The Inlet Barnstormers Snowmobile Club will have a booth at Snodeo where Club Membership Administrator Cindy Beckley will be accepting membership dues and issuing New York State Snowmobile Association (NYSSA) vouchers. The annual membership dues are $30 per individual or family (additional family members are limited to one spouse or partner and children under age 18). All memberships expire Aug. 31.
The New York State snowmobile registration fee is $45 per snowmobile for those who are members of NYSSA-recognized clubs presenting a membership voucher at the Department of Motor Vehicles. The fee is $100 without the voucher.
Each snowmobile operated in New York State must be properly registered, unless it is used only on its owner’s property. A snowmobile owned by an out of state resident and operated in New York State must be registered in New York State even if it is registered elsewhere.
$10 of the registration fee goes to the Department of Motor Vehicles for their processing efforts. The rest of the fee–$90 or $35, your choice–goes to the Snowmobile Trail Fund, managed by law by the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, where it is distributed through grants to snowmobile clubs, towns, etc. to develop, construct and maintain snowmobile trails and assist with the purchase of grooming equipment. A small portion – generally less than 15 percent – is used for snowmobile law enforcement, safety education efforts, and related administrative expenses.
The Inlet Barnstormers Snowmobile Club grooms trails on state-owned lands adjacent to the Towns of Webb and Inlet Trail System. For additional information, contact Club President Ron Nihill, at (315) 357-5233.

Photo by Cathy Bowsher
Chief Executive Officer of Smith Marine, John Sarkisian shows the newest 2017 Skidoo.

By CATHY BOWSHER
Express Staff
Let the winter fun begin on Friday, Dec. 9, at 8 a.m.
Behind The Ole Barn Restaurant in Inlet, the gates for the American Snowmobiler and Dynotech Research Shootout will open. Spectators are free to mingle with dealers at the gate and are encouraged to stay for the show for a nominal fee of $10. The shootout starts at 11 a.m.
Tuner companies will record output specs of the newest snowmobiles available. “People see how these sleds will really perform,” said Jim Czekala from Dynotech Research. Information gathered at the event will be helpful to the consumer who is looking to purchase a new sled.
Sled goers and spectators will see familiar dealers like Arctic Cat, Polaris, Ski-Doo, Yamaha, and more at the event. Food items will be available for the crowd during the shootout and spectators are encouraged to keep warm with a hot sit down meal at The Ole Barn Restaurant’s friendly after party.
Snodeo’s doors open at 3 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. on Saturday and at 10 a.m. on Sunday. Snodeo will be packed with the latest sleds and gadgets. Mr. and Mrs. Claus will stop by and the little kids have a kitty cat race of their own on Saturday. For a full calendar go to Snodeo.com.
Use the information gathered from the shootout and Snodeo and visit the local dealers.
The Chief Executive Officer of Smith Marine is John Sarkisian. He has the newest 2017 Ski-Doos available for sale at Smith’s Marine located in Old Forge.
Featured in SnoGoer Magazine, Ski-Doo has come out with a new 850-class engine sled equipped with a new chassis and front end design. According to SnowGoer Magazine, the combination is as revolutionary as it is stunning.
Sarkisian invites everyone to check out all of the sleds available at Smith Marine during Snodeo weekend. “We have many sleds in stock,” said Sarkisian. Smith Marine’s Ski-Doo dealer party will be held at Daiker’s starting at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10. “People should go. It’s fun,” said Sarkisian.
Smith Marine is open from Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and then on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
For more information visit, smithmarineagain.com.
James Loson, owner of Don’s Polaris Sales and Service in Old Forge has the latest 2017 Polaris Rush XCR sled available at his shop. “Engine options for the 2017 Polaris Rush XCR LE are the 800 or the 600,” said Loson. “These are made for a stand up ride, and are made to take a beating.” Loson invites patrons to take advantage of his shop’s specials and rebates offered during the weekend. “We offer in-house financing and all 2016 models and leftovers will be priced to sell.”
Don’s Polaris’ dealer party will be held at Wakely’s at Van Auken’s Inne in Thendara on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 6 p.m. until 2 a.m. There is no cover charge to enjoy the live music, door prizes, and finger foods.
Big Moose Yamaha in Eagle Bay has the newest 2017 Yamaha Sidewinder L-TX LE in stock. The Sidewinder boasts a 998cc four-stroke engine with a warranty backed factory Genesis turbo, something sure to please consumers. “We offer in-house financing and even financing on Sundays, which is something important to people,” said Craig Martin, son of owner and operator of Big Moose Yamaha Phil Martin. The Yamaha dealer party will be held at the Big Moose Inn. Join the party at 7 p.m. and enjoy door prizes, entertainment, and drinks.
The Arctic Cat dealer party will at Duffy’s at the Glenmore in Eagle Bay at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10.
Big Moose Yamaha’s regular hours of operation are from Sunday through Monday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. They are closed Tuesdays and re-open on Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information visit bigmooseonline.com
Members of the New York State Snowmobile Club can receive a voucher for New York State sled registration.
Visit www.nyssnowassoc.org for more information.

