FOUR CANDIDATES SEEK TWO SL SCHOOL BOARD SEATS

Voters in the Saranac Lake Central School District will have four candidates to choose from for two available seats on the Saranac Lake School Board when they go to the polls on Tuesday.

Milt Adams, an environmental education teacher at the Adirondack Park Agency’s Visitor Interpretive Center in Paul Smiths said the Saranac Lake Central School District could save money through improved conservation.

Rising fuel costs in heating oil and diesel is one of the district’s major expenses. He said the district should undertake an energy audit by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority or NYSERDA.

“I think that sets me apart is that I have a plan, if you will, on how to go about saving money for the district by going through some energy audits and these can be reimbursed through NYSERDA grants,” Adams said.

Adams is a resident of Lake Clear and has two school-aged children.  One of his kids attends Lake Clear Elementary, which the district is considering closing.

Adams said an ad-hoc committee looking into the issue should be allowed to do its work and present its findings before a decision is made.   “As long as their research is done in a transparent way and that they let the public know either through publicity or through school board meetings,” Adams said. “I will stand by whatever their findings are.”

He also said the district could lower its overhead by increasing recycling.

Esther Arlan, who served nine years on the school board in the mid-eighties to early nineties, said she’s running on a platform of improving education while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

A retired career education professional in Massachusetts, Arlan has been active in the local Rotary organization and said her focus is to improve education while looking for ways to boost efficiency.

“I have no conflicts,” she said. “I have no one employed in the district, I have no kids in the district. I have a vested interest in education.”

Arlan said she agrees with those who have requested that the school facilities be opened up for community events and programs. “I’d like to see us use our school buildings more in the evenings,” she said.

The issue of whether to shutter Lake Clear Elementary was an issue when Arlan was a member of the school board in the past. She said the committee should be allowed to report its findings before the school board makes up its mind. But it needs to happen soon, she said.

“I want the committee to do its work and come back and explain one way or the other. But I think the issue should be settled and we shouldn’t keep reinventing the wheel and we shouldn’t spend any more money on consultants to come in. I think that a decision should be made this year.”

Also in the running for a seat on the school board is Clyde Baker, a local businessman and real estate agent who co-owns Rice Furniture.

Baker said Saranac Lake has a good school system and he wants to keep it that way.  “We’re producing very well-rounded young adults,” he said.  “I want to make sure it stays that way.  The kids have to come first, while keeping in mind that we have to watch spending.  Taxes are outrageous here.”

To help offset increased personnel costs, Baker said the district’s employees should be making a larger contribution towards their health insurance coverage.  “I think it’s the wave of the future,” he said.  “It’s going to have to be done.”

Baker has a son whose a ninth grader and his wife is also a teacher in the district.  He said that gives him insight on what’s happening in Saranac Lake’s schools.  “Being in touch with the kids and the school, I think is an asset,” he said.  “People who are detached from the school and don’t really have any participation in the school are out there without knowing what’s going on from a day to day basis.” 

Asked about Lake Clear Elementary, Baker said he wants to see what the committee studying the issue has to say before making up his mind. 

Rick Gonyea, a retired corrections officer who led a campaign to keep Camp Gabriels open, said he supports keeping the school open, unless the committee can convince him otherwise.  “Lake Clear School is part of that community,” he said.  “I’ll be interested to see what the committee comes up with, maybe they’ll have new ideas that might change my mind.  The way it stands right now, I don’t see enough reason for that to close.”

Gonyea decided to run for school board last year after he got involved in an effort to add another first-grade class at Bloomingdale. 

He wants to serve as a liaison between teaching staff and the school board. “I’ve got a lot of time,” he said.  “I’d like teachers to be able to come and talk to me.  I want to be hands on – I want to be in the schools.  If the teachers tell me something, I can bring it back to the school board.”

Gonyea said he knows the impact of rising property taxes on area residents.  He said he can still support passing a budget with increased taxes, but only if the money is used for educational purposes.  “We can’t let the kids get behind,” he said.

Gonyea also said the fact that he has two children in the school system, doesn’t mean he can’t make fair decisions as a member of the school board. 

Tuesday’s vote takes place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the district offices.

-Chris Knight

CHINESE DELEGATION VISITS ADIRONDACKS

A delegation of Chinese national park managers visited the Adirondacks last week to learn about the unique conservation model used by the Adirondack Park.

About two dozen managers from across China spent three days touring the region. They met with officials from the Adirondack Park Agency, Department of Environmental Conservation and local governments for a fact-finding mission.  They intend to take what they learned back to China where the government has set aside 15 percent of its land as “protected areas,” according to organizers.

