Westport, New York on Lake Champlain

A wonderful week (May 30 - June 6, 2011)

Sunrise 6/4/11:

Peonies in bloom:

morning light, June 2, 2011

3rd grade science class using microscopes

Light 5/31/11:

Peter at the pancake breakfast:

Article about the Whallonsburgh Grange in the Valley News

There's a nice article in the Valley News the Whallonsburg Grange,   The rebirth of Grange Hall:

Today, square dances at the Whallonsburg Grange Hall often draw upwards of 80 people.

"It's been a wonderful pillar for the reintroduction of the grange to the community," said Ted Cornell, who serves as project manager for the Whallonsburg Civic Association, the organization charged with overseeing the building.

But square dancing is just one of many activities happening at the grange hall, and as renovation efforts continue, this sleepy little hamlet on the banks of the Boquet River is fast becoming one of the most popular local venues for community events.

The grange hall has regularly hosted a wide gamut of art and cultural activities in the past year, including regular showings by the Champlain Valley Film Society, rehearsals and performances by the Boquet River Theatre Festival, and a collection of historical lectures called the Lyceum Series. It has also been the site of many fundraiser events.

"I think it means so much that its traditions are being brought back to life," said Cornell, noting how many local residents still remember the days when the grange hall regularly hosted dances, bingo, and various meetings. "That sense of renewed purpose, renewed possibility, renewed enjoyment, is the greatest satisfaction."

Waldemar Kasriels in the Press Republican

There's a nice article about Waldemar Kasriels in the Press Republican: Beach Club represents life's work for Westport Man.

The owner of Normandie Beach Club on Furnace Point Lane devotes his life to giving others the opportunity to enjoy the outdoor world. 

He believes in opening up this world to everyone — but especially for children.

Kasriels, now 73, was born in France in 1937. His father was stationed in New York City as a representative of the French government responsible for promoting French products in the United States. The family moved back and forth between the two countries with some frequency, and the boy grew up bilingual.

Peter with the beaver lodge & dam on Hoisington Brook

Wadhams artist Kevin Raines has a show on in Saratoga Springs

From the Glens Falls Post-Star: Artist focuses on conservation of park:

By Doug Gruse [email protected]

Artist Kevin Raines finds inspiration in the Adirondacks.

Artist Kevin Raines’ paintings of the Adirondack Park are featured in the current exhibition at Spring Street Gallery in Saratoga Springs.

The nationally known painter, who has a home in Wadhams, has collaborated with the Adirondack Nature Conservancy for nine years on a project to highlight the beauty of the region's spectacular landscapes. His work is featured in a show running through Nov. 20 at Spring Street Gallery in Saratoga Springs.

"It's a collection of paintings and sketches as well as a lot of interpretive text - copy explaining the importance of the properties and the significance of them within the park," said Ardie Pierce, gallery director.

Raines will be at the gallery from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday for a special reception to promote the Nature Conservancy's work in the Adirondack Park.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will include a screening of a film by local producer Patty Lane featuring "fly bys" of the properties in the paintings and a talk by members of the conservation group about the High Peaks sites.

Pierce said she was amazed the first time she saw Raines' paintings in person.

"It blew me away when I unwrapped the work. Everything is large scale. They are intensely rich oil paintings that evoke a feeling of being immersed in the landscape," she said.

Spring Street Gallery, which is at 110 Spring St. in Saratoga Springs, is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 587-6433.

UPDATE: The kids and I went down to Saratoga Springs to the opening and it was quite inspiring. Kevin's pictures looked great with their new frames on great big white walls. I also liked being able to read about the pictures in detail on the wall plaques. I'd seen about half of them before, but the write-ups gave their context. 

And the Nature Conservancy's short film to go wit them was great. I didn't get to stay for Kevin's tour of the exhibit because I had to get the kids home to bed in Westport.

See also the Albany Times Union.

Field, Forest, & Stream in Elizabethtown, NY

The Lustre Kings play Ballard Park

At the Essex County Fair, the Birds & the Beasts are there!

The monkey ran out of the picture before the camera went off.

Here are some other choice pix from the Essex County Fair in Westport, NY.

More photos HERE!

Boaters write about their Westport voyages

Several boaters who passed through Westport recently have written about their Westport experiences, and also posted a lot of nice pictures of the town.

From Franklin / Peterson 2009 Hudson River Trip: Jim, Bren, Joel, Sue and Watson's Excellent Adventure on Taking Stock and After You

• Into the Lake!
• Westport NY
• Happy 4th of July
• Westport NY on the 4th
• more from Westport...
• Westport NY to Burlington VT

From Jack and Pia's Great Loop Adventure

• The 6th Great Lake
• Mechanicville to Westport, NY on Lake Champlain

Studios visited on the Plein Air Tour

Kevin Raines's studio:

Kip Treinens' studio

Meanwhile, back at 10 Champlain, we received a visit from Hennessey and Rose: