WEDNESDAY Local musher Saranac Lake seeks THE ONLY DAILY March 15, 2017 NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED (Vol. CXXIV, No. 62) on Iditarod trail grant for rail trail links IN THE ADIRONDACKS Sports A2 Area A7
75 ¢ Digging it? Blizzard brings 40+ inches of snow to some local areas By ANTONIO OLIVERO, BEN GOCKER and CHRIS KNIGHT Staff Writers LAKE PLACID — The people of the Tri-Lakes are digging out from under more than 3 feet of snow this morn - ing as Winter Storm Stella forced Essex and Franklin counties to declare states of emergency, schools to close and officials to mandate driv - ers to stay off the roads. The Lake Placid Police Department said on social media at 9 a.m. that Essex County roads are now open for limited travel, per county officials. The storm pummeled the region with more snow than expected. Whiteface Moun - tain Ski Center in Wilmington reported 40-plus inches of snow this morning, and in Lake Placid, the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism reported 41 inches this morning. Saranac Lakers reported snow anywhere from 32 to 38 inches deep, and Tupper Lakers reported more than 2 feet of snow. And it’s still coming down. Today’s local forecast includes 3 to 5 more inches of snow, plus another 1 to 3 tonight — which suggests totals could reach 4 feet. It was even too much for Whiteface. The state-run ski Surrounded by neck-deep snow, Scott Young digs out his van around 8 a.m. today in the parking lot next the No. 1 Chinese center said eager skiers and Restaurant in Saranac Lake. snowboarders should expect (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter) delays and described condi - tions as windy at the top of the mountain. Its crews couldn’t reach the summit due to “too much snow,” Whiteface wrote on social media. “Right now we do have a hold on some of our lifts just because of wind and getting to them,” state Olympic Regional Development Authority Director of Com - munications Jon Lundin said. “But we are in operation today with 40-plus inches of snow. Forty four trails are open. The average base depth is 48 inches, and it pushed our snow total to date to 251 nat - ural inches. And trail condi - Park Street and Cliff Avenue, Tupper Lake, are tions are powder and more fairly empty around 6:30 this morning after get - powder.” ting more than 2 feet of snow the day before. Though it may be too much (Enterprise photo — Ben Gocker) this morning, Lundin said the snowfall is perfect for March. times when I was a kid,” we haven’t had this kind of “I was raised in Lake Lundin said. “I don’t think snow — and most of all, this Placid, then ran away and we’ve seen a snowstorm like kind of snow at a time when Alex Hudson cross-country skis up Sentinel Road this morning on his way to came back, and this kind of this in March in several years. work at The Cottage. snowstorm reminds me of In my eight years at ORDA, (Continued on Page A11) (Enterprise photo — Antonio Olivero) No home Northeast facing icy mess Deep snow delivery of By COLLEEN LONG and into a blizzard, with near a tree in Gilford, New all over NY DENISE LAVOIE hurricane-force winds gust - Hampshire. ALBANY (AP) — Meteo - today’s Associated Press ing to over 70 mph along the In East Hartford, Con - rologists say digging out from NEW YORK — Plunging coast. Boston ended up with necticut, an elderly man died the nor’easter that dumped temperatures ushered in by 6.6 inches of snow, far less after being struck by a snow more than 3 feet of snow newspaper the storm that plastered the than what was predicted. plow truck. And, in Long - across parts of upstate New Northeast turned the snow Boston canceled school meadow, Massachusetts, a York will be made more diffi - By PETER CROWLEY and sleet into rock-solid ice, for a second day today to public works employee was cult by blustery conditions Managing Editor leaving roads and sidewalks allow time for cleanup killed after the snow plow he and plunging wind chills. SARANAC LAKE — treacherous today and mak - efforts. Mayor Marty Walsh was driving was hit by an The National