Ellen George was editor of the Lake Placid News in January 1971. She was a prolific editor and reporter and filled this front-page edition with stories about the creation of the Adirondack Park Agency.

The irony of all that writing and reporting on the APA is that Ellen, a few years later, was an attorney on the APA staff.

The following are excerpts from those stories of 52 years ago:

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The study

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“A massive study of the future of the Adirondack Park has recommended that a super-agency with broad powers be established to regulate development of the park and insure preservation of its unique character.

“Asserting that the park is facing a crisis, the commission, which has been working on the report for two years, said that uncontrolled development of the region could spoil the entire recreation industry of the Adirondacks.

“‘The Adirondack Park has long been a sanctuary. Whether it continues to be one depends on the foresight and resolve of all New Yorkers,’ the report said.

“The 14-man commission flatly rejected federal participation by the federal government in management of the park but suggested that federal assistance would be needed so that the future development of the park envisioned by the commission could become a reality.

“The commission recommended that the state embark on a capital spending program of $120 million for acquisition of more than 35,000 acres and easement acquisition of some 600,000 additional acres. It also recommended that the state appropriate an annual budget of $1 million for operation of the agency.

“The commission is headed by Harold K. Hochschild of Blue Mountain Lake, founder of the Adirondack Museum.

“The commission grew out of the furor which followed a suggestion by Laurence S. Rockefeller, Governor Nelson Rockefeller’s brother, that the area within the Blue Line be created a national park.”

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Provisions affect Tri-Lakes

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“Some of the recommendations of the Temporary Study Commission if enacted into law, would have more impact on the Tri-Lakes region than on other parts of the Adirondacks.

“The commission report specifically mentions this area. Circumstances here give several of the general provisions of the report special importance.

“Of the first type are the recommendations for a Visitor’s Bureau Center at Ray Brook, a four-year college in Saranac Lake, expanding Whiteface Mountain Ski Center and using the Penn Central right of way for a snowmobile trail.

“Of the second type are recommendations for phasing out tent platform [aka state camps; which seemed to cause a bigger uproar than any other recommendation because it affected so many local families] permits and for local government financing.

“Selected recommendations from the 181 proposals in the Commission’s report:

“An independent bipartisan Adirondack Park Agency should be created by statute with general power over the use of private land in the Park.

“The Agency should prepare a comprehensive plan for the Park.

“The Agency should have planning and land use control over private land in the Park.

“Local government should have a role in the planning and zoning of private land that reflects their interest in the private land.

“The administration of state land within the Park should remain with the Department of Environmental Conservation.

“The members of the Agency should consist of the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation, the Director of the Office of Planning Coordination, and seven citizens, including the chairmen, appointed by the Governor to serve staggered seven year terms.”

(The story listed another 31 of the 181 proposals on an inside page.)

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C of C has identity crisis

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“Lake Placid’s Chamber of Commerce had a kind of identity-crisis at its opening meeting in 1971. It was a conversation covering What-are-we-all-about and Who-is-in-charge-here?

“The question at Tuesday’s meeting dealt specifically with the Chamber’s relation to the North Elba town board under the reorganization which took place January 1.

“The discussion was prompted by Art Thompson, Kiwanis Club president and school supervising principal, when he told the group about his Chamber request for an arts council. But Chamber members themselves had questions.

“For example, who is ‘in charge’ of the Chamber? Roy Kennedy, is not executive director, but convention and publicity man.

“The town board is supporting much of the Chamber work, but the Chamber continues with a Board of Directors and has membership dues.

“Some criticism of convention director Roy Kennedy was voiced at the meeting.

“Mr. Kennedy, who was absent, was on his way to Montreal to pick up four European competitors in the Kennedy Games jumping events and delivering brochures to the Montreal Chamber office.

“Bill Hurley Jr., (son of town Supervisor Bill Hurley) said people asked about a $12,000 a year-man ‘out running errands’. He requested that Kennedy be present at all Chamber meetings.

(Working with Roy as a reporter and Lake Placid News editor, I thought he did a great job for the Chamber.)

“Supervisor Hurley said Bernard Fell, a minister in Berlin, N.H., and former resident would handle the FISU and Kennedy Games. He said that Fell was on the payroll for $10,000 for sports events for the year, but he has not yet arrived.”

The Kennedy Games, (so there is no confusion; not honoring Roy Kennedy) were set to open that Saturday, the third and final year of the Kennedy International Winter Games. Bill McLaughlin had a great picture of Jackie Kennedy leaving the Olympic Arena.