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	Regional Map Join Us Contact Us Recent News Newsletter Annual Report Board Members Publications Project Partners Staff		The Ledger The Adirondack North Country Association Newsletter Spring 2004 Volume 10, Issue 1 ========================= Table of Contents ANCA Board of Directors Responds To Snowmobile Plan 2004-05 Adirondack North Country Arts, Crafts and Foods Guide is now Available Upcoming Events Think Abundance Wood Products Initiatives ANCA Farm Tour for British Visitor Central Adirondack Trail Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan Project Byway Community Presentation: Speculator, NY “The Real Adirondack Experience” ANCA Projects Awarded Funding Program Highlight The Workforce of the Future ========================= ANCA Board of Directors Responds To Snowmobile Plan The Adirondack North Country Association Board of Directors responded to the draft Comprehensive Snowmobile Plan for the Adirondack Park and sent a letter to acknowledge the need for a Comprehensive Plan. The Board believes the current plan is not acceptable, as it is far from being comprehensive. In addition, the Board noted with some surprise that the committee established to develop the Draft Comprehensive Snowmobile Plan did not include regional economic development interests or organizations. The Board requested that the Adirondack North Country Association and other economic development interests be invited to future planning discussions. The Board provided the following commentary in response to the plan: 1) The plan lacks an analysis of the economic impact of snowmobiling and does not present sufficient baseline information about current or projected snowmobiling activity in the region. Current data about snowmobiling is lacking, information about current trends is not included, there is no inventory of existing trails or any maps of proposed trails, and there is no information about how expansion of the snowmobile network could contribute to the region’s economy. 2) The draft plan provides no guidance on how communities can benefit economically by pointing to where investments can be made in facilities and lodging, complementary attractions, or tour packages and marketing. 3) The draft plan lacks consistent information about where the full set of current trails are located, where future trail additions should be or what the capital and life cycle/stewardship costs will be for the overall trail network, or its Forest Preserve or private land components. There are no estimates of public or private sector costs for the network as a whole. Without a full evaluation of the potential economic impacts, potential benefits and costs, and some evidence of clear strategic thinking of how communities can best develop and benefit from snowmobile traffic, the plan will not serve as an effective guidance document. 4) The draft plan does not attempt to quantify expected increases in tourist visitation and also does not address what improvements may be needed, such as lodging and parking lots, to handle increased visitation. 5) The draft plan lacks projections for increased usage of the trail system and does not address those steward-ship needs generated by the impacts of increased usage in relation to the needs for rider education, community safety, and enforcement and available funding to sustain these initiatives. 6) The current plan does not address how communities could potentially be impacted by changes in the trail system, either positively or negatively. There is no information on how decisions will be made to involve communities in the network for the proposed connector trails. There is also no information on what the potential community impacts of location along these routes could be. (For example, what would be the potential land use, car and truck access, recreational and public safety issues/ impacts that could result from an extensive system of roadside snowmobile corridors? What community infrastructure may be required to support more extensive, and tourist-based snowmobiling activity? What are the potential community costs of necessary improvements from a development and maintenance perspective?) Finally, there is no suggested methodology that can assist a community in key decisions in preparation for being part of a trail network in ways that will both improve the local economy and protect community character. 7) The plan does not address the need for a coordinated signage system, which will have an impact on how user friendly the trail system will be in terms of visitor orientation. 8) The plan does not address signage or potential conflicts with pedestrians in communities that have sled travel. 9) The plan does not adequately address safety needs within the community or the need for speed monitoring or speed recommendations within communities and the Forest Preserve. 10) In addition, the plan does not propose additional resources for enforcement other than the suggestion that “fees should be dedicated for enforcement.” While the plan acknowledges the need to “increase law enforcement at all levels,” there is no information about how this will be done or what financial and personnel resources will be made available. 