Weather Today’s Adirondack Daily ing shoveling seem like hard said he made the call out of Amtrak plow train clearing Service says the snowfall Enterprise print edition will labor. “an abundance of caution.” tracks. totals from Tuesday’s all-day be late and will not be Tuesday’s powerful The storm was easily the The storm closed schools storm ranged from 18 inches home-delivered, since a nor’easter paralyzed much biggest in an otherwise mer - in cities big and small, in Rochester to 3 feet in the blizzard that dumped of the Washington-to- ciful winter that had mostly Amtrak suspended service Binghamton area and 36 to roughly 3 feet of snow on Boston corridor, but fell spared the region. Many, and the post office halted 41 inches in the Mohawk the Tri-Lakes area has short of the predicted snow - like retired gumball machine mail delivery. The number Valley. Other areas such as made driving unsafe. fall totals in New York, technician Don Zimmerman, of flight cancellations the Catskills, Hudson Valley Today’s print edition will Boston and Philadelphia. of Lemoyne, Pennsylvania, reached more than 3,000 in and parts of the Adirondacks be available at the Enter - The storm, which fol - weren’t happy. the New York City area received 24 to 32 inches. prise office at 54 Broad - lowed a stretch of unusually “It’s horrible,” Zimmer - alone, stranding hundreds of The weather service contin - way, Saranac Lake, and mild winter weather, man said, using a snowblow - passengers. ued a winter storm warning will be distributed to as dumped 1 to 2 feet in many er to clear the sidewalk The storm was on track to for a region stretching from many vendors and news - places, grounded more than along his block. “I thought be one of the biggest on Lake Erie to the Adirondacks, stands as possible. 1,000 flights today after winter was out of here. ... record for Burlington, Ver - with snow showers and winds Today’s print edition will The Regional Office of 6,200 flights were canceled It’s a real kick in the rear.” mont, which got 25.6 inches gusting to 40 mph expected be delivered to subscribers a day earlier. It also knocked While most people heeded of snow as of this morning, in some areas. The wind chill Sustainable Tourism Thursday along with that out power to nearly a quar - the warnings to stay off the with another 2 to 5 inches will make it feel like the sin - reported more than 40 day’s paper. ter-million customers from roads, police said a 16-year- due by the end of the day. gle digits or below zero. inches of snow this The Enterprise will Virginia northward. old girl was killed when she About 70 miles to the north - Schools from Buffalo to the morning in Lake Placid. update news online as much By the time it reached lost control of her car on a Mohawk Valley are closed (Photo provided — ROOST) as possible. Massachusetts, it had turned snowy road and crashed into (Continued on Page A7) today for a second day.
WEATHER For more, see Page A3 Sports ...... A2 Comics, puzzles, advice A6 16 Today: 3-5” snow Police/fire ...... A3 People ...... A8 Tonight: 1-3” snow Opinion ...... A4 Classified ads ...... A11 6 Thursday: Chance of snow Calendar, columns ...... A5 Adirondack Daily Enterprise • adirondackdailyenterprise.com • Wednesday, March 15, 2017 • A13
where we have to work today from noon to 8 p.m. two weeks ago from New Jer - said even though he’s spent work at Jreck subs in town,” through it to get to the stations sey, Martineau said he intend - summers in Alaska, he was he said. “And we already got Blizzard and the equipment to open the Digging out ed to enjoy snowboarding still impressed by this snow - our tickets to Titus (ski center (Continued from Page A1) ski resort,” Lundin added. Over on Sentinel Road, today at Whiteface. fall. in Malone) tomorrow.” “But once it’s open, if you are Lake Placid, Alex Hudson “I love the snow, so I’m OK Another Tupper Lake local, we needed it. To keep skiing a skier or rider, you want to be cross-country skied on the with all of this,” Martineau Bob Paige, shoveled out his Schools closed going after the inclement