Public rallies in support of Tupper Lake resort

Here's George Earl's report on yesterday's Adirondack Club & Resort public hearings:

The L.P. Quinn Elementary School cafeteria was packed Wednesday afternoon during public hearings over the proposed Adirondack Club & Resort project in Tupper Lake.

Dozens of community members, business owners, politicians and other leaders from throughout the Adirondacks spoke during the hearings. The overwhelming majority were in support of the Adirondack Club and Resort project proposed for the Big Tupper ski area.

Melissa McManus of the Tupper Lake Revitalization Committee asked the state Adirondack Park Agency to send a message that “appropriate development can happen here, that Adirondacks are still open for business and that there is in fact hope for Adirondack communities like Tupper Lake.”

Enemies of smart development...

John Warren at the Adirondack Almanack authored a scathing piece this morning that takes aim at individuals he dubs "the cast of opposing smart development."

It's an interesting read and I urge our readers to take a look.

Among the notable figures Warren takes aim at are state Senator Betty Little and Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward, as well as Post Star projects editor Will Doolittle.

Update on future status of the VICs (the Paul Smiths facility anyway)

It’s been about five months since Governor David Paterson’s executive budget called for the closure of two Adirondack Park Agency Visitor Interpretive Centers.

Since then, numerous leaders and advocacy organizations have come together to discuss ways of keeping the popular destinations open in some form.

So far, the efforts have largely been headed up by the Adirondack Park Institute. At this week’s annual Conference on the Adirondacks, an event staged by the Adirondack Research Consortium, officials showcased a conceptual design for what’s being dubbed the Center for Outdoor Life, an extension of the VICs that focuses on outdoor recreation, research and education.

Meanwhile, officials from the APA and Paul Smith’s College are working on a memorandum of understanding that would result in the sale of state-owned VIC facilities to the college.

Valentino to replace Townsend on APA Board

Those of you who follow the Adirondack Park Agency will want to tune in for tomorrow's broadcast.

Jon Alexander has penned a story on the appointment of F. William Valentino to one of the out-of-park APA Board of Commissioners seats.

Valentino is the former president of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).