Sep 19, 2008 — 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.  Go to full article

Sep 04, 2008 — For years, environmentalists, along with some canoers and kayakers, have urged state officials to limit motorboats in the Adirondacks. The so-called "Quiet Waters" campaign would affect a dozen lakes and rivers from Weller Pond near Saranac Lake, to Eighth Lake near Old Forge. This summer, New York's Department of Environmental Conservation announced that it would create an inter-agency task force to review the proposal. In a statement, DEC commissioner Peter Grannis said there are "too few places in the Adirondacks where paddlers can experience the tranquility of a motorless water body." Local leaders and NYS Senator Betty Little quickly condemned the plan, arguing that paddlers already enjoy plenty of options. Brian Mann sat down this week to talk in-depth with Dick Beamish, the man who launched the Quiet Waters campaign eight years ago. Beamish, who lives in Saranac Lake, is the founder of the Adirondack Explorer magazine and a long-time environmentalist.  Go to full article

Jan 25, 2006 — In the latest issue of the Adirondack Explorer, editor Phil Brown profiles the "big four" environmental groups that operate inside the Park. Brown compares the history and the agendas of the Adirondack Council, the Residents Committee to Protect the Adirondacks, the Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks, and the Adirondack Mountain Club. Brown spoke with Brian Mann about the ways that green groups collaborate on environmental issues and the feuds that sometime make cooperation difficult.  Go to full article