Adirondack Family Time™

By Diane Chase July 2 Essex: fireworks at Beggs Park at dusk July 3 Minerva: July 3: fireworks at dusk Tupper Lake: July 3: fireworks at dusk at the Municipal Park Saranac Lake : Kiddie Parade (10:00-11:00 am starts at St. Bernard's Church) Hague: July 3: fireworks at 9 p.m. Westport:July 3: fireworks at Lee Beach 9:30 p.m. Lake George: July 3: fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Jay: July 3: 9:00 p.m. North Creek: Fireworks at dusk at North Creek Bowl July 4 Lake Placid: July 4: fireworks at Mirror Lake Beach 9:45 pm - 10:05 p.m. Saranac Lake: July 4: Summerfest, Fireworks: 9:00 p.m. Inlet: July 4: fireworks over Fourth Lake: (rain date July 5) at dusk Long Lake: July 4: fireworks 9:30 p.m. Indian Lake: July 4: fireworks at dusk Byron Park Old Forge: July 4: fireworks at dusk at Lakefront North Creek: July 4: fireworks at dusk Plattsburgh: Fireworks will be set off at dusk downtown near Macdonough Monument Rouses Point: July 4 at dusk: all day festival with parade and BBQ, live music Bolton

By Diane Chase Watching the Lake Placid Horse Show may be intimidating for anyone without a background in Show Jumping but don't let inexperience allow a wonderful event to pass by. (My horse experiences consist of trail rides on only the oldest and most gentle animals.) For a dollar you can take a walking tour and learn the ins and outs of jumping. The Lake Placid Horse Show Association offers weekday in-depth visits behind the scenes of the grounds. The tour meets in the vendor section of the horse grounds. Read More

By Diane Chase Though it seems against the whole idea of summer vacation and getting outside, children can become Web Rangers and learn about all the various National Parks. It is an opportunity to experience all the National Parks, Monuments and Historic Sites from the comfort of your own home. By all means, this is no substitute for a nature hike and being active. It is a nice learning experience under the guise of a rainy day activity . Choose from over 50 activities that allow children ages 8-16 to learn more about each of our national parks. There is even an opportunity to get a WebRanger patch. A sampling of activities are People – Decode Washington's secret messages. History – Travel the seas in 1812 on a Navy war ship Nature – Read a map to figure out the quest. Puzzles – Go on a website scavenger hunt Science – Match dinosaurs to their diet. Parks – Play “Alpha Codes." Animals - Guess the animals in your parks We choose to set a limit on how much com

By Diane Chase New York State (NYS) Free Fishing Days will commence this weekend, June 25-26. This annual event started in 1991 as a chance for anyone to attempt fishing. This year the licensing fee has increased so this weekend will be a good opportunity to either introduce someone to fishing or take advantage of a free weekend. NYS isn’t giving much away for free so why not take advantage and relax by a stream or on a pond, casting for some of the various strains of stocked breed and wild catch. Read More

Fighter planes and dogfights are just part of the program for the Plattsburgh Radio Aeromodelers (PRAM) this weekend at Memorial Field in Beekmantown. For the 8th consecutive year this radio controlled air show will be raising funds for Hospice of the North Country. On average the event draws 24-50 pilots who in turn bring anywhere from 6-24 planes. The sky will be awash with replica WWII radio-controlled planes like the Spitfire, P51 Mustang, B25 Mitchell, F6F Hellcat as well as a few jets aircrafts and other more recent models. The two-day event is just a chance to introduce people to the radio control flying hobby. This event is not a competition but a fun opportunity to see the machines in action and get a chance to perhaps even fly one. That is what got my children’s attention when I mentioned wanting to attend. To be surrounded by interesting model planes is fun but getting a chance to take the controls is raising the bar to a whole new level. The last time we went to a model a

Celebrating its 10th anniversary the Lake Placid Film Forum is showcasing women in the film industry, new directions in filmmaking and an environmental “green” focus in additional to its annual tribute to silent film. Opening night on June 10th will be a bargain for families at $10 for two Buster Keaton movies and a foreign short “Salim Baba.” The Keaton films will show his career in reverse starting with the 1965 “Railrodder” with a Q&A with the film’s director Gerry Potterton then segue to the 1924 silent film “Sherlock Jr.” Read More

Yuck, the UnHappy Meal! McDonald's is recalling 12 million Shrek drinking glasses because the design contains cadmium. Cadmium is extremely toxic and is used in producing batteries and other products. According to a New York Times piece, "Walt Riker, a McDonald’s spokesman , said that 12 million glasses were intended for distribution in the United States and that about 7.5 million had gotten into the hands of consumers. He said the company would refund the $2 purchase price to consumers and that the company would provide information on its Web site next Tuesday on how to return the glasses.