Thursday, August 11, 2011 at 10:32AM 
Yesterday's weather produced this stunning image by Schroon Laker Jim Bohleber, earning this week's Picture Of The Week title. Jim wins an ice cream cone from Stewart's. Got a picture that's ice cream worthy? Send it to us at schroonlaker@me.com
Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at 12:06PM This just in:
UPDATE THUWAY NOW RE-OPENED AS OF 1:50 PM
UPDATE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC I-90 - NYS THRUWAY EASTBOUND AT MILEPOST 148.2 AT EXIT 24
Closed to traffic I-90 - NYS Thruway eastbound at milepost 148.2 at exit 24, expect extremely long delays
Motorists should plan for extended delays. Motorists familiar with the area may wish to seek alternate routes to avoid delays.
Updated Wednesday 08/10 at 12:12 PM
We getting reports via Twiiter that a massive gas explosion has closed the Thruway northbound at milepost 141.9 at exit 23.
The southbound lanes and traffic in both directions were being rerouted following an 11 a.m. explosion possibly involving a ruptured gas line.The Times Union has an eyewitness report on the chaos.
"There was an enormous hissing sound, it looked like a small tornado of dust and a lot of construction workers were running around frantically. I got a strong whiff of gas," said motorist John Williams, who was driving north on the Thruway in his Saab with the windows rolled down.
"There was a lot of debris and dust spewing out and it looked pretty chaotic," said Williams, of Plymouth, Mass., a retired UPI reporter who worked in New York City.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at 8:55AM 
With the click of a pair of garden shears by DEC Commissioner Joe Martens, the new Scaroon Manor campsite was unveiled yesterday, turning it from a day use site to a full, functioning camp ground.
And it becomes one of only a handful of sites in the North Country that gives access to this wonderful part of the Adirondacks for folks with disabilities.
Smooth hardened surfaces allow easy access to the beach – right to the water’s edge – as well as boat docks and fishing piers, to showers and restrooms.
“This is a welcome, welcome, boost in the arm for the economy,” Schroon councilman Roger Friedman told Schroon Laker today.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at 7:56AM Could casinos be headed for the Adirondacks? That’s a question posed by today by North Country Radio, following a statement made by Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is considering a constitutional amendment, allowing non tribal casinos. From the Albany Times Union:
"It’s really not an issue anymore of ‘Well, if we don’t officially sanction it as a government it’s not going to happen.’ It is happening,” he said. “So now you have to go to the second step: If there is going to be gaming, how should it be done? … Is it a Constitutional amendment? I don’t know. But it’s a topic we’re looking at actively.”
From scratch lottery tickets, lotto, to church raffles, to having a wager on the ponies at Saratoga, gambling is part and parcel of our society and the economy. But are casinos taking it too far? Tell us what you think in comments.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at 7:42AM The high seas, pirates, a love story – ARRRR…sounds like the latest installment of that popular Johnny Depp franchise.
But it’s also the storyline of one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s best loved comic operas, the Pirates of Penzance, which premieres tonight at the Seagle Music Colony for four sold out performances.
So popular is this show that a special matinee performance has been added for this Friday, August 12, at 2pm. For tickets click here.
The story features Frederic, who upon his 21st birthday, is released from an apprenticeship by a band of good natured pirates. Fred falls fast for Mabel, the daughter of Major-General Stanley. Things get sticky when it’s revealed that because Fred is a leap year baby (born on February 29) he technically has not served his full apprenticeship and thus must wait until he is 63 before he and Mabel can be together.