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NCPR News Staff: Chris Knight
Adirondack Correspondent
Chris Knight Chris Knight is a senior staff writer for the Adirondack Daily Enterprise in Saranac Lake. Before joining the Enterprise, Chris was the news director for Mountain Communications, which owns several Saranac Lake radio stations, for eight years. Chris works for North Country Public Radio as an occasional contributing reporter.Away from work, Chris enjoys hiking, skiing, kayaking and just about anything else in the outdoors. He and his wife Kate-Lyn live in Saranac Lake and have two children. E-mail
Stories filed by Chris Knight
Adirondack Health has proposed converting its around-the-clock emergency room in Lake Placid to a 12-hour urgent care center as a cost-cutting move. Photo: Mark Kurtz
Would a part-time ER be good enough for Lake Placid?
Jun 19, 2013 — Legislation proposed in Albany would let Adirondack Health run a part-time emergency room in Lake Placid.
The plan is seen as a possible compromise between a hospital looking to cut costs and a community wanting to keep its ER. But the state nurses' association has condemned the proposal. Go to full article
The plan is seen as a possible compromise between a hospital looking to cut costs and a community wanting to keep its ER. But the state nurses' association has condemned the proposal. Go to full article
Ann Melious, Hamilton County's economic development and tourism director argued for more of the Finch lands to be classified as wild forest, allowing more kinds of recreation. (Photo: Mark Kurtz)
Hearings underway for Park's new Finch Pruyn lands
Jun 14, 2013 — This weekend, the state will open up portions of two recently-acquired former Finch, Pruyn and Co. timberlands in the central Adirondacks. That will mean more places to go in the Park for paddling, hiking and fishing. The access is temporary as the Adirondack Park Agency works to come up with a classification plan for the lands.
That process formally got under way this week when the APA hosted the first of eight public hearings scheduled around the state. Environmentalists are pushing for the new lands to be protected as wilderness, while sportsmen and local government officials want to see more opportunities for public access to the lands. Go to full article
That process formally got under way this week when the APA hosted the first of eight public hearings scheduled around the state. Environmentalists are pushing for the new lands to be protected as wilderness, while sportsmen and local government officials want to see more opportunities for public access to the lands. Go to full article
Adirondack Health has proposed converting its around-the-clock emergency room in Lake Placid to a 12-hour urgent care center as a cost-cutting move. Photo: Mark Kurtz
Adk. Health holds off on Lake Placid ER conversion
May 31, 2013 — Adirondack Health's Board of Trustees has postponed a decision on whether to convert the emergency room at its Lake Placid hospital to an urgent care clinic. In an email to the organization's staff Thursday night, Adirondack Health CEO Chandler Ralph said a decision will be put off for another 60 days to allow for additional study. And some stakeholders are calling for an independent review of the proposal. Go to full article
The Point.
Luxury Adirondack retreat in foreclosure
May 28, 2013 — One of the Adirondacks' most luxurious resorts is in foreclosure. The owners of The Point on Upper Saranac Lake defaulted on a multi-million dollar loan they used to buy the property.
A court appointed official is running the resort while the foreclosure proceedings are pending. And The Point's manager says the resort will continue to operate as normal, for now. Go to full article
A court appointed official is running the resort while the foreclosure proceedings are pending. And The Point's manager says the resort will continue to operate as normal, for now. Go to full article
The view from the Loon Lake golf course. Photo: Adirondack Daily Enterprise - Lou Reuter
Another big Adirondack real estate development?
May 17, 2013 — Adirondack Park Agency officials have been meeting with a company looking to develop a large resort around Loon Lake, in Franklin County. Loon Gulf Inc. owns 2,800 acres, including the former Loon Lake Golf Course, which closed 10 years ago.
At this point, though, the company's representatives say they're just testing the waters at this point and have no immediate plans for the property. Go to full article
At this point, though, the company's representatives say they're just testing the waters at this point and have no immediate plans for the property. Go to full article
OK Slip Falls in summer. Photo: C. Heilman, courtesy Adirondack Nature Conservancy
Adirondack Park Agency will hear from public on how to use new lands
May 13, 2013 — The Adirondack Park Agency has drafted seven options for classifying 47,000 acres of state land in the central Adirondacks, including the first phase of former Finch, Pruyn and Co. timberlands acquired by the state.
