Author: VillageFreeville

Freeville loves a good community celebration — especially when it involves cheering on our neighbors in McLean. This year, the McLean Potato Fest is serving up something truly legendary: the Lord of the Fries Fry‑Eating Championship, a fast‑paced, fry‑filled showdown that promises big laughs, big crowds, and even bigger appetites.

Sponsored by SILO, the event is all about fun, friendly competition, and supporting a great local tradition just down the road.

The fry‑eating challenge is simple, spirited, and absolutely entertaining. Contestants race through increasing amounts of fries, round by round, until only one champion remains.

• Round 1 — 10 contestants eat ½ lb of fries; 2 eliminated
• Round 2 — 8 contestants eat ¾ lb; 2 eliminated
• Round 3 — 6 contestants eat 1 lb; 2 eliminated
• Round 4 — 4 contestants eat 1½ lbs; 2 eliminated
• Final Round — 2 finalists eat 2 lbs; first to finish wins

It’s quick, it’s quirky, and it’s exactly the kind of small‑town fun we love to support.

The winner earns a trophy and the ultimate bragging rights as McLean’s official Lord of the Fries. It’s the kind of title you’ll be talking about for years.

• Saturday, July 25
• 3 PM
• Cassavant Elementary School, McLean, NY

Whether you’re competing or just watching, it’s a perfect summer outing for families, friends, and anyone who enjoys cheering on local traditions.

To compete, email mcleanfestival@gmail.com. Only ten spots are available — so if you think you’ve got what it takes, now’s the time.

We’re proud to help spread the word about this fantastic event. The McLean Potato Fest is a celebration of community, creativity, and good‑natured competition — and we hope to see plenty of Freeville faces in the crowd supporting our neighbors.

The McLean Community Council is partnering with Greek Peak’s Cascades Indoor Waterpark for a special June fundraiser that blends community spirit with summer fun. Throughout the entire month, families and friends