A job well done

Dear Cris,

My family is so grateful to all of the folks who pulled together to complete a project I was hard pressed to believe could ever be accomplished.

With the help of Elizabeth Mangle and Lenny Croote of Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District, Carl Schwartz and Martha Naley of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Skip Sanders and Superintendant Clay Early Jr. of the Town of Wells Highway Department and Town of Wells Supervisor Brian Towers the restoration of the river bank north of Lake Algonquin, locally referred to as “Cave Banks,” has taken a huge step forward to its eventual rejuvenation.

The collapsing riverbank has for many years been subject to extensive erosion affecting homes and contributing untold thousands of cubic yards of sediment to the lake, impacting the entire community.

The devastating effects of last year’s Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee set in motion the circumstances that allowed funding for the restoration effort to take place.

A grant from the State of New York covered the expense of this project, as well as a number of other storm-related damage projects; and a permit issued by the Department of Environmental Conservation allowing the repair to proceed were the lynch pins in this hard fought battle to finally address this problem that has affected the lake for many years.

We’d like to extend our appreciation and kudos to all the good people who worked so hard to make this project happen and help set the groundwork for this environmentally sound solution to a long-standing problem.

Doug & Mary Ermides

Wells & Guilderland

DOT, do your part

Cris,

We moved to Speculator in 1947 and lived there until 1986 always impressed by the natural beauty of the area. We live in Lake Pleasant now.

Every time we go down to downtown Speculator to shop we ride down the main street past the ball field, pavilion and beach. This year the beauty was unsurpassed.

Gorgeous flowers in wooden tubs along the highway and in the four corners triangle are a tribute to the loving people who donate much of their time, energy and money to beautify their community.

Homeowners and business folks also did their share. It wasn’t just there; the “Beautifiers” planted around the chamber of commerce, county courthouse, town hall and other places. All those “angels” who did the work deserve our thanks.

Thousands of tourists enjoyed a visit here. Their memories will be with them until next summer. A memory I hope they forget is the disgraceful condition of the highway at the Speculator Four Corners, enough to knock a wheel off a vehicle.

The NYS DOT should be ashamed. They did some nice patching between Speculator and Piseco. Just a little patching at the four corners would have made a world of difference in visitors’ impressions. C’mon DOT, do your part.

Don Leadley

Lake Pleasant

With much thanks

Dear Editor,

The Indian Lake Volunteer Ambulance Corps wishes to express its appreciation to the members and friends of the corps who so generously volunteered their time during our Labor Day weekend fund-raiser, thus making the solicitation such a success.

Without public-spirited people like them, small rural communities such as ours would be dull places indeed. We need them and we thank them.

Jean Turner, Jane Locke

and Richard Leonard for

Indian Lake Volunteer

Ambulance Corps

Farewell, Long Lake

Dear Editor,

After 40 years in the hospitality business, my father and I are sad to leave Long Lake after 24 seasons. We are still grieving for my mother, Carmella, but we are looking forward to starting a new chapter with Dad’s retirement.

My parents came from the generation that built this country. A pioneering spirit, entrepreneurial insight, a strong work ethic and kindness: this is what it takes to own and operate a motel, especially in the remote North Country.

My parents’ first venture into the hospitality business was Lyons Motel, Cottages and Restaurant nestled in a small town in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. My dad had been a civil engineer and my mom was an accounts payable manager for a chain of supermarkets.

We put together what we knew and learned the rest as we went along. We all worked hard and wore many hats. My dad’s entrepreneurial spirit and vision, along with my mom’s perseverance and business savvy, made them successful innkeepers.

There were challenges during those years, such as the oil crisis limiting the travel of vacationers. Dad worked out a deal with the local gas stations to guarantee his guests would have gasoline for their travels.

One Sunday afternoon, over lunch with then-Governor Melvin Thompson, they discussed how a trail system would enhance the various businesses in northern New Hampshire. Dad was instrumental in developing a 166-mile snowmobile trail from Twin Mountain, N.H. through Vermont and Maine and up into Canada.

As I end this story, I’d like to reference my life in the business. At the age of 16, during our ownership of Lyons Restaurant, Motel and Cottages, I learned what it takes to operate a business and about the “essence” of the hospitality trade. It takes a special soul to operate in the hospitality trade, and I admire and appreciate the lessons I learned from my parents.

We were a team - Art, Carmella and Cathy - nothing would get in our way.

On behalf of my father and myself, we would like to say thank you and goodbye to the many friends we made during our years in Long Lake and the Adirondack Park. Until we meet again,

Cathy M. Lyons

Long Lake

Teens are gambling

Dear Editor,

Startling statistics about youth gambling have been brought to our attention. Can you believe 48 percent of 7-12 graders have gambled in the past year in New York state? Of these teens, 28 percent also have a problem with chemical dependence.

These statistics come from the New York State Department of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services. Children need to be made aware that gambling is not a way to make money and that there are many risks and bad consequences when gambling becomes a problem.

Things to look for in your teens if gambling is becoming a problem for them: Are they using gambling lingo, “point spread or chips”? Do they bring up gambling in conversations? Do they watch programs associated with gambling? Are they having mood swings and/or difficulties in school with grades dropping and poor performance? Unexplained absences? Need more money for school or other outings? Are there items missing from your home?

Before problems start make sure you have an open relationship with your children. Let them know they can talk with you about anything. Reassure them how much you love and care for them.

The average teen is impulsive and aggressive and they like to take risks. They are very easily influenced by peer pressure.

Look in the family; are there problems with gambling? If so talk with your children about addictions. If you need professional help it is available.

The national problem gambling hotline is 1-800-522-4700, the website for the National Center for Responsible Gambling is www.ncrg.org and the NYS 24 hour helpline is 1-877-846-7369.

For more information contact Betsy Reksc of the HFM Prevention Council at (518) 736-8188 ext. 107.

Betsy Reksc

HFM Prevention Council

Johnstown

Family Fun Day a hit

Dear Cris,

The Hamilton County Youth Board would like to thank the many local businesses, organizations, town and county agencies and volunteers who helped us make our Third Annual Family Fun Day a huge success.

This year over 500 people attended from all over Hamilton County and surrounding communities. Participants were able to partake in various activities such as rock climbing, bounce houses, waterslides, storytelling, K-9 demonstrations and a hula-hoop challenge.

They could also receive a free Child Safe ID card, a free health care screening, get their faces painted, check out displays from DEC and local sheriff’s department and listen to live music from the renowned band from Lexington Center in Gloversville, Flame.

Through the generosity of local businesses throughout Hamilton County we were able to give away over 60 prizes. We also collected non-perishable food items that were donated to local food pantries.

The purpose of this event is to provide a low cost opportunity for families to partake in activities free of alcohol, tobacco and other substances while learning all about the various resources and opportunities we have to offer here in Hamilton County.

The Hamilton County Youth Board has hosted a variety of other activities including a Fall Festival, youth summits, countywide dances and much more.

If you are interested in joining the Hamilton County Youth Board please contact Brandy Richards at 648-5355.

Thank you again to the countless people and organizations that have donated time, prizes and money and supported our event for the third year in a row. Mark your calendars for next year’s Family Fun Day Monday, Aug. 5, 2013.

Brandy Richards for the

Hamilton County Youth Board