To kick off the snowmobile season in Old Forge, the Central Adirondack Association will host the 40th annual Snodeo at the George T. Hiltebrant Recreation Center, Dec. 9-11. The center on North Street will be filled with sleds, gear and accessories that no snowmobile enthusiast will want to miss. All four major manufacturers (Arctic Cat, Polaris, Ski Doo and Yamaha) will be on hand with their 2017 models. All the favorite vendors including Cho-Ko, Klim, Sledfreak.com, Mack Studs, RPM Apparel and more will be back with debut appearances from Zowa Optics, Snowmobaby and TNT Sport Cycle.
The pavilion will be full of vendors offering the best of holiday shopping. The door prizes at this 40th anniversary Snodeo will include four premium NFL tickets to the Bills-Jets game New Year’s Day at MetLife Stadium.
Snodeo will open Friday from 3 – 6 p.m., with food provided by North Woods Women’s Club.
Saturday, Dec. 10, Snodeo hours are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. The Vintage Snowmobile Show will begin at 8 a.m. with awards in seventeen different categories, including Best of Show and People’s Choice, at 2 p.m. There is a $5 entry fee and no pre-registration is required.
At noon, the Kitty-Kat and 120cc youth snowmobile races begin. Parents or guardians must register racers in the pavilion beginning at 10 a.m. Safety gear such as helmets and boots required. All youth racers will receive a commemorative t-shirt, with an award ceremony at 4 p.m.
There will be special visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus from noon- 3 p.m., as well as door prizes and music all day. Saturday evening, Snodeo celebrations take place throughout town as each snowmobile manufacturer will host parties with food, beverages, and give-a-ways.
Duffy’s Glenmore will host Arctic Cat; Ski Doo will be at Daikers; Wakely’s at Van Auken’s Inne will host Polaris; and Yamaha will be at The Big Moose Inn. Call the local dealerships for more information.
Sunday, Dec. 11, Snodeo will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The final door prize drawing will feature the NFL tickets, and you must be present to win. At 1 p.m., raffle drawings begin with the 2016 Polaris Indy 120 youth snowmobile. Tickets are $5 each. Drawings will also take place for a brand new 2017 snowmobile and cash prizes. One lucky winner will have their choice of one of the following sleds; Arctic Ct ZR 6000 LXR from Big Moose Arctic Cat, Polaris 600 Rush Pro from Don’s Polaris, Ski Doo MXZ TNT 600 from Smith Marine or $10,000 towards the Yamaha of your choice from Big Moose Yamaha. Second prize winner will receive $1,000, third place is $500, fourth prize is $300 and fifth and sixth prizes $100 cash each. Winners must be present for cash prizes.
New this year, to celebrate the 40th anniversary event, a grand door prize drawing will take place prior to the raffle drawings for four NFL premium lower level tickets at MetLife Stadium for the Buffalo Bills vs. the NY Jets, on Jan. 1. Raffle tickets and retro 40th anniversary commemorative merchandise will be available at Snodeo all weekend long.
Snodeo offers free admission, free parking, free shuttle bus service (Saturday only) and lots of snowmobile excitement for the whole family.
For more information visit www.Snodeo.com or call (315) 369-6983. Snodeo is a Central Adirondack Association event.

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Photo by Cathy Bowsher
The window display at Helmer’s Fuel catches the eye of a young man.

By CATHY BOWSHER
Express Staff

Stop by Helmer’s Fuel in OldForge and take a peak into their window. Tiny houses flocked with snow fill the window space with winter holiday cheer. For over 30 years now, a spectacular Christmas scene has been in the Helmer’s Fuel shop window and it keeps getting bigger every year, “It’s an awesome display, we watched my mom (Gail) make that whole thing,” said Billie Helmer, daughter of the owner Bill Helmer.
What started out as a small hobby display has grown into the elaborate one that you see today, “We are so proud of her for building such and intricate, detailed wonderland that everyone can enjoy,” said Billie.
A yellow train circles the entire display making this gorgeous disply a sight to see.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has posted options for several changes to wildlife regulations in 2017 on its website and is inviting the public to review and provide comments.
Prior to initiating a formal rule making process, DEC routinely seeks public input regarding concerns or interest in potential changes to regulations in continuing efforts to keep hunters and the public informed.
In many situations, DEC uses scientific surveys to gather public opinion about potential rule changes. In other cases, DEC communicates informally through e-mails, letters, or meetings in response to ideas and suggestions. In all situations, it is helpful to obtain informal feedback to gauge public interest and support and to learn of any concerns that may exist before the formal rule making process is initiated.
DEC is inviting informal feedback regarding several issues:
• prohibiting feeding wild white-tailed deer;
• issuing permits for 4-Poster TickicideTM and 4-PosterTM deer treatment devices;
• strengthening measures to protect New York deer from Chronic Wasting Disease;
• eliminating the special permit for hunting and trapping bobcats in the Harvest Expansion Area; and
• closing the season for take of diamondback terrapin.
The issues listed are not formal proposals at this time, but rather options being considered as potential changes for 2017. Visit http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/104785.html to read the details of each issue and to provide feedback.
Submit your comments by Dec. 23, by sending an email or by writing to NYSDEC, Bureau of Wildlife, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4754.

