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Showing posts with the label Franklin County

The Wild Center's Wild Walk: Let's Our Inner Child Come Out to Play!

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Tupper Lake's Wild Center is asking people to look and leap while relishing in its latest adventure, The Wild Walk. Part interactive nature center and part nature playground, The Wild Walk is a Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse adventure that has us crawling, swinging and grasping with childlike awe for all that our wild surroundings provide. It allows us to sit quietly in nature in benches or swing chairs or jump feet first into a giant spider's web.   A tree house, hollowed tree have interactive elements demonstrating the Adirondack natural environment The Wild Center in Tupper Lake has always been a "go to" spot for my family. Whether we go to a solar workshop to increase our green footprint, watch the otters frolic in their own waterpark or just relax at the natural playground, The Pines, each visit is a different experience. With extended family soon to visit, we get to share the latest wild expansion that is taking down the museum walls and  "tra

Keep Children Head Safe with Free Bike Helmets at the Bicycle Rodeo

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I wonder sometimes if I’m the only parent that thinks her children are hardheaded. My kids can be sassy and sweet then rapid fire my words back to me in one-line quips. I realize they get tired of “Safety Mom” and the other titles they so eloquently bestow upon me. The bottom line is as stubborn as they can something be, their heads are not truly hard. So to make sure children’s noggins stay safe numerous organizations in Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake have joined together to host their annual Bicycle Rodeos.  The Saranac Lake event takes place June 6 from 10 am – noon at the SL Civic Center, 22 Ampersand Ave while the Tupper Lake rodeo will be held June 13 from 10 am to 2 pm at LP Quinn School, Hosley Ave. The schedules of the two activities are similar with free bike obstacle course, bike raffle, free helmets, refreshments and bike repairs. Tupper Lake will also host Flutterbug the Clown, face painting, a bounce house and other games.  

Small Business Saturday in the Adirondack High Peaks

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Holiday shopping can be stressful, but I like to look at it as more like a treasure hunt. I want to find the ideal present. Around the Adirondacks many local merchants will be offering discounts and sales throughout Thanksgiving weekend. The wonderful thing is that these local businesses have handpicked each store item.  Here are a few things on my “To Do List.” Gift baskets are popular items for my extended family. I fill the baskets with local cheeses, Adirondack-made condiments, candles and maple products from Nori's Village Market and Green Goddess Natural Foods . I add packets of original notecards from artists at various galleries or Adirondack  made chocolates such as Barkeater Chocolate in North Creek, Adirondack Chocolates in Wilmington or Lake Placid Chocolatiers .    One family member enjoys complex puzzles and card games. A stop at Goody Goody’s or Imagination Station allows me the opportunity to talk with a person that has actually played the games and can a

"Pippi Longstocking: A Family Musical" Brings Adventure to Saranac Lake's Pendragon Theatre

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(Saranac Lake) This year’s Rising Star Productions has found a new home for its fall children's musical at Pendragon Theatre . Over 30 area kids will be on stage to dance and sing their way through the pages of the classic 1945 Swedish book series “Pippi Langstrump” by Astrid Lindgren. This family-friendly show is a fun kids' activity, appropriate for all ages. The book series was adapted for the stage by Sebastian and Staffan Gotestam and became “Pippi Longstocking: The Family Musical.” This two-act play is directed by McCayla Quinn and focuses on the free-spirited adventures of the red-haired, self-reliant character Pippi (played by Robyn Rutgers) who lives with her horse and pet monkey in the Villekulla Cottage while her sea captain father (Simon Thill) is out at sea. “There are all sorts of hijinks throughout the show,” says Quinn. “Pippi stops thieves from stealing her pirate gold. She takes over the circus where she is stronger than Mighty Adolf, the strongest

Camp Pendragon Theatre presents "Little Shop of Horrors"

