Paul Smiths, NY, Dec 28, 2012 — This fall, an ecology professor at Paul Smiths College traveled thousands of miles to learn about a new culture, and share a bit about life in the Adirondacks. Celia Evans was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to teach and conduct research in Siberia. She, and her two daughters, spent three months in Russia's Altai Republic studying primary school students' relationships to their environment, community and culture.

Evans, who also shared her love of folk music with her Russian hosts, told Todd Moe that she also wanted to find out how students in Siberia are learning about their natural world compared with students in the North Country.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, Dec 27, 2012 — Paul Smiths College in the Adirondacks announced earlier this month that it plans to phase out the use of all tobacco products on its campus and on its affiliated properties.

That will include visitors to the nearby the Paul Smiths VIC, with its ski and hiking trails.

The change will happen over the next two years, with all tobacco products banned by August 2014.

Tobacco is a known carcinogen that kills nearly half a million Americans every year.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, Aug 17, 2012 — Adirondack singer/songwriter Celia Evans will release her newest cd at a party at the Paul Smiths College VIC tonight. She calls this her fourth and most favorite recording project that focuses on life, love, family and her growth as a musician. She stopped by the NCPR studios this morning for live music and conversation.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, May 16, 2012 — Those who love edible wild mushrooms, cousins of the grocery store variety, also enjoy the annual spring hunt for one of the most elusive -- the morel. May is morel month in the North Country.

Todd Moe joined an outing of mushroom collectors at Paul Smiths College last spring. The group held a friendly contest to see who could find and pick the largest quantity of morels. By the end of the hunt it was clear you don't have to have to go out looking for morels with a meal in mind. Just learning to identify each mycological species is a challenge.

A reminder about looking for edible mushrooms: even distinctive yellow morels have look-a-likes that are poisonous. The slightest doubt about a mushroom is warning enough not to eat it.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, Jan 25, 2012 — It's shaping up to be another tough week weather-wise for the North Country. Rain and temperatures in the forties forced volunteer crews in Saranac Lake to suspend work on the Winter Carnival ice palace.

The Mt. Van Hoevenberg cross country ski center in Lake Placid closed because of the drizzly weather.

The forecast at Whiteface Mountain this morning includes a chance for rain. And the Ski Bowl in North Creek is closed, with just 60% of Gore Mountain's trails open.

One bright spot this winter has been the VIC at Paul Smiths. The facility was threatened with closure in 2010 when the Adirondack Park Agency decided that it was too expensive to operate.

But Paul Smiths College and a group of local residents have worked to keep the VIC open. Brian Mann checked out the trails last week and has our story.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, Sep 27, 2011 — In our occasional series, Moving the World, we meet North Country people who take their skills, expertise and resources to share with communities around the globe. Paul Smiths College hosts the founder of the Atlas Cultural Foundation, which helps Moroccans in one of the poorest regions of North Africa. Atlas is affiliated with Adirondack Sustainable Communities, which promotes healthy development in our region. Todd Moe talks with Chloe Erickson about her group's efforts to help improve community health, cultural preservation, education and literacy. She'll give a lecture tonight (7 pm) in the Freer Hall Auditorium at Paul Smiths College.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, May 27, 2011 — Those who love edible wild mushrooms, cousins of the grocery store variety, also enjoy the annual spring hunt for one of the most elusive -- the morel. May is morel month in the North Country.

Todd Moe joined an outing of mushroom collectors at Paul Smiths College earlier this month. The group held a friendly contest to see who could find and pick the largest quantity of morels. By the end of the hunt it was clear you don't have to have to go out looking for morels with a meal in mind. Just learning to identify each mycological species is a challenge.

A reminder about looking for edible mushrooms: even distinctive yellow morels have look-a-likes that are poisonous. The slightest doubt about a mushroom is warning enough not to eat it.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, May 16, 2011 — Former New York Gov. David Paterson was in the Adirondacks over the weekend, where he addressed graduates of Paul Smith's College. Paterson, who inherited a massive budget crisis, urged students to reverse the "poor judgments" that led New York state into a deep recession. Martha Foley reports.

(Chris Morris provided reporting for this story.)  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, Mar 01, 2011 — A researcher in the Adirondacks is literally rewriting the history of global climate change.

Curt Stager, a scientist at Paul Smiths College, is publishing an article later this month in the journal Science that describes an ancient drought that transformed Asia and Africa thousands of years ago.

The "H1 mega-drought" may have wiped out whole tribes of humans, as it dried up rivers and lakes across whole continents.

As Brian Mann reports, Stager thinks that devastating event could be a warning for people living in a new period of global warming.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, May 20, 2010 — A new music camp for adults will be held in the Adirondacks this summmer. Paul Smiths College will host Mountain Arts Gathering, a weeklong music camp from July 18-24. The camp will feature nationally known musicians, four musical workshops each day along with jam sessions, staff concerts, a contra dance and a talent show.

The camp's director, Kary Johnson, grew up in the Adirondacks and taught in public schools for several years. In recent years she has been an instructor at the Meadowlark Music Camp in Maine, an experience that she says inspired her to launch the Gathering this July. She spoke with Todd Moe.  Go to full article