Schoharie, NY, Oct 07, 2011 — Villagers in flood ravaged Schoharie are struggling to rebuild their damaged homes six weeks after the floods from hurricanes Irene and Lee. But as Karen DeWitt reports, some in the tourist-dependent region say they are open for business this coming Columbus Day weekend.  Go to full article

Lake Placid, NY, Sep 22, 2011 — Opponents of a tourist train in the Tri-Lakes are hoping to derail efforts to construct a side-by-side rail and trail system between Lake Placid and Saranac Lake.

Adirondack Recreational Trail Advocates formed earlier this summer. They say, instead of a rail, communities should build a multi-use recreational trail using the rail-bed which would stretch from Lake Placid to Tupper Lake.

But with millions of dollars in grants already in hand, supporters of the tourist train say the path and the railroad can co-exist. Chris Morris reports.  Go to full article

Gouverneur, NY, Aug 24, 2011 — This summer, NPR has been visiting monuments you might come upon on your summer road trip. The Honey Stop the Car assignment took Emma Jacobs to Gouverneur, in St. lawrence County, where a roll of Life Savers the size of a car honors favorite son and businessman, E.J. Noble.  Go to full article

Aug 19, 2011 — It's been a year of uncertainty for boaters along the St. Lawrence River. The U.S.-Canada border snakes down the St. Lawrence through the Thousand Islands past Massena, NY. When Canadian border agents seized an American fishing boat earlier this season, they upset a long held understanding of U.S. boaters. Roy Anderson hadn't docked or anchored. He had simply drifted across the international border.

Canadian border agents said Anderson hadn't checked in at a port of entry. They forced him to pay $1000 or have his boat seized. American boaters were shocked. They didn't know they needed to check in with Canada when drifting.

Anderson has since gotten most of his money back from the Canadian government. And politicians on both sides of the border are trying to provide some clarity about what is and isn't OK. Charter boat captains hope something can be done. They say the dispute is bad for business. Julie Grant went to Clayton to see firsthand the challenges of boating the border.  Go to full article

Indian Lake, NY, Aug 04, 2011 — Eight months after the Adirondack Museum's last permanent director, Caroline Welsh, stepped aside, the institution in Blue Mountain Lake has named a new leader.

Board president Kevin Arquit made the announcement on Wednesday, calling the hire of David Kahn "an exciting time for the Adirondack Museum."

The museum, founded in 1957, is one of the region's leading cultural institutions. Martha Foley has details.  Go to full article

Columbia City, IN, Aug 01, 2011 — A new advocacy group in the Adirondacks hopes to build support for a recreational trail connecting the Tri-Lakes.

Members of the Adirondack Recreational Trail Advocates argue that a multi-use recreational trail running from Lake Placid all the way to Tupper Lake would attract visitors from all over the country.

The group says the current tourist train - now operating over a section of the route - should be scrapped.

As Chris Morris reports, the new group was formed by activists who are usually on opposite sides of Adirondack debates.  Go to full article

Washington, DC, Jul 28, 2011 — North Country Congressman Bill Owens and his counterpart in Canada want to make it easier for boaters to cruise the Thousand Islands without running afoul of border check-in requirements.

In a phone press conference Wednesday, Owens said he's introduced a bill in the House that would allow Canadian boaters to cross the international border without checking in with customs officers as long as they don't stop in U.S. territory. Canada would pass a similar law for U.S. boaters.  Go to full article

Brockville, ON, Jul 13, 2011 — There are many sights worth seeing throughout the Thousand Islands, including something called Fulford Place on the Ontario shore of the St. Lawrence.

Completed in 1901, the 35 room, 20,000 square foot Brockville landmark was the summer 'cottage' for a wealthy Canadian family that hosted Prime Ministers and visiting Royalty.

At its peak, the property consisted of 15 manicured acres, with a boat house, a luxury steam yacht and gardens designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Olmsted.

Family descendents eventually donated the house and many original contents to the Ontario Heritage Trust. Dedicated volunteers have been running tours of the period museum since 1993.

Jean Freemantle lives in Brockville and has been one such guide for eleven years. She shared her thoughts about Fulford Place with Lucy Martin for today's Heard Up North.  Go to full article

Clayton, NY, Jul 11, 2011 — A month after agents from the Canadian Border Security Agency fined fisherman Roy Anderson $1000 and threatened to seize his boat, state and national politicians are still working to ease punishments on boaters who drift across the border.

New York Senator Chuck Schumer was in the Thousand Islands Friday, doing just that. Nora Flaherty has more.  Go to full article

Gananoque, ON, Jun 21, 2011 — Lawmakers on both sides of the border are looking for answers after a fisherman's boat was seized in Canadian waters on the St. Lawrence River.

Canadian border agents said U.S. citizen, Roy Anderson, didn't check in at a port of entry. They fined Anderson a thousand dollars.

But Anderson's boat wasn't docked or anchored. Lawmakers say requiring boats that drift across the international border to check in would wreak havoc on the fishing and tourism industries. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article