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Photos by Alex Cooper/For The Express
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Speculator and the Town of Lake Pleasant held their Independence Day Parade down Rt. 30 to the park on Saturday, July 7, at 7 p.m. Floats, marchers, fire trucks, ambulances and more received applause from the crowds along the route. At 9:30 p.m. there was a fireworks display.
Photos of parade submitted by Dave Nelson
Photos in park by Alex Cooper
The Hamilton County History Fair and War of 1812 re-enactor demonstrations were to start at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, in Speculator. At about 9:58, the heavens opened and a deluge descended. But the rain relented, though the air was very warm and as humid as in any rain forest, and the festivities proceeded Aug. 13 at the Pavilion and Ball Field in Speculator.
Photos by Jack Leadley Jr.
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Story & Photos by Dave Warner
The Gem*Radio production of The Lone Ranger radio drama took to the stage at the Indian Lake Theater last Sunday.
Actors stepped up to the microphone and then whirled around to change clothes and character. Foley artists made sounds to go along with the script – from coconuts clashing together to sound like hoofs of horses, to bb’s in a balloon to simulate the sound of an avalanche.
According to Hannah Jay the director‚ “It was a lot of fun to put together. It was a lot of fun picking out the different episodes and which ones we were going to do,” she said.
Hi Yo Silver reverberated from the walls several times as the masked rider solved another crime with his cast of local performers. According to Jay, “It’s amazing how long the Lone Ranger was on – from 1933 until the last episode we did here, which was 1954.”
How did Jay find actors to participate? “Part of it was just seeing who I could get. In this area, everyone has their own lives and they’re busy, but you find people who are interested in it and passionate about it and that you also know can do it,” Jay said.
Sue Montgomery Corey, Executive Director of the Indian Lake Theatre said, “we were absolutely thrilled to have the ‘Lone Ranger Rides Again’ with us today. It’s always fun to show movies here, but we love the live theatrical productions and the Gem*Radio Theater always does such a great job. To have them do a show like the Lone Ranger which was based in the 1930s in a theatre that was built in the 1930s is an incredible thing and a tribute to the Indian Lake community that has kept the theater open all these years,” she said.
It was all great fun and well done – if you leaned back in your chair and closed your eyes for just a minute and listened – you were taken back to the 1930s, 40s and early 50s when you sat in front of your radio and were transported to another place and time.
Photos submitted
Sixty-seven students clued in to conservation at the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District’s 37th annual Lynn Galusha Memorial Conservation Field Day. Fifth- and sixth-graders from Inlet, Lake Pleasant, Wells, and Wheelerville hiked the District’s Adirondack Ecotrail Sept. 22 to learn about natural resource conservation from the experts.
The Inlet Halloween Parade was fast and fun, children and their families gathered at the Inlet Community Church parking lot for the parade and walked the streets with laughter. The Inlet Fire Hall was splendid spooky scene as the Halloween costume contest began. Decorations of ghosts and carved pumpkins along with, pizza, cookies, and apple cider made for another happy Halloween celebration in Inlet.
—Photos by Cathy Bowsher
Photos by Morgan Frisch/Express staff
An Election Day dinner was held at The Inn at Speculator. Donations went to support the Grace United Methodist Women’s community and mission projects.
Photos by Morgan Frisch/Express staff
The Micropolis Cooperative Art Gallery located in the Mohawk Harvest Cooperative Market in Gloversville held an art show on Nov. 4.
Photos by Cathy Bowsher
The 40th annual Snodeo in Old Forge was a blast of winter fun. Snow covered the ground while more continued to fall, a good sign for the opening of the winter season. The pavilion was full of vendors with snowmobile gear, food, and plenty of opportunities for visitors to Christmas shop.
The crowd continued to pour in while the 120cc sleds lined up at the start of the ever growing Kitty-Cat Races (sponsored by the Old Forge Camping Resort). Children took advantage of the wintery weather and rolled down the hills after the race.
The Vintage Snowmobile Show was a hit as well and fun was had by everyone, “We focus on making it about the kids, kids having fun,” said Bobby Dodge, member of and facilitator of events for the Vintage Snowmobile Club of America.
BY AMANDA DESHAW
For The Express
RAQUETTE LAKE — The 17th annual Mike Norris fishing tournament was held in Raquette Lake on Saturday, Jan. 28.
Though it was a blustery snowy day, the tournament still had an excellent turn out with 112 adult participants and 18 junior participants.
