate in the nomination and decision-making processes that afternoon.

The purpose of the political meeting is to nominate candidates for two open trustee positions on the village board this fall, currently held by Trustees Jason McClain and Eric Shaheen.

Whoever the Democrats nominate tomorrow will face Republican Candidates Eric Shaheen and Rick Pickering, who were both nominated by their party on July 10. Trustee McClain opted not to seek re-election to a third term this fall.

Tupper Lake Field Day this weekend

by Dan McClelland

There will be plenty of fun and entertainment for the entire family this Saturday when the Town of Tupper Lake’s recreation department again hosts “Tupper Lake Field Day” in the Tupper Lake Municipal Park.

The three year old event was introduced by Director Laura LaBarge and her recreation department right after the departure of the Tupper Lake Woodsmen’s Days, which dominated the July events calendar its second weekend dating back to 1979.

This year’s theme is “Gone Country.”

The day begins at 11a.m. with another Field Day parade, directed by Amanda Lizotte, who handled the recent ones with skill and good organization, and before that the Woodsmen’s Days parade of marching bands, floats and logging equipment entries for a number of the recent years the logging event was here.

Parade entrants will form a line from the far end of The Boulevard at the start of The Junction from where the procession which proceed down the state highway and empty into the municipal park.

There is still room in the parade for more entries of floats and vehicles and marchers, and so those folks who haven’t signed up yet to participate, should call the recreation department in the town hall as soon as possible. Laura and her able assistant Christielee Geiger are eager to accommodate any and all parade participants.

In final planning this week is a new touch-a-truck event along the firemen’s strip in the park right after the parade. Business, groups and governmental agencies will large pieces of heavy equipment are encouraged to polish them up for Saturday and join the event. Touch-a-truck events are always popular here- with children being able to climb up into the cabs and experience the feel of a heavy equipment operator and truck driver.

Wood carvers from all over the country will be back this year- sculpting in great detail their pieces of art. Actually, many of the carvers will be arriving as early as today to begin their carving, and residents and visitors are always welcome to stop by the municipal park in the center of town.

About a dozen carvers are expected to come to town for the event, according to Mrs. LaBarge.

Some of last year’s talent will be returning.

“Many of these artisans follow a state or regional circuit of shows each summer, and are always happy to have an event here that fits that schedule,” she explained this week.

The auction of the many works created from those pieces of raw wood is set for 5p.m. Saturday.

Featured this year will be the archery range designed to teach children the fundamentals of the sport taught by members of the Tupper Lake Sportsmen’s Club.

Tupper Lake boasts a very well-run archery program run by the volunteers at the former Rod and Gun Club at their headquarters on Lake Simond Road. Organizers are always looking for more children and teens to join their program.

This year’s Field Day will again feature a car show, run by Tupper Lake’s snowmobile club leaders, Reese and Kelly Fleury. Visitors may find their favorite ride in mint condition that will take them back to memories from their teen years. Vintage car shows are always heaped in nostalgia, and this one will be no different.

The cars and other vehicles in the show will line the highway side of the park that day.

At the first-time show at the Field Day last year organizers were predicting a small field, but more than 50 vehicles and their owners came to show off their prize-winning rigs and brag about them. There’s a good chance this year’s second annual event will boast many entries, organizers are hoping.

Within the show will be many classes of vehicles- from classic to restored to modified to custom, etc., explained Mrs. LaBarge. Entries sometimes are defined by decade.

The winners in each class will receive trophies to take home with them.

The afternoon will be punctuated with all sorts of kids’ games, including sack races, three-legged races, spoon and egg matches, tugs of war between both kids of various ages and adults. Most, at this point in the planning, will be youth games. The games will run from about 1p.m. to 3p.m.

Many of the town recreation department’s day camp counselor will be helping Christielee run the games as volunteers this year.

There will be food trucks on site, as well as artisans and other vendors, inflated bounce houses and obstacle course and such, all under the director of Mrs. Geiger.

A corn hole tournament is also planned. Organizers had hoped it could be a fundraiser for the Tupper Lake Volunteer Ambulance Squad and its ambulance fund driver underway, but a shortage of available volunteers to run it nixed those plans. Face-painting artisans will also be there and are expected again to be very popular with the younger set.