by Dave Clark

Boys junior varsity basketball
The boys’ junior varsity basketball team played two away games this past week at Morrisville-Eaton and at Oriskany.
Monday, Dec. 5, they played a non-league game at Morrisville and came away with their first victory of the season with a 58-34 win.
The team jumped off to a quick 16-5 first period lead and moved that lead steadily upward for the next two periods for a 30 point lead. Only in the last period did Morrisville outscore the Eskimos.
Jim Connell led a balanced attack as he hit for 16 points. Connell also had nine rebounds, seven assists and four blocks. Tyler Pittarelli had his best outing of his career as he scored 12 points along with five rebounds, three assists and five steals. Nolan Fenton had 10 points and three assists, Dylan LaPorte had eight points and two steals, Shane Hulser had six points, seven rebounds and three blocks, Collin Weedmark had four points and nine rebounds and David Ehrensbeck had two points.
Wednesday, Dec. 7, the team lost their game at Oriskany. Oriskany had a 10 point lead at the half and built that up even more in the second half as they easily won the game. Dylan LaPorte led the scoring for Old Forge with 11 points, his best game of the season. Hulser had his best outing of the year as he had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Pittarelli had six points and Skyler Delano and Connell each had four points.

Girls varsity volleyball
The girls’ varsity volleyball team played two matches this past week at home against Adirondack and Holland Patent.
Monday, Dec. 5, they hosted Adirondack, the first of two large schools they had to play this week, and lost a heart breaker, 3-2. Scores of the games were 25-12, 25-21, 13-25, 24-26 and 25-18.
After a slow start, the team seemed to pick up their game as it went on and they played their best volleyball of the young season against Adirondack in the last four games.
Mickayla Abrial had three aces and one kill; Lexie Beal had eight digs; Dayna Deangelo had three aces, eight kills and 10 digs; Katie Ludwig had three aces and one assist, Natasha Manktelow had one ace, two kills and nine digs and Laura Rubyor had six aces, one kill and five assists.
Wednesday, Dec. 7, they hosted another large school and Holland Patent defeated Old Forge in straight sets: 25-15, 25-12 and 25-22.
DeAngelo had one ace, six kills, one block and nine digs; Ludwig had two assists and four digs; Manktelow had three aces and five digs, Rubyor had five aces, one kill, one assist and five digs; Abrial had one ace, one assist and one block and Beal had three digs.
Hopefully, playing these larger schools will help improve their play as they settle down to playing the smaller D schools in our league. I’m putting my money on them getting some nice wins in future weeks of play.

Boys varsity basketball
The boys’ varsity basketball team played two away games which included their first league game of the season.
Monday, Dec. 5, they made the long trip to Morrisville to take on the Morrisville-Eaton team in a non-league game.
With a 10-10 tie after one period of play, Old Forge managed to gain a four point lead at the half. They stretched the lead to 38-30 at the end of three and held on to that lead for a final 47-39 victory. The win was not easy as the team did not play well down the stretch as they wrongly shot quickly with the lead and simply did not play with their heads enough. However, it still was a good victory and their second straight win from a team trying to find themselves and learn to play as a team.
Josh Kelly led the team with 16 points, five rebounds, seven assists and six steals. Sully Ulrich had his best game as a varsity player with 14 points, largely from his four 3-pointers. Ulrich also had four rebounds. Carter Kelly had nine points, Tyler Kearns had two points, three rebounds, one assist and one block, TJ Hulser had two points and seven rebounds, Waddie Kalil had two points and 11 rebounds and Noah Lamphear had two points.
Wednesday, Dec. 7, the team traveled to Oriskany to take on a very strong team for its initial league game. Oriskany won the powerful CSC Division IV league last year and went on to win the Section III title and then the New York State Class D Championship. In addition to the letter winners back from that team, a strong group of junior varsity players moved up from a 19-1 season last year.
Old Forge came out and after one period of play, they had a 9-8 lead. That woke Oriskany up and they came back and had a 20-point lead at the half. They went on to coast to an easy victory.
Being played on the date that they played Oriskany, reminded me that it was 75 years ago on that same date that the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. After the devastation, one Japanese Admiral, Isoruku Yamamota was quoted as saying,”I’m afraid we woke a sleeping giant.” From all over the country, young men, living their quiet and safe teenage years, came out from farms and small villages all over the land to join in the fight as part of the “Greatest Generation.” They fought back and changed the history of the world forever.
I certainly know that this game is not like the war, but, Oriskany seemed to wake up after the first period and realized they had to play ball to become winners again. That they did. They held the Old Forge team to just 23 points in the game while scoring 60 themselves. It seems that it will be Oriskany and West Canada battling it out for league honors.
Carter Kelly had six points, Kalil had five points with seven rebounds, Hulser had four points and 14 rebounds in probably his best game of his career, Kearns had four points, six rebounds and three steals, Connor Ulrich had two points, two rebounds and one block, Josh Kelly had two points, two rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block, Erik Lenci had two rebounds and one steal and Sully Ulrich had three rebounds.
The team now stands at 2-2 for the season with many league games coming up.

Girls junior varsity volleyball
The girls’ junior varsity volleyball team played two home games and lost both matches, but showed steady improvement as they move on to their league games this week.
Monday, Dec. 5, they hosted Adirondack and lost in straight sets: 25-19 and 25-21. Both games were played just like the scores indicate, very competitively.
Natalie Brownsell had two aces and one dig; Britney Levi had three digs; Madison Palmer had one dig, Brittany Johnston had one ace, one kill and three digs; Lili Pittarelli had one ace; Caitlin Russell had two assists and one dig; Brooke Dolan had four aces and one kill and Melissa Hoffman had one kill.
Wednesday, Dec. 7, they hosted Holland Patent and won their first set of the season by winning the first game 25-21. Holland Patent came back to capture the next two sets to win the match. It was another outing in which the girls have shown improvement.
Shelby Mayeu, Brownsell and Johnston each had one ace; Palmer had one dig, Russell had one kill and Dolan had four aces.
Now they start with league foes which means playing against some smaller schools, and with it, hopefully some fine victories.

