Tammy Morgan and Sam Baker are high school science teachers for the Lake Placid Central School District. They are the advisors and managers of Placid Earth, a community based - student run composting program that has been turning food wastes from local families into valuable compost for school gardens and pollinator projects since 2019. Big things happen when students take action! At a recent presentation to the Lake Placid Rotary, we heard about journey of Placid Earth, an inspiring, student-driven in-vessel composting initiative. What makes it special? Smart Composting: Uses an in-vessel drum composter set inside a shipping container to process organic waste year-round—even during freezing Adirondack winters. All Food Welcome: The system easily breaks down all types of food waste, including meat, fats, oils, and bones (no compostable plastics, though!). Local students manage the data, clean buckets, paint murals, and turn food scraps into rich soil. The finished compost directly nourishes school gardens, the STREAM alternative education program, pollinator beds, and local community spaces. $20/month community membership: Local families drop off food scraps and can take home free, nutrient-dense compost anytime. As the initiative continues to grow, Placid Earth is partnering with local community organizations to secure long-term fiscal support and expand opportunities for student internships.
We were honored to welcome Lauren McGovern for an open, heartfelt, and vital presentation on suicide prevention and survivor support. Sharing the memory of her son, Owen, Lauren spoke about the critical need to break the stigma around mental health and create spaces of connection and community. She highlighted the mission of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and how community support fuels lifesaving research, crisis programs, and survivor care.
Can you spare some time to participate in the Out Of The Darkness Walk on 9/26 in Lake Placid? Registration opens at 10am and the walk begins at 11am. It’s free and open to all. There will be opening speakers, community resource tables, honor bead ceremonies, raffles, and a symbolic walk around the Oval and into town. Get involved by joining the walk as an individual or form a team. Support the event raffle by donating themed gift baskets or gift cards. Stop by to show visibility and support local mental health initiatives/ If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available 24/7. Call or text the Suicide & Lifeline at 988.
Leaving to study in Paris for a while is companion member Tricia Gomes. We wish her good fortune and success and we hope to see her back in Lake Placid after she completes her studies.
Ever wonder why local energy bills jumped by ~50% last winter? Village Trustee Katie Brennan broke down the details at today’s meeting. While Lake Placid has benefited from cheap hydroelectric power since the late 1950s, winter heating pushes local demand beyond our ~28–29 MW allocation. State-wide power supply is extremely tight due to closed power plants, increased regional demand, and exports to neighboring areas like New England and Quebec. Our hydroelectric rate gets penalized based on our highest monthly peak usage—meaning momentary demand spikes force us to buy significantly more high-cost energy on the open market. What's being done and how you can help. The Village is locking in set energy rates ahead of time to protect residents from unpredictable open-market price spikes. Advanced smart meters are rolling out over the next year to provide better real-time usage data. Avoid running energy-heavy appliances (like EV chargers, dryers, or dishwashers) during peak hours (7–9 AM and 4–9 PM). Payment spreading plans and energy audits via ANCA are available to help manage winter expenses. Together, small adjustments to when we use energy can save the entire community big money! 
Rotarian Brian Merriam visited our club along with the Dave Hitchcock, a Past President of the Rotary Club in Niskayuna NY. Brian shared how his passion for motorcycle touring and Rotary fellowship has taken him on incredible journeys across the globe—from traversing 1,500 miles across India and navigating mountain passes at 19,000 feet in the Himalayas, to assisting at an eye clinic for Mayan communities in Guatemala, exploring Australia, and touring Patagonia.
Brian emphasized that Rotary provides a powerful global network, offering unique opportunities to build lifelong friendships, exchange cultures, and give back to communities in meaningful ways.
Looking ahead to his next adventure in France, Brian’s club in Schenectady, NY is partnering with the Saranac Lake, and Tupper Lake Rotary Clubs to help fund an EKG machine for a mobile medical bus serving women in southern France. Our club will discuss joining this partnership at the next meeting of our International Service Committee.
Brian emphasized that Rotary provides a powerful global network, offering unique opportunities to build lifelong friendships, exchange cultures, and give back to communities in meaningful ways.
Looking ahead to his next adventure in France, Brian’s club in Schenectady, NY is partnering with the Saranac Lake, and Tupper Lake Rotary Clubs to help fund an EKG machine for a mobile medical bus serving women in southern France. Our club will discuss joining this partnership at the next meeting of our International Service Committee.
Today community leader Liz Murray updated us on the Saranac Lake Community Bench Project, co-sponsored by the Women’s Civic Chamber. Over the past 2 1/2 years of the program saw dedicated volunteers collected and processed more than 6 tons of stretchy film plastic - keeping it out of landfills and the oceans. Their hard work has earned over 12 composite benches from the program's sponsor, Trex Company, Inc. These benches have been placed in many public spaces in Saranac Lake. Every 1,000 pounds of recycled film plastic earned a new bench for the town. Although the local bench processing initiative has wrapped up, you can still easily recycle your stretchable plastics (grocery bags, bubble wrap, case wrap, clear mailers). If plastic stretches when you push a finger through it, it's recyclable. Please avoid crunchy or dirty plastics. Look for store-front recycling bins at local retailers such as Hannaford, Price Chopper, Aldi, and Kinney Drugs. Every bit of film plastic saved is a step forward to keeping our oceans and community cleaner. Liz (L) is shown with Rotarian Hannah Hanford.
A short video highlighting our club's many achievements and projects in the 2025 - 2026 Rotary year. https://youtu.be/n58RSqh51Nc
Access to affordable living is essential to keeping our North Country communities vibrant and strong. At a recent Rotary meeting, Adirondack Housing Development Corp. (AHDC)'s CEO Patrick Murphy shared updates on how his organization is making a direct impact across the entire Adirondack Park region. Highlights of his presentation are:
135 Rental Units Managed: AHDC currently provides low-income and affordable housing through properties like Lake Flower Apartments, Helen Hill Apartments, Algonquin Apartments, and Beacon House.
New Projects Underway: Development is continuously moving forward, including a new duplex currently in progress.
Smart Financial Solutions: By utilizing Tax Law Section 581-a, AHDC secures critical tax relief on new projects, helping ensure long-term affordability.
Looking Ahead: AHDC is actively seeking new land opportunities across the Park to expand low-income and affordable living options.
Stronger housing options build stronger communities. A big thank you to Patrick for leading this vital work and sharing these insights with our club! Visit the AHDC website at https://housingstartshere.org/
Patrick is shown with Rotarians Roberta Bryson (a member of AHDC's Board) and Club President Sean Donovan.