For adults, in particular, but for any one, actually, Field Day will feature two hours of square dancing from 2p.m. to 4p.m., hosted by accomplished Tupper Lake musicians, Wayne and Laura Davison.

The new event will blend nicely with the “Gone Country” theme, as square dancing is a traditional pastime in rural communities everywhere.

The couple has introduced the popular form of dancing to high school classes in recent years.

“Field Day” this year will again present its popular “Slime Run” where young people navigate a short running course through a corridor of parents, all wielding buckets and pans of the gooey stuff. White t-shirts are encouraged to accentuate the effect of the various colors of goop thrown on the passing runners.

The course will be from one end of the firemen’s strip to the opposite end.

The fun event begins right at 3p.m. “and it’s a great way for parents to take out their pent up aggression on their kids in a very fun and safe way,” the recreation director joked. The slime run was very popular last year.

It’s open to kids of all ages, she emphasizes.

Big buckets filled with slime are available to parents who line the course to fill up their hand-held squirters, also provided. Buckets filled with slime can also be used.

Organizers are also planning something of a slip and slide for the kids too, if the weather is cooperative.

The day will cap off musically with a performance by Brock Gonyea and his new band, featuring pedal steel guitar stand-out Larry Reandeau. The band will perform from 4p.m. to 6p.m. and mark the close of a busy day of fun and interest in the park.

From start to finish, this year’s event will certainly have “Gone Country.”

Eric Shaheen, Rick Pickering win GOP nods for two village trustee posts

by Dan McClelland

Trustee Eric Shaheen and political newcomer Rick Pickering will represent the village Republic Party on the November ballot when village voters will be asked to chose two trustee candidates to serve for two-year terms.

There are no elections for town board this fall, so hence no town caucus was paired with Wednesday’s village one.

The caucus chairwoman, Mayor Mary Fontana, called the village caucus to session at 6:07 p.m. Wednesday evening in the cleared-out truck bays of the Tupper Lake Emergency Services Building.

Among the guests that evening were residents of both the village and town and Mayor Fontana asked town residents to move to the back of the room, telling them “they could neither participate or vote” in that evening’s political meeting. “You may just observe,” she told the town residents.

Everyone in the room stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Handling the sign-up of village GOP party members as caucus tellers were former Town Councilwoman Tracy Luton and former school board member, Bill King.

Town Councilwoman Crystal Boucher served as caucus secretary that evening.

The caucus chairwoman joined the other officials in reciting the constitution oath.

The first candidate nominated was Trustee Eric Shaheen to run for his second two-year term as village trustee. Trustee Shaheen was also appointed last fall by the mayor to serve as her deputy.

Eric was nominated by his sisters Margaret and Rose.

Seconds later Eric Shaheen nominated Rick Pickering, a former member of the Tupper Lake Golf Course Board, to run for trustee with him. Shane St. Louis seconded that nomination.

The third nomination came next from Trustee Leon LeBlanc, who nominated Barbara Denis. Trustee David “Haji” Maroun seconded the nomination of Ms. Denis, who is a banking software specialist and who has been a regular guest at village board meetings in recent months. She and her partner, retired Police Officer and Businessman Mike Vaillancourt, were instrumental as community activists in setting up a well-attended meeting earlier this year to address concerns about Mercy Living Center, the care of its residents and the new ownership team. They continue to monitor conditions there.

Trustees Maroun and LeBlanc both started their trustee terms last December at the village organizational meeting and neither was opposed in the fall 2023 election.

Because there were three candidates for two positions the caucus was moved into the election mode using a secret ballot.

Ms. Fontana explained every village registered Republican in attendance that evening could place the names of “up to two” of the three running on their ballot.

The two candidates who garner the highest number of votes would be the party’s choice in the village race this fall, she noted.

The mayor announced that there were 36 registered Republicans who live in the village who were in attendance that evening.

She explained that the 36 party faithful could “place one name on their ballot or two names.”

After about five minutes of gathering the votes and counting them the two tellers presented the results to the mayor to announce the winners.