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Camp Pendragon, in collaboration with   Pendragon Theatre , is hosting a special  presentation of “the musical "Little Shop of Horrors”" by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. Winner of a Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical,  Drama Desk Award for Best Musical, Outer Critics Circle Award  and Evening Standard Award for Best Musical, "Little Shop of Horrors" has become a cult phenomenon.   When “ a luckless florist shop worker, Seymour, starts raising a strange plant that feeds on human blood and flesh he starts becoming famous. Trying to impress Audrey, the woman he loves, Seymour keeps feeding the plant. (The musical is based on the low-budget 1960  black comedy  of the same name.) Chaos ensues as Seymour must find unorthodox ways to keep feeding his plant.    WHEN :  July 22 at 7 pm  and  July 23 at 1 pm WHERE : Pendragon Theatre in Saranac Lake, NY. COST :  $10 for Adults, $5 for Students

Tupperpalooza Warrior Run and Music Festival July 19

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You don't have to participate in the July 19 Tupperpalooza Warrior Run  at Big Tupper Ski Area to join in all the fun, but if you do here is the required information.  R EGISTER  EARLY AND SAVE! Individual: $50 Before 11:59pm on March 31, 2014 $55 Before 11:59pm on June 30, 2014 $60 Before 11:59pm on July 15, 2014 ( Online Registration Closes ) $70 Race Day Team: . (Today is the last day for online registration) $55 per person if registered before 11:59pm on July 15, 2014 ( Online Registration Closes ) $65 per person on race day Teams can be comprised on 3-10 people. All  members on the team will be eligible to compete as a team and as an individual. If you want to form a team, have your team captain sign up and form the team. Once the team is formed you can invite your friends, family, co-workers to join. Each individual member of the team will be responsible for their own entry fee. 15% Military Discount: for a ll active and retired military.  The Tupperpal

Saranac Lake: Bicycle Safety and Free Helmets at the Rodeo

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A bicyclists making a stop hand signal  Yippee-Ki-Yay, it’s time for the rodeo. Well, not all rodeos are with horse and cowpokes, folks. It’s the annual Bicycle Rodeo at the Saranac Lake Civic Center. It still calls for a bit of a “yeehaw,” but instead of riding wild bulls, children will use their own power to ride around traffic cones and avoid obstacles, in the form of other bicyclists.    Last year my daughter got a refresher course on bicycle hand signals and bicycle road rules. While other children chose to go around the course as fast as possible, she took her time. There is a sense of relief to watch my young child cautiously approach the stop sign while attempting to use a bicycle safety hand signal.  Police volunteers are there to help coach children with proper technique. For anyone needing a refresher course, a bicyclist is supposed to go with traffic, but stay close to the painted line on the right side of the road. Use the left hand for all directional signals

A Winter Cross-Country Ski to St. Regis Pond

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I’m not sure how it happened, but I didn’t get to ski as I much as I would have liked this winter. My snowshoes got plenty of use as did my Microspikes, but my skis have been completely neglected. To make up for lost time, we head for a quick ski along the Fish Pond trail to St. Regis Pond in Lake Clear. Accessing ponds and lakes in summer is sometimes a bit easier than finding a safe pullover to access the same trail in winter. With that in mind, we enter the trail just east of Kempton Rd on Route 30 in Lake Clear. As there is no dedicated parking on Rt. 30, we pull the car over, put on our gear and follow the ski tracks through the woods. We find that there is plenty of snow and the trails are well used.

Historic Saranac Lake presents Spring Event Series

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March 24:  Special Tour Marking World TB Day: Tour the grounds of the former Trudeau Sanatorium. Meet at 1 pm  inside the Park Avenue gates, where street parking is available. Tour is free of charge. Call  518-891-4606  to reserve a spot .  May 1: Daffest Walking Tour:  A walking historic tour will leave Riverside Park at 10:30 am  led by Director of Historic Saranac Lake, Amy Catania. Your group will stroll from Riverside Park along the shores of Lake Flower to the Bartok Cabin. $5/person, free to Historic Saranac Lake members. In May -- History Matters Seminar Series: We are planning our third annual spring seminar series, featuring topics of local history. Stay tuned for a schedule of talks. May 13:  Preservation Celebration: featuring workshop sessions on window preservation, the National Register and the rehabilitation tax credit program, followed by a hard hat tour of the Hotel Saranac. More details and registration information coming soon. Stay tuned to  hotelsaranac.

