Test your home, protect your family from Radon!

Radon is a gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water. It occurs naturally in the earth, but can become a problem when it builds up indoors. It enters a home through cracks and openings in the foundation floor, walls and through openings around sump pumps.

According to the federal Environmental Protection Agency, radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Although lung cancer can be treated, the survival rate is one of the lowest of all cancers. Radon is responsible for over 20,000 lung cancer deaths annually.

Homeowners can test their homes at any time; however, it is best to do so in the heating season when homes typically let in less outdoor air. It is important to remember that every home is different and should be tested for radon.

If the test shows that radon is a problem, simple inexpensive techniques may be all that is needed to reduce radon levels. There are contractors throughout the state who have met certain requirements and are trained to identify and fix radon problems in your home.

Washington County is a HIGH RADON AREA county.  Within the county: Argyle, Granville, Greenwich, Jackson, and Salem are considered the highest concern.

Linda Law-Saunders of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Washington County will be giving a presentation about radon at the Pember Library in Granville on December 3 at 4 pm and again at 6 pm. Advanced registration is required. Please call CCE at 746-2560 or 1-800-548- 0881. Individuals with special needs requiring accommodations who wish to attend this program should let CCE know when registering.

1812: New York’s War, New York’s Impetus

A lecture by Robert W. Arnold III

While the Battles of Sackets Harbor or Plattsburg do not carry the cachet of a Gettysburg or Saratoga, the War of 1812, now approaching its bicentennial, was very much New York’s War. Much of the war was fought on our soil or on our waters. New Yorkers responded to the conflict militarily and otherwise and the war exposed serious inadequacies in the state’s infrastructure and the nation’s military capacity. This presentation with slides and period quotes examines the impact of the war and its aftermath on the people of New York and the public improvements roads and canals made partly in response to the war.

Robert W. Arnold III is a career public historian at the New York State Archives. He was Albany County Historian, a historical archaeologist and is a Commissioner of Historic Resources for the City of Albany. Arnold teaches American, New York State and regional history at the College of Saint Rose and other colleges.

Author Andy Flynn will share colorful stories about Adirondack life straight from the archives and collections of the internationally acclaimed Adirondack Museum at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 15, 2009 at the Pember Library in Granville.

During the program, “Turning Points in Adirondack History,” audience members will see how historical events shaped the lives of Adirondack residents. Topics include: the American Revolution, World War II, the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Winter Games, and the creation of the Adirondack Park and the New York State Adirondack Park Agency. During the presentation, Flynn will tell human-interest stories about some of the artifacts at the Adirondack Museum to support his themes. “Turning Points in Adirondack History” highlights Flynn’s work with museum curators in Blue Mountain Lake, documenting regional heritage for his five-volume “Adirondack Attic” book series.
Flynn is an author and publisher living in Saranac Lake, and he currently operates Hungry Bear Publishing with his wife, Dawn, publishing the “Adirondack Attic” book series and the Meet the Town community resource guides.
In 2004, Flynn founded Hungry Bear Publishing and self-published his first book, “New York State’s Mountain Heritage: Adirondack Attic, Volume 1.” His catalog now includes five “Adirondack Attic” books, which include the columns he wrote from 2003 to 2007. A sixth book is expected by the spring of 2010.
Flynn is an award-winning journalist, garnering merits of excellence from the National Newspaper Association, New York Newspaper Publishers Association and the New York Press Association (NYPA) for photography, headline writing, editorial writing, news writing, feature writing, front-page layout and community service reporting.

For more information, contact Andy Flynn at (518) 891-5559 or visit www.HungryBearPublishing.com.

The  lecture 1812: New York’s War, New York’s Impetus by Robert Arnold originally planned for September 24 has been postponed until October 29.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

We are participating in the Hudson River Champlain Valley Heritage Weekend http://www.ny400.org/events/hudson-river-valley-heritage-weekend

On Sunday, September 13, we will have a historical interpretation of Henry Hudson as portrayed by Don Thompson. The program will start at 1pm and the library will be open from 1-5 on Sunday.