11) The plan does not identify the stewardship costs of the trail network or what the costs to the taxpayers will be. 12) The plan does not address how the increased existing network of trails and proposed changes to the trail system will impact other types of winter recreationalists (cross country skiing, snowshoeing, ice climbing, nature observers, birders). The Board concluded that any changes to the draft plan should go back through a public review. ========================= 2004-05 Adirondack North Country Arts, Crafts and Foods Guide is now Available The Adirondack North Country Association has released the 2004 edition of the Arts, Crafts and Foods guide. The guide, full-color on the exterior, highlights ten self-guided driving trails with descriptions and directions to 43 shops and studios in the North Country region. Plan your tour, go at your own pace and enjoy the very best of North Country arts, crafts and foods. 30,000 of these publications has been delivered to over 900 distribution points including 700 lodgings, Chambers of Commerce and guide participants. For more information, contact Nadia Korths, ANCA Craft Programs Coordinator at korths@northnet.org or (518) 891-1632. For visitors, copies of the Guide are available from ANCA for $2.00 shipping and handling. ANCA members can receive 15 copies free. ========================= Upcoming Events June 17, 2004 - Board of Directors’ Teleconference Meeting September 23, 2004 - Board of Directors’ meeting, Hotel Saranac, Saranac Lake, NY With an Afternoon Presentation on the Northern Forest Canoe Trail ========================= Think Abundance By Martha Pickard The flaws in our current agricultural system are becoming more and more apparent. The three groups that suffer the most from these flaws are: the consumer, who is becoming increasingly unsure of the safety of the food supply; the farmer, who is not able to make a living or raise a family off the farm’s income, and the land which is literally being washed into the ocean due to erosion and poor management. Many people will argue that this is the price we must pay for a cheap food supply and that the only other option is to revert back to subsistence farming and give up all the luxuries we now take for granted. Permaculture offers a different option - an option of abundance rather than scarcity. Permaculture blends traditional farming methods, modern science and technology. It models farm systems after ecosystems and reduces the dependency on fossil fuels. There is much more cooperation than competition in nature. Traditional farming communities knew this. With this knowledge they modeled their gardens after natural forests, stacking vegetables, herbs, shrubs, vines and trees to create an edible ecosystem. The amount of food produced by these systems far outweighs that of a wheat field or any other monoculture crop. This type of system also reduces disease and pests because of the diversity of plants that perform beneficial functions for one another. This cooperation rather than competition example can also be used with livestock. Many farmers are starting to graze multiple species together to increase production and decrease disease; of course this should be researched to find animals that benefit each other. A good example of this is beef cows grazing a field first getting the grass down to about 2 inches and then chickens grazing afterwards fertilizing the fields and reducing parasites loads. This system yields two marketable products, fertilizes the pastures and reduces the need for machinery. When small family farms work with the ecosystem model rather the current chemical agriculture model, they are able to produce a diverse abundance of herbs, fruits, produce, dairy and meats to feed their local communities. Small family farms formed our communities, it is our history and our land is our greatest resource. North Country farmers complain that their fields are too wet when over 50% of the United States have been experiencing extreme drought conditions for the past five years. Imagine abundance rather than scarcity. Imagine heirloom species of apples, pears and peaches that thrive in our climate, beef, chicken, lamb, milk and cheeses that are grown on our pastures. A farmers’ market where you can shake the hand of the person who raised the food you are going to feed your family and know that the way it is raised will not harm you or your children. Imagine your hard earned money staying in your community, supporting the livelihood of a farmer who is a steward of the land. If you are interested in permaculture design and/or grazing advice, contact, Martha Pickard at the ANCA office (518) 891-6200. ========================= Wood Products Initiatives The Adirondack North Country Association is working with five Workforce Development Boards in the Northern New York Region – Clinton, Essex, Franklin and Hamilton Counties; Herkimer, Madison and Oneida Counties; Jefferson and Lewis Counties; St. Lawrence County; Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties. The project is funded through a grant from the New York State Department of Labor ACCELERATE NEW YORK Workforce Development and Training Division. The primary purpose of this yearlong program is to develop and strengthen business plans for small-and medium-sized businesses and solidify their base in the local economy. To that end ANCA is offering one-on-one business planning assistance to wood based businesses to develop, update, or modify their Strategic Business Plans. 