Aug 01, 2007 — One of the last big conservation deals negotiated by the Pataki administration has been finalized. Nearly 52,000 acres in St. Lawrence County will be protected under the deal, according to a statement issued today by DEC commissioner Pete Grannis. Brian Mann has details.  Go to full article

Jun 28, 2007 — Rather than find someone to talk to on the topic of poetry and the outdoors, Dale Hobson decided to actually go outdoors and to write himself a new poem. In this Giving Voice we follow Dale downstream into Stone Valley in the Town of Colton.  Go to full article

Jun 26, 2007 — The one-room schoohouse used to be a common sight in the North Country. Before school centralization around 60 years ago, these schoolhouses could be seen every couple of miles, since most students had to walk to school. While many of these buildings are now gone or in disrepair, one schoolhouse in Pierrepont still serves the surrounding community. Today NCPR and TAUNY, Traditional Arts in Upstate New York, continue our look at some very special places in the North Country. Joel Hurd and Varick Chittenden visited the Cooks Corners Schoolhouse on a sunny June day when fourth graders from Colton-Pierrepont Central School were playing roles of students in the late 19th century.  Go to full article

May 08, 2007 — One of the North Country's most vocal leaders in local government stepped down unexpectedly last week. Colton town supervisor Hank Ford was known for his combative style and ardent support for private land, snowmobilers, and ATV riders in the Adirondacks. Ford was supervisor for almost 10 years. He's also the regional leader of the Conservative Party. He says he resigned due to health problems and to spend more time with his two grandsons. But Ford's critics have speculated that the reason's more than personal. Ford took heat when Colton dropped its two-year-old veto of the state's purchase of land owned by International Paper. Two months later, Colton got a million dollar state grant to improve parks and athletic fields. Some residents suggested the two were linked. Ford told David sommerstein the town lifted the veto because Albany agreed to drop a challenge to Colton's assessment of state land.  Go to full article

May 02, 2007 — It's one of the cruelest fates dealt the North Country. The snow's gone. The warm sun's finally back. Just when we're dying to bask in spring...the black flies begin to swarm - and bite. More than 30 towns in the region fight back. They treat 3500 miles of streams to kill the black flies before they even hatch. It's all done by hand -- dozens of people bushwhacking miles through the deep woods to deliver doses of a bacteria known as BTI. One woman in St. Lawrence County has dedicated 22 years of her life to battling the black fly. David Sommerstein profiles the "black fly diva."  Go to full article

May 02, 2007 — The bacteria BTI is very specific. Aside from black flies, it can also be used to kill mosquito larvae in standing water. BTI was isolated in the 1970s in Israel, hence its name, Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis. It was first used to reduce mosquito- and fly-borne diseases. To learn more, David spoke with the leading authority on BTI in New York, Dr. Daniel Molloy. He's an aquatic biologist with the New York State Museum. He says BTI produces protein crystals.  Go to full article

Apr 28, 2006 — There's a growing national trend of people, especially seniors, moving to be close to their alma maters. Retirement communities have popped up around Ann Arbor, Gainsville, Notre Dame, and Stanford. St. Lawrence University wants to harness the trend and other ties to former students to stem the decline of the local tax base. It's launched an initiative called "Coming Home". The goal is to lure 100 alumni to move to the Canton area and boost property taxes by 10 million dollars. The university's starting by prepping 3 sites behind Appleton Arena in Canton for alumni committed to building environmentally sustainable homes. It's selling another 20 parcels at the Snow Bowl in Colton. And it's partnering with United Helpers to offer senior townhouses or apartments. SLU president Daniel Sullivan told David Sommerstein the initiative helps the local economy and the university itself.  Go to full article

Oct 05, 2005 — Part of a state highway closed by flash floods in St. Lawrence County last month may reopen by the middle of November. Route 56, a main connecting route between the Adirondacks and the St. Lawrence Valley, washed out in two places near South Colton. Martha Foley reports.  Go to full article

Jan 25, 2005 — Higley Flow State Park in the St. Lawrence County town of Colton will host an Empire State Games Qualifier for cross country skiing on Saturday. It's sponsored by Friends of Higley Flow State Park, and is part of this weekend's Winterfest in Colton. Todd Moe spoke with park supervisor John Wood.  Go to full article

Nov 10, 2004 — At least three towns in southern St. Lawrence County are taking on Albany over a massive land deal with International Paper. Colton, Piercefield, and Hopkinton have vetoed the state's purchase of conservation easements on more than 33,000 acres of land within their town borders. Parishville was expected to joiin them last night. If the vetoes stand, they would prevent the state from conserving land only in those towns. Overall, the IP deal would protect nearly 260,000 acres of Adirondack land in 9 counties. It would be the largest such deal in state history. Stephen Borey is supervisor of the town of Hopkinton. He spoke with David Sommerstein. He says the state failed to compromise with the towns on their biggest concern - the construction of public ATV trails on the new tracts.  Go to full article