2012 February

Entries from February 14th, 2012

Upcoming events at the Paul Smith’s College VIC

February 14th, 2012 · No Comments · Adirondack News

Thursdays, Feb. 16, 23; March 1, 8, 15 and 22 – Little Bobcats
VIC staff will lead a series of programs for 3-to-5 year-olds and their parents. Activities will focus on the local flora and fauna around the VIC. Sessions meet Thursdays from 10 a.m.–noon. $2/session for members of the Adirondack Park Institute; $5/session for those who have not yet joined. Parents are asked to participate with their children. Please register by calling Sarah Keyes at (518) 327-6241 or emailing skeyes@paulsmiths.edu.

Thursday, Feb. 16 – Armchair Traveler Lecture Series
Join us at 7 p.m. for a presentation by John Omohundro on “The Granola Myth – Hikers’ contribution to the Adirondack Economy.” Learn something new from an expert or expand your knowledge about distant places from someone who’s been there. Free to season-pass holders and students; $5/lecture for all others. Please call the Paul Smith’s College VIC at (518) 327-6241 for more information.

Saturday, Feb. 18 and Sunday, Feb. 19 – Snow Sports Weekend
Go outside and play this winter! Events start at 10 a.m. Saturday with the “Choose Your Own Trail” adventure trek around the VIC trails and up Jenkins Mountain. Teams of one to four people will have four hours to collect points by visiting check points on various natural features around the VIC property. There will be both competitive and touring categories. Entry fee: $25 per team. Sunday will feature a 1-kilometer “Kids Snowshoe Stampede” at 10 a.m. followed by a 10-kilometer classic ski race at 11 a.m. Prizes will be awarded.

Saturday, Feb. 18 – Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides
Take a ride on a horse-drawn sleigh through the scenic forests near the Paul Smith’s College VIC. Join Bob Brhel and the college’s team of draft horses from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Suggested donation of $10 per person or $20 per family.

Sunday, Feb. 19 and Sunday, March 4 – Afternoon Ski Jam
Grab your skis, poles and guitar and head to the VIC from 1-5 p.m. for a fun afternoon of skiing and music. Join local musicians for a jam session anytime.

Tuesday, Feb. 21 – No-School Day Programs
VIC staff will lead a series of nature programs for 6-to-10 year olds during the President’s Day break. The theme for the day’s programming will be “Junior Adirondack Stewards.” We will find out why the Adirondacks are such a special place to live. Bring warm clothes and a lunch; snowshoes and snacks are provided. Sessions meet from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $20 for Adirondack Park Institute members; $25 for those who have not yet joined. Please register at least a week in advance by calling Sarah Keyes at (518) 327-6241 or emailing skeyes@paulsmiths.edu. Limited spots available.

Tuesday, Feb. 21, New Moon Art Opening
Celebrate the new moon at the VIC with our monthly art opening and star gazing. From 5-7 p.m., you can step out and be the first to meet our featured Adirondack artists Ginger Dora and Georgette Bacon at the VIC. The new moon will mark the opening night for each new artist, whose work will remain on display for the month. And, from 7-9 p.m., you can come stargaze at the VIC during the new moon. We have the perfect dark sky, and, depending on the weather, we will have inside and outside stargazing. Free for season-pass holders. $5 for all others.

Wednesdays, Feb. 22 and 29 – TR (Teddy Roosevelt) Winter Series Snowshoe Bird Walks
Join Brian McAllister of the Adirondack Birding Center from 9-11 a.m. for a morning snowshoe bird walk in search of the hardy birds that call the Adirondacks their winter home. The walk will end with a cup of hot cocoa in the VIC. $10/session for VIC season-pass holders, $20/session for all others (includes a day pass). Snowshoe rentals available for additional fee. Please call (518) 327-6241 to register.

