×

A front-page connection

To the editor:

When I saw the front page of the Aug. 1 issue of the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, I was a bit surprised. The article on the upper left concerned the reopening of Eagle Island as a children’s summer camp. The article on the upper right dealt with the circulation of items at the Saranac Lake Free Library.

The two separate articles do have a connection. And that connection is me. I moved to Saranac Lake in the fall of 1977 to work full-time as the caretaker of Eagle Island. I stayed at that position until the fall of 1991. I returned to Eagle Island in the spring of 1996 as the property manager and then continued working there until the camp closed in the fall of 2008. I began working at the Saranac Lake Free Library in 2009 as a part-time clerk and was then hired as the director of the library in the spring of 2012.

Work is just one aspect of any person’s life. Mine is no different. Between 1977 and 2019, I married Beth Benson, whom I met at Eagle Island, and we have two adult children. During that time, I also earned a bachelor and a master’s in elementary education, and then a second master’s in library and information science. For over 40 years, Beth and I have chosen to make Saranac Lake our home.

Seeing the two stories side by side caused me to pause. Anyone watching me would have seen a happy and contented smile slowly dawn across my face as I read each article. I’ve learned a lot over the years working at both Eagle Island and the SLFL. Some people never seem to be employed doing something they really believe in or enjoy. Not me. I’ve been able to do just that, not once but twice. And over the years I’ve had the opportunity to meet, live and work with many wonderful, dedicated and talented people. I’m the luckiest person I know.

Sincerely,

Pete Benson

Saranac Lake

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.75/week.

Subscribe Today