Adirondack Paintball Biathlon Series 2014

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No one has to wait for the Sochi Winter Olympics games to participate in an Olympic sport. Once again all young adults have an opportunity to be part of the Adirondack Paintball Biathlon.                                                        The entry is $10/event for the first six events ($5 for NYSEF, NPSC, ORDA Pathfinder, Dewey Mt and TLNS athletes). There is a $20 admission for anyone participating during the Grand Finale as part of the NYSEF Nordic Kids Festival on March 23.                                                Any child from 8-14 can register and compete in any or all of the 2014 Adirondack Paintball Biathlon Series. Any child competing in all seven events gets a free event t-shirt. No experience is necessary though each participant must have his/her own cross-country ski gear. Some kids race against each other while others just try to pull a personal best. Each race will vary depending on the location. Each venue will have a slightly different f

Streetcar Lecture Series at Pendragon Theatre in Saranac Lake

An exciting multi-media lecture series with scholar John Dileo will take place  on Sunday  afternoon July 14 th called “T. Williams and Company: His Essential Screen Actors” and  on Monday  evening July 15 th  entitled “Streetcar…is that you?: The On-Screen Imitators of William’s Masterwork”. Book signing will follow the lectures. John DiLeo  is the author of five books about classic movies: And You Thought You Knew Classic Movies!: 200 Quizzes for Golden Age Movie Lovers  (1999); 100 Great Film Performances You Should Remember But Probably Don’t  (2002);  Screen Savers: 40 Remarkable Movies Awaiting Rediscovery  (2007);  Tennessee Williams and Company: His Essential Screen Actors  (2010);  Screen Savers II: My Grab Bag of Classic Movies  (2012). John has presented his Tennessee Williams programs at the Williams festivals in Provincetown and New Orleans. You can follow him at his blog ( screensaversmovies.com ), website ( www.johndileo.com ), and on Twitter (@JOHNDiLEO).  

Daffest 2013 in Saranac Lake

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After packing away the skis, making mud pies through the spring season it is time to celebrate summer with Saranac Lake's Daffest.  In addition to all the activities below, don't forget to just take some time to explore all the parks around Saranac Lake and see the beautiful daffodils! Enjoy! Check frequently for changes in schedule:  April 26  1 pm Historic Tour through Riverside Park to Bartok Cabin ($5) 5:30 pm - 8 pm . Harriestown Hall.: Meet the soapbox derby contestants, taste free samples and vote on the pastry competition April 27  10 am - 3 pm: Festival of Blooms Riverside Park,  • Paul Smiths College baking students bring baked goods for sale and to sample • Merrilooms the clown will be on hand for face painting and balloon animals. • Blue Line Sports Shop will be holding fly and reel fishing demos and clinic. • Adirondack Lakes and Trails will be holding kayak, canoe demos and clinic. 11 am:  Daffest Derby Day at the George LaPan Highway in Saranac L

New Lodge at Titus Mountain Family Ski Center

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By Diane Chase, Adirondack Family Time Titus Mountain has six double chairlifts, two triple chairlifts, and two hand-tows serving 42 trails and two terrain parks.   The mountain has a history around skiing that started in the late 1940s when a local man built a rope tow on his property and powered it with an old Buick sedan. Neighbors and friends enjoyed the simple ski hill until it officially opened as a ski center in the early sixties as Moon Valley.  The Lodge at Titus Family Ski Center has been enlarged! 

