Adirondack Family Time™

Big Tupper has teamed with The Wild Center , the Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks. Anyone purchasing a ticket to the Wild Center or a day lift ticket for Big Tupper will get a free day pass to the other venue. The free ticket is good for up to two weeks. I am a fan of Big Tupper. Literally, a fan. I clicked on the Facebook flag and became a fan of the little mountain that could. I have been swept along with all the momentum of hearing about and have friends (this time real ones not just Facebook) that have spent time getting the mountain open. With all the computer progress updates and conversation, I have yet to ski there. My family has been able to go but it seems that my own family time has its work conflicts like any one else’s. Ironic isn’t it? To write about family activities but to then send the family off to enjoy so that I can work. My children assure me that they will report back in detail any discoveries from their ski outing at Big Tupper. Before I regale you wit

Will playing games raise your child's IQ? I am not talking about the cloak and dagger kind of games or my children's ability to creatively conjure ways to get out of walking the dog. According to a research study by Dr. Silvia Bunge, a neuroscientist at UC Berkeley, and her graduate students found certain off-the-shelf board, card and video games improved children's IQ significantly. Read more here

The complete Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Schedule of Events is here. Starting with the Coronation of Carnival Royalty. Thursday, February 4 5:30 p.m.: 11th Annual Past Royalty Mixer and Dinner (Moose Club, $, call 891-1286 for reservations) Friday, February 5 7:30 p.m.: Coronation of Carnival Royalty (Harrietstown Town Hall) Sponsored by the Women’s Civic Chamber Post Coronation: Reception following the ceremony at the B.P.O. Elks Lodge #1508 9 p.m.: Cocktail Hour – Music by Mecca Bodega (Waterhole Upstairs Music Lounge, $) 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.: Music by Road Dog Kill (Captain Cook’s, $) Saturday, February 6 10 a.m.: Ice Palace Fun Run (4 miles) (Ice Palace) 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: 17th Annual Business & Professional Women Chocolate Festival (Harrietstown Town Hall, $) 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Lutheran Church Women’s Craft Sale (Harrietstown Town Hall, $) 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.: Petrova Winter Carnival (fun for kids) (Petrova Elementary School Cafeteria, $) 11 a.m.: The Adirondack ARC Curling Exhibition

For the past four years we have been invited to have our son participate in the annual ski jumping clinics at MacKenzie-Intervale Jumping Complex . My husband and I embrace the idea. What an opportunity to experience something so few other regions have, an Olympic facility near by with coaches and experienced staff of World Championship caliber. Each year my son declines. For the first time, at no encouragement from us, he decided that he wanted to see what the big deal was all about. A friend was going and there was a mention of snacks. We hung out with other families while my son practiced on the play hill, playing games, taking jumps the size of moguls he encounters regularly while downhill skiing. The coaches eased even the most reluctant skier down the hill with fun play and games. The group then moved to the 5-meter hill where the children lined up and did easy jumps. It was all done with a nice transition and sense of play. Much to our surprise our son went with the 30 other ki

This is not a huge surprise after the rain received yesterday that Mt. Pisgah in Saranac Lake will not be having ski lessons this evening.

Don't let kids have all the fun! Kids’ Night Out will be held at the NCCC Sparks Athletic Complex from 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. on Friday, January 22nd allowing any parents wishing to see the Pendragon Theatre' s performance of Moby Dick Rehearsed. There will be enough time to drop off children and be at the Pendragon Theatre for opening curtain at 7:30 p.m. Complimentary desserts will be available during intermission. Pendragon Theatre brings Moby Dick Rehearsed back to its home turf for a limited engagement before continuing its North Country tour. Teaming with North Country Community College’s (NCCC) Kids’ Night Out on January 22nd, Pendragon Theatre hopes to give all community members the opportunity to see this incredible show. Kids’ Night Out provides free play and some organized games under the supervision of NCCC athletes. The three-hour program costs $10 per child and is open to all children from five to twelve years of age. Please contact each organization for more

