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.

ADK Conservation News: 5 Things You Need to Know

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Timbuctoo Climate and Careers Institute with group of studentsExploring climate and justice from Brooklyn to the Adirondacks’ Timbuctoo

The brand-new Timbuctoo Climate and Careers Institute will be hosting its first group of students this summer in the Adirondacks. The program, a joint effort between the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and CUNY Medgar Evers College, will bring students from New York City to the ESF campus in Wanakena. The program was championed by the Adirondack Council’s Aaron Mair and the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus. [Read more…] about ADK Conservation News: 5 Things You Need to Know

Adirondack Conservation: 5 Things You Need To Know

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Willie JanewayWillie Janeway details his decision to leave the Adirondack Council

Willie Janeway, who has been the Executive Director of the Adirondack Council for the past decade, will be leaving the organization this fall. Janeway is leaving the Council in excellent shape, and the dedicated staff will continue to work on behalf of the Adirondack Park on a daily basis. Raul “Rocci” Aguirre, who has served as Deputy Director, is now the Acting Executive Director, and the first person of color to lead a major Adirondack environmental group. [Read more…] about Adirondack Conservation: 5 Things You Need To Know

Adk Conservation News: Five Things To Know

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Tiffany Rea-Fisher Adirondack Diversity Initiative’s new leader says she’s up to the task

The Adirondack Diversity Initiative announced the hiring of a new Executive Director. Tiffany Rea-Fisher began her new duties on Feb. 1; she lives in Saranac Lake with her family and is a dance teacher in Lake Placid. She also works with a dance company that splits its time between Harlem and Lake Placid. Her familiarity with the arts, public speaking, and the Adirondack Park are all assets for ADI. [Read more…] about Adk Conservation News: Five Things To Know

Adirondack Conservation News: 5 Things You Need To Know

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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