“The results are as follows,” the mayor stated. “Twenty-two votes for Rick Pickering. Twenty-six votes for Eric Shaheen and 13 votes for Barbara Denis.”

She said Mr. Shaheen and Mr. Pickering were the party’s choice to run for village trustee this fall. A motion to conclude the caucus came seconds later.

The Town Democratic party is expected to hold a caucus on Thursday, July 25 at 2p.m. at the Aaron Maddox Hall, according to comments at Monday night’s village board meeting by Daniel “Boonie” Carmichael, who will be serving as caucus chair.

At Monday’s village board meeting a letter was read by Trustee David “Haji” Maroun from Barbara Denis, who was out of town on business, that challenged Eric Shaheen’s candidacy, based on his claim of residency within the village. More on that next week.

Board of Education selects Jaycee Welsh as new superintendent of schools

The Tupper Lake Central School District Board of Education voted unanimously to appoint Jaycee Welsh as its next superintendent of schools during an organizational board of education meeting held on July 8.

The release below came from Max Spritzer, public relations specialist with Franklin-Essex-Hamilton BOCES. A similar statement was posted on Facebook by Board President Jane Whitmore after the Monday night meeting.

Ms. Welsh, the current executive principal and director of special education at LaFargeville Central School District, was awarded with a three-year contract and will officially assume the duties as Tupper Lake superintendent on August 1st or earlier, pending arrangements with her current district.

She replaces Superintendent Russell Bartlett, who notified the board last year that he would retire at the end of the 2023-24 school year, capping off a 30-year career with the district.

At LaFargeville, Ms. Welsh worked closely with the PK-12 principal, superintendent, teachers and staff on a number of successes, including significant increases in proficiency rates of grades 3-8 test scores which are now some of the highest in the Jefferson-Lewis BOCES region among several grade levels. She also helped facilitate and model strategic instructional practices for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, including in-house professional development for all instructional staff. Welsh was also responsible for the oversight of a district-wide new teacher mentor program and the successful operation of a student teacher collaboration with SUNY Potsdam, where she is an adjunct instructor at the college’s School of Education & Professional Studies.

In addition to both of her administrative roles, Welsh also served as internal claims auditor for the district and brings with her a wealth of experience navigating challenging budgetary processes.

Ms. Welsh started her administrative career in 2015 as elementary principal and director of special education in LaFargeville. Prior to that, she was employed as a special education teacher with the Carthage Central School District, where she also served as the site supervisor for the Carthage After School Enrichment (CASE) Program.

“I've spent my entire life in small communities - I love everything Tupper Lake represents,” said Welsh. “I look forward to learning and fostering traditions, as well as immersing myself into the school and community. I respect the small town values of Tupper Lake and hope to help build on those for the next generation.”

Ms. Welsh also plans to actively engage the community in the district's governance in the near future.

“During the coming months, I plan to meet with community leaders to hear what they have to say about the district and forge new relationships. I also will invite members of the media to come in and discuss the district's goals and the path we plan to enhance and grow the learning opportunities of our students.”

According to the release, she was selected from an accomplished pool of candidates following a comprehensive search process. The process involved collecting feedback from various community stakeholders regarding what they hoped to see in the school district’s next leader. Feedback was gathered from employees, families and community members through an open survey and a series of focus groups. FEH BOCES District Superintendent Dale Breault, Jr. served as the search consultant for Tupper Lake.

"The stakeholder groups and the board of education universally felt that Jaycee is a great fit for Tupper Lake,” said Tupper Lake Board President Jane Whitmore. “She is going to bring a wealth of knowledge in key areas that will help our district, and we look forward to working with her."

A graduate of Camden Central School, Welsh earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and master’s degree in Special Education Leadership from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She also holds a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership from James Madison University and a Certificate of Advanced Study in District Level Educational Leadership from Niagara University. She resides in LaFargeville with her husband, but is in the process of relocating to Tupper Lake.

Over 100 join museum board at grand opening of new history museum Saturday

by Dan McClelland

About 100 supporters and well-wishers joined members of the Tupper Lake History Museum Board Saturday afternoon for a grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting at the new museum quarters at 291 Park Street.

