Adirondack Family Time™

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

First Night® Saranac Lake is one of 130 events held around the world providing family-oriented, alcohol-free activities while showcasing arts and community. There is still plenty of time to get your First Night® button ($12 for adults). It can be purchased at Ampersound Music, Price Chopper Supermarket, Books & Baskets, Blue Line Sports, Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Saranac Lake Chamber of Commerce or Lake Placid Visitor Bureau . Children twelve and under are admitted free but need to display the First Night® button designed especially for them, which is to be available at all venues. For the rest of the post

The only manuscript known to exist from Charles Dicken's 1843 tale A Christmas Carol has been digitized. The original is housed in the Morgan Library and Museum in Manhattan. Readers unable to attend the showing of the original manuscript (through January 10) are able to flip from the handwritten version to the typed via a high resolution scan made possible by the New York Times . Read more

Looking for events between Christmas and New Year's? Here are some ideas: The Lake Placid Center for the Arts will host the Pendragon Theatre holiday production of "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!" on Dec. 26, 27, 28 and 29. All shows begin at 7:00 p.m. The Wild Center will be open for special holiday hours from Dec. 26 to Dec. 31, and on Jan. 2 and 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. See a movie at the Lake Placid Palace Theatre (518.523.9271) or Tupper Lake State Theatre (518-359-3593) Go to the Paul Smiths VIC to see a nature film, ski the trails or play with the touch table. Hours are from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Tuesday - Saturday, closed Christmas. The trail are open from dawn to dusk, every day of the year Join a pick-up game of hockey at many outdoor free skating rinks. Wear a helmet! Check out the Olympic venues Ski at Whiteface , Gore , Titus , Mt Pisgah or Big Tupper . Participate in First Night® Saranac Lake with activities, events, music, fireworks and food

Both Vermont and New York transportation officials said the demolition had to be rescheduled for December 28 at 10:00 a.m. due to ice forming on Lake Champlain and severely cold temperatures, which have delayed work preparing the bridge for demolition. In New York, two viewing areas will be available along the shore in Port Henry, about two miles west of the 80-year-old bridge. The main public viewing area is going to be the boat launch in Port Henry, N.Y., and an alternative area is the Bulwagga Bay Park in Moriah, N.Y. Read more