Hamilton County Express

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MAKING BOOK BRICKS —Participants at the Lake Pleasant Public Library’s Make a Book Brick program on July 9 each painted ...
07/21/2025

MAKING BOOK BRICKS —

Participants at the Lake Pleasant Public Library’s Make a Book Brick program on July 9 each painted a brick to like a favorite book cover. Shown are a few of the finished bricks.

About the week of July 16, 1977…In Lake Pleasant & Speculator –Pictured is a photo from the Hamilton County News in July...
07/20/2025

About the week of July 16, 1977…

In Lake Pleasant & Speculator –

Pictured is a photo from the Hamilton County News in July, 1977 of Don Ranck of Speculator, who was the ranking amateur painter at Speculator’s Art Festival, shown with some of his work at the show.

When the popular vote was tallied at the Saturday’s 12th Annual Art Festival in Speculator in July of 1977, Don Ranck, who lived in the village, came out with first prize for the amateur painters exhibiting at the highly popular and well attended show.

Despite threatening skies, the exhibit, which began at 10 in the morning, made it through to the close at three without a rain shower. A large number of tourists and townspeople were on hand to cast their ballots in several categories.

The winners and runners-up in each category were announced as follows:

• Professional Painting First Place -B. Spenser;

• Amateur Painting First Place -D. Ranck;

• Photographs First Place -T. Lewis;

• Graphics First Place -Hennessy;

• Children First Place – R. Smith.

The painting which was raffled off at the show was won by Ed Taylor of Northwood Lodge, whom himself was a painter.

Read more from The Way Things Were by Aaron Weaver:
https://wp.me/peJPvR-3zE

07/19/2025

The Village of Speculator invites all interested members of the public to participate in a public workshop for its comprehensive plan on Thursday, July 24 at the Speculator Farmers Market from noon to 4 p.m.

This is a drop-in style event, and participants are welcome to stop by at any time and stay for as little or as long as they’d like. The Comprehensive Plan will be used to guide and shape the future of the community. Public input is vital to the development of this plan, and interested community members are encouraged to be an active part of the process.

Please visit the project website https://sites.google.com/view/speculatorcomprehensiveplan/home to learn more about the project and take the community survey.

The plan is funded by a grant to the village from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Adirondack Communities Smart Growth Grant program. The Lake Champlain Lake George Regional Planning Board is leading this effort with guidance from a Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee comprised of community members and representatives.

A comprehensive plan is a long-term strategic document that outlines a community’s vision for the future and identifies the goals needed to achieve it. The plan will reflect shared community values and priorities, which may include land use, housing, infrastructure, tourism and economic development, natural resource protection, and arts and culture.

The Farmers Market is held at the Speculator Pavilion 2834 Route 30, Speculator.

Speculator Lions Club Scholarship awarded to Ava Dwyer —Each year the Speculator Lions Club provides a scholarship to a ...
07/18/2025

Speculator Lions Club Scholarship awarded to Ava Dwyer —

Each year the Speculator Lions Club provides a scholarship to a deserving college-bound student in honor of “Mary Ann Ryan and Fred Miller, Jr.”

Ms. Ryan was the first woman to join the Speculator Lion’s Club and Mr. Miller was a lifetime member of the club.

All students who apply for the scholarship must be college bound and are judged in academic proficiency, potential, extracurricular activity, need, and in overall excellence throughout their high school years. The committee also receives recommendations from the school’s faculty and counselors. All the information is presented to the Lion’s Club Scholarship Committee, and they determine the award recipient.

This year it gives the Committee great pleasure to present to Ava Grace Dwyer (pictured) from Wells, the “Mary Ann Ryan and Fred Miller Jr.” Memorial Scholarship Award in the amount of $3,000. Ava is the daughter of Rachelle and Benjie Dwyer of Wells.

Ava will be studying nursing at Hudson Valley Community College.

Ava was named as the Valedictorian of the Wells Central School Class of 2025.

Ava was the president of the Student Council and president of the Creative Writing Club. She was also a member of the National Honor Society, the Athletic Association, the International Club, SADD, Drama Club, and Ski Club. She has been one of the team captains for the Varsity Soccer, Varsity Softball, and Varsity Basketball teams. Outside of school, Ava enjoys playing piano for her church, volunteering at the Vacation Bible School as a youth leader, helping with the One District One book reading program, assisting with the Red Cross blood drives, the Community Pride Day, and the local food drive.