64 wood-based companies were selected to receive a survey letter from Carl Golas, ANCA’s Wood Products Industry Specialist and Tim Holmes of Holmes and Associates, inviting the owners to learn about business planning services available through ANCA. During an initial site visit, intake information is gathered about the company in relation to employment, sales, business planning and marketing needs. Golas and Holmes then meet together to develop an individualized, specialized plan to bring back to the business owner. There are 28 companies who are currently receiving business planning assistance through ANCA. Participating businesses in the Clinton Essex, Franklin and Hamilton county Workforce Investment Area include: Perry’s Custom Woodworking, Brainardsville; John Gillis Cabinetry, Tupper Lake; Cedar Knoll Log Homes, Plattsburgh; Essex Box and Pallet, Keeseville; Saranac Hollow Woodworks, Saranac; Specialty Wood Products, Bloomingdale; Silvasauls, Inc., and Old Adirondack, Willsboro. The Herkimer, Madison and Oneida County Workforce Investment Area business is Bower and Sons, Lee Center. Businesses in the Jefferson and Lewis County Workforce Investment Area are Curtis Furniture Co., Evans Mills; Tallman Wood Products Co., Natural Bridge; St. Lawrence Lumber Co., Cape Vincent; Southern Cross Trading Co., Lowville; and Fey Manufacturing Co., West Leyden and Musky Bay Net Co., Sackets Harbor. Saratoga, Warren and Washington County Workforce Investment Area businesses are Northeastern Products Corp., Warrensburg; Dux Dekes, Greenwich; Shushan Bentwood, Shushan; Pallets, Inc., Fort Edward; Thomas Brady, Bolton Landing; John Stafford, North Creek; Carpenter Creations, Warrensburg; Northern Hardwoods, Lake George; Prime Wood Products, Queensbury and Paul Kobyluch Cabinets, Salem. Yesteryear Vintage Doors of Hammond is located in the St. Lawrence County Workforce Investment Area and was featured recently in an episode of "Curb Appeal" on the Home & Garden Television channel (HGTV). One of their most popular products, and the one featured on the "Wild West Update" episode of HGTV is their Dutch door. Their son Ryan flew with the door to San Francisco and was a featured guest in the episode. ========================= ANCA Farm Tour for British Visitor On Wednesday, May 26, Martha Pickard, ANCA’s Grazing Technician, organized a tour of Ben Schrader’s farm in North Bangor for ANCA Director, Don Caldera and his brother-in-law, Terry Draycott. Mr. Schrader is raising grass-fed beef and currently expanding and diversifying his operation. Mr. Draycott, of Coventry and Warwickshire, England, has been involved with efforts to aid farmers for the past three years. He helped set up the Rural Recovery Fund in the wake of the foot and mouth epidemic of 2001. A long time farmer himself, Mr. Draycott now advises farmers on ways to diversify and improve their farm business operations through Business Link, a not-for-profit organization based in England. During the luncheon hosted by Mr. Caldera at Sweet Pea’s Steakhouse following the farm tour, Mr. Draycott commented to Ben Schrader and Roger Preve that, “You have an enormous resource in forage" in reference to Schrader’s beef operation and Preve’s dairy. Also attending the luncheon were ANCA director John Kiechle, Bernadette Logozar of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Franklin County, and Joe Moreng, a representative from Colorado Agriculture. ========================= Central Adirondack Trail Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan Project The New York State Department of Transportation’s Scenic Advisory Board has approved ANCA’s proposed workplan and budget for the Central Adirondack Trail Corridor Management Plan (CMP). With the Adirondack Trail and Olympic Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan projects wrapping up, ANCA is ready to begin work on its next CMP project for the official State Byway extending from Rome to Glens Falls along New York State Routes 365, 12/28, 28, 30 and 9. The Central Adirondack Trail project was launched with a direct mailing and distribution of media announcements requesting proposals for project facilitators. ANCA created a contact list of 18 organizations and companies who might want to participate in this planning initiative. The response yielded a pool of seven who submitted applications and budgets for consideration. The candidates’ proposals will be reviewed by three ANCA Board Directors including ANCA President, Ron Ofner. ANCA’s Executive Director, Terry Martino and Scenic Byway Coordinator, Sharon O’Brien will also participate in the selection of project facilitators who will provide coverage of the entire Byway route through Oneida, Herkimer, Hamilton and Warren Counties. The facilitators will be responsible for overseeing local