News stories tagged with "upper-jay"

(01/27/12) An Adirondack community welcomes the return of its library this weekend, after months of repair work. The doors of the Wells Memorial Library in Upper Jay will reopen on Saturday as part of a day-long celebration. Five months ago, heavy flooding damaged the library after Hurricane Irene.

The library's board president, Marie-Anne Azar Ward, says flood waters ruined a majority of the library's books, and nearly all the children's collection was destroyed.

Azar Ward says the community rolled-up its collective sleeves and went to work repairing the 106-year old building. The re-opening celebration, with music and food, starts at 1 o'clock Saturday afternoon.

(09/13/11) The crew and actors of "Agnes of God" will donate all the proceeds from two performances this week to the Wells Memorial Library in Upper Jay. The library was one of many cultural venues that suffered flood damage in the aftermath of tropical storm Irene last month. "Agnes of God" will be performed Wednesday and Thursday nights (7 pm) at the Whallonsburg Grange and the cast includes local actors Kathleen Recchia, Leslie Dame and Clare Paulson. Todd Moe spoke with the show's producer, Karen Lewis, about the benefit performances this week.

(04/07/09) This afternoon from 3 to 4:45, the Blue Note with Ellen Rocco travels deep into the High peaks, to the Recovery Lounge in Upper Jay, for some raw, no-nonsense blues with Russ Bailey and Crow Party. Joel Hurd profiles the band we'll hear live on the air.

(03/14/07) This Friday and Saturday, Mountain Lake PBS will broadcast their new documentary called "A Castle In Every Heart." It's the story of Arto Monaco, the Adirondack inventor and toymaker who created some of America's earliest theme parks. Monaco's creations in the North Country included the Land of Make Believe in Upper Jay, which he built in his own back yard. Coming up in the second half hour, we'll hear Brian Mann's interview with Arto, recorded just a year before his death in 2002. But first, Brian talks with filmmaker Derek Muirden about his friendship with Arto Monaco and about the new documentary, which will air nationwide starting this year.

(07/07/06) Heavy rain this summer has been tough on farmers and on the North Country's tourism business. But the wet weather is great news for whitewater paddlers. Many streams that would usually be bony and dry are still flush. Brian Mann paddled the East Branch of the Ausable River and sent this audio postcard.

(06/29/06) It's not your typical theatre venue, but an upholstery shop in the Adirondacks is hosting a performance of David Mamet's award-winning play American Buffalo. The show opened last week in Upper Jay and continues tonight, Friday and Saturday nights (8 pm) at the Recovery Lounge -- also known as Upper Jay Upholstery. The Adirondack Theatre production features three local actors: Terry Young, Tyler Nye and Scott Renderer, who co-owns the shop and directs the show. Renderer told Todd Moe he's worked Off-Off Broadway, Off Broadway and Broadway in the 1970's, and did some experimental theatre before moving to the Adirondacks. He says it was the local community that inspired him.

(07/25/05) Every so often during The 8 O'Clock Hour, we'll introduce you to a North Country resident. It could be your neighbor or a friend -- someone with an odd job or story to tell. Paul Johnson, who lives in the Adirondacks, is a man of many talents: opera singer, baker, beekeeper and gardener. Gardening and plant breeding run in the family. He's a third generation award-winning iris grower.

(07/15/03) In the North Country, barns are as much a part of the landscape as mountains and rivers. These days, most new barns are built quickly with steel frames and sheet-metal siding. But some landowners are taking a little more time, using methods and materials passed down over hundreds of years. In the Spring of 2001, Brian Mann joined a traditional barn-raising in Upper Jay.

(12/20/02) Walt Disney opened his first theme park in the summer of 1955. But half a decade before Disneyland, there was Santa's Workshop in Wilmington ? the creation of north country native Arto Monaco. Monaco built a half-dozen theme parks. Most are gone now, swept away by changing tastes. But Monaco himself is still around, still creating make-believe worlds. Brian Mann visited his workshop in Upper Jay and has our story.

(06/17/02) More than two million dollars in federal aid has gone to North Country residents affected by the April earthquake. Jody Tosti reports.