Reporter Pete DeMola reports that the region’s agricultural wish list for 2015 includes the creation of a regional food hub, increased legislative measures to protect and nurture the sizzling farm-to-table industry and increased communication and educational efforts that will allow the local community to climb aboard.

Writer Phil Brown writes that the public remains divided about the the future of the eighty-mile rail corridor between Big Moose and Lake Placid.

Reporter Brian Mann addresses a scathing editorial recently written by Denton Publications editorial board about Protect the Adirondacks and its executive director, Peter Bauer. 

Writer John Warren, founder of the Adirondack Almanac, writes his response to an editorial published last week by Denton Publications about Protect the Adirondacks and their executive director, Peter Bauer.  

The Denton Publications editorial board denounces Protect the Adirondacks and calls on other media outlets to follow their lead by no longer contacting executive director Peter Bauer for input. 

Reporter Maggie Morgan reports that a meeting was held on Dec. 17 in Speculator to introduce the Great South Woods Project to the public and get community members thinking together.
 

Reporter Pete Klein reports that while local elected officials have for years been concerned that the state continues to purchase land to add to the Forest Preserve, yet doesn’t have the funds necessary to care for the land, they have recently gained an ally in Albany.

Reporter David Sommerstein reports that New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball has announced that a new task force will begin meeting in 2015 to create food hubs and develop transportation infrastructure to get more fruits and vegetables from Upstate fields into New York City kitchens. 

A staff report notes that lake sturgeon continue to be stocked in North Country waters as part of a restoration program for this threatened fish species.

Reporter Brian Mann reports that state environment officials in New York have updated the list of species with the “greatest conservation need.” 

Reporter Thom Randall reports that a prominent area environmentalist presented a proposal to Lake George town and village leaders for a moratorium delaying new sewer hookups in the two municipalities, but the two municipalities’ boards unanimously rejected the idea.

Reporter Brian Mann reports that Saranac Lake village trustees have voted to hire a consultant to review the business plan and feasibility of the proposed 93-room hotel on Lake Flower and also signaled that they may be leaning toward approving the zoning changes needed for the development to move forward. 

Reporter Pete DeMola reports that Representative-elect Elise Stefanik recently briefed constituents gathered at Commonwealth Home Fashions on her efforts since the general election seven weeks ago, including ethics briefings and networking with other incoming representatives.

Reporter Amanda May Metzger reports that researchers are finishing deployment of sensors to transmit real-time data about Lake George and its tributaries as part of The Jefferson Project at Lake George. 

Reporter Julia Botero reports that a $5-million pool of state money will ensure redevelopment projects in New York’s North Country stay funded. 

A staff report notes that the advocacy group Adirondack Wild: Friends of the Forest Preserve has issued a report calling for strengthening in policy and practice under the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan.

Reporter Matthew Turner reports that the state Olympic Regional Development Authority’s board agreed Tuesday to re-form ORDA’s Community Advisory Panel.

Reporter Brian Mann reports that the Adirondack Scenic Railroad has received a $791,000 grant from New York State. 

Reporter Brian Mann reports that a state court has rejected a bid by environmental groups to appeal a New York Supreme Court decision that validated permits for the Adirondack Club and Resort project in Tupper Lake.

Reporter Phil Brown reports that The Court of Appeals has rejected a motion by Protect the Adirondacks and the Sierra Club seeking permission to appeal a lower court’s dismissal of their lawsuit against the developer of the Adirondack Club and Resort and the Adirondack Park Agency.

Reporter Amanda May Metzger reports that Lake George Commission Executive Director Dave Wick has returned to his position, where he gave an update on the first year of the two-year pilot mandatory boat inspection program aimed at preventing the spread and introduction of aquatic invasive species.

A blog posting states that a report by the New York Public Interest Research Group indicates that small local governments across New York are not subject to stong enough ethics and lobbying disclosure laws.

A staff report notes that Molpus Woodlands had purchased 112,238-acre holdings in the Adirondack Park from the Forestland Group, making the company the second-largest private landowner according to the Adirondack Council.

Reporter Mary Thill reports on the findings of the DEC’s report on the region’s coldwater lakes including the effects on lake trout.

 A staff report notes that a new report by The Nature Conservancy projects a decrease in lake trout habitat in the Adirondacks due to increasing water temperatures, fertilizer runoff and competition from non-native species like bass and pike.

Reporter Chris Knight reports that although the North Country did not win the distinction of top performer at the Regional Economic Development Council awards for the fourth year in a row, it was awarded the sizable sum of $63.4 million that will benefit a long list of local projects.