The renovated building has been the site of many businesses here over the years, most recently as a Mexican Restaurant.

For the occasion American Flag semi-circular banners hung from the front deck which was built by the previous operators when the building was last leased by the Knapp family.

A new banner inviting people inside was also hung for the special occasion.

Board Member Dan McClelland introduced several of the local leaders in attendance that day: Supervisor Rickey Dattola, who he called a great businessman, active community member and forward-thinking supervisor, County Legislator Nedd Sparks, the second generation of his family to represent Tupper Lake on the county board (his father, John Sparks, served this community well as both village mayor and county legislator in the 1970s before his untimely death) and Trustee Eric Shaheen, who he called a very hard-working business man and dedicated public servant who as deputy mayor was filling in for Mayor Mary Fontana that afternoon who was out of town.

He also introduced former and long-time town supervisor Dean Lefebvre.

“Wouldn’t Art Richer have been proud of this day?” Mr. McClelland asked the people packed into the museum’s new great room. His question brought cheers of agreement.

“Our museum here goes back nearly 20 years when Mr. Richer began collecting artifacts from people he knew. Art was charming and well-liked here and he planted seeds with many here of the importance of preserving Tupper Lake’s history by cleaning out their attics and basements and giving him things thought to be of a historical nature. Art enlisted the help of his nephew Michael and the paired combed the community for historical goodies for years, hauling them back and storing them at the Richer Farm.

“The first museum here was in the former Hull family home on Water Street for a very brief time. Its next location was on the second floor of the Town of Tupper Lake’s old Junction fire station on Pine Street, where it operated for more than a decade.

“A number of local men and women, many from downtown Tupper Lake, worked alongside the two former funeral directors to ready the collection for exhibit in those quarters.

“Among them were Dian Connor, for many years the museum board president, and others like Jeannette Keniston, Gail Auclair, Fleurette Rolley, Shirley Lavigne and others. Mrs. Connor and Mrs. Keniston continue to serve on the current board of the museum, as vice president and treasurer, respectively.

“The founding board members were Judy Frey, Chalice Dechene, Mike Richer, Bob and Joyce Earle, Bill Frenette, Herman and Irene Charland, Gail Auclair, Shirley Lavigne and Art and Pat Richer.

“During the years in the old fire station the two-story building encountered a number of mechanical and structural problems, the severity of which convinced the town board about eight years ago that the best path to take was for the museum leaders to find other quarters.

The local history museum was homeless, the hometown publisher told the group.

“With no place to go and with many museum pieces to store until a suitable place could be found to exhibit, the Next Stop! Tupper Lake board offered temporary space to them in the great room of the train station.

“There the museum volunteers built some wonderful historical exhibits, under the vaulted 30 foot high ceilings in the spacious depot. The museum operated in the historic train station for two summers, greeting visitors from all across the nation and Canada. The volunteers loved it there.

“So that made it that much sadder when they again had to move.

“The Adirondack Railroad Preservation Society needed the train station space for its operation and its passengers. The building was built by this community as a train station, so when the opportunity arose to fulfill its mission, that was the route Next Stop! Tupper Lake leaders had to go.

He said that was a very tough decision for him as the train station chairman and a history museum board member.

“Museum leaders were left again with the unfortunate circumstance of finding a new home. Homeless for the second time in three years!

“The museum board set about on a plan to find a permanent home, once and for all.

“All the artifacts were placed in temporary storage again.

“After a year of ambitious fundraising which produced many donations from supporters here, the museum board purchased the empty gas station at 291 Park Street, with the help of a mortgage.

“Seed money for the campaign was a $12,000 donation from Next Stop! Tupper Lake, and donations flowed from there.

“It is my pleasure to introduce my fellow board members, most of whom need no introduction.

Representing the Richer family here and Art’s nieces are Mary Richer, a tireless worker and pretty good carpenter, and Laurie Amell, who with her husband Stuart, are responsible for the nice landscaping you see outside. Stuart was on our board too for a time. Both have offered sage counsel along the way, and routinely make the trip here from their home in the Syracuse area for our board meetings.

