Adirondack Family Time™

By Diane Chase For the 2 nd  year Amusements of America will be coming to Tupper Lake between stops at the Saratoga and Franklin County Fair. In case anyone is wondering about these traveling fairs, Saratoga County Fair (held in Ballston Spa) is one of the oldest fairs in New York State and still organized by the Saratoga Agricultural Society while the Franklin County Fair (held in Malone) is run by the Franklin County Agricultural Society and has continued to provide this annual event for over 150 years. Now the Tupper Lake Lions Club has gotten into the carnival game. From July 27-31 at the Tupper Lake Municipal Park there will be an assortment of carnival rides for children of all ages, from rides for small children to something the parents can share like the Ferris wheel, merry-go-round or the “dizzy dragon.” I can’t tell you what the last one is because when I spoke with Maurice from Amusements of America it sounded like he was on the Ferris Wheel at Saratoga County Fair. He ass

By Diane Chase There is always a lot of conversation about invasive species in the Adirondack Park. These prolific plants, animals and insect crowd out native plants. Purple Loosestrife is a hardy perennial that was brought to North American by settlers as early as the 1800s as a  medicinal plant to treat such ailments as ulcers, diarrhea, and dysentery.   Without a natural predator the plant chokes out native wetland plants (especially cattails) How does it affect other plants?  1) Its rootball grows in a tangled mass that chokes out other native plants. 2) A single plant can produce as many as 3 million tiny seeds. 3) It is aggressive and grows by root and seed making it nearly impossible to eradicate. What eats Purple Loosetrife?  The golden loosestrife beetle (Galerucella pusilla) is being introduced into the Adirondack Park in hopes to help control this wetland invasive. Thankfully extensive research shows that the beetle will not become a different issue to deal wit

FRIDAY ADIRONDACK FARMERS' MARKETS ESSEX COUNTY Elizabethtown - Behind the Adirondack History Center Museum.  Adirondack Farmers' Market    Fridays, June through October, 9 am-1 pm HERKIMER COUNTY Old Forge - Park Ave., behind the Old Forge Hardware Store Fridays, June - October  3-6 pm WARREN COUNTY Warrensburgh - Warrensburgh Mills historic district, River Street (NYS Rte. 418) near Curtis Lumber. Fridays, May through October  3 -6 pm Bolton Landing - Behind Town Hall Fridays: June - September 9 am - 2 pm 

Ebony Jewelwing Adirondacks For Kids: Be a Bug Detective while you are playing outside or along a nature hike and look for this damselfly known for its bright body and black wings. It can be seen buzzing about usually during the summer months of July and August.  The Ebony Jewelwing is a type of damselfly. This bug eats large quantities of aphids, flies, mosquitos and other insects! Just the type of outdoor friend we like to have. Not only is this little creature beautiful but very helpful.  That said, it also is a meal for birds, dragonflies and bats. Well, we all can't be at the top of the food chain. 

Thursday Adirondack Farmers’ Markets Clinton County CVPH Plattsburgh Thursday - 75 Beekman Street,  Thursdays, June - September  11am - 2 pm  Essex County Willsboro - Across from the old Mountain View restaurant on Rte. 22. Thursdays, June through September 9 am-1 pm Hamilton County Long Lake - Corner of Rte. 30 and South Hill Road across from post office. Thursdays, June through September 10 am -2 pm   Speculator - Located at the pavilion in Speculator Thursdays, June through September 3-6 pm  Warren County North Creek - Next to the train on the Hudson River on Railroad Place. northcreekfarmersmarket.com
 Thursdays, June through October 2-6 pm  Diane Chase is the author of Adirondack Family Time: Tri-Lakes & High Peaks (Your Four-Season Guide to Over 300 Activities) 

Loon Lake Live! is a FREE classical chamber music and interactive series that continues to bring beautiful music to the Adirondack High Peaks area. Situated in Loon Lake in Franklin County, New York.  These professional musician want to share their love of music with the North Country.  This is the 15th season for Loon Lake Live!. Enjoy one or all of the various concerts that will take place around Loon Lake, Saranac Lake and Lake Placid this summer.  Loon Lake Live!  2011 - Our 15th Season Concert Set 1: Location and DateSunday 7/24, 7:30 pm Loon Lake Jewish Center Monday 7/25, 7:30 pm John Black Memorial Room Historic Saranac Lake Laboratory 89 Church St., Saranac Lake PerformersStephen Redfield, violin Aaron Packard, violin Catherine Beeson, viola Lori Lax, viola Sara Fierer, cello Debra Sherrill, french horn 