The options range from mostly wilderness, the most restrictive state land classification where motorized vehicles are prohibited, to wild forest, where more opportunities for public access and recreation are allowed.
The APA board voted Friday to host a series of public hearings on the proposals. Go to full article
The options range from mostly wilderness, the most restrictive state land classification where motorized vehicles are prohibited, to wild forest, where more opportunities for public access and recreation are allowed.
The APA board voted Friday to host a series of public hearings on the proposals. Go to full article
Adirondack Health CEO Chandler Ralph, center, at a public meeting May 1 on the proposed conversion of the Adirondack Medical Center-Lake Placid emergency room to an urgent care center, held at Lake Placid Center for the Arts. Stan Urban, left, is chair of Adirondack Health's Board of Trustees; to the right is Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Broderick. Photo: Chris Knight via Adirondack Daily Enterprise
Plan to close Lake Placid ER faces harsh criticism
May 08, 2013 — Adirondack Health will host the second of two public meetings tonight on a controversial plan to convert the emergency room at its Lake Placid hospital to an urgent care center.
At the first meeting last week, representatives of the Saranac Lake-based hospital faced a hostile crowd. Many people said the change would leave the community vulnerable and put a strain on the emergency medical service system. Adirondack health officials say a decision could come at the end of the month. Go to full article
At the first meeting last week, representatives of the Saranac Lake-based hospital faced a hostile crowd. Many people said the change would leave the community vulnerable and put a strain on the emergency medical service system. Adirondack health officials say a decision could come at the end of the month. Go to full article
Adirondack Health Chief Senior Services Officer Marc Walker talks with Uihlein Living Center resident Peggy Forkey at the Lake Placid nursing home in November of last year. Photo: Chris Knight via Adirondack Daily Enterprise
Can the North Country make nursing homes work?
May 03, 2013 — Many nursing homes around the state are seeing big financial losses, and the situation is the same, if not worse, here in the North Country.
That's sparked a dialogue in the last few months among the region's long-term care leaders about ways they can partner, share services or even consolidate under one organization. Leaders of at least eight to 10 of the region's nursing homes have been involved in these talks.
Some long-term care advocates believe North Country nursing homes are at a tipping point. Go to full article
That's sparked a dialogue in the last few months among the region's long-term care leaders about ways they can partner, share services or even consolidate under one organization. Leaders of at least eight to 10 of the region's nursing homes have been involved in these talks.
Some long-term care advocates believe North Country nursing homes are at a tipping point. Go to full article
Photo: Courtesy of the Adirondack Daily Enterprise.
Why some North Country parents want kids to boycott state tests
Apr 17, 2013 — Students in grades three through eight across New York sat down Tuesday for the first of six days of state standardized tests in English and math. But not every student showed up to take the tests.
The parents of some children who oppose the state's increased use of standardized testing are refusing to let their kids take the assessments. The boycott is also tied to tougher education standards the state is implementing this year. Go to full article
The parents of some children who oppose the state's increased use of standardized testing are refusing to let their kids take the assessments. The boycott is also tied to tougher education standards the state is implementing this year. Go to full article
Beekmantown High School Principal Diane Fox will take over July 1 as the next superintendent of the Saranac Lake Central School District. Photo: Chris Knight, via Adirondack Daily Enterprise
Incoming SL school super: the problem is money
Apr 02, 2013 — Many school districts in the North Country face cutting staff and programming in order to trim their budgets and stay under the state's property tax cap. Some are showing signs of serious financial stress.
Just last month, Tupper Lake School District leaders said the district could become insolvent and may have to close its doors in a few years unless it gets more state aid.
Neighboring Saranac Lake Central is struggling to find a way to preserve its core programs while closing a more than $1 million budget gap.
The district recently hired a new superintendent, Diane Fox, who said working within its budget constraints will be her biggest challenge. Go to full article
Just last month, Tupper Lake School District leaders said the district could become insolvent and may have to close its doors in a few years unless it gets more state aid.
Neighboring Saranac Lake Central is struggling to find a way to preserve its core programs while closing a more than $1 million budget gap.
The district recently hired a new superintendent, Diane Fox, who said working within its budget constraints will be her biggest challenge. Go to full article
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St. Lawrence University, Canton,
New York 13617 • phone: 1-877-388-6277 • email
radio@ncpr.orgNCPR is a proud affiliate of:
NPR • American Public Media • Public Radio International