Reporter Amanda Metzger reports that as the Septic Initiative Program continues in its second year in the town of Lake George, a Diamond Point Road property has had an enhanced treatment unit installed that could be a model for others around the lake who look to replace inadequate septic systems that are sending algae-feeding nutrients to the lake. 

A staff report notes that U.S. Rep.-elect Elise M. Stefanik, R-Willsboro, has been appointed to the Education and the Workforce Committee.

Reporter Brian Mann reports that the North Country was awarded $63 million in funding on Thursday when Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced funding decisions made by his Regional Economic Development Council Program.

A press release notes that a report released on Wednesday by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli shows that the Department of Environmental Conservation has experienced staff cuts and constrained funding since 2003 while its responsibilities have grown. 

Reporter Amanda Metzger reports that the state Department of Environmental Conservation is resisting paying bills to the town of Lake George for wastewater treatment.

A staff report notes that the state Department of Environmental Conservation has released a Stewardship Plan to guide interim management for public access and use of newly acquired lands in the Essex Chain Lakes Management Complex in the Central Adirondacks.  

Reporter Brian Mann reports that environmental groups are unhappy with a judge’s decision to allow NYCO to perform test drilling in the Jay Mountain Wilderness area.

Reporter Brian Mann questions whether Gov. Andrew Cuomo will continue to build a close relationship with New York’s North Country in his second term after taking a beating in those counties in last month’s election.

Reporter Gordon Block reports that U.S. Rep.-elect Elise M. Stefanik, R-Willsboro, has been appointed to the House Armed Services Committee. 

Reporter Brian Mann reports that a state Supreme Court judge has decided that NYCO’s mining project in the Jay Mountain Wilderness can move ahead. In the decision, the judge says the arguments raised by environmental groups are “fallacy."

Reporter Chris Knight reports that Saranac Lake Village Trustee Barbara Rice is continuing to push for an independent feasibility study of the proposed 93-room hotel on the Lake Flower shoreline. 

Reporters Brian Mann and Martha Foley interview Randy Douglas, head of the Essex County Board of Supervisors, who has been elected to take over as leader of the New York State Association of Counties next year.
 

Writer Dave Gibson, of the advocacy group Protect the Adirondacks, writes that he is surprised that the APA may well approve the New York Land and Lakes Development LLC in the Towns of Bleecker and Johnstown despite its poor design and “land-consuming” lots and reviews how such a thing could be possible.

Reporter Cristine Meixner reports that the Adirondack Lakes Alliance held a meeting on Friday to discuss the threat of aquatic invasive species, noting that the threat was described by Fred Monroe, supervisor of the Town of Chester, as being one of the most serious ever faced in the Adirondacks. 

A staff report notes that ADVANTAGE Adirondacks, a project undertaken over the past two years by the Adirondack Partnership, has created an economic development strategy to identify a specific set of programs and incentives that view environmental and economic sustainability as mutually dependent and reinforcing.
 

Reporter Amanda May Metzger reports that engineers are looking at revising the planned Route 9 Gateway Project sidewalks to make them a porous material, which could be about 2.5 times more expensive than a traditional concrete sidewalk but would help keep runoff out of the lake.
 

A staff report notes that the Great South Woods initiative to diversify and enhance outdoor recreation opportunities in an area of public and private lands in the southern Adirondack Park will begin with an open public meeting on Wednesday, December 17.

A staff report notes that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is seeking comments to amend the Moose River Plains Wild Forest Unit Management Plan to improve its mountain bike trail system.
 

Reporter Matthew Turner reports that the Essex County Board of Supervisors voted to change the way the county can award competitive bidding contracts and also approved a resolution  to move forward with the eminent domain process to take the Old County Infirmary Cemetery located in the town of Essex at their regular board meeting Monday. 

Writer John Warren writes that the true reason for the attempt by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the DEC to oust Dave Wick, the executive director of the Lake George Park Commission, was due to their disapproval of a mandatory invasive species boat inspection and control program on Lake George.

The Post-Star editorial board extends their appreciation for the community support given to Lake George Park Commission Executive Director Dave Wick.

Reporter Tim O’Brien reports that the town of Lake George is planning a major renovation of its Route 9 entryway that will add sidewalks, bike lanes and traffic-slowing measures. 

Writer Phil Brown writes that rock-climbers are hoping the Adirondack Park Agency recognizes the popularity growth of technical climbing and mountaineering when it considers amendments to the State Land Master Plan.