Feb 15, 2012 — More than five months after tropical storm Irene sent floodwaters surging through the Adirondacks, families and communities still face some tough decisions.

Tomorrow night in the town of Jay, residents will meet with state and Federal officials to talk about a buy-out program that could help people relocate out of the flood plains along the Ausable and Boquet Rivers. The meeting to talk about the flood plain buy out program is scheduled for 7 pm tomorrow night at the Jay town community center in Ausable Forks.

More than sixty families in Essex County have expressed interest in the buy-out. Brian Mann checked in yesterday with Randy Douglas, town supervisor in Jay and head of the county's board of supervisors. Douglas says the number of people considering relocation continues to grow.  Go to full article

Saranac Lake, NY, Dec 09, 2011 — William Luce's one-woman play celebrating the life and poetry of Emily Dickinson, The Belle of Amherst, will be presented in a special performance benefiting residents of the Town of Jay who experienced the devastating effects of Tropical Storm Irene this summer. The one-woman show will be performed Saturday night (7 pm) at BluSeed Studios in Saranac Lake. Todd Moe talks with Jay actress Kathleen Recchia, who reprises her role as Dickinson for this special performance, about the show and clean-up efforts that still continue this month.  Go to full article

Nov 29, 2011 — A group of Burlington College students will conduct oral history interviews to record the Tropical Storm Irene stories of Jay and Keene residents this Saturday at the Keene Community Center. Everyone is invited to share their stories and memories. Instructor John Warren told Todd Moe that participants will be asked a number of questions about their experiences during the storm, and will have the chance to tell the stories they think are important to remember. To schedule your interview, contact John Warren via email at jnwarrenjr@gmail.com or call 518-956-3830.  Go to full article

Nov 25, 2011 — North Country Congressman Bill Owens says he's amazed at the resiliency of flood victims who say their property devastated by Tropical Storm Irene. The Democrat from New York's 23rd Congressional District stopped in the Town of Jay this week to hear from local officials about ongoing infrastructure issues and view firsthand some of the problems the community still faces.  Go to full article

Indian Lake, NY, Nov 09, 2011 — Musical headliners in the Adirondacks will do their part this Sunday to raise money for those still rebuilding homes and businesses in the aftermath of late summer storms. Many of the best-known Adirondack acoustic musicians will gather at the Indian Lake Theater (2 pm) to perform some of their favorite music to benefit victims of Hurricane Irene. Todd Moe spoke with Johnsburg singer-songwriter Tom Akstens, one of the organizers of the concert. He calls the event a celebration of Adirondack spirit.  Go to full article

Oct 13, 2011 — The Plattsburgh Press Republican is reporting this morning that the towns of Jay and Black Brook have qualified for a total of $2 million in interest-free loans from New York state. The money will be used to help repair the water system in Ausable Forks.

Families and communities along the Ausable River valley continue to rebuild following tropical storm Irene, but local officials say the disaster will leave permanent scars.

Brian Mann sat down yesterday to talk with Jay town supervisor Randy Douglas, who also heads the Essex County board of supervisors. Douglas says as many as 45 families may choose not to return to their flood-ravaged homes. And hundreds of families are still living with emergency water supplies.  Go to full article

Keene Valley, NY, Oct 07, 2011 — The Keene Valley Congregational Church hosts an evening of music, stories and poetry Saturday night (7:30pm), and an opportunity to help those still rebuilding from the summer floods.

Adirondack harpist Martha Gallagher will host the benefit concert. Her home was one of the many heavily damaged by the flooding from tropical storm Irene.

Saturday night's concert, arranged by the East Branch Friends of the Arts, will also mark the release of a new CD that Gallagher recorded recently to benefit flood victims. All the proceeds from the concert and CD will go to the Keene and Jay Flood Recovery Funds. Todd Moe has a preview.  Go to full article

Aug 30, 2011 — The adding-up of the damage from Irene continues, and many areas are still experiencing emergency situations. In New York state, there are at least 6 confirmed deaths; damage to homes and businesses; more than half a million still without power; and flooding that's threatening to cause more damage.

For the first time today, our Adirondack bureau chief Brian Mann was able to hit some of the hardest hit areas around Ausable Forks, Jay and Upper Jay. He spoke with Nora Flaherty.  Go to full article

Keene Valley, NY, Jul 13, 2011 — A North Country teen spent most of his summer vacation working on an original musical. Road to Dannemora debuts at Keene Central School on Saturday night. 16-year-old Sam Balzac wrote the music and worked with his mother, Kathy Recchia, on the lyrics. They're both long time members of the Book and Blanket Players, a community theater group in Jay. Todd Moe spoke with Sam and Kathy about the process of creating a musical.

"The Road to Dannemora" will be performed at the Keene Central School Auditorium this Saturday night, 7pm. Free admission. Donations Accepted.  Go to full article

Sep 22, 2010 — Essex County now faces a budget deficit next year that could top 9 million dollars. That's ten percent of the county's budget that still needs to be paid for.

The soaring costs are being blamed on scheduled pay increases for county workers, rising utility coasts, and the cost of operating the Horace Nye nursing home in Elizabethtown.

The latest blow came this week, when the Board of Supervisors announced that health insurance costs could rise by as much as 46%.

Brian Mann spoke about the budget crunch with Randy Douglas. He's town supervisor in Jay and serves as county chair.  Go to full article