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Adirondack Bowling: Saranac Lanes

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Bowling for Prizes I have never thought about bowling as something to do on the fly, go in for a quick game and leave. In my experience it has always been on outing. Romano’s Saranac Lanes has changed my opinion with all the various activities they have going on for children. Anyone wondering what to do with their children during school closings (snow days, conference days) may want to rethink bowling as an option where the special is $5.00 for two games and $1.00 for shoes. Though I am a huge fan of manual labor on school closings, I am sure my children would prefer to bowl. That said, there is also after school bowling from 3:00 -5:00 for the same $6. As far as my daughter is concerned bowling is all about the shoes. She does not care about the score on the screen or that her brother fist pumps with each pin down. She is there to see and be seen. Once again Romano’s Saranac Lanes has generously offered to hold another fundraiser. Twenty-four teams of five can sign up for the Nort

New York State Trivia: New York State Bird

Trivia: What is the New York State bird? Answer Here

Adirondack Youth Climate Summit Video

If you missed the live stream of the The Adirondack Youth Climate Summit that took place this past weekend at the Wild Center, please check out the video of the event. Workshops were scheduled throughout the two-day event pairing students with experienced personnel to inspire the 150 participants to come up with working models to green their schools and communities. Twenty high schools and six universities participated in this inaugural event. These institutions will serve as models in energy efficiency, sustainable energy usage, building maintenance, landscaping & grounds management, school & community garden planning, and how to affect the current science curriculum in schools. Read more

Lake Placid Center for the Arts presents Sleepy Hollow

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Did the rain or flu limit your ability to enjoy a bit of spooky happenings on Halloween? There is still an opportunity to continue the thrills and chills by seeing this year’s production of Sleepy Hollow, directed by Jessica Deeb. Based on the classic short story by Washington Irving, this musical pulls from a range of local child actors, ages five to fourteen. The story of Sleepy Hollow it takes place in 19th Century Dutch settlement of Tarrytown, NY where a gangly superstitious schoolmaster named Ichabod Crane comes to Sleepy Hollow looking for a wealthy wife. He meets Katrina Van Tassel whose brawny jealous boyfriend, Brom Bones, uses local stories to attempt to frighten off his rival. The townspeople further Crane’s fears with stories of the local ghost, the Headless Horseman. My daughter and I nip into the Lake Placid Center for the Arts for a quick preview. The Headless Horseman is sitting on stage waiting for the dress rehearsal to begin. She makes a beeline for my leg and peer

Adirondack Museums: The Ticonderoga Cartoon Museum

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My children greet Stan Burdick, director of the Ticonderoga Cartoon Museum like he is the cable man and just offered free access to unlimited channels. They look at me like I am the only thing holding them back from nirvana. I brought them here. It is not the same thing as blankly sitting in front of a television though I stop short of telling them that. I shush them off making sure they carefully maneuver through the aisles. This museum is the result of Stan Burdick’s 50-year collection of cartoon memorabilia. A political cartoonist himself, Burdick contributed to many local newspapers during his career. His work has been selected numerous times for the annual publication, “Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year” and in 1996 he won the New York Press Association Award for his editorial cartoon of Eliot Spitzer. The museum houses over 700 pieces of original art from mainstream cartoonists like Chuck Jones’ Bugs Bunny, Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, and Gary Trudeau’s Doonesbury to the m

Saranac Lake Ski and Skate Swap

It doesn’t happen that frequently so I want to take my bows when I can. In a clairvoyant moment I decided to get all the children’s winter gear out of storage to check for sizes. It was a bright sunny day and the youngsters huffed and puffed about having to wiggle into ski boots, helmets and snow pants. We made quick work of it and as much as I would like to squeeze another season out of the ski boots, my son’s feet just keep on growing. The children’s reaction to waking up to snow was so different from my own. They quickly got dressed and put on their winter gear. (Thank you very much, Clairvoyant Mom!) They threw a few soggy snowballs and attempted an angel. I on the other hand wonder why I can see only into my children’s future. I didn’t occur to me to grab a jacket for myself, let along hat and gloves. Now that I have organized my children’s gear and requested that the next growth spurt be in spring, I eagerly await the annual Ski and Skate Swap! Items need to be dropped off at the

Hiking with kids: Adirondack Family Time Tips

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Hiking with children does not have to be complicated. Below are a few tips to help you on your way. Check back as I am will be adding tricks as I learn them from my own children! Always remember the point is to have our children enjoy the outdoors. Learn from them and take our time. Sometimes the goal doesn't have to be getting to the top, its the journey along the way! Before you go! • Always check your gear before departing. • Dress in layers for the season. • Make sure you bring plenty of water for each person • Bring healthy snacks like GORP, granola bars, fresh or dried fruit • A first aid kit, flashlight and compass. • Be prepared to stop frequently. Autumn Hikes: • Bring rain gear no matter the weather. It can serve as a wind shield on top • Although trails are clearly marked, it is always best to carry a detailed map. • Hiking in late autumn can be tricky. Leaves can be wet and slippery and it is not unusual to experience small patches of ice. • Wear