The Adirondacks

(02/07/12) Legislators haven't had a raise since 1999, and some, led by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, have said recently that it's about time.

But a new poll finds a majority of New Yorkers don't think giving the state's top politicians a pay raise is a good idea right now. Neither do some of the North Country's representatives at the Capitol. Martha Foley has more. more

(02/07/12) We continue our series, the Adirondack Attic, with Andy Flynn. You may know Andy from his series of Adirondack Attic books on local history. He uses the objects people make, use and leave behind to tell stories about the life and times of the region.

NCPR is collaborating with Andy and his sources at the Adirondack Museum and other historical associations and museums in the region to bring these stories to air. Today, we'll get the history and the back-story of Saranac Lake's Winter Carnival, and its famous Ice Palace.

(02/07/12) An investigation by news organizations, including the Associated Press, has found that soldiers from the French and Indian War weren't buried properly in the village of Lake George.

A formal burial ceremony was held in 1993 and the soldiers' skeletons were removed from a public area visited by tourists.

But researchers now acknowledge that most of the human remains were later shipped to Arizona and Canada for study.

At least twelve soldiers from the conflict that broke out between England, France and Native American nations in the 1700s are still being studied by scientists.

According to a report in the Albany Times-Union, some historians now say it's time for the remains to be returned to Lake George and buried.

(02/06/12) Neighbors of St. Joseph's Rehabilitation Center in Saranac Lake are concerned about plans for a new treatment facility for veterans struggling with substance abuse addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder.

St. Joseph's wants to change the zoning of a vacant, 3-acre parcel of land near its main campus to accommodate the 10,000-square foot veterans' community residence. But neighbors say the zoning change, and the uses and activities associated with the project, would impact the character of the mostly residential area.

As Chris Knight reports, the two sides met late last week to talk about a compromise. more

(02/06/12) River and stream rehabilitation is under way in communities hit hard by Tropical Storm Irene last year. But officials say a lot of work still remains to be done to put things right.

Lawmakers, local politicians and state officials joined state Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens in Keene Valley last week to inspect stream restoration work on Johns Brook.

Local works crews did emergency repairs immediately following Irene, but environmental specialists said additional work was needed to restore fish and wildlife habitats and protect against future flooding. Chris Morris went along for the inspection. more

(02/06/12) State officials say they hope to save endangered spruce grouse, one of the most iconic birds in the Adirondack Park. more

(02/03/12) Artists Matt Burnett and Scott Fuller are known for creating several large scale outdoor art installations from Long Lake to Canton in recent years. They're back again this winter, and despite a lack of deep snow, they've put together an outdoor show at SUNY-Potsdam that combines elements of winter, nature and projected images.

Matt Burnett, who lives in the Adirondacks, and his collaborator Scott Fuller, from Maine, used large snow sculptures as a canvas for video images in a large scale outdoor exhibit at St. Lawrence University last year. They worked on similar outdoor art projects in Saranac Lake and Long Lake.

They launched their outdoor "E-Fraction" show last night on the SUNY Potsdam campus. It will be illuminated nightly on campus through the middle of next week. Todd Moe has a preview. more

(02/03/12) Thursday was Groundhog day, and Punxsutawney Phil tells us there'll be six more weeks of winter.

But for the North Country, winter doesn't really seem to have started yet: rain instead of snow, temperatures that have often been unseasonably warm, and a real lack of snow.

Nora Flaherty put in a call to the National Weather Service. Meteorologist Brooke Taber says there a few things going on. First, the polar jet stream is farther north than usual, and so far this winter, the North Country has been on the warmer side of the air flow.

(02/03/12) Gov. Andrew Cuomo is scheduled to come to Plattsburgh this morning. He's bringing his budget message to the Warren Ball Room, in the Student Center at SUNY Plattsburgh at 10:30 am.

Senior Cuomo staffers have fanned out across the state to talk about the budget.
The state's top environmental official was in Lake Placid Wednesday afternoon.

Joe Martens, spoke to a small crowd of local politicians, tourism officials, government employees and business owners. Chris Morris has our story. more

(02/03/12) Winter carnivals fill the February calendar in the North Country. This year, continuing mild weather is proving a real challenge for towns whose annual winter festivals normally punctuate a cold, snowy season.

The WinterXcape Winterfest in Lowville was cancelled when heavy rains washed away most of their snow this week. But despite widespread rain and warm temperatures most festivals are still ago. Trevor Alford reports. more