On Friday, after climbing Mount Jo and listening to several hours of presentations on how the APA and DEC manage state and private land, the group walked up the Scarface Trail outside of Ray Brook.

Steve Gugliemi, a DEC forester in charge of the nearby state land, explained the balance his agency strives for when it has to make decisions that affect competing recreational interests. An interpreter translated.

“In the winter, the railroad tracks are used by snowmobilers – it’s a prime snowmobile corridor. The trail we’re on here is a prime cross-country ski trail.”

The delegation was told that there are laws designed to give the public input in the decision making process.   “We use a public process to make our decisions,” he said. “We make sure that we involve the public on what uses we allow on the certain trails.”

At the railroad crossing, they were met by Tim Holmes of the Adirondack North Country Association. He described the joint effort between the state and Town of North Elba to build a bike and walking path that will parallel the rails.

Holmes explained that the railroad path project has been led by local officials and volunteers with only limited direct support from state and federal agencies.

“It’s kind of a bottom-up where the town has to take the initiative to do all the work and the [state] government will support it but not pay for the whole thing.” 

The delegation stayed at the Adirondack Mountain Club’s Adirondack Loj during their visit.

The Wednesday through Friday tour was just one of several national and state parks the delegation will visit in the United States over two weeks. The project is being run by the East-West Center, a Honolulu-based education and research foundation set up by Congress nearly 50 years ago.

It’s not uncommon for the Adirondack Park to receive visitors from abroad. A delegation from India is expected next month.

-Jacob Resneck

WAWBEEK BUILDINGS TO BE DEMOLISHED

Two historic buildings from the former Wawbeek Resort on Upper Saranac Lake will be coming down, an attorney representing the owners has confirmed.

Tim Smith, an attorney for Dick and Diane Sittig, said two proposals received to move the buildings were rejected by the new owners as not viable.

Following public outcry over the planned demolition, the Sittigs had offered the buildings free of charge to anyone who could remove it from their 30-acre property by May 20.

Historic preservationists had argued that the buildings constitute a unique piece of 19th century architectural history.

In an Op-Ed piece published Thursday in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Dick Sittig wrote that the buildings would be coming down as the cost of saving them would exceed demolition by $175,000. He added that he was surprised by how few proposals were submitted.

“To put it bluntly, after interested parties inspected the building, no one thought it was worth the money and effort to save it,” he wrote.

Reached Friday by WNBZ, Sittig said everything he had to say about the matter was in the op-ed piece and declined further comment.

Adirondack Architectural Heritage, a Keeseville-based preservation group, had successfully lobbied the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to survey the buildings. In April, the state office wrote that the former restaurant and reception building were historically significant and eligible for the National Historic Register.

Steven Englehart of the historic preservation group had argued that the buildings were a unique part of architectural history.  “I am not aware of any other buildings of this quality, of this caliber, that are this well-known that are in a similar situation.”

The Sittigs were apparently unconvinced and will be razing the buildings to make room for a new Great Camp of their own. After revising their plans to make the new house 2.4 inches below the 40-feet height threshold, the Adirondack Park Agency determined that it does not have jurisdiction over the new construction.

An APA review would have required consultation with the state historic preservation office, which could have been an impediment to demolition.

But Engelhart said the project has been designed so as not to trigger any permits other than a town demolition permit – filed May 12 – and there does not appear to be anything left that could legally prevent the buildings from coming down.

“It appears that all of the options and possibilities have been exhausted,” Engelhart said. “It sounds like the Sittigs are not going to allow any more time to allow some of these other things to mature. And it looks like they’ve made up their mind to go ahead and tear these buildings down.”

In his Op-Ed, Sittig appealed to the community for understanding.  “I understand my responsibility to the lake and to the legacy of Adirondack architecture, and I am confident my camp will be an enhancement to both,” he concluded.

-Jacob Resneck

TREASURER ARRESTED FOR STEALING FROM EMS SERVICE

The acting treasurer of an ambulance service in Essex County has been arrested for stealing money from the company’s accounts.

State Police in Lewis say 37 year-old Rebecca A. Rodriguez of Witherbee was charged with third-degree grand larceny, second-degree forgery and first-degree falsifying business records.

Investigators say the probe was sparked by a complaint they received from the Moriah EMS service about discrepancies with their checking account.

The subsequent investigation revealed that Rodriguez, who has been the acting treasurer for the rescue company, had allegedly cashed three checks totaling $9600 from the EMS account. 

Police say Rodriguez had allegedly altered the checking account ledger in an attempt to conceal the withdrawals, and had forged another member’s signature to a check. 

Rodriguez was arrested following an interview on Tuesday.

She was arraigned in Town of Moriah Court and was released on her own recognizance. 

