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Ausable Forks: Asgaard Farms Kidding Season

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By Diane Chase,  Spring break may be starting for area schools but this is a busy time of year for Rhonda Butler and David Brunner, owners of Asgaard Farm and Dairy. Once owned by illustrator, printmaker and artist Rockwell Kent, the property, designed by Kent, has remained mostly unchanged.   Since March 9 over 62 baby goats (kids) have been born with more expected during the week of March 31-April 5. I talked with Rhonda at length about the spring births and was delighted to find out there are many opportunities to visit the kids and even attend a birth. The goats at Asgaard are breed through their natural cycle. Though larger dairies use artificial light to manipulate the goats to breed off-season, Asgaard continues to follow the natural season. 

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

FREE showing of Oscar nominated movie LINCOLN at the Whallonsburg Grange Hall

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To celebrate their 10th anniversary, The Champlain Valley Film Society is screening a FREE showing of the Oscar nominated film Lincoln at The Grange in Whallonsburg LINCOLN Saturday,  April 27, 8.00 pm Whallonsburg Grange Hall Oscar winner as this year’s Best Actor, Daniel Day-Lewis stars in one of the most acclaimed movies of the year, Steven Spielberg’s deeply moving story about Lincoln’s fight to abolish slavery and unite our nation. Other movie shows:  May 11  SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK May 25FORT APACHE by Westport director Addison Mehr

Living Able Series with Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts, Blue Mountain Lake

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All performances of HONK are open to the public and will be held at the Long Lake Central School Auditorium. The Saturday, April 13 performance will take place at 7 pm while the Sunday, April 14 performance will take place at 2 pm. Tickets are available for $10 general admission.  This year’s performance of HONK is loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen's "The Ugly Duckling.” Watch while the strange-looking duckling “Ugly” goes on a quest to find his real mother after being lured away by a sneaky Cat. Ugly encounters some hardship but also encounters friendship and love.   Previous performances for the LIVING ABLE Series have been A Year With Frog and Toad , Rockin’ To OZ and You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown . The LIVING ABLE SERIES provides  workshops and performance  opportunities for individuals  with disabilities and Sunmount  Staff at the Sunmount location  in Tupper Lake, the Arts Center  in Blue Mountain Lake and  other off-site locations.

Puppet Show April 13 in Keene

Looking for a fun activity for your little ones! Join the faculty of The Lakeside School at the Belden Noble Library, Essex on Saturday April 13 at 11 am and the Keene Valley Library at 4 pm.  Come see the puppet show, have a chance to meet the puppets and the teachers, and have a snack.  This event is free.   Lakeside  School  is a birth - 2nd grade  school  based on the Waldorf philosophy on a working farm in Essex, NY.   Date: Saturday, April 13th Location: Belden Noble Library, Essex, NY Time: 11:00a.m. Location: Keene Valley Library, Keene Valley, NY Time: 4:00p.m.

April 9 is Ben and Jerry's FREE Cone Day

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Free Cone Day is on April 9th! So, make  sure you swing by one of Ben and Jerry's   participating Scoop Shops  and grab yourself a FREE cone.  Free Cone Day is something Ben & Jerry's has been doing since 1979 when Ben and Jerry celebrated their first year of business!  Ben and Jerry wanted to thank everyone for their support in the best way they knew how; with free ice cream! Once again this year they’re giving away plenty of classic flavors as well as some of the new flavors like Candy Bar Pie and Liz Lemon Greek Frozen Yogurt. Needing to locate a participating Scoop Shop near you? No problem - just head to the  Scoop Shop Locator !   © Diane Chase is the author of the Adirondack Family Activities™ guidebook series, Adirondack Family Time™, which is available online or bookstores/museums/sporting good stores. Diane is currently working on the third guidebook in the four-book series of Adirondack Family Activities™.

Saratoga PLAN: (Land and Nature) Trail Network

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Being active is an important part of family time. Sometimes all it takes is a walk around the block after dinner to unwind from a stressful work and school day. It doesn't take a huge event to turn off the television, go for a walk and really listen to what is happening with your family.  There are many places to go around Saratoga Springs. Saratoga PLAN (Preserving Land and Nature) has been working over time to provide a variety of wilderness locations to allow everyone to get out and enjoy nature.  In summer 2012 the 63-acres Coldbrook Preserve was added to the Saratoga PLAN list.  In addition to wildlife protection, the preserve will provide opportunities for walking, hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing for area residents and connects land owned by The Nature Conservancy, Saratoga County Forest, and Wilton Wildlife Preserve. Look for Blanding's turtle, a New York State threatened species. This preserve will provide critic space for its wetland habitat.