Saturdays, Feb. 25, and March 3 and 17 – Winter Exploration Weekends
Come to the VIC to learn about the wonders of winter. All walks start at 10 a.m. and meet in the building. Topics include tracking, winter survival and winter birding. $20/session for season-pass holders; $25/session for non-pass holders. Snowshoe rentals available.

Sunday, Feb. 26, and Sunday, March 18 – Coffee House
The Paul Smith’s College VIC will hold an open mic night with local artists at 6 p.m. Free for season-pass holders, $5 for public.

Thursday, March 1– Volunteer Potluck
Paul Smith’s College VIC volunteers will get together with VIC staff at 5 p.m. for a preview of upcoming events and activities. Prospective volunteers are welcome. For more information, call the VIC at (518) 327-6241 or email skeyes@paulsmiths.edu.

Thursday, March 1- Armchair Traveler Lecture Series
Join us at 7 p.m. for a presentation by Frank Lescinsky on his experience as a VIP guest on a NASA Mars Exploration Launch. Learn something new from an expert or expand your knowledge about distant places from someone who’s been there. Free to season-pass holders and students; $5/lecture for all others. Please call the Paul Smith’s College VIC at (518) 327-6241 for more information.

Friday, March 2 – Bunny-Boot Ball VIC Fundraiser
Kick up your feet for a thumping good time. We’ll be skiing, dancing and generally having a good time from 6-11 p.m. at our first major VIC fundraiser. Come show your support for the progress we have made and contribute to the success of the transition of the Paul Smith’s College VIC. Ski by head lamp, dance to the “Roadside Mystics,” enjoy delicious snacks prepared by Paul Smith’s culinary students, warm yourself by the bon fire and take a chance on the silent auction. Wear your big winter bunny boots, but bring your dancing shoes, and join us for a night of music and inside and outside fun. $15 per person, $25 per couple.

Sunday, March 4 – Snow Patrol Track Workshop
The Paul Smith’s College VIC invites you to learn about tracks. A VIC naturalist will teach you to identify tracks and use those skills out on the trail. Sessions start at 1 p.m. Participants will return to the building to have hot chocolate and make tracks to take home. Please dress warm. Free for children accompanied by adults. $10/session for VIC adult season-pass holders, $20/session for all others (includes a day pass). Snowshoe rentals available for additional fee. Please call the VIC at (518) 327-6241 to register.

Thursday, March 8 – Armchair Traveler Lecture Series
Join us at 7 p.m. for a presentation by Peter Plumley on “Paleomagnetism and the Adirondacks.” Learn something new from an expert or expand your knowledge about distant places from someone who’s been there. Free to season-pass holders and students; $5/lecture for all others. Please call the Paul Smith’s College VIC at (518) 327-6241 for more information.

More Info: Paul Smith’s College VIC

Tags: events·franklin county·paul smiths·vic

DEC’s Saratoga Tree Nursery Kicks of Annual Tree and Shrub Seedling Sale and Giveaways

February 14th, 2012 · No Comments · Adirondack News

Landowners Can Take Advantage of Low-Cost Native Plants, Schools Can Get Them Free

NYSDEC Logo More than 50 species of trees and shrubs are now available to schools and public and private landowners at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Saratoga Tree Nursery, DEC announced today. The Saratoga Tree Nursery provides trees for erosion control, wildlife habitat, reforestation and other uses.

Public and Private Landowners

The program provides low-cost, native planting materials from New York sources to encourage landowners to enhance the state’s environment for future generations. The Saratoga Tree Nursery also offers a few non-native species which can enhance wildlife plantings and/or assist with stream bank stabilization. For instance, toringo crabapple provides a winter food source for wild turkey, grouse and deer and streamco willow is used in many stabilization projects.

The minimum order is 25 for conifers, hardwoods and wildlife shrubs and 50 for container stock. Mixed species packets of 30-100 wildlife shrubs are also available for homeowners to attract wildlife. The Saratoga Tree Nursery sells primarily bare-root stock, but a few species are available as containerized stock (grown in a greenhouse).