planning discussions and will work directly with communities to develop local visions, goals, and other required CMP components. They will work with ANCA and the Central Adirondack Trail Scenic Byway Regional Steering Committee to prepare the local plans and give input for the regional component. Regional leaders including county planners, tourism organizations, Chambers of Commerce along with other representatives will be invited to serve on the Steering Committee. The Central Adirondack Trail CMP effort is set to begin in summer of 2004 and is expected to take about one and a half years to complete. Senators Little, Meier, and Seward along with Assembly representatives Butler, Destito, Townsend, and Sayward have been notified of the upcoming community and economic development planning opportunities about to take place in their local districts. ========================= Byway Community Presentation: Speculator, NY "The Real Adirondack Experience" The Adirondacks Speculator Region Chamber of Commerce invited ANCA’s Scenic Byway Coordinator, Sharon O’Brien to serve as guest speaker at their annual Membership Dinner on May 12, 2004. O’Brien gave a presentation on how their recently drafted local and regional Corridor Management Plan for the Adirondack Trail Scenic Byway will serve the communities along the route. The 188-mile Adirondack Trail is included in the New York State Scenic Byway program, which works to promote tourism, stimulate economic development, and supports the maintenance and enhancement of a Byway’s special qualities. Several of those in attendance were part of the core group of residents and representatives from Speculator and the surrounding communities that had contributed to the creation of the document. They learned that their local goals and recommendations for economic, community, and tourism development had been incorporated at the regional level as part of the plan’s master component. At previous community work sessions Hamilton County had named 74 resources under the plan’s historic/cultural, natural, and recreational headings. These assets are now part of the 224 contributing resources mapped along the entire route. During the dinner hour O’Brien took a moment to speak with Speculator’s Mayor Barbara Tracy and Chari Smith, Town Clerk of Lake Pleasant to encourage them to use the CMP when their communities enter into future discussions pertaining to road projects with the NYS Department of Transportation. Situated at the crossroads of two NYS Scenic Byways in heart of Hamilton County, Speculator can use the document to improve transportation, safety, and community design standards. O’Brien explained how the various towns, villages, and hamlets can benefit from their status as Adirondack Trail and Southern Adirondack Trail Scenic Byway communities They are now eligible to apply for State and Federal Scenic Byway Enhancement funding for their projects in the plan and to leverage project funding as part of a regional effort. They can participate in sponsoring cross-promotional efforts in cooperation with other Byway communities. Additionally, those with limited advertising budgets will enjoy an increased Internet presence as organizations such as ANCA updates its Byway sites and provides links to other sites. O’Brien pointed out that towns, villages, and cities will continue to benefit from State marketing and promotions funded by NYSDOT such as ANCA’s successful 2002 and 2003 media and print campaigns accomplished in partnership with the Adirondack Regional Tourism Council. With these promotions, visitors will transfer their initial introduction to the grand Byway experience from the state advertising projects as they drive by those locales which feature the Byway logo She encouraged the communities along the corridor to promote themselves as “Byway Communities”… the places where travelers go to seek goods, services, and accommodations. Communities now have an opportunity to become special places for visitors to further explore the Adirondack Trail’s theme, “Woods, Water, Wilderness: The Real Adirondack Experience.” Guests were informed that the New York State Scenic Advisory Board Albany will review the draft plan. Upon final approval, ANCA will contact stakeholders in every community along the Byway route to invite them to a Corridor Management Plan release meeting where future implementation measures will be explained. Dale Brown, an ANCA Board Director also joined the sixty-seven Chamber members in attendance. As part of the evening’s agenda the Chamber presented its first annual business award to the Lake Pleasant Inn for its successful renovation of its lakeside business. The award draws attention to the community’s focus on sound tourism improvement. The Inn’s eleven rooms received complete “nature theme” decorator makeovers and were modernized to meet the demands of today’s travelers. The upgraded rooms now have telephones with data ports, DSL Ethernet connectors, and satellite television. During the Corridor Management Plan work sessions ANCA received comments from all along the route on the need for better lodging accommodations for visitors. The Inn’s newly landscaped grounds, Nordic