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

Saranac Lake, NY, Nov 23, 2011 — Congressman Bill Owens visited Saranac Lake's new community store Tuesday.

The first-community owned department store in the state offers basic goods - everything from underwear to bedsheets - things people in Saranac Lake had a hard time finding locally since the last chain department store closed nearly nine years ago.

Organizers had sold half a million dollars in shares to get the business off the ground. The store opened its doors last month. As Chris Knight reports, Owens visit brought just the latest in a string of accolades.  Go to full article

Saranac Lake, NY, Oct 14, 2011 — Weeks after the Occupy Wall Street protests began in New York City, events inspired by those protests are spreading all over the state and nation. Events have taken place in Syracuse, Plattsburgh and Utica; and there's a march planned in Potsdam for Saturday the 22nd.

In Saranac Lake Thursday, a group of 50 protesters gathered at Riverside Park in a show of solidarity with the thousands of demonstrators who've been occupying public parks around the country.

The Occupy Saranac Lake rally was a peaceful protest organized by the progressive group Voters for Change. As Chris Knight reports, it brought together a wide range of people, all focused around the same message of economic inequality and corporate greed.  Go to full article

Saranac Lake, NY, Sep 26, 2011 — A young girl who was bullied, harassed and assaulted in school because of her race has filed a $6 million federal lawsuit against the Saranac Lake Central School District.

The girl and her parents, Amy and Hiram Oliveras, filed a complaint last week in U.S. Northern District Court, alleging the school district violated her civil rights and the state's Human Rights Law by failing to protect her from bullying, racial discrimination and harassment.

Martha Foley reports,  Go to full article

Saranac Lake, NY, Sep 02, 2011 — The arrival of the Adirondack Scenic Railroad train on Sunday morning in Saranac Lake will kick off this year's "Hobofest." The third annual event will include lots of music, both imported and local, and food for both lunch and dinner. "Hobofest" will also include a Carhartt Fashion Show, and a hobo song and jam in the crowd between acts. Todd Moe spoke with 7444 Gallery owner Todd Smith who will host the event on Depot Street.  Go to full article

Saranac Lake, NY, Aug 30, 2011 — Farmers, cooks and food lovers will gather in Saranac Lake on Saturday for the second annual "Farm 2 Fork Festival". The celebration of local farms and bounty will include workshops, cooking demonstrations and, of course, a chance to eat locally grown food. Adirondack Green Circle founder Gail Brill, who's organizing the event in Riverside Park, says it's a user-friendly festival and a place to learn new skills. She shared a glass of Strawberry Shrub, a homemade fruit drink that infuses vinegar with fresh fruit and sugar, with Todd Moe. You can take a swig of shrub at the festival's artisan beverage bar on Saturday.  Go to full article

Lake Placid, NY, Aug 19, 2011 — Many Adirondack artists will tell you that our region offers nearly all the elements a landscape painter looks for - mountains, trees, waterways and ever-changing hues of green, gray and blue. You'll find dozens of artists outdoors this week in the Adirondacks painting "plein air" during Saranac Lake's Third Annual Plein Air Festival, part of the "Great Adirondack Days" celebration.

It's a time-honored tradition, particularly by artists who want to convey a sense of immediacy. They'll find a spot with a great view of a mountain or along a stream, prop up an easel and paint just as they see it. Most works are completed within hours on the spot. Spontaneity is key. Bugs, rain and fleeting sunlight are challenges.

Todd Moe tagged along when Lake Placid artist Jackie Altman returned to a favorite spot with views of some of the High Peaks.  Go to full article

Saranac Lake, NY, Aug 18, 2011 — Saranac Lake is taking the arts to the streets again during its summer "Third Thursday Art Walk" tonight. One of the attractions you'll find downtown is a vintage vending machine that's making it easy to collect original art. The Art Vending Machine is filled with miniature works -- watercolors, prints, photos, poems, theater tickets and music.

Like a lot of things, the cost for the original art has gone up, from one dollar last summer to two dollars this year. That's eight quarters for an original work of art. The Saranac Lake Artworks group is hoping the vintage vending machine will help connect members of the public with local artists. Todd Moe found it last summer and spent a handful of quarters at an Art Walk event.  Go to full article

Saranac Lake, NY, Aug 12, 2011 — New York's two U.S. Senators will make rare joint appearances in the Adirondacks today. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Saranac Lake, NY, Aug 04, 2011 — Some very large watercolors by Saranac Lake artist Tim Fortune will be on display at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts, starting Friday, August 12th. Watercolor Encounters is a one man show that will include 15 large format watercolors that Tim has worked on over the last four years. He spoke with Todd Moe about the sheer size of the paintings and their impact on viewers.  Go to full article