Nordic ski team
The Nordic ski team got their season under way with a Section III meet at Osceola, hosted by Camden. All five schools that ski in Section III were there.
In the boys’ race, Tyler Rudolph won the race for his best showing ever with ninth grader, Jack Rivet, placing second. Macgregor Ritz-Kenny placed 13th. You only need to have three skiers competing to field a full team. Whitesboro, who doesn’t win often, edged out Old Forge for first place.
It was no contest for the girls as the Old Forge team swept the top three positions. Emily Greene replaced her sister, Megan, as the top skier and won the race. Laura Levi placed second and Rachel Smith was third. Emily Rudolph placed seventh, Mikeeli Hanson was eighth and Julie Brosemer placed 20th. In the team scoring, Camden was a distant second, Holland Patent, third, Adirondack, fourth and Whitesboro had an incomplete team.
Showing just how good the Old Forge girls are, the top three girls for Webb had a combined time that was better than any of the boys’ teams.

Girls modified volleyball
Tuesday, Dec. 6, the girls modified volleyball team journeyed to Remsen to take on the Rams who had defeated them earlier in the season in close games.
The A team played their poorest game of the year in the first game and lost the game 25-6. They started to play much better in the second, but they lost that game too, 25-22 and thus, the match. It was just a case of too many errors and not being focused on the job they had to do.
Laura Bogardus, Alyssa Green, Alana Haehl, Rachelle Manzi, Saige Rowe and Elsa Vellone each had an ace with Cameron Gribneau getting two digs and one kill. Assists were recorded by Haehl, Manzi, Rowe and kills by Green, Manzi and Rowe.
The B team lost in three games and were very competitive. The scores were: 25-16, 19-25 and 25-22.
They, also, committed too many errors to win especially after many of their games have already been played. Serving did continue to be their strong suit and they were led by Amanda Huber who was 10/12 with six aces and Sarah Beck who went 15/15 with five aces.

Tuesday, Dec. 13
GMODVB at Clinton 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 15
GMODVB vs. Holland Patent at home 4:30 p.m.
BJVBB vs. West Canada Valley at home 6 p.m.
BVBB vs. West Canada Valley at home 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 17
Mod. and Var. Nordic Ski Team at Camden 10:30 a.m. (Osceola)
GJVVB at Westmoreland 10:30 a.m.
GVVB at Westmoreland 12:15 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 19
GJVVB at Morrisville-Eaton 5:30 p.m.
GVVB at Morrisville-Eaton 6:45 p.m.
BVBB at Owen D. Young 6 p.m.
BVBB at Owen D. Young 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 20
GMODVB vs. Westmoreland at home 4:30 p.m.

The Adirondack Christmas on Main Street’s Light Parade took place on Nov. 25. The following floats were named winners.
The grand prize was taken by Wagging it in the Adirondacks. Wagging it won four tickets to Cirque Dreams Holidaze live stage show. The first place trophy was taken by the Country Club Motel, the Wiggands family. The second place trophy went to Santa’s Snowshoe Squad “We Defend The Claus,” and third place went to Julie and Paul Churneski of Honeoye Falls.

Finding a doctor in Old Forge is a challenge

To the editor
I am writing this letter because I am very frustrated and have no idea where to turn or what to do. I, in no way, wish to criticize the clinic, Dr. Soccash, or all the nurses that work so hard for us here. We moved up here several years ago and knew that finding a doctor would be hard as the clinic at that time wasn’t able to take on new patients. We kept our old doctors in Clifton Park, about a three hour drive away.
However, very soon after that there were meetings with St. Elizabeth’s hospital and soon we were to have a new clinic that was to address the needs of the community. My understanding was that we would get a facility that would be open at least one night a week and Saturday for the summer people, and would be open to all new patients.
This is not what happened.
However, we were able to get Karla Dalious and I was very happy to have her as my health care provider. We transferred all our records here and canceled all the old doctors. After a year, we then had Dr. Hodzic come. This was very frustrating because we loved Karla but again my understanding was that the area didn’t have enough patients for two physicians and Karla, and the next thing I know Karla is gone and we now have Dr. Hodzic. Okay, not ideal, but I can live with it. Soon, however, we lose him too.
My grandson who lives with us, also went to Karla and Dr. Hodzic. Now, after three years of going to the clinic we again have no doctor. The new nurse practitioner doesn’t take children, therefore I would have to find someone new for Cullen. My daughter and our other grandson have moved in with us now, and they need care too.
I thought, okay, I’ll drive a little farther and go to Barneveld or Boonville. Not ideal when your too sick to get out of bed but what can you do? I called every clinic in both places and guess what? They ‘re not taking new patients either. In the meantime I have five family members who have been provided prescriptions from the clinic who now have no one to go to to get refills.
How can we expect families to move to the area when we have such inadequate health care? I thought the big merger with St. Elizabeth’s was to help us with these problems. As far as I can see we’re back to where we were. One doctor who can’t take on new patients and one who can’t take children. How is this better? What have we gained? What can any of us do to try and fix this problem? Are their others who have this same problem? Any suggestions that don’t involve an hour drive? Thanks for listening.
Cynthia Rose
Old Forge

