Joe Pete Wilson
Keene plans its future
KEENE VALLEY | Keene took its first steps last week toward drawing up a resident-driven master plan that will guide the town board as it tackles five front-burner issues that will affect the community for years and decades to come. Read more
Seeking advice
RAY BROOK | Almost like flood waters, surges in hikers on certain days in the High Peaks overwhelm highways and trails, then recede to leave the towns and state with lots of cleaning up to do. Read more
Photo by Tim Rowland
When nature calls
KEENE | The stress caused by an intense interest in the High Peaks this fall has turned forest rangers into meter maids, hikers into vandals, elected officials into parking-lot attendants and state parking policies into not-so-funny jokes. Read more
Photo by Tim Rowland
Garden close to reopening
KEENE VALLEY | After being closed for the summer, a popular High Peaks trailhead known as The Garden is about three weeks from reopening, according to Keene Supervisor Joe Pete Wilson. Read more
Photo by Laura Achouatte
Parking nixed on Route 73
KEENE | This past Father’s Day weekend, the Department of Environmental Conservation began a no-parking policy on Route 73 stretching from Keene to Lake Placid, at highly popular and overrun trail heads to several locations. Read more
Photo by Elizabeth Izzo
Essex County advances EMS pilot program
Elizabethtown | Essex County is in the early stages of implementing a pilot program designed to address critical emergency service gaps and labor shortages. Read more
File photo
Essex County moves forward with proposal to increase bed tax — again
ELIZABETHTOWN | The Essex County Board of Supervisors’ Economic Development Committee voted last week to move forward with a controversial proposal to raise the county’s tax on hotel rooms by 2 percent. Read more
Photo by Danielle Rock
State-funded broadband build-outs making progress — but for lawmakers, anxiety lingers
ELIZABETHTOWN | Local residents are beginning to see the fruits of state-funded broadband expansion efforts. Read more
Photo provided
State budget process brings renewed call for more rangers
RAY BROOK | The campaign to increase the number of Forest Rangers who patrol the Adirondack Park has taken center stage in state budget hearings. Read more
File photo
Authorities probing suspicious package sent to lawmaker
ELIZABETHTOWN | Authorities are investigating a suspicious package sent to a local lawmaker’s home. Read more
Keene Town Budget stays under 1 percent tax cap
KEENE | The preliminary town spending plan for 2019 stayed within the one percent tax levy cap set by the state. Read more
Photo by Pete DeMola
State bans parking along stretch of Route 73
KEENE | Parking on Route 73 near the Roaring Brook Falls Trailhead will be permanently banned starting Friday, the state Department of Environmental Conservation has announced, and “No Parking” signs will be installed by the end of the week. Read more
Photo by Pete DeMola
Nonprofit offers to serve as broadband conduit
ELIZABETHTOWN | A nonprofit has stepped forward to serve as a conduit between local government and the state agency overseeing the broadband build-out effort. Read more
Photo by Pete DeMola
Essex County OKs raising legal age to purchase tobacco products
ELIZABETHTOWN | Essex County has become the latest county in New York state to raise the legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21. Read more
Photo provided/Office of the Governor
Hochul touts Adirondack tourism in North Creek
NORTH CREEK | Tourism statewide is booming. Read more
Essex County to revisit Tobacco 21
ELIZABETHTOWN | The Essex County Board of Supervisors is bringing the county’s proposed Tobacco 21 law back to a vote. Read more
Photo provided/DEC
Community reacts to initial High Peaks overuse solutions
KEENE | The state has rolled out the first phase in a multi-year plan to address overuse on some of the Adirondacks’ most popular hiking trails. Read more
Keith Lobdell
Essex County votes against raising tobacco age
ELIZABETHTOWN | The Essex County Board of Supervisors has torpedoed a proposed local law to change the legal age at which someone could purchase tobacco in the county. Read more
Photo by Pete DeMola
Survey reveals High Peaks parking lots ‘routinely’ above capacity
KEENE | Close to 80 percent of all trailheads leading into the High Peaks are routinely above their capacity on fall weekends, according to a new survey. Read more
County files no confidence motion in NCCC leadership
ELIZABETHTOWN | After waiting a month, the Essex County Board of Supervisors went through with a vote April 9 of “no confidence” when it comes to North Country Community College (NCCC) President Dr. Steven Tyrell and the administration. Read more
