New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

Justin Levine

Justin Levine joined the Adirondack Council staff in 2021 as the Communications and Outreach Assistant. He previously worked as a regional marketing manager for the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism in Lake Placid and was an award-winning journalist and photographer for the Adirondack Daily Enterprise and Lake Placid News. Since graduating from Paul Smith’s College in 2004, Justin has worked in the environmental field in various roles in both the Adirondacks and Florida. When not working, Justin loves spending time with his family, running, and doing all the outdoor things the Adirondack Park has to offer.

Adirondack Conservation News: 5 Things You Need To Know

by Leave a Comment

Moriah Shock Correctional FacilityADK leaders urge state to reuse Moriah Shock Correctional Facility set to close December 31st

The Adirondack Council, along with several local and state elected officials and other environmental groups, called for the state to keep maintaining the former prison complex in Moriah. The state had slated to stop upkeep on the facility, which closed in 2021. While particular uses for the facility are up for debate, a wide coalition believes the facility can be used for training, housing, and other uses rather than reverting to constitutionally protected lands that would need a constitutional amendment to develop into something new. [Read more…] about Adirondack Conservation News: 5 Things You Need To Know

Adirondack Conservation News: 5 Things You Should Know

by Leave a Comment

Forever Adirondacks Campaign Director Aaron Mair in Egypt for the COP27 climate meetingAn Adirondack environmentalist leaves UN Climate talks in Egypt more determined 

The Adirondack Council’s Forever Adirondacks Campaign Director Aaron Mair was recently in Egypt for the COP27 climate meeting. Mair said it was great to hear from Indigenous communities, but also noted that this COP meeting was highly attended by non-renewable energy concerns. But Mair came back more determined to have a positive impact on the climate change front. [Read more…] about Adirondack Conservation News: 5 Things You Should Know

Adirondack Conservation News Round-Up

by Leave a Comment

Bond Act supporters$4.2 billion Environmental Bond Act appears on back of New York ballot

This Election Day, November 8, New Yorkers will have a once in a lifetime chance to make a huge investment in battling climate change, updating aging infrastructure, and creating tens of thousands of jobs. The Adirondack Council is part of a state-wide coalition of more than 300 groups – from unions to faith-based groups to architects and engineers – that support passage of Prop 1 this Election Day. [Read more…] about Adirondack Conservation News Round-Up

Adirondack Conservation: 5 Things You Need To Know

by Leave a Comment

Notional Equipment LayoutAdirondack Council: Prohibit Private Weapons Testing in Adirondacks

The Adirondack Park Agency received an application for a private weapons testing range in the Town of Lewis earlier this year, while despite a perfectly functional and safe weapons range just outside of the Adirondack Park at Fort Drum. The Adirondack Council has called on the APA to develop a policy and hold a hearing on the proposal, which would lower property values, create dangerous conditions, and drastically impact the peace and quiet of the Adirondack Park. [Read more…] about Adirondack Conservation: 5 Things You Need To Know

Adirondack Conservation News: 5 Things You Should Know

by Leave a Comment

Chuck Schumer in Lake PlacidSchumer visits Lake Placid to talk Inflation Reduction Act

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer visited Lake Placid at the end of August to tout the economic and climate benefits of the recently signed-into-law Inflation Reduction Act. Schumer was joined by Adirondack Mountain Club Executive Director Michael Barrett and Adirondack Council Executive Director Willie Janeway, who praised the act as “historic” in its scope and benefits to the Adirondack Park. [Read more…] about Adirondack Conservation News: 5 Things You Should Know

Adirondack Conservation News: 5 Things To Know

by Leave a Comment

Raquette Lake courtesy Adirondack CouncilAdirondack Advocates Push For Environmental Bond Act

The Adirondack Council, as part of a coalition of dozens of organizations across New York state, is encouraging New York voters to pass a bond act that will be on the ballot this coming November. The $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act was delayed in 2020, but will provide much needed funding to improve wastewater treatment systems and support as many as 85,000 jobs around the state. [Read more…] about Adirondack Conservation News: 5 Things To Know

Recent Adirondack Conservation News

by Leave a Comment

Governor Kathy Hochul unveiled new water infrastructure in Lake Placid The North Country to receive $40 million for water infrastructure projects

New York State and the Adirondacks, in particular, will soon benefit from a large round of funding from the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act to help keep waterways and drinking water cleaner. Seven communities in the Adirondack Park – notably Lyon Mountain, Schroon Lake, and Indian Lake – will receive about $8 million in clean water project funding. This funding will relieve some of the burden on taxpayers in these tiny rural towns. Waterways do not follow political boundaries so improvements to water quality in the Adirondacks will also benefit nature and communities far beyond the Park’s borders. [Read more…] about Recent Adirondack Conservation News

ADK Conservation News: 5 Things You Need to Know

by Leave a Comment

Adirondack Lean-toOpening Up the Adirondacks

The Adirondack Council’s Aaron Mair and Assemblywoman Michaelle Solage were recently on the Capitol Pressroom radio show out of Albany. Mair and Solage made the case for the state budget to include funding to create the Timbuctoo Summer Climate and Jobs Institute, which would provide job and environmental training to high school students who may not otherwise get much exposure to the Adirondacks. The effort would involve Medgar Evers College in New York City and the SUNY School of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse. [Read more…] about ADK Conservation News: 5 Things You Need to Know

Adks Conservation News: 5 Things You Need to Know

by 1 Comment

St Regis Canoe AreaLarge-Scale Lakes Survey Tops Scientists’ Wish List

The Adirondack Council and other environmental groups are pushing the state legislature to include $6 million in funding over three years to conduct a large-scale study of Adirondack water-bodies. The study of 400 or so lakes and ponds would create baseline data on the impact of climate change, algal blooms, and changes to water oxygen levels. The study is needed to assess the impacts to native fish and plant populations of changing carbon cycles, and the remote locations of many of the water-bodies allow researchers to differentiate the effects of climate change from those of agriculture or land development. [Read more…] about Adks Conservation News: 5 Things You Need to Know

ADK Conservation News: 5 Things You Need to Know

by Leave a Comment

Winter Adirondacks Scene courtesy Carl Heilman IIEnvironment Ranks High in New York’s 2023 Budget

New York Governor Kathy Hochul released her Executive Budget proposal in mid-January, and there was a lot to celebrate for the Adirondacks. She proposed an increased Environmental Protection Fund from $300 million to $400 million and a $4 billion environmental bond act. While the proposals are good, the Adirondack Council would still like to see $500,000 for the Adirondack Diversity Initiative, $500,000 for visitor use management framework, and $6 million for an updated Adirondack Lakes Survey included in the final budget. The Council and many other environmental groups are also calling for $10 million for trails and education. [Read more…] about ADK Conservation News: 5 Things You Need to Know