by Megan Ulrich

I have grown weary of the political correctness. There, I said it.
I am not historically careful about what comes flying out of my mouth anyhow, but I am so woefully not PC these days that I should probably have a muzzle on at this point.
If you say something, anything, it can be misconstrued; someone is waiting in the wings to be offended. When did we all become so ultra-sensitive? There’s no room for this nonsense in this overly under-informed world, but what there is room for is a whole lot of ‘suck it up, buttercup.’
I blame part of this on the helicoptering parents. Now, I have had my moments of hovering and smothering, but I can usually back the heck off before my kids are too insulated from the world.
I would like to know who came up with the idea of giving a trophy or ribbon to every participant in every single solitary gathering that is considered even remotely competitive. ‘Here Suzy, you came in 2,091st place and you get a shiny trophy!’ Um, no Suzy. Thanks for coming, we’re glad you tried your best and you probably excel at something else, so here is your pat on the back. Your team will have a pizza party at the end of the year and that’s your reward.
Take the lounge situation some schools contend with. Is it an honors lounge, a senior lounge, a lounge for only green people with purple spots? (C’mon, you all knew I’d sneak that lounge thing in somewhere.) Sometimes just leaving well enough alone works well enough. Say you’ve spent nearly thirteen years in a building with the same staff and children that range in age from four to nineteen; maybe you deserve a lounge without restriction that you can hide from the masses in and discuss things with people in the same boat as you. Sometimes, often times, the same boat is the only common denominator that’s needed. The younger people are often more sensitive about being left out of special privileges and, frankly, why do younger people need a lounge? Get to senior year and like magic, you’ll get a lounge. They should have the same lesson in being industrious that we all had; find a spot! Pick a corner of the library or a table in study hall; your butt doesn’t need a leather chair and ottoman to read ‘Of Mice and Men.’ If you’re still allowed to read Steinbeck, that is. I’m pretty sure One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish is still okay…though I am a bit offended that there isn’t a purple fish or a one-finned magenta fish from the outskirts of fishdom. That was a bit of sarcasm, though it is also frowned upon. (Ha – I did it again! Please send donations to bail me out of the jail for the insensitive!)
Don’t get me wrong, I am happy to live in a place that has the ability to include everyone in clubs and sports; I think being part of a team or a band or club is great. But there are no try-outs, no ‘making the cut,’ that larger areas deal with, so that lesson is lost here. When the young people know that a team or other group needs them to have numbers enough to compete, they can get a bit big for their britches. There is, in my opinion, great value in ‘not winning them all’ and a good lesson involved when a coach can say, ‘Be a team player or get off of the field.’ Instead, we have to change the jersey color because little Bobby doesn’t like that shade of red and there can’t be numbers on said jerseys because two kids wanted number four and the coach has to listen to a sassy mouth because the team can’t play without the kid with the fresh mouth.
And then there’s the code. We are making it ten shades of difficult for a kid to just do the right thing in a situation; there are more gray areas in life that there are black and white. In my mind, it all comes down to this: Do your best, be considerate of others, do the right things and don’t be a jerk.

Holiday piano recital

Piano students of Valerie Gaudin and Jed Kovalovsky will present their annual Holiday Recital at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 15, at Niccolls Memorial Church.
Enjoy the festive sounds of the season performed by Sophia Alves, Tristan Alves, Autumn Armendola, Caitlyn Armendola, Fern Bailey, Megan DeFilipps, Clifford Donovan, Alexis Hollister, Alivia Hopsicker, Harper Masters, Jack Rivet, Alison Russell, Caitlin Russell and Marley Tracy-Deuss.
The public is cordially invited to attend the recital. There is no admission charge. Refreshments will be served immediately following the performance.

Barnstormers Christmas Party on tap

The Inlet Barnstormers Snowmobile Club will hold its annual Christmas Party and monthly meeting at The Ole Barn Restaurant in Inlet on Tuesday, Dec. 13.
A short business meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m., cocktail hour at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7.
Your paid reservations should have already been made by December 5. If you have any questions, call Barb Winslow at (315) 369-2241.
Don’t forget to bring your wrapped unisex gift valued at $15 for the gift exchange.

Big Moose Chapel schedules Christmas service

The Big Moose Community Chapel will be holding its annual Christmas Candlelight service at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 18. Reverend Dr. William Hydon will officiate at the service. Sue Rundell will be the organist.
Come join the congregation for fellowship, song and their special luminary walkway.

The Evergreen Tree wish list available at the library

The Old Forge Library has a wish list of books it would like to add to its col?lection. Members of the community are invited to make a donation to the library throughout the month of December and then choose a title from the wish list. A holiday ornament and the name of the book selection can be added to the Evergreen Tree as a memorial or an honorary gift in someone’s name.
The Wish List includes both children’s and adult’s books, in addition to books for the library’s Adirondack Collection. For more information stop in or call the library at (315) 369-6008.

