I’ve always been fascinated by maps, especially old ones. Studied carefully, they can reveal a lot of history. Nineteenth-century maps accompanying the earliest guides to the region, by Seneca Ray Stoddard and E.R. Wallace, for example, show that the way to get from place to place on Long ...

Did you know that llamas hum? Llamas are fascinating animals. Contrary to popular opinion, they don’t spit at humans unless they have been abused. They can see almost 360 degrees, they are loyal guard animals and they have padded feet instead of hooves. Intriguingly, they also hum to ...

The Adirondacks are a playground for cyclists. Riding intermittently for fun, training for a competition, joining a weekly tour for exercise and friendship, taking part in local cycling club events of the Adirondack Cycling Club and Bike Adirondacks — our region is full of opportunities and ...

Few characters in history seem as subject to perpetual reinterpretation as does Benedict Arnold. We all learn about his treason early in school. Then more serious looks at history remind us how much of a hero he was early during the American Revolution. In “God Save Benedict Arnold,” Jack ...

Arcadia Publishing’s niche is “rarely explored pockets of (American) history.” The latest pocket it explores is “Aviation in the Adirondacks,” by Aurora Pfaff. Part of Arcadia’s “Images of Aviation” series, the 128-page book bears a 2024 publication date. “Images” is key ...

This year’s “Wild Words: Adirondack Teen Writing Anthology,” edited by Adirondack Center for Writing (ACW) visiting writer Erin Dorney, was a fun read. Seventy teens, ages 13-19, from 45 towns in our region, published fantasy, science fiction, poems, short stories and excerpts of longer ...