Winners were given the chance to be awarded cash prizes in the following categories: Crappie, Brook Trout, Lake Trout, Perch and Salmon. Participants were also given the chance to win door prizes and a chance at winning the 50/50 raffle at the close of the tournament.
Photo by Amanda DeShaw
Mindy Hoegerl, takes on the task of getting the ice into the beginning of the channel where it will makes its way up a conveyer. There are more pics of this interesting tradition inside.
By AMANDA DESHAW
For the Express
RAQUETTE LAKE — Raquette Lake held its annual ice harvest Jan. 28, a tradition that has been going on for more than 100 years.
In 1908 the Raquette Lake Ice Company began to harvest ice from Raquette to ship all over the US. A trade magazine about ice and refrigeration from 1921 says that 500,000 tons of ice, in thicknesses of 18 inches was harvested from Raquette Lake that year.
This year the ice was anywhere from 12 to 15 inches thick. It takes a very large group of volunteers to complete such a large project and volunteers start arriving in the early morning, they work until about 7 p.m.
The crew uses several dump trucks and an ice elevator that looks as if it’s a veteran of many ice harvests, some very long ago.
Carrying on this tradition allows Raquette Lake Supply to keep the Tap Room and hotel, which is located upstairs from the Tap Room, nice and cool during the warmer months.
OLD FORGE — The 2017 Winter Carnival had perfect snowy weather and crowds of people who enjoyed one of the Central Adirondack Association’s premiere events. There was a parade on Friday, Feb. 10, followed by night skating, the Snowflake Derby, a coronation, and spectacular fireworks followed by night skiing with daredevil skiers and a party in the chalet. A good time was had by all.
Photos by Amanda DeShaw
Raquette Lake held its winter carnival from Feb. 17 through Feb. 19 and carried on the tradition of the women’s frying pan contest as well as the cross cut contest. Many activities included kids with a sack race and tug of war, followed by a great fire works show on Feb. 18. It is an event full of old fashioned fun that should not be missed and is worth the short drive just outside of Old Forge.
Photos by Amanda DeShaw
Inlet held its annual Frozen Fire and Lights Festival this past Saturday. The weather throughout the day was something you probably wouldn’t find in a story book but many people still came out to partake in the activities that the festival had to offer. Events included Noah’s Ark build your own animal, face painting, a book sale at the Inlet Library and cardboard sled race followed live music and fire works. The festival usually includes a snowmobile race for the kids but due to weather conditions they decided to cancel that event for safety reasons. Even with the cancellation of the event plenty of fun was had by all.
Photos by Amanda DeShaw
There was enough snow on the ground this year that the sleds didn’t have to race on the grass. The unmodified 2018 models zoomed down the 1,000 foot track to the enjoyment of all of the spectators. This year’s New York Shootout took place on Dec. 9 in Inlet.
Photos by Laura Rubyor
Inlet was full of fun and holiday cheer during Adirondack Christmas on Main Street, which ran from Nov. 24 through 26. There were children making stuffed animals at the Noah’s Ark Workshop, and bakers brought out their best for the Inlet’s Best Holiday Pie contest. Ugly sweaters were worn and the big Christmas tree was lit. Everyone had a great time and it got the season started off right.
Photos submitted
Snowmobile time trials were held Saturday, Feb. 17, on Adirondack Lake as part of the weeklong Snocade in Indian Lake.
The time trials were sponsored by the Indian Lake Snowarriors Snowmobile Club.
Top speeds on the ¼ mile track exceeded 80 mph, with some nearing the 100 mph mark.
Photos by Pete Klein
This year’s Frozen Fire and Lights was a little different with the unusual warm February weather. Great events took place all day from sunrise to sundown. There was a royal coronation, Noah’s Ark animal stuffing at Town Hall and a snowshoe demonstration and cardboard sled race at Fern Park. Things may not have been totally frozen, but they were totally fun.
Photos by Laura Rubyor
Photo courtesy of Ezra Slabaugh
This year has been another long winter and as such, an abominable snowman has moved into the Village of Speculator and the Town of Lake Pleasant. There have been many sightings such as at the Lake Pleasant’s Transfer Station, Charlie Johns Store, Speculator Department Store, Oak Mountain, during the Maple Fest Events, Speculator Spirits and many other places. The local folks are calling him, “Adi the Adirondack Yeti.” He seems harmless and is a very curious creature. But rumor has it that once there is no more snow, the yeti will pack up and go. However, others are saying that these sightings are due to cabin fever. If you do see Adi the Yeti, contact Speculator’s Chamber of Commerce. They are collecting photos and reports.