on the trails. This is what a street where numerous vehi - said. “I’m fine with shoveling, driveway for the fifth time Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake weather of last week, it comes powder day is all about.” cles became stuck in the snow but this must be some kind of since the storm hit, playing the and Lake Placid schools all are at a good time for ski resorts. Mount Pisgah Ski Center in during the height of the storm record. Whiteface got 40 inch - music of Ozzy Osbourne as he closed today, a decision “There are opportunities Saranac Lake, which was early Tuesday evening. He es, so we must be pretty close cleared his truck. when you get too much snow, closed since a late February was heading to work at The in town here. But this is Lake “I’ve got the day off from (Continued on Page A12) and it bogs down the operation warm-up, plans to reopen Cottage Cafe. Placid. This is the Adiron - About 100 yards away, dacks. Lake Placid newbie Mike “My company has the 6- Martineau dug his car out from inch rule; if it snows 6 inches the snow. He said he’d been at overnight, we get to ski in the it for 25 minutes and estimat - morning,” he added with a AUTO • HOME • BUSINESS Zack Luzzi ed it would take him another smile. “I’m digging out to try Kelly Gonyo Serving the Tri-Lakes region with access Licensed hour to get all of the snow to get to the mountain as quick Owner/ Broker to over 30 carriers to assure you are Insurance Agent Commercial Lines getting the best coverage, price and cleared. He added that it was - as possible and reap the bene - Specialist n’t the first time he removed fits.” superior service you deserve. snow from his car, as 7 inches Over in Tupper Lake this Try our 55 Old Barn Rd. Lake Placid of fresh snow had cocooned morning, the roads were most - mobile app (Price Chopper Plaza in the Outpost building) his vehicle since 7 p.m. Tues - ly occupied by pickup trucks TODAY! 518-523-4321 Amy McCormick day night. and plows. Bobby Helms was Licensed www.bluelineagency.com Though he moved here just one of the few people out. He Insurance Agent
Adam Ellithorpe of Saranac Lake takes advantage of a school snow day, sliding down a run he con - structed starting at the front steps of his family’s Bloomingdale Avenue home. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)
Zach Boyer, front, and passerby Phil Muha shov - el snow to help Paige Moody get a car out of the parking lot next the No. 1 Chinese Restaurant in Saranac Lake this morning before dawn. (Enterprise photo — Peter Crowley)
2017
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Paints Red Ale BBQ • Fresh Caught Seafood Serving daily Live Maine Lobster • Handcrafted Ales 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Cocktails until the wee hours. 97 Main Street • Saranac Lake 2442 Main Street • Lake Placid Mirror Lake Drive, Lake Placid Open Daily 9:30 - 5:30 • Sunday 10:00 - 3:00 (518) 523-1629 302-3045 A14 • Adirondack Daily Enterprise • adirondackdailyenterprise.com • Wednesday, March 15, 2017 Blizzard (Continued from Page A11) announced Tuesday evening. The Long Lake Central School District had a two-hour delay to the start of classes. Many local schools were closed or had early dismissal Tuesday. All campuses of North Country Community College were closed Tuesday and remained closed today. Paul Smith’s College is on Lake Placid police officer Marty Perkins walks mid-semester recess this through snow at the Mirror Lake Beach Tuesday. week. (Enterprise photo — Antonio Olivero) ments the ability to keep roads airport Manager Corey Hur - Quiet streets clear.” witch. “Right now we’ve got During the height of the “The most important thing two guys out there just going storm, the streets of the Tri- is public safety,” said county back and forth on the runways, Lakes villages were quiet for a FRI MARCH 17 Board of Legislators Chair - taxiways and apron so when it Tupper Lake High School Gym 7 PM Tuesday evening, except for woman Barbara Rice of does slow down we can reopen snowplows. Local and state Saranac Lake. “We’re trying quickly.” SAT MARCH 18 police reported no major car to clear the roads of traffic so Saranac Lake Sr High School Gym 3:30 & 7 PM crashes or collisions. Many our crews can get out there and 46er hikes on, pursuing businesses, banks, post offices plow the roads. The less peo - record ADULT TICKETS $10 ADVANCE OR $15 AT THE DOOR and libraries closed early. ple driving around, the better.” Despite the storm, Long Many events were canceled. Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued Island endurance athlete Ste - Buy advance tickets now at school offices & save! “When the governor issues a tractor-trailer ban on the fanie Bishop continued her a state of emergency with no Adirondack Northway, Inter - pursuit of becoming the first unnecessary travel, we take it state 87, between Albany and woman to through-hike the seriously!” read a post on the the Canadian border on Tues - Adirondack 46 High Peaks in Goff-Nelson Memorial day, and a full travel ban on I- the winter. She hiked Giant Library’s Facebook page. The 84 from the Pennsylvania bor - Mountain and Rocky Peak library closed at noon Tuesday der to the Connecticut border. Ridge Tuesday morning and is closed all day today. Both went into effect at 1 p.m. before ending her day around Merry St. Patrick’s On Lake Placid’s Main Tuesday. The I-84 ban expired 3:50 p.m., just as the heaviest Street Tuesday afternoon, vil - at 8 p.m., but the I-87 tractor of the snowfall began. lage police traffic control offi - trailer ban remained in effect. Brittany Friedrich of Kee - S aranac L a ke St.Pa trick’sDay Parade cer Marty Perkins described a Cuomo declared a statewide seville, who hiked Nye and “very quiet” downtown that state of emergency Monday Street mountains with Bishop F riday, March 17 at 4 pm was empty aside from a few evening, starting at midnight, on Saturday, posted on Face - tourists taking in the aesthetic and directed non-essential book this morning that Bishop Rou te: U.S. Post Office (on Broa d w a y) to th e of the snowfall. Perkins said state employees to stay home will have 50-plus inches of he spent most of the day help - from work Tuesday — except snow to break trail through on H a rrietstow n Tow n Ha ll ing delivery trucks and stuck in the state’s six northern-most 26 remaining peaks. Friedrich (A ssem b l e at 3:30 pm) cars to traverse hills. counties: Franklin, Essex, said Bishop intends to hike Big “The trucks have been Clinton, St. Lawrence, Lewis Slide at some point today and struggling all day,” he said. and Jefferson. plans to hike the Great Range F ollow ed by a sh o r t cer em on y with “They probably won’t even be A National Weather Service — Haystack, Basin, Saddle - here tomorrow. The delivery winter storm warning ended at back, Sawteeth, Gothics, Arm - good & bad Irish jokes. trucks that came, they should 8 p.m. Tuesday for the western strong, Upper Wolf Jaw, have known better.” Adirondacks, including south - Lower Wolf Jaw — Dial, Nip - Thisyea r,itwillbe a TRI-LA K ES CELEBRA TIO N with Mayor Pa u l As Perkins walked by the ern Franklin County. The pletop, Colvin, Blake, and the Maroun ofTu pper La k e and M ayor Craig Randallof La k e Placid Mirror Lake Beach late in weather service expected Dix Range before her finish on Tuesday afternoon, a family accumulations of 18 to 24 Whiteface and Esther. joinin g Sa ranac Lake M ayor Clyde Ra bidea u in thisSt.Pa trick ’s of tourists from Tampa inches, with gusty winds pro - “At this point, we are trying celebration . watched their daughter sled ducing “considerable blowing to push Stef through to get her down a hill. Jonathan Gorab and drifting snow into early finished so we are trying to said it was the first time his ALSO CELEBRA TIN G WITH USW ILL BE the Su perviso r of the Wednesday morning” — but round up some troops,” Bish - Tow n of Tu pper La k e Pa tricia Littlefield (my n iece),who w illbe young daughter Frankie had the top end of that range had op wrote. “If anyone is inter - ever seen snow and Perkins already been reached by 8 ested in being a part of her joined byRoby Politi,Su perviso