Adirondack Museum launches online discussion

BLUE MOUNTAIN LAKE -- The Adirondack Museum at Blue Mountain Lake has introduced a moderated online forum called Adirondack Voices for open discussion of topics facing hamlets, towns and villages throughout the Adirondack Park.

Located on the home page of the museum's Web site www.adirondackmuseum.org, Adirondack Voices will pose a new question each month.

Participants are invited to voice their opinions -- pro, con, or somewhere in the middle range. The format also allows visitors to directly comment on the responses of others.

The first question opens debate on whether the proposed Barton Group wind farm should be built. The project consists of 10 wind turbines on 1,700 acres of land formerly used as a garnet mine and already zoned for industrial use. The turbines would be located near North Creek.

Among other topics that may be introduced in the future are: the construction of "big box" stores, snowmobile trails, school consolidation, the proposed development in Tupper Lake, property assessments and taxation, all-terrain-vehicle access and cell towers.

Vossler sculpture chosen for display

SARANAC LAKE -- Carol Marie Vossler's sculpture "Free Rain" has been purchased for the 2008 Barbara Parnass Art in Public Spaces project, which chooses a work of art once a year by an artist based in the Adirondacks and places it on long-term loan in a community organization in Saranac Lake.

Vossler is an art instructor at North Country Community College, the founder of Bluseed Studios and an active sculptor, book designer and curator of art exhibitions. "Free Rain" emphasizes the human dependence on natural surroundings. The sculpture will be installed on the grounds of the St. Joseph Rehabilitation Center in Saranac Lake and will be the initial sculpture in a planned sculpture park.

A public reception for Vossler will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 26, in the Cantwell Room of Saranac Lake Free Library.