By Diane Chase Charlie’s Inn in Lake Clear is going to become a hub of activity this weekend, July 16-17, in celebration of the Lake Clear Junction Station Centennial. Inside the beautifully preserved Lake Clear Junction Station Depot is an exact miniature replica of the Lake Clear Depot and surrounding houses, circa 1911.  To commemorate the event will be a variety of vendors, events and activities meticulously planned by Betsy and Wayne Tucker. The building has some stories to tell. My daughter and I are able to gather just tidbits of the momentous era when train travel provided possibility to the Adirondacks. Historic Saranac Lake, Paul Smith’s College and over 15 other vendors will be around to demonstrate the elements that brought together Dr. William Seward Webb, Paul Smith, stagecoaches, an electric railway, NY Central Railway and settling the Adirondacks. There will be authors to meet, Adirondack Carousel carvings to see and a Pendragon Theatre historical interpretation.

By Diane Chase The Clinton County Fair will take place this year from July 19-24, 2011 with a variety of Grandstand events, This annual county fair is located at 8 4 Fair Grounds Rd in Morrisonville , just outside of Plattsburgh. In its 64th year, the Clinton County Fair  One special treat will be the 1966 Batmobile on display all week at the Clinton County Fair in Building One.  Sometimes going to a fair can be a drain on your finances. Save money by checking out the schedule to see the various specials and discounts being offered.  A Megapass is another way to save money. It is good for any one day at the fair and includes admission and rides all day. The catch: It's only on sale until July 18 at Price Chopper (Plattsburgh & Champlain) or at the Fair Office. (Save an additional $1 if you use your Advantage Card )

Seagle Colony presents "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" By Diane Chase Twenty-nine years and still going strong, the Ticonderoga Festival Guild continues to provide weekly children’s programming under the name Arts Trek. Each Wednesday morning at 10:15 a.m. Ticonderoga Arts Trek holds court at the Knights of Columbus Pavilion, behind the K of C Hall on Montcalm, for anywhere from 200 to 250 children. According to Executive Director Cathie Burdick the program name Arts Trek originated in the 80s and is an anagram of the then popular TV show Star Trek.

FREE YOUNG  and FUN ARTS SERIES schedule At the Lake Placid Center for the Arts auditorium 10:30AM • FREE ADMISSION Seating is First-Come, First-Serve. Doors Open at 10:00 a.m. No General Reservations July 13 • Billy Goats Gruff Seagle Music Colony This charming intro to opera retells the classic fairy tale story. Adapted by John Davies and featuring music from operas by Mozart, Donizetti and Rossini. Appropriate for ages 5 and up. July 20 • Vermont Singer / Songwriter Jon Gailmor Songs to make people feel alive! Humans prenatal through prehistoric will enjoy a great blend of music from this multi-award winning Vermonter. Humor and audience involvement are integral parts of this fun show!

The 6th annual Childstock Music Festival  is not only a day of acoustic and electric music it is a family-friendy event for all ages!! The day starts at and is filled with music from "The Stone Revivial Band" to "Lucid."   Doors open at 10:00 a.m, July 30, 2011 Tickets are $18 (presale) adults, $15/students,  Children 12 & under are FREE when accompanied by a paying adult.  $22 tickets at the "door"    Childstock is a charity event, donating all profits to the Malone Music Booster, dedicated to keeping music in schools! They are also supporting local food and beverage vendors.  Children's activities will be available from 11am-3pm, including: ~Recycled & Biodegradable Art~ tables FULL of things from nature to make beautiful art with ~Wishboat Workshop~ build your own boat and set sail with a special wish! ~Painting & Coloring ~ express yourself with markers, crayons & paints!

By Diane Chase If you have not eaten at Eat N' Meet  139 Broadway in Saranac Lake, you are missing an experience. The food is deliciously prepared by Chef John Vargo from mostly Adirondack locally grown or harvested products. Check the reviews yourself! With a motto of "It's Not Fast, It's Food," Eat N' Meet offers a daily menu that alters between the standard (yet still delicious) Mac N' Cheese to more complex options like Chicken coq au vin or Blackened Catfish.

Red Baneberry can be founded in wooded areas and thrives in full shade Plant is 1'-2' height White flowers that flower from May - June Berries start to form and show in July - August WARNING: Berries are poisonous © Diane Chase, author of  Adirondack Family Time: Tri-Lakes and High Peaks (Your Four-Season Guide to Over 300 Activities)  available  online  or bookstores/museums July 2011. Diane is currently working on the second guidebook in the proposed four book series of Adirondack Family Activities.