Old Forge Library to host Christmas party on Dec. 16

The Old Forge Library will hold its annual Family Christmas Party at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16.
The public is invited to come and enjoy a reading of “The Night Before Christmas” by Clement Moore followed by a special Christmas Music Skit under the direction of Anne Defilipps.
Library Elves, Snowflake and Jingle Belle, will be serving cookies and hot cocoa following the performance.

Inlet Community Church to host wreath making party
Teen and ‘tweens are invited to a Christmas wreath-making party, with materials provided at 7 p.m. on Dec. 16.
RSVP with Wende at (315) 369-5691 so there are sufficient materials and refreshments.
The party will take place at Inlet Community Church at 12 South Shore Road, Inlet, right next to Marina Motel.

Old Forge DMV satellite office posts holiday hours
The Old Forge Department of Motor Vehicles satellite office will be closed for the Christmas holiday on Monday, Dec. 26 and New Year’s on Monday, Jan. 2.
Drop boxes, located at the front of the building, are available for work to be left when the office is not open. The office is located at 183 Park Ave. in Old Forge. The phone number is (315) 369-3301.

Joan Herrmann
This eagle is keeping a close eye on its surroundings.

Whereiwander… The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucophalus) has been our national emblem since 1787. Perhaps you have read that Benjamin Franklin was not in favor of the eagle as our national emblem, because of its hunting and eating habits.
Eagles will eat carrion (road kill) and have been known to steal the catch from ospreys. Opportunists, maybe, but they are also extremely skilled hunters. They can capture waterfowl in mid-air and grab rabbits on the run. For many years eagles were on the Endangered Species List, but now on a cold winter’s day as many as twenty can be seen, in a feeding frenzy, devouring deer carcasses. When the lakes freeze over and fish, their preferred food, is not available they will eat carrion. Among the twenty that I observed feeding, that winter’s day, nine were adults and eleven were immature.
Rachael Carson’s book, “Silent Spring” published in 1962 was the impetus for change in our thinking and usage of pesticides. DDT and other similar pesticides were found to change the birds’ calcium metabolism. While incubating the thin shelled eggs, the eagles’ body weight would actually crush the eggs. DDT was banned, almost completely, in the United States in 1972. The eagle population started recovering quickly. Bald eagles were removed from both Endangered and Threatened Species Lists on June 28, 2007.
The largest recorded eagle’s nest was observed for about 35 years. It was estimated to weigh nearly two tons, when it finally fell to the ground. The average width of a nest may range from six to eight feet or more and the depth might be three to six feet.
I had the privilege of observing a nesting pair of bald eagles this past spring. Both adults took turns incubating the eggs in early April. They took turns sitting on the eggs and turning them. When the eaglets hatched we learned the female had laid three eggs and they all three hatched, and eventually fledged. Generally females will lay one to two eggs, and if they do lay three eggs, the third hatched seldom lives to fledge. The eggs hatch asynchronously (in the order that they were laid) and it may take from 12 to 48 hour after piping (the first hole made by the chick in the egg) to emerging.
One adult stayed on the nest to protect the eaglets from the elements and predators, while the other would hunt for food. Within a few weeks the pale gray downy chicks had molted to a darker gray and could be left alone in the nest as both adults hunted for food. About a week after hatching the eaglets were observed hopping to the edge of the nest, with their backsides facing outward to eliminate bodily fluids, so as not to foul the nest. We were able to see their growth and rapid change in appearance almost daily. The first born was vying for every morsel of food brought back to the nest by the returning adults, but the pair was able to distribute the food equally and it was exciting to see all three eaglets continually thriving. Even though both adults were hunting for food and leaving the eaglets alone in the nest, on several occasions one adult would quickly return to the nest when it was suspected that a predator was in the area.
Unless both adults were on the nest at the same time it was difficult to determine the male from the female. Both adults have dark brown body feathers, and white head, neck and tail feathers. The female is about 25 percent larger than the male, which is true of all raptors. A male bald eagle weighs about nine pounds and a female about 12 pounds. The height of the male is 30 to 34 inches, the female between 35 to 37 inches. The wing span ranges from six to seven feet. It takes five years for an eagle to reach sexual maturity. Juvenile eagle bodies are a mottled white, light and dark brown. Adult’s beaks and eyes are yellow. Juvenile’s beaks and eyes are brown but will change to yellow by the end of the fourth year.
Fish, small mammals and waterfowl were some of the food brought to feed the eaglets. Eagles eat bones, at all ages, for the calcium. Because of the high acidity of their stomachs eagles can eat road kill without risk of bacterial contamination. Adult eagles may consume one half to three-fourths of a pound of food a day, but when rearing young it may eat a one pound fish in as little as four minutes. Adults might even gorge themselves and not eat again for a few days. Eagles digest food in their crop and then eliminate the undigested body parts (hair etc.) as pellets, the same as owls do.
Adult eagles mate for life and generally will use the same nest each year, unless they feel threatened. The nesting pair, which I observed, was on the flight path of jets and helicopters flying overhead daily. This did not seem to bother the nesting pair or the eaglets. The nest is at eye level with the observers. There is a deep ravine, between the tree holding the nest, of about four hundred feet across to the wooded trail, where the observers stopped daily to check the progression. The observers were thoughtful, considerate and immensely excited to be able to see something so spectacular happening, right within their neighborhood.