r of the Tow n of North Elba and told Gorab it was “the finest” p.m., and it kept going from journey and helping out by snow he’d seen in years. Mik e Kilroy, Su perviso r of the Tow n of Harrietstow n . Jo h n n y there. either breaking trail on any of Muldow n ey of the Sa ranac Lake A rea Cha m ber of Commerce “I’m going home and put - A separate blizzard warning her remaining peaks ahead of ting my boards on and am remains in effect until 11 p.m. us or meeting up on trail with w illbe marching a lon gside Jim McKenna ofthe La k e Placid going to go ski on the streets,” tonight. The weather service Stef, let us know!” Visitor’sBu rea u (ROOST).(Jim’sfather,Jo h n McKenna, Perkins said. “I’m going to go says 14 to 24 inches of snow State Department of Envi - hit all the side streets. I live on are expected to accumulate in ronmental Conservation a ttorney a nd FBI agent was one ofmy favorite Irish m en .) Wesvalley Road. I’m going to the St. Lawrence Valley, east - spokesman David Winchell ski over the hill and come ern Adirondacks and the said this morning the DEC was We a re talk ing a bou t a da y of sh a red frien dship between ou r down some of the streets — Champlain Valley, including drafting advisories regarding there won’t be anyone out three communities, notabout sh a red services or politics ...so Essex County. Areas of blow - avalanche risk and difficult a llresiden tsof ou r three villages a re invited to com e and join tonight.” ing snow will continue into backcountry conditions due to Most businesses in the vil - today. the excessive snowfall. in the pa rade a nd just ha ve so m e fun. lage let employees leave early, Winchell said that as of 10 as did the village and town Airport closed a.m., DEC was not actively Kids, pa ren tsand grandparentsjust sh o w up a t3:30 ...nothing offices, which sent staffers Across the country, nearly discouraging people from to rehea rse,just sh o w up a nd w alk dow n the street with me! home at around 3 p.m., if not 6,000 flights scheduled for recreating in the backcountry. earlier. Tuesday were canceled. That “The two biggest concerns T he more the m e rrier! The village of Lake Placid includes Cape Air’s three daily with all this deep snow will be announced on social media flights out of the Adirondack breaking trail — it will take ~ Howa rd Jo h n Riley, Gra nd M arshall this morning that the North Regional Airport in Lake more energy and time to travel Elba Town Hall will be closed Clear. throughout — and making today to facilitate snow “Since we didn’t have any people aware of avalanche risk cleanup. flights we just closed down so on the slides and other ava - “Essential travel only today we could focus on plowing lanche prone terrain,” please,” the village wrote, “as and keeping up with it,” said Winchell said. crews are working around the clock to get and keep road - ways open.” High Peaks The Adirondack Health- Lake Placid emergency room ANIMAL HOSPITAL remained open throughout Tuesday night, according to Medical • Surgical • Dental • Boarding emergency room staff. The Lake Placid emergency room • Dr. John Cogar • Dr. Jacquelyn Bentley is normally open from 8 a.m. • Dr. Melissa Granell • Dr. Mensching to 11 p.m. daily. The regularly scheduled Over 75 Years Combined Experience! North Elba Town Council It’sHim selfnear Galway, Irela nd –2002 meeting slated for 7 p.m. was Rt. 86, Ray Brook 891-4410 canceled; a make-up time and 5 Minutes from Lake Placid & Saranac Lake date are yet to be announced.
Emergencies Essex County’s state of emergency, signed by Board of Supervisors Chairman Randy Preston, took effect at noon Tuesday. It allowed all county departments and agen - cies to take whatever steps necessary to “protect life, property and public infrastruc - ture, or to provide emergency assistance.” Franklin County Manager Donna Kissane also declared a county-wide state of emer - gency around 3 p.m. Tuesday. She asked people to limit all non-essential travel “to allow emergency vehicles easy access and highway depart -
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