Lake Placid, NY, Jun 09, 2011 — The Adirondack Park Agency is looking for closure 10 months after a judge ordered a half-built, 10,000-square foot mansion in Lake Placid demolished. The boarded-up structure, owned by Arthur and Margaret Spiegel, still stands.

Now the APA has filed a motion to find the Spiegels in contempt of court for failing to tear the building down but the Spiegels said they can't get the necessary demolition permits from the town.

As Chris Knight reports, this is just the latest chapter in what's been a six-year legal battle.  Go to full article

Lake Placid, NY, May 06, 2011 — The brother of a civil rights activist from New York who was murdered in Mississippi nearly 40 years ago is one of the featured speakers for the annual John Brown Day being held at the 19th century abolitionist's former farm. The event set for tomorrow afternoon at the John Brown Farm State Historic Site in Lake Placid will feature discussions on environmental and climate change issues. david Sommerstein talks with organizer Martha Swan.  Go to full article

Mar 15, 2011 — The pails are up and the sap is flowing. Weather plays a large part in the making of maple syrup. Last year's early spring ended the syrup production season abruptly in some parts of the state. Entering this year's maple syrup season, which usually runs from early March to mid-April, maple producers are eager to put last year behind them. Todd Moe spoke with a couple of syrup producers who say conditions are ideal for the start of the North Country's sweetest season.  Go to full article

Feb 22, 2011 — This week Random House releases Sara Henry's debut mystery, Learning to Swim. The story begins, literally, in Lake Champlain when Troy Chance jumps off a ferry to rescue a small child. From there the action proceeds to Lake Placid, Ottawa and Burlington. Betsy Kepes talked to Sara Henry about the North Country setting of her book.  Go to full article

Lake Placid, NY, Feb 15, 2011 — Fifty years ago today, a tragic jetliner crash in Belgium killed the entire U.S. Figure Skating World Team. Three of the victims had North Country connections: Coach Daniel Ryan and his ice dancers Larry Pierce and Diane Sherbloom trained in Canton and Lake Placid. Last month, Daniel Ryan, and the rest of the 1961 team, were inducted into the Figure Skating Hall of Fame in Greensboro, North Carolina. A new movie, Rise, which premieres around the country on Thursday, pays tribute to the 1961 team and the world of figure skating. Todd Moe talks with Terry Ryan Sullivan about her father's legacy and the new film.  Go to full article

Lake Placid, NY, Dec 30, 2010 — State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released a scathing audit of the village of Lake Placid's finances Wednesday. DiNapoli's office found village employees had collected more than $110,000 in payments for accrued leave time and benefits that they were not entitled to receive. State auditors said the village should get law enforcement officials involved and try to recover the money. As Chris Knight reports, village officials say they've taken steps to address the deficiencies uncovered by the audit.  Go to full article

Lake Placid, NY, Dec 07, 2010 — Officials in Lake Placid gave a media tour yesterday of a new conference center now under construction at the Olympic complex. The $18 million project was delayed last summer as New York State's fiscal crisis deepened, but the Olympic Authority's project manager says it's back on schedule.

Tourism officials are looking forward to hosting conference and conventions, starting in May. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article

Lake Placid, NY, Nov 18, 2010 — The Paterson Administration has cut funding for the 2011 Empire State Games, citing the state's ongoing fiscal crisis. The popular annual competitions are run by the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

The news came in a letter from Lisa Del Signore, the administrator of the games, to athletes informing them that the winter, summer, and senior games, as well as the games for the physically challenged, have all been canceled.

The Poughkeepsie Journal, which broke the story, reports Del Signore's letter also said, "Perhaps in the future the economic climate will improve and the games will experience a rebirth."

The winter games were scheduled to take place in Lake Placid in late February. As Chris Morris reports, athletes and tourism officials will miss them:  Go to full article

Lake Placid, NY, Nov 12, 2010 — A Lake Placid snowmobile activist blasted state officials this week for spending millions on the tourism train connecting lake Placid and Saranac Lake, while road and bridge repairs go begging.

At a budget hearing in Albany, Jim McCulley challenged state Budget Director Robert Megna about the Department of Transportation's priorities. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article

Oct 05, 2010 — Town supervisors in Essex County have rejected a plan to expand and upgrade North Country Community College's campus in Saranac Lake.

The Plattsburgh Press-Republican is reporting that the project was voted down Monday. Roby Politi from North Elba was one of the supervisors who voted no.

According to the newspaper, Politi cited the timing of the request for roughly $16 million in county funds. Essex county faces a budget deficit next year that could top $8 million. Politi said the county is looking at a 40% increase in the tax rate.

College officials say the campus is deteriorating, with-out-of-date facilities and plumbing. They also argue that New York state will pick up most of the $65-million price tag for the project.  Go to full article