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 CATHY BOWSHER
Express staff

Stress and depression can put a damper on the holidays and even worse, hurt your health. There are many reasons why someone may develop depression during the holidays and everyone is different, “The holidays are wonderful for some people and for others they can be stressful, or even stir up painful memories of loss,” said Megan Heeder-Megan, LMHC.
“During the winter months, where we have shorter days, less sunlight (and Vitamin D) and become more isolated in our homes, the holidays can be more than some people can bear. Those who find it difficult to cope with the holidays should seek healthy ways to combat those blues.”
Heeder-Megan recommends simple exercise to help keep a centered peace. “Stopping and breathing; mindful breathing and being aware of what we feel inside, can calm overwhelming emotions and create inner peace and quiet,” she said.
Heeder-Megan references John Kabat Zinn PhD, the founding executive director at the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, HealthCare, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. “… To think of mindfulness as a lens taking the scattered and reactive energies of your mind and focusing them into a coherent source of energy for living, problem solving, for healing” wrote Zinn.
Withdrawing from social interaction can actually make the feeling of loneliness worse, making depression symptoms even more difficult to get a handle on. The best way to combat social isolation is to reach out to family members, friends or a therapist. Even saying, “Hello,” to a stranger can help.
“It is important to remember that utilizing our social support networks is foundational to good mental health. Our bonds to others are emotionally protective, and people heal in the context of these relationships, family, loved ones, AA, veterans organizations, religious communities or professional therapists,” said Heeder-Megan.
Yoga has been found to releases muscle tension, in-turn reducing stress. “Massage and other body work can also be helpful in achieving this state of inner peace,” said Heeder-Megan. Physical activity, in general can also reduce stress. “It is important to find healthy ways of releasing stress hormones that are circulating in the body. Engaging in something physically and emotionally challenging can have a great reward. Maybe try skiing, self-defense classes, volunteering as a firefighter or EMT, accomplishing a winter hike, or going to a new exercise class.”
For those who see their own personal relationships as a source of stress, Heeder-Megan recommends finding some alternatives outlets. “For these people it is important that they find a way to connection, maybe through song, dance, communal classes, church, volunteering, or any other outlet,” she said.
Nature is a major reliever of stress and it can stave away feelings of sadness at times. Walk or jog and take in the scenery of the beautiful Adirondacks. According to an article published on the website calmclinic.com, walking actually releases neurotransmitters that reduce stress and anxiety. According to Dr. Mercola, from the article Nature Heals, many people feel an intrinsic pull to spend time in nature, and this makes perfect sense. Your brain and body are largely hard-wired to sync with the laws of nature like the rise and set of the sun, the changing of the seasons and not with the indoor working world.
Pets, those furry or scaly friends can also come to the rescue and do away with some feelings of isolation. Research from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, a monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the American Psychological Association shows that pets provide meaningful social support for owners, improving their lives.
People facing serious health challenges do well with pets. Many pet owners have even reported receiving as much support from their pets as they did from their family members.
During the holiday season, the mind can flourish with negative thoughts and that can take a toll on the body, “Amidst the frenzy of the season, we could all do well to slow down and to approach this season with gratitude and inner peace. Together, we can create a beautiful Holiday Season,” said Heeder-Megan.
Take care of the mind and the body should follow.
Megan Heeder-Megan, LMHC can be found at the Satellite Center, located at the Town of Webb UFSD in Old Forge. The center is open from 2-7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and is open to both students and the public. “Anybody wishing to be seen should reach out to either Principal John Swick to initiate a referral for a student or make a direct call to the Neighborhood Center,” said Town of Webb UFSD Superintendent Rex Germer. Principal John Swick can be reached through email at, jswick@towschool.com.

Board of Education Dec. 6 meeting minutes:
The Board reviewed Board Policy section 100’s.
The Board of Education took the following action:
Approved the Minutes of November 15, 2016 Board of Education meeting.
Approved the Warrants and Claims.
Approved the Committee on Special Education recommendations.
Accepted the donation from Ilsababy Foundation.
Accepted the donation from Tahan’s Furniture for the Honors Lounge.
Accepted the donation from Eskimo Strong of a carved Eskimo.
Approved the request from Central Adirondack Association for the use of a bus and drivers to transport visitors to and from surrounding parking lots and George T. Hiltebrant Recreation Center for Snodeo.
Approved the appointment of 2016-2017 classroom volunteer: Shari Pronobis and volunteer to assist winter coaches Joanne Kelly.
Accepted letter intent for purposes of retirement from G. Michael Cunningham, Secondary English Teacher, with regret and appreciation for his 28 years of service, effective June 30, 2017.
Superintendent Rex Germer included the topics:
• As part of the Smart Schools Bond Act the school is entitled to receive just under $100k for technology expenditures. This is a reimbursable program that has a great deal of stipulations, planning and paperwork that must be executed in order for us to receive the funds. The district is going through the planning stages currently and will be posting pertinent information to the website soon.
This is a requirement to give the public 30 days prior to a public hearing on the topic.
The current plan is to replace the entire network and prepare for the future as a school and as an integral part of the community. The network replacement would include all the backbone switches as well as all the wireless access points and controls. Future projects will include the replacement of the phone system and PA system with enhanced security which will be supported by the new network infrastructure. This next level will be part of the budgetary cycle. The district hopes to gain state approval and to be able to move forward with the network replacement by the end of the school year.
• To remain part of the Tri-County Energy Consortium the district must submit paperwork to the consortium by Dec.31. If the district agrees to stay in the consortium and not withdraw it will be part of the energy consortium currently building the first of its solar arrays on the Watertown BOCES campus. Representatives of the consortium or the district’s attorney are willing to come to the next BOE meeting to share pertinent information prior to a final decision if the board would like them to come.
The next meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 20, in the school library.

