NCPR News Staff: Martha Foley
News and Public Affairs Director

The state Supreme Court has overturned a ruling that could have cost local governments in the Adirondacks more than $70 million a year. Martha Foley has more.

Martha Foley and horticulturist Amy Ivy talk about cleaning out the vegetable garden, planting garlic bulbs and putting the perennials to bed for the winter.

Political junkies in Canada last night had to choose which debate to watch, the much-anticipated Palin-Biden match up, or the English language debate for the leadership race in the Canadian Federal Election. Martha Foley has more.

Democrat Michael Oot is running for Congress in the 23rd district of New York. Oot was born in Colorado but grew up in central new York. He and his wife Ann live in Stockbridge in Madison County with their combined family of five children. He's been president of his local school board, and representative to the New York State School Boards Association, as well as to New York's Rural Schools Conference. Oot is an attorney with offices in East Syracuse and Sherrill.

He says his career as a worker's compensation lawyer has taken him to courts across the district—Utica, Oswego, Auburn, Canton and Watertown—representing primarily lower and middle income people who've suffered illness or injury at work, including miners at Gouverneur Talc, St. Joe Minerals, the Zinc Company of America, Loomis Talc, and J and L. He's challenging incumbent Republican Congressman John McHugh in a district with a line of GOP representation that goes back generations. He spoke with Martha Foley late last week.

Horticulturist Amy Ivy has tips for gardeners wanting to expand next year’s garden. She spoke with Martha Foley.

Martha Foley talks with St. Lawrence University astronomer Jeff Miller about spotting the space station and other bright lights in the night sky.

One of St. Lawrence County’s best known cheese brands is about to disappear. Heritage cheeses and cheese curds are big sellers at local stores and quick-marts. But they didn’t sell well enough to keep Heritage out of the red. The plant in Heuvelton was losing $3,000 a week. It owes almost $200,000 in public loans. Heritage Cheese House will stop accepting milk Friday night. Fifteen people will lose their jobs. All the milk comes from Amish farms. Amish dairy farmers can’t join regular milk co-ops because they don’t use on-site refrigeration. The number of farms selling milk to Heritage dwindled in recent years, from more than a hundred to 65. Lowell McAllister is chairman of the Heuvelton Community Irrevocable Trust, which manages the plant for the Amish. The plant was founded in 1994. It closed briefly in 2006. He told Martha Foley Friday that this time, the shutdown is final.

The financial crisis has turned attention away from the presidential campaign. It’s also added urgency and meaning to the electoral choices the country faces in just six weeks. Barack Obama and John McCain are still locked in a close battle. There are tough contests for Congress and the New York’s legislature here in the North Country. Brian Mann is reporting on air and now blogging about the political season. He joined Martha Foley this morning during The 8 O'clock Hour.

Today marks the start of fall in the North Country. But that doesn't mean the end of the growing season. Martha Foley talks with horticulturist Amy Ivy about late summer goodies from the garden and extending the season with "high tunnels".

A deal for the Follensby Pond acquisition has been sought by environmental groups, paddlers and hikers for a long time. Martha Foley talked with Phil Brown, editor of the Adirondack Explorer magazine, about the significance of the purchase, and local reaction. He said local concerns focus on property tax revenue (which could increase) and public access.