As the recipient of the award, the Ava must:

• Successfully complete 1-semester at her respective institution and have a 2.0 grade average or better;

• Submit her college transcript indicating her academic grades to the Superintendent of the Lake Pleasant School no later than January 5th, 2026.

• If the college that she chosen does not re-open this fall, but she has elected, or is required to take courses on-line that do not offer academic grades, she must provide written proof that you have successfully passed all her courses.

• The financial award will then be presented at a special award dinner at a mutual suitable date in January 2026.

— By PETE NEWELL, For the Express

07/17/2025

Have you struggled with black bears issues? Or are enthralled by their fuzzy ears and want to know more about them? If so, join Cornell Cooperative Extension for Lou Berchielli’s presentation, “Black Bears in the Adirondacks,” at the Lake Pleasant Public Library on July 19 at 2 p.m.

Berchielli is a retired wildlife biologist and manager, that has spent 30 years of his career with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as a Black Bear Specialist. During that time, he has had countless encounters with black bears, from capturing cubs and adults for monitoring to investigating black bear related problems, including bird feeder incidents, to home entries, to human injuries.

Drop in and learn about the life history of black bear in the Adirondacks and learn how to solve your black bear issues from someone speaking from years of experience.

Walk-ins are welcomed, but you are able to pre-register for the event by calling our office at 518-548-6191 to save a seat. The presentation is free to attend.

—Jamila Page, Program Director, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Hamilton County

07/14/2025

The Virginia Hosley Free Library on Route 30 in Wells, will hold a book sale on Friday, July 18 and Saturday, July 19, at the Wells Community Hall during the town wide garage sale.

All items are priced as donations and any gifts help the library buy new and requested books. This is a good time to get stocked up on summer reading material

The library is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-3 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon.

Cozy Crafters takes place at the library every Tuesday from 1-3 p.m. with Grace Morrison. For further information, please call Theresa 518-495-8918 or Alice 518-924-2220.

About the week of July 9, 1977…In Blue Mountain Lake —Fun historical facts mentioned in the Hamilton County News in July...
07/13/2025

About the week of July 9, 1977…

In Blue Mountain Lake —
Fun historical facts mentioned in the Hamilton County News in July of 1977: The Blue Mountain Lake Hotel that is shown was in an old photo taken around 1880, burned in 1886, and was replaced by a much larger structure the following summer.

The 1887 edition of Wallace’s Descriptive Guide to the Adirondacks said this about the place: “The Blue Mountain Lake Hotel-John Holland, manager- is delightfully situated on the east side, on an elevation which looks off o the bewitching waters of the lake and gently slopes to the gilded beach. This house has been trebled in capacity within the last five years-the rapidly increasing patronage demanded this-and can now provide for a large number of guests…Taking it all in all, and superior management, it is fast winning one of the first positions among summer retreats.” - file photo

Read more from The Way Things Were by Aaron Weaver:
https://wp.me/peJPvR-3xK

The winners of the thirteenth annual contest sponsored by the Lake Pleasant Sacandaga Association (LPSA) at Lake Pleasan...
07/12/2025

The winners of the thirteenth annual contest sponsored by the Lake Pleasant Sacandaga Association (LPSA) at Lake Pleasant Central School were announced at the school’s annual awards ceremony held the morning of June 24.

Each of the students in 7th and 8th grade worked on research projects concerning aquatic invasive species and the problems caused by their introduction into our lakes as well as the trickle-down effects on the local economy. This year’s projects were coordinated with a field trip sponsored by LPSA to Lake George on the Lake George Association’s Floating Classroom along with a trip to a feeder stream to the lake.

The students’ projects were presented for review using advanced computer techniques. Finalists were chosen by a panel of staff members. The finalists subsequently presented their projects to a review panel of LPSA representatives, who selected the rankings of the winners. The presentations this year included many new invasive species, both plant and animal that had never been covered in previous years.

Each winner received a framed certificate from LPSA, along with a gift card as a reward for their accomplishments. Most importantly, all participants acquired a tremendous wealth of knowledge on a subject that affects all of us who love and utilize our lakes and waterways.

All finalists did an excellent job with their presentations, which made the job of the review panel very difficult. The results below confirm that in most cases it was almost impossible to rank the various presentations.

The contest winners, as chosen among the finalists are as follows:

First Place – Josie Parslow;
Second Place – Lilyana Mendez;
Third Place Tie – Elia Reenders and Emma Crouse; and
Honorable Mention Tie – Liiam Humphrey and Adeliz Ruiz.