gift shop, restaurant with an executive chef, and a small conference area will all add to Speculator’s appeal to Byway travelers. ========================= ANCA Projects Awarded Funding The Adirondack North Country Association is proud to announce that two ANCA projects submitted through the NYS Scenic Byways Program to the US Department of Transportation have been approved for funding. The North Country Byways Marketing Project will receive $442,000 while the Invasive Plants Project will receive $99,925. ANCA is delighted to have the opportunity to continue an existing partnership with the Adirondack Regional Tourism Council and establish a new partnership with the consortium of organizations (Nature Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation Society) committed to addressing the issue of invasive plants along our byways. The invasive plant project developed from our community planning work along the Olympic and Adirondack Byways. ANCA has secured a $69,875 grant from the USDA Rural Business Development Services for a Small Business Market Development Project. Funding will be used to provide business development, value added marketing and networking services to a wide-range of craft businesses. Project activities will also include continuation of Buyer Days, the Rochester Gift Show, and production of the craft trail publication. In addition, ANCA will work in partnership with the Northern Forest Center in the development of a HandMade in the Northern Forest Guidebook. The program will have a direct and positive impact on more than 1,000 New York craft businesses and more than 800 retail outlets. For more information on these projects, please contact ANCA at anca@northnet.org ========================= Program Highlight The Adirondack North Country Association and the Town of Altamont and Village of Tupper Lake have signed a Memorandum of Agreement enabling ANCA to provide services in the implementation of a community development strategy to address a wide range of projects including Scenic Byways, the Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks, the Downtown Revitalization Committee, the Village of Tupper Lake Electric Commission, the Adirondack Scenic Railway, and the Tupper Lake chamber of Commerce Bicycle/ Pedestrian Project. Jim Ellis, ANCA Community Assistance Specialist, has provided staff services to the community development projects, which ANCA believes will have a positive local and regional economic development impact, thus positioning the community as a model in the Adirondack Park. ========================= The Workforce of the Future On May 7 Terry Martino attended the Workforce Investment Board’s Meeting in Lake Placid where Ed Barlow, futurist, was the featured speaker. In his morning presentation Barlow commented that after national security, the second most important thing is having a competitive work force. He noted that the quality of our work force is now threatened and stated that 80% of what we need to know to be effective is outside the current economics and workforce that we know today. He challenged the audience in that if what we need to know is outside our frame of reference, what will we do to get in touch with that which is “outside the box?” Barlow clearly reiterated that, “You can’t get economic development out in front of workforce and community development or you will fail,” pointing to many instances across the country where industrial parks have been built that remain empty. He emphasized that we do not fully understand the impact of globalization and compared our work force of 150M to the 650M in China and the 750M in India. He discussed current production demands and the loss of 2.5M manufacturing jobs in the US that he claims will not be coming back. He pointed out that quality of life and a skilled labor pool are what is needed to attract companies and that tourism is our region’s front door to economic development. Additional sobering commentary included reflection on how every job category in the US will not be able to find enough workers and how in the next twenty years there will be fewer Americans available for work. He discussed how health care and education are economic development and must be recognized as such—not only in terms of direct employment and economic contributions but also in relation to how they are integral to fostering a quality work force. During 2004 ANCA has partnered with the Workforce Investment Boards in the North Country and is currently administering five contracts totaling $125,000 to provide business planning assistance to wood products companies. The conference was also attended by Tim Holmes of Holmes and Associates who has partnered with ANCA and Carl Golas in providing the business outreach services on the Workforce awards. Martino and Holmes recognized the need for ANCA to provide niche marketing services and training to the twenty-eight companies involved in the program is vital to helping them meet the demands of being competitive in the 21st century. It is interesting to note that fieldwork to date has generated a number of comments from business owners who are having difficulty competing with Chinese production.