Landowners can get planting advice from their nearest DEC forestry office or private forestry consultant. The 2012 Tree and Shrub brochure can be found on the DEC’s website http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/9395.html or by calling the Saratoga Tree Nursery at (518) 581-1439.

To order seedlings by phone, call the Saratoga Tree Nursery on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at (518) 587-1120. Mail orders are also accepted and can be sent to the NYS DEC Saratoga Tree Nursery, 2369 Route 50, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Orders may be placed through mid-May. Seedlings are shipped from mid-April to mid -May.

Schools

Schools across New York can receive free seedlings for spring planting through the DEC School Seedling Program which provides 50 tree seedlings or a mixed packet of 30 wildlife shrubs to any public or private school that would like to participate.
The seedlings can be planted on school grounds or other community spaces. Teachers and students are encouraged to plan the project ahead of time by discussing the value trees contribute to the environment and to determine the objectives of tree planting.

To participate in DEC’s School Seedling Program, schools should download an application from http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/9393.html, contact the Saratoga Tree Nursery at (518) 581-1439 or contact the nearest DEC regional forestry office to request a “School Seedlings” brochure. The brochure contains all the information necessary to place an order. Applications must be received at the nursery by April 15, 2012.

The Nursery in Saratoga Springs was created in 1911. More than 1.6 billion seedlings have been produced to enhance and protect the forest resource. For more information, visit: http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/75090.html.

Tags: conservation·dec·saratoga county

FIBT Bobsled & Skeleton World Championships Lake Placid Team Selections

February 13th, 2012 · No Comments · News

Even though there’s not much snow…. We have ICE.

LIVE Coverage

FIBT World Championships 2012 The much anticipated World Championships of Sliding is happening all next week and athletes are already arriving in Lake Placid. This will be the 9th time Lake Placid’s Olympic Track is used for the FIBT World Championships – the last time being 2009 when Steve Holcomb piloted to a US-victory over Switzerland and Germany. That is a BIG DEAL in the sliding-world.

The US-team selections for bobsled and skeleton were just announced today:

The selection committee met yesterday to decide teams competing in World Championships. Holcomb will team with Justin Olsen (San Antonio, Texas), Steve Langton (Melrose, Mass.) and Curt Tomasevicz (Shelby, Neb.) in the USA-1 BMW Night Train sled. Langton was selected to compete with Holcomb in the Under Armour two-man sled.

John Napier (Lake Placid, N.Y.) will compete with Adam Clark (Owenton, Ky.), Chris Fogt (Alpine, Utah) and either Jesse Beckom (Chicago, Ill.) or Chuck Berkeley (Walnut Creek, Calif.) in his National Guard four-man sled, and Fogt will be Napier’s brakeman in the Alamo two-man sled.

Nick Cunningham (Monterey, Calif.) earned his spot as pilot of USA-3. The rookie driver will race with Dallas Robinson (Georgetown, Ky.) in two-man, and Johnny Quinn (McKinney, Texas), Robinson and either Beckom or Berkeley in four-man. Beckom and Berkeley will race off on Wednesday to determine if they will compete with USA-2 or USA-3 next weekend.

The U.S. will field three sleds in the women’s bobsled competition. Elana Meyers (Douglasville, Ga.) will team with Katie Eberling (Palos Hills, Ill.) in the KOA sled as USA-1, while Bree Schaaf (Bremerton, Wash.) and Emily Azevedo (Chico, Calif.) will partner in the Sliding for Hope sled as USA-2. Jazmine Fenlator (Wayne, N.J.) will compete with Ingrid Marcum (Elmhurst, Ill.) in the USA-3 FDNY sled to complete the roster.

Women’s skeleton athletes Katie Uhlaender (Breckenridge, Colo.) and Annie O’Shea (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) both hold records on the Lake Placid track and will be threats for the podium. Matt Antoine (Prairie du Chien, Wisc.) and John Daly (Smithtown, N.Y.) are expected to set the pace in the men’s skeleton event.