Letter from the Editor

Dear Readers:

Winters and writers never appeared to mix. Shakespeare refers quite bitterly to “the winter of our discontent” in the opening soliloquy of Richard III. Charles Dickens, who linked winter with despair in his immortal first paragraph of A Tale of Two Cities, wrote in one of his short stories about England’s “cold, hard, easterly winter mornings”. Willa Cather, the voice of the American Midwest, stated that “Winter lies too long in country towns; hangs on until it is stale and shabby, old and sullen.” Perhaps the most blunt account of the season, though, came from Robert Byrne. “Winter,” Byrne wrote, “is Nature’s way of saying ‘Up yours.’”

Yet in the heart of the North Country, our writers have found that there is some good in this last — and longest — season of the year. In putting this issue together, the staff of All Points North has found more than enough fodder beneath the frozen ground. Winter in our region is not a season, but an institution. All year long, we hear about it, usually in a negative light. When it finally comes, we are consumed with it. When it finally ends, we rejoice, only to immediately resume talking about how much we dread its return.

Still, our area does not fall into some sort of mass hibernation during these months. As this issue reveals, the truth is quite contrary of this popular assumption. The North Country is a vibrant place to be during this most maligned of seasons. And the answers to the questions about what to do until spring returns are here on our site.

Are you one of those hearty outdoor adventurers who cheers the first sign of snow? If so, don’t miss our story about some new upgrades at Whiteface Mountain, or our look at the often-forgotten pursuit of snowshoe racing that includes an interview with a three-time national champion in this sport. Prefer staying indoors on those cold afternoons? We have you covered there, too, with everything from an inside peek at a local square-dancing club to a Tony-nominated Broadway designer who now devotes his life to making model trains layouts. Looking to get away for the winter? Try taking off to Kenya or Nicaragua, target countries for two locally-based assistance missions profiled in our pages. Want some sporting news? We cover your cold-weather favorites, from ice fishing to hockey to one of the most venerable figure skating exhibitions in the nation. And if you’re feeling hungry on one of those snowy days, just peruse our reviews to read our take on several restaurants around the region.

All Points North is the product of many hands, and I owe many thanks to the student writers and editors who have worked diligently to put this issue together. Without them, there would be no issue. With them, though, you have what’s on the screen before you: a thorough look at our region this season, put together entirely by SUNY students in just half a semester of work. We are proud to share the results of these efforts with you.

So pour yourself a steamy mug of hot cocoa, pull that parka close around you, and start reading. You’ll soon find that snow and ice are hardly the only things the North Country winters have to offer.

Sincerely,

Benjamin Pomerance
Editor-In-Chief