Pictured, from left, are Lake Pleasant Sacandaga Association First Vice President Rich Armstrong; Josie Parslow – First Place; Lilyana Mendez – Second Place; Emma Crouse – Third Place tie; Elia Reenders – Third Place tie; Adeliz Ruiz – Honorable Mention tie; Liam Humphrey – Honorable Mention tie; and Charlie Ascher, LPSA Education Committee. — Photo courtesy of Lake Pleasant Sacandaga Association

— By Charlie Ascher, For the Express

The Speculator Lions Club continues to give back to the local community — Barbara Pedersen, Speculator Lions Service Cha...
07/11/2025

The Speculator Lions Club continues to give back to the local community — Barbara Pedersen, Speculator Lions Service Chairperson, presented checks at the monthly Speculator Lions Club meeting on June 19 to three local organizations to support specific needs.

Loaves and Fishes at North Country Bible Fellowship, represented by Mel and Laura LaScola, serves the needs of local singles and families through the gift of healthy and nutritious foods every month. The Speculator Lions Club is donating money to provide for 3 holiday meals for those in need, including Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas meals.

The Lake Pleasant Senior Citizens Group Inc., represented by Pauline Slack and Sally Gallup, hosts recreational and social activities, monthly meetings, coordinates senior bus shopping trips throughout the year, and is the nutritional meal site for Hamilton County. The Speculator Lions Club was able to donate money towards new flooring in the entryway of the Senior Center building.

The Speculator Lions Club was able to donate money to the Village of Speculator, represented by Mayor Jeannett Barrett, towards the expansion of the local playground at the Sacandaga Park. The money will be used toward interactive musical instruments for all to enjoy.

The club is currently holding a raffle for 2 Lectric XP 3.0 ebikes, tickets are 1 for $5 or 6 for $20. Club members will be at Charlie Johns on Saturday and Sunday mornings this summer selling the raffle tickets, please support the club and buy your tickets. The bikes will be raffled at the Annual Richard Newell Fly In Drive In Pancake Breakfast at Piseco Airport on Saturday, August 23, from 8-11 a.m. This event draws hundreds of people each year, and up to 50 planes fly in from the greater New York area and other states as well.

The Speculator Lions Club is currently seeking new members to help with local activities and events, which allows the club to give back to our community. Please check out the club website at https://speculatorlions.org/.

Pictured, Speculator Lions Club Service Chairperson Barbara Pedersen presented donations from the club to three local organizations during their meeting on June 19: Loaves and Fishes at North Country Bible Fellowship; The Lake Pleasant Senior Citizens Group Inc., and the Village of Speculator. — Photos submitted

The Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts (ALCA) presents “The Gin Game” to kick off the 2025 ADK LakesTheatre Festival w...
07/10/2025

The Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts (ALCA) presents “The Gin Game” to kick off the 2025 ADK LakesTheatre Festival with touring performances July 11-17.

Written by D.L. Coburn, the 1978 Pulitzer Prize-winning play stars Adirondack favorites Jordan Hornstein as Weller Martin and Anne Buckwheat as Fonsia Dorsey, two weathered souls competing for secrets and satisfaction through the metaphor of a card game. This production is co-directed by Hornstein and ALCA’s own Karen Lordi-Kirkham.

Performances open Friday, July 11, and Saturday, July 12, at 7:30 p.m. at the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts and will tour to various venues around the Adirondack Park, including: Tannery Pond Center in North Creek on July 13, at 3 p.m.; Indian Lake Theater on Monday, July 14, at 7:30 p.m.; View Arts Center in Old Forge on July 15, at 7:30 p.m.; and the Wild Center in Tupper Lake on July 17 at 7:30 p.m. Advanced discounted tickets are available online at adirondackarts.org. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door.

Originally starring Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn, “The Gin Game” was later revived with Julie Harris and Charles Durning, using a card game as a metaphor for life. Weller Martin is playing solitaire on the porch of a seedy nursing home. Enter Fonsia Dorsey, a prim, self-righteous lady. They discover they both dislike the home and enjoy gin rummy, so they begin to play and reveal intimate details of their lives. Fonsia wins every time, and their secrets become weapons used against one another. Weller longs for a victory to counter a lifetime of defeats. This performance will have two acts and include an intermission.

For more information visit adirondackarts.org. The Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts is now located at 8897 State Route 30, Blue Mountain Lake.

Pictured, Jordan Hornstein and Anne Buckwheat rehearse “The Gin Game” in ALCA’s new performance space. — Photo courtesy of ALCA

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