Photo submitted
Town of Webb School Counselor Kandis Griffin, Key Club Advisor Diane Amos, October Student of the Month Lauren Beckingham, November Student of the Month Ashley Eisenhart, Kiwanis Student of the Month Co-Chair Ray Schoeberlein and Kiwanis President Michael Griffin.

At a special Recognition Dinner, held at Billy’s Italian Restaurant in Old Forge, Tuesday, Nov. 29, the Kiwanis Club of the Central Adirondacks recognized Students of the Month for October and November.
Kiwanis Student of the Month Co-Chairman Ray Schoeberlein introduced October Student of the Month, Lauren Beckingham daughter of Wayne and Danielle Beckingham of Old Forge, and November Student of the Month, Ashley Eisenhart daughter of Scott and Juli Eisenhart of Woodgate. Each student was presented with a Student of the Month certificate and $50 in recognition of their achievement. Each of the students presented a brief outline of their activities and future plans.
The Kiwanis Club of the Central Adirondacks, with the cooperation of the Town of Webb School, conducts the recognition program for senior students at the school. The concept is that the Town of Webb School Administration will select a Senior Student of the Month for the months of October through April. The Student of the Month will each receive $50 and with his/her, parents be invited to a Kiwanis Recognition Event to make a brief presentation.
In May, the Kiwanis Scholarship Committee will select a Kiwanis Student of the Year and The Town of Webb Police Benevolent Association (PBA) student of the year. Each Student of the Year will receive $500. The students and parents will be invited to a Kiwanis Recognition Event, in June for award presentation.
The selection criteria for the Kiwanis Student of the Month are community service, athletic involvement, student need and extra curricular activities.
Schoeberlein thanked the school administration, especially School Counselor Kandis Griffin and Key Club Advisor Diane Amos, for their cooperation and efforts to make the Student of the Month program a success.
Kiwanis Club President Mike Griffin congratulated the students and thanked them for their dedication to school and community activities.
If you are interested in joining Central Adirondack Kiwanis and participating in all of the child-centered service programs, you may contact membership co-chairs Doc Foley at (315) 794-9460 or Bob Teesdale at (315) 369-5425.
To make a financial contribution to the Kiwanis Kids projects, your donation may be sent to Kiwanis Club Foundation of the Central Adirondacks at PO Box 1044, Old Forge, NY 13420.

The Town of Webb School Bands will present their annual Holiday Concert in the school gymnasium at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 14. Small ensembles from the bands will perform favorite Christmas carols, along with performances by the Junior Band, Senior Band, and Stage Band.
A few of the tunes you will recognize are: Frosty the Snowman, Deck the Halls, Silent Night, Feliz Navidad, Leroy Anderson’s A Christmas Festival, The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late), and a medley of movie music including music from The Polar Express and Home Alone.
You will not want to miss this festive concert that is sure to get you ready for the holidays. Band concerts are free and open to the public.

Along the east coast of Lake Ontario researchers are using a unique tool to detect invasive fish species long before they cause environmental harm. Known as environmental DNA or (eDNA) this technique uses a process of extracting microscopic DNA cells from water samples, amplifying them and comparing them to known DNA of invasive fish from other parts of the world. This process can detect as little as (one cell) from the target species and the earlier an invasive species can be detected, the more prepared conservationists and stakeholders can be to address them. According to Rob Williams of the SLELO PRISM, “Using DNA from aquatic environments constitutes early detection at the molecular level–its gives us a strategic advantage in dealing with an invasive species before the damage occurs.”
Researchers from the SLELO PRISM (St. Lawrence Eastern Lake Ontario Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management) and Cornell University recently collected numerous water samples from Eastern Lake Ontario tributaries and analyzed them for DNA of select invasive species including two native species. Of the six invasive species researched only one, the round goby, was present in all samples tested. Native species were also found in most samples which included rock bass and cisco with the latter still being analyzed. Williams also stated “invasive species cause damage to our ecosystems very rapidly, early detection is key and eDNA is an excellent tool to help us protect our Great Lakes and inland waterways.”

Photo by Cathy Bowsher
Santa is hard at work in his workshop in the DiOrio’s Supermarket Christmas village.

By CATHY BOWSHER
Express Staff

The Christmas village is set up and on display in the store window of DiOrio’s Supermarket in Old Forge. The village is complete with faux snow and miniature painted figurines seemingly frozen in a happy Christmas scene.
Small porcelain buildings line the front glass window of DiOrio’s, even a building called the McCauley Mountain Snow Board School sits on display behind the plexiglass.
Tiny snow boarding children seem to take care in not disturbing Santa in his workshop, a brown building placed next to a Christmas caroler.
“That is her baby,” said Margaret DiOrio, speaking of Marie DiOrio. “She has been setting up and taking down that display for over 20 years now and it grows more every year.”
It takes close to a whole day to setup the display each and every year. After Christmas, the Christmas portion is removed and the winter scene stays on display until January.