-Chris Knight

POLICE: MAN TRIES TO TORCH HOME WITH FAMILY INSIDE

A Rouses Point man was arrested this weekend for allegedly trying to burn down his home while his wife and children were inside.

State Police in Plattsburgh responded to a report of a domestic dispute around 9 p.m. Saturday night on Chapman Way in the village of Rouses Point.

Police say 35 year-old Scott E. Palmer allegedly assaulted his wife. He then allegedly poured gasoline in the home, igniting a fire, while his wife and three children were still inside. 

They fled the residence and were not seriously injured by the fire. 

Firefighters from three departments responded to the scene and extinguished the blaze, although the home sustained significant damage.

Mrs. Palmer and her children were taken to CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.  The children were treated and released. 

Mrs. Palmer was subsequently transported to Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington for further treatment.

After allegedly setting the residence on fire, police say Scott Palmer fled the area on foot. 

Responding Clinton County Sheriff’s Patrols and State Troopers located him outside the St. Patrick’s Church Rectory. 

He was taken into custody and was transported to CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh where he was treated for a laceration he sustained during the incident.

Palmer was released and subsequently charged with second-degree assault.  He was arraigned and sent to the Clinton County Jail without bail.

Police are continuing their investigation and Palmer is expected to face additional charges.

-Chris Knight

POLICE REPORT

Saranac Lake Police charged 25 year-old Shane A. Paye of Saranac Lake with driving while ability impaired at 5:04 p.m. Sunday.  Police were called to the scene of a property damage auto accident.  Their investigation found Paye was allegedly operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol.  He was processed and released to appear in village court at a later date. 

Saranac Lake Police arrested a local woman today on an arrest warrant.  37 year-old Tina M. Meddaugh of Saranac Lake was picked up on a warrant from Franklin County Family Court for failure to appear for a court hearing.  She was sent to the Franklin County Jail to await arraignment in county court.

Lake Placid Police charged 40 year-old Mark L. Hurwitz of Scarsdale, NY with unlawful possession of marijuana at 8:37 a.m. on Sunday.  Police stopped Hurwitz for a vehicle and traffic violation allegedly found him in possession of a quantity of marijuana.  He was released on an appearance ticket to return to village court at a later date.

Tupper Lake Village Police charged 25 year-old Scott McGregor of Canton with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle at 11 p.m. Friday night.  The arrest occurred after a vehicle stop in the village.  McGregor was processed and released to appear in village court at a later date.

Tupper Lake-based State Police arrested 26 year-old Shaheen R. Shaheen of Tupper Lake early Saturday morning.  Police say they were called to a report of a personal injury accident on Old Wawbeek Road in Tupper Lake.  Shaheen’s vehicle ran off the road, overturned and landed on its roof.  He suffered minor injuries in the crash.  Shaheen was charged with driving while intoxicated, processed and released to appear in Town of Tupper Lake Court.

State Police in Ray Brook charged a Wilmington woman with petit larceny after responding to a shoplifting complaint at Kinney Drugs.  35 year-old Tamara Knox of Wilmington was observed by employees of the store allegedly stealing nine items with a total value of $42.  She was issued an appearance ticket to appear in North Elba Town Court at a later date.

A Lake Placid woman was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated after police responded to a property damage auto accident just before 5 a.m. on Saturday.  Ray Brook-based State Police say 19 year-old Jana Hudak allegedly drove off Averyville Lane, hit a mailbox and a fire hydrant.  In addition to the DWI charge, she faces counts of unlawful possession of marijuana, underage possession of alcohol and moving from lane unsafely.  Hudak was released to appear in North Elba Town Court at a later date.  One truck and 12 members of the Lake Placid Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene, assisting with traffic control.  The Lake Placid Volunteer Ambulance Service and village water department also responded.

State Police in Ray Brook arrested a husband and wife from Lake Placid after being called to domestic dispute on Johnson Avenue on Sunday.  23 year-old Korrin Schofield and 35 year-old Ricky Trombley were each charged with endangering the welfare of a child.  Trombley faces an additional count of third-degree assault.  They were both issued appearance tickets to return to court at a later date.

A passenger boarding a plane at the Adirondack Regional Airport was arrested after being found in possession of marijuana.  State Police in Ray Brook say TSA agents found 38 year-old Howard Arnberg of Florida in possession of a small amount of marijuana.  He was given an appearance ticket for Town of Harrietstown Court.

Lake Placid firefighters were called to a three-car motor vehicle accident on Old Military Road Friday at 9:52 p.m.  One truck and 21 members responded.  They assisted with traffic control.  No injuries were reported.  Firefighters were back at the fire station by 10:57 p.m.