Dewey Mountain is hosting a Ski Jam, Friday, January 8, 6:30 - 9:00 with live music, food from Eat N' Meet, and of course skiing. Join the fun . Additional Hours of Operation Monday 10:00an - 5:00pm Tuesday - Friday 10:00am - 7:00pm Saturday 9:00am - 5:00pm Sunday 10:00am - 4:00pm

"When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flock, The work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, To heal the broken, To feed the hungry, To release the prisoner, To rebuild the nations, To bring peace among others, To make music in the heart." ~ Howard Thurman, author, civil rights leader, and theologian (1899-1981)

JULIE & JULIA will be showing this Saturday, January 16th starting at 7:30. Held at the Willsboro Central School as part of the Champlain Valley Film Society . This film is based on the best-selling book by Julie Powell. Academy Award winner Meryl Streep stars in this delicious comedy with Golden Globe nominee for Best Picture and Best Actress Amy Adams. Based on true stories, follow Julia Child in 1950s Paris and young Julie Powell in 2002 New York as their lives intertwine through a mutual passion for fine cooking. Rated PG-13 SPECIAL FEATURE: Retired chef John Ferry will speak about his long friendship with Julia Child in Paris and Chicago. Reviews: "Plenty of humor" - USA Today "The feel-good movie of the year" - Fox-TV "Streep at her brilliant best" - Rolling Stone The tickets are $5.00 for adults and anyone under 18 is $2.00.

High Peaks Hospice Blood Pressure Clinic is a free service held at Saranac Village at Will Rogers in Saranac Lake. These programs are free and open to the public. This first clinic is January 8th For more information, please call (518) 891-7117. The time for the free clinic is 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The dates for each clinic is below: January 8 February 5 March 5 April 9 May 7 June 4 July 9 August 6 September 3 October 1 November 5 December 3 Saranac Village at Will Rogers is a retirement community providing independent living for those 55 years or older. We offer three meals a day, weekly laundry and housekeeping, activities, transportation, maintenance, twenty-four hour staff, an emergency response system, heat, hot water and electricity. For more information on the services we provide and availability, please call (518) 891-7117.

January 2nd will kick off the beginning of ski racing at Mt Pisgah in Saranac Lake. Below are a list of scheduled events for those interested in ski lessons and races. January 2 = Candy Bar Races start Saturday at 10:15 @ Pisgah January 5 = NYSEF Race training is starting 5:30 @ Pisgah January 12 = Ski lessons at Mt Pisgah will start for the Tuesday - Thursday lessons. January 13 Ski lessons at Mt Pisgah will start for the Wednesday-Friday lessons. To register 4:30-5:30 arrive at least 1/2 hour early. Lessons start @ 5:30. Be on the hill ready to go at 5:30. January 17 = The Golden Ski Race

This New York Times article will show you what goes into the beef that is then sold to fast-food restaurants and the school lunch program. Just one more reason to buy local! According the article "government and industry records obtained by The New York Times show that in testing for the school lunch program, E. coli and salmonella pathogens have been found dozens of times in Beef Products meat, challenging claims by the company and the U.S.D.A. about the effectiveness of the treatment. Since 2005, E. coli has been found 3 times and salmonella 48 times, including back-to-back incidents in August in which two 27,000-pound batches were found to be contaminated. The meat was caught before reaching lunch-rooms trays."

TNot only will this December 31st be a day for throwing out the old and ringing in the new it also has the unusual status of commonly being known as a blue moon. Hopefully the prediction for snow won’t hamper anyone’s New Year eve festivities. Though 2010 will come regardless of the “ball dropping,” champagne, sparking cider or streamers. A popular belief is that the second Full Moon of the month is a "blue moon." A second moon in a month is a rare occurrence, every 2.72 years to be exact so if old sayings hold true if something is happening “once in a blue moon” it truly is an occasion for celebrating. Read more