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Happy Friday! It seems to be sunny today, at least in Canton, and it looks like we may at least see sun for the next couple days to come. So hooray! Lots in the news today: I blogged earlier this week about Canton and Potsdam’s tentative...
Good Friday to you! (It’s not actually Good Friday, but I hope you’re having a good one.) Today in the news, North Country Congressman Bill Owens’ amendment to the $38.9 billion Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill...
Happy Monday! Sure, it’s cold and grey (at least here in Canton), but perhaps a lovely glass of North Country wine would help? David Sommerstein reports today on the growing industry (hearty grapes, people!), centered in Clinton County. We...
Newsflash for bird lovers: the Great Blue Herons are back on the nest at the Cornell webcam site. You can see the lovely big birds, hear the sounds of early spring at the Ornithology Lab (including the occasional heron honk and squawk) and follow...
It’s been a bit cold this week, but warmer days are on the horizon. Which means it’s time for things that herald summer, like boat shows. Here’s an article from the March issue of on-line magazine Thousand Islands Life about an...


Special Reports

trophy fish
Slideshow
Fishing on the St. Lawrence
Walleye and northern pike season opened the first Saturday in May. David Sommerstein spent a morning with two veteran guides.
Audio Slideshow
90 Miles by Canoe… in a Single Day
The 90-mile Adirondack Canoe Classic takes paddlers from Old Forge to Saranac Lake. Race organizer Brian McDonnell paddled the entire course in a single day—a journey he describes as the "90-mile cannonball."
Photo/Audio Essay
A Trek up Mt. Adams
A land deal will add thousands of acres to the state forest preserve, but it will almost certainly mean the removal of an antique fire tower that sits on Mt. Adams, near the town of Newcomb. Brian Mann made the climb.
Photo Audio Essay
Children's Camps in the Adirondacks
The Adirondack Museum opens today for the summer season. A major new exhibition looks at the history of the region's summer camps.
Photo/Audio Essay
Inside Dark Island's Castle
On the St. Lawrence River near Chippewa Bay, a representative for the buyers of Dark Island and its historic castle gave David Sommerstein a peek of what visitors could see as early as next summer.
Audio Slideshow
A Journey to Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
In the US Senate debate over the country's energy plan, New York's senators oppose plans to drill for oil in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Brian Mann spent a month in the Alaskan wilderness to research this half-hour documentary report.
Photo Audio Essay
A Hike Up the Red Sandstone Trail
David Sommerstein hikes a new trail under construction along the Raquette River near Potsdam.
Photo Audio Essay
Winter Camping in the Adirondack High Peaks
The Adirondacks' High Peaks can be a hard place to find peace and quiet during the busy summer months. Many people choose the winter to get their fix for solitude among New York's tallest mountains. Winter camping offers unique pleasures and sometimes, unexpected perils. Brian Mann and David Sommerstein got plenty of both on a late winter expedition to Lake Colden and Algonquin Peak.
Photo Audio Essay
Snow Art in St. Regis Falls
A team from Dickinson Center won the 2002 New York State Snow Sculpting Competition in St. Regis Falls yesterday. Jody Tosti, an NCPR Team sculptor, spoke with some of her rivals.
Photo Audio Essay
Rock Climbing in the Adirondacks
People climb looking for adventure and amazing views—and a deeper connection to the mountains. Brian Mann climbed Hurricane Crag during the peak of this year's leaf season.
Audio Slideshow
Ellen in Canyonland
NCPR Station Manager Ellen says there's nothing like fear to get her attention as she reports on what she did on her summer vacation.
Photo Audio Essay
Lake Champlain Maritime History, pt. 1
Wreck diving off Burlington with Brian Mann.
Photo Audio Essay
37th Annual Clayton Antique Boat Show
Thousands of people visited Clayton for the 37th annual Antique Boat show and auction—a chance to view St. Lawrence skiffs, launches and runabouts.
Photo Audio Essay
Discovering Adirondack Old Growth Forest
The Adirondacks are home to some of the East's largest Old Growth Forests. Martha Foley talks with a naturalist who spent part of this summer finding the towering trees.
DEC Commissioner Joe Martens, standing at left, is at the center of big debates shaping the Adirondack North Country. NCPR file photo
DEC Commissioner Joe Martens, standing at left, is at the center of big debates shaping the Adirondack North Country. NCPR file photo

DEC's Martens at center of big Adirondack debates

State conservation Commissioner Joe Martens is at the center of some of the biggest debates in the North Country.