“A lady who like her friend, Art, believed in the importance of a local museum and who has been there behind it from the start is our vice president Dian Connor. Dian is steadfast in her thinking about the important things that must be showcased here, and we don’t mess with her.

“Another museum veteran is our treasurer, Jeannette Keniston, who has offered the strong backs of her sons, Chris and Mike, on some of the past moves. Jeanette insists this is the last move for the museum. Her sons concur.

“Another of the board members, Jim Lanthier, donated over a year of his time and carpentry talent to renovate most the entire quarters into the showpiece it is today. Any time last winter if you passed this place at 11p.m., Jimmy’s car was outside and he was inside painting, staining, hanging ceiling, redoing walls. Without Jim’s generous gifts of time and skill we wouldn’t be where we are today. Contractors Ed West and Brandon Moeller were also hired to help. Ed did many electrical improvements and Brandon laid several laminate floors.

“The board members have been very busy in recent months building exhibits and planning for today.

“Another board member is Joe Kimpflen. Joe Kimpflen spent many hours on grant applications to augment the fundraising campaign.

“Prior to the campaign Mr. Kimpflen and our chairwoman won accreditation from the New York State Department of Education to be an official museum and from the federal internal revenue service was secured 501-3c, not for profit status, which made all donations to the museum tax-deductible.

“Joe and his wife, Lisa, took it upon themselves to create our new gift shop inside and get it ready for visitors.

“Our museum relies on donations to sustain itself and sales from their gift shop will also help pay our bills.

“Board member Patty Reandeau brings the Piercefield perspective to our board, and is always willing to help with any chore in the building we agree to tackle. She scrubbed the place before today’s opening.” He joked Elvis Presley has a huge fan here in Mrs. Reandeau, and there’s always a chance The King may pay a visit to the museum soon.

“Great help has come too this year from Board Member Marlene Hyde. Marlene and her husband, Tom, and their technicians at Hyde Fuel Co. helped in the building’s completion in many ways. For two years between the time the museum left the train station and moved into its new home this spring, the couple donated the space to store all the artifacts in company-owned buildings.

“Tom and Hyde Fuel also donated and installed a Monitor heater in the renovated great room. Tom and his crew picked up and installed the new museum sign out front, and hung it between posts and planters. They removed an old exhaust hood and vent and the accompanying Ansul fire suppression system from the year or so the place was a Mexican restaurant. In recent weeks Hyde Fuel Co. workers removed the fan cover from the building’s roof and repaired the hole in the roof. Hyde Fuel Co. and Mr. and Mrs. Hyde also donated an air conditioning system with heater unit which will warm the public place in winters and cool it in summer. In recent days too Ken Stoll and his local firm did electrical upgrades to permit the recent cooling and heating upgrades to the building.

“I’ve also had the pleasure of serving on the museum board in recent years, telling the good story about it whenever I had space on my front page. I’ve also used the hometown weekly to raise money for our cause and applauding those who gave so generously in recent months.

“The final board member is our town and village historian Jon Kopp, who has archived thousands of early stories about Tupper Lake, many of them which can be found on Jon’s Facebook page.” He called Jon a great ambassador of history for this community, and joked he’s always willing to share a tale with any visitor to his antique shop at the corner of Park and McLaughlin.

“Not on the board but heard from often in recent years is our enthusiastic cheerleader, Bob “Popcorn” Duhaime. Bob’s been an exhibit builder, and he’s cleaned out his garage at the Duhaime farm to that end, and he’s promoted our museum’s importance with everyone who would listen. He’s also pleaded our case for donations recently and been very successful to that end.

“My most important job this afternoon is to introduce the local lady who brought us to where we are today: our very able leader, Kathleen Lefebvre. A retired science teacher, former town board member, Kathleen is the person who gives tirelessly to her community every day in so many ways. She is involved in the work of so many groups and organizations, the museum project was fortunate to have her step forward a number of years when we were in crisis and inspire us to all work together to find the museum a new home.

There’s been challenges along the way, but Kathleen’s leadership has permitted us to meet them and overcome them. She’s been the calming influence that a high-spirited and creative group like ours very much needs to succeed.

“Our chairman and leader: Kathleen Lefebvre.”