Saranac Lake: Musicians Perform for Food Pantry

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Don't forget to help stop hunger at the 2nd annual North Country Food Pantry Benefit. Eleven musicians are donating their amazing talents for a free concert. Your cost is to bring a nonperishable food item or donation to the food pantry. Come and go! The concert (February 25) starts at noon and continues to 8:00 p.m. at the Saranac Lake Harrietown Town Hall. Help fight hunger! This year’s line-up is impressive. Drop by the Harrietstown Town Hall to see Cameron Anderson, Shamrock House Band, Theresa Hartford, Rustic Riders, Celia Evans, Eric and the Dutchman, Jamie Savage, Roy Hurd, Blind Owl Band and the Ruff, Good Daques Band. There will be refreshments available for purchase through Paul Smith’s College and SODEXO with all proceeds benefiting local food pantries. There will be another musical benefit in the spring to benefit the Tupper Lake Food Pantry. 

Schroon Lake to Lake Placid: Ten Ideas for Winter Activities

I am often sent emails from people looking for activities to do with children or family members of all ages. I am honored to be able to suggest ideas. (My email is below but do to very unpleasant spammers I can't make it a live link.) Below are a few ideas from Schroon Lake to Lake Placid, along the "Adirondack Lake Champlain Coast. Inside activities: These suggestions all have some sort of cost: pan for gems at High Falls Gorge  518-946-2278 , Wilmington (also beautiful trails, waterfall), paint your own pottery at Brush On In, Lake Placid    518.523.6554 , go to the Essex County Fish Hatchery in Crown Point (for a few quarters the kids can feed the fish)  518) 597-3844 .  Ice skating  gets tricky this time of year. We have had so many melts and freezes. Schroon Lake and Ticonderoga flood the tennis/basketball courts or by the beach for an outdoor ice rink but that is not currently available but the playground at the Schroon Lake public beach is fun.

The World of John Burroughs Lecture By Ed Kanze

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The World of John Burroughs by  Ed Kanze Saturday, January 14th  at 7:30 p.m. 

Adirondack Family Fun: Adirondack Movie Theaters

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By Diane Chase One thing we like to do is to enjoy a small intimate theatre experience. Not just live theatre, though that plays (no pun intended) a prominent role in our lives. No, it’s escaping for a few hours and going to “The Movies.” At one time many towns in the Adirondacks had their own movie houses. Sadly most have made way for the multiplex. Some theatres have retained their original architecture so the movie is not always the only thing to observe. Take a moment and enjoy a small slice of history. Each theatre offers a unique experience that a larger cineplex may not. These theatres are independently owned and operated and can offer a less expensive ticket price. 

Saranac Lake Home For the Holidays December Schedule (2011)

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Saranac Lake's 2nd annual Home For The Holidays is a weekend full of activities from marshmallow roasts, children's crafts, movies, Breakfast with Santa, snowman building contest and more. Enjoy this time to walk the streets of Saranac Lake, peek around and enjoy some family time!  

Saranac Lake: Pumpkin Fest To Benefit North Country Life Flight

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By Diane Chase* There are a lot of festivals that happen around this time of year, Harvest Fest, Oktoberfest and Pet Fests. What sets the North County Life Flight Pumpkin Fest apart is that this fundraiser benefits an organization that we all want to have available to us though we hope we will never require its services. This festival is a pay as you play type of event with plenty of activities for your money. It’s nicely set up in that you can choose what you or your children participate in. There are easy games of chance, pumpkin decorating, a hay ride and face painting. My favorite event is always the cake walk. Area restaurants and local chefs donate the cakes so you don’t have to worry about getting one of my lumpy cakes.  

Adirondack Family Activities: Wilder Homestead Harvest Fest Sept 24

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By Diane Chase My mother read all the Laura Ingalls Wilder books to me and I started the same tradition with my daughter. I thought as we read that we could duplicate the activities the Ingalls family was experiencing. Since we are not pioneers or living a homestead life I quickly realized that my attempt at a summer full of fun activities was getting complicated right from the start when “Pa” built a log cabin. We did collect sticks and attempt to notch them to comprise a log dollhouse. We eventually had to skip the house to continue to the story and enjoyed some homemade bread. Most people have heard of the “Little House” books that preserved a personal account of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s frontier life. Translated into over 40 different languages, the Laura Ingalls Wilder series glimpses into a time that has disappeared but that clearly demonstrates how settlers like the Ingalls and Wilder families built our country.