Under Martens' leadership, the DEC has agreed to reopen the management plan for the rail corridor that runs through the Adirondack Park. He's also a key player in the planning process for tens of thousands of acres of former Finch Pruyn lands that are now being added to the Park's forest preserve.

As the session in Albany winds to a close Martens is also pushing hard to win approval in the state Assembly for a controversial land swap in Essex County. That deal would allow a company called NYCO to expand its mining operation onto state Park land. In exchange, NYCO would purchase roughly 1500 acres that would be added to the forest preserve.

Martens spoke about those issue with our Adirondack bureau chief, Brian Mann.  Go to full article
Young buds on a tomato plant. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/67176874@N00/314943248/">lord bute</a>, Creative Commons, some rights reserved

TLC for struggling tomatoes

Tomatoes love sun and warm temperatures. Both have been in very short supply this growing season, and there are more cool days and nights in this week's forecast. In their weekly conversation, Cooperative Extension horticulturist Amy Ivy tells Martha Foley the dreary-looking young tomato plants WILL flourish, once the weather changes, but it's important to do what you can to make sure they have some care and feeding in the meantime.  Go to full article
DEC Commissioner Joe Martens. Photo: Matt Ryan for Innovation Trail

State assembly to vote on Adirondack land swap

State Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens says he hopes the state Assembly will approve a land-swap deal for the Adirondacks that would help NYCO Minerals continue operating in the towns of Lewis and Willsboro.  Go to full article
Champlain's Ark, the new (and free) sewage collection boat. Photo: Sarah Harris

Lake Champlain's new waste boat

Lake Champlain is about to get a little cleaner. A new boat, a sort of waterborne honey-wagon that collects sewage from boaters' tanks, was christened yesterday in Burlington.  Go to full article
The Essex Chain of Lakes. The process is now underway to determine what kind of recreation and public use will be allowed. Photo: Carl Heilman, courtesy Adirondack Nature Conservancy

Historic Finch land hearings to begin

Correction: The broadcast version of this story and an earlier web version incorrectly stated that the public hearing would be Tuesday evening at 6 pm. In fact, it will...  Go to full article
A good layer of mulch keeps down weeds in the garden. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/92277165@N00/5968592587/">MyNrChimki</a>, Craetive Commons, some rights reserved

Getting the better of weeds

As the growing season kicks into gear, flowers and vegetables are in a race against weeds. And the weeds will win, unless the playing field is knocked askew by some timely...  Go to full article

This weekend in the Adirondacks

This is John Warren from the Adirondack Almanack with your look at outdoor recreation conditions around the Adirondacks for this weekend.  Go to full article
Adirondack Scenic Railroad train in Old Forge. Photo: Bradley O'Brien, CC some rights reserved

State to review Adirondack rail plan

State officials say they'll hold a public review of the management plan for the railroad corridor that stretches from Old Forge and Remsen through the heart of the...  Go to full article
Angler and TV personality Don Meissner is hoping thousands of people flock to the St. Lawrence this summer to catch bass like these. Photo courtesy St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce

Why this bass season could be the St. Lawrence River's biggest ever

New York's bass fishing season kicks off on June 15, and North Country tourism and business leaders are banking on it being the biggest ever.

They've lured one of...  Go to full article
William "Willie" Janeway took over as head of the Adirondack Council a month ago. Photo: Adirondack Council

New Adk Council leader looks to get back to Park basics

One of the state's top environmental officials is now leading one of the Adirondack Park's most influential green groups.

Willie Janeway took over as director of...  Go to full article

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