New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

Adirondacks & NNY

NY’s Highest Court Rules Big Snowmobile Trails On Forest Preserve Violate Constitution

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Article 14, Section 1 New York State Constitution Forever Wild clauseThe New York Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court, has issued a 4-2 decision today in favor of Protect the Adirondacks that upheld Article 14, Section 1, of the New York State Constitution, the famed “forever wild” clause.

In 2013, Protect the Adirondacks sued the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Adirondack Park Agency (APA) alleging that construction of “Class II Community Connector” snowmobile trails on the Adirondack Forest Preserve violated Article 14, Section 1, due to excessive tree cutting and destructive changes to the land. [Read more…] about NY’s Highest Court Rules Big Snowmobile Trails On Forest Preserve Violate Constitution

It’s International Compost Awareness Week

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ICAW2021AdkAction’s Compost for Good project is joining environmental and recycling businesses, organizations, community groups and individuals around the globe in celebrating International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) during the first week of May. The theme of this year’s Compost Awareness Week is “Grow, Eat… COMPOST… Repeat.” [Read more…] about It’s International Compost Awareness Week

John Brown Farm Celebrates 125 Years of State Ownership

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John Brown Farm courtesy John Brown LivesIn 2021, the state of New York will celebrate 125 years of being caretaker to the John Brown Farm in North Elba, just outside of Lake Placid in the Adirondack Park.

Brown came to the area to help recently freed slaves become farmers. At that time in New York State, black men (and only black men) needed to own $250 dollars worth of land to be eligible to vote. Brown immersed himself in this new community of black farmers and participated in a wide variety of organizing. [Read more…] about John Brown Farm Celebrates 125 Years of State Ownership

Fort Ticonderoga Virtual Offerings Compliment On-Site Events

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Alonzo Chappel Painting courtesy Fort TiconderogaFort Ticonderoga has opened for the season with interactive programs, museum exhibits, boat tours aboard the Carillon, living history events, special programs, lush gardens, Mount Defiance tours, hands-on family activities, hiking trails, and more. [Read more…] about Fort Ticonderoga Virtual Offerings Compliment On-Site Events

After 130 Years Adk Lumber Company Becomes Worker-Owned Co-Op

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Ward Lumber staff at the Jay, N.Y. store The employees of Ward Lumber have made history by purchasing the 130-year-old business as a worker-owned cooperative.

The lumber products and hardware store, which has locations in Jay and Malone, NY and employs over 50 local people, has been in Jay Ward’s family for four generations. Ward, who will continue his leadership role as the company’s chief executive officer, completed a contract with his employee team that makes Ward Lumber the largest worker-owned cooperative in the region. [Read more…] about After 130 Years Adk Lumber Company Becomes Worker-Owned Co-Op

Olympic Authority Expanding Training Center

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Opening ceremony for the 2020 Empire State Winter Games in the Olympic Center courtesy Wikimedia user DanielPenfieldThe Town of North Elba will enter a long-term lease agreement with the New York Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) for their use of the former Lake Placid Memorial Hospital property.

The Town took over ownership of this property in 2019; this ownership will be retained and ORDA will lease the site for 50 years with a 50-year renewal for the purpose of expanding ORDA’s Olympic Training Center. ORDA will be responsible for the removal of the current structure, relieving the town of the financial burden of this undertaking, while upgrading the property. [Read more…] about Olympic Authority Expanding Training Center

Adirondack Foundation Adds Trustees, Launches Community Council

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adirondack foundationAdirondack Foundation, whose mission is to enhance the lives of people in the Adirondacks through philanthropy, has announced the addition of Jim Allison, David Sand and Carolyn Sicher to its Board of Trustees.

In addition to new trustees, the foundation also established a Community Council to broaden perspectives and engage people across the region. [Read more…] about Adirondack Foundation Adds Trustees, Launches Community Council

Poetry: Boy Scouts Then

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Boy Scouts Then
Fields of flowers and leaves
Fill ditches full of water
— Tao Chi

We called him “Preparation H,”
whose real name was Harold,
but when we went camping
he took so much stuff—maybe
took our Boy Scout motto “Be
Prepared” so to heart—that he
was ever ready for any and
everything, from Scoutmaster
von Limburg giving birth, to
maybe polio ransacking us all,
or even the Asian flu, despite
how it had already flown then.
He carried so many pots and so
many pans, we also called him
“Julia Child’s porter.” And what
with all the food he would pack,
he was sometimes “Corny Copia,”
which nickname was so lost on
so many of us that we variously
dubbed him, with our machete,
The Count of No Accounting,
The Count of Paraphernalia, or
The Count of Mounting Crappo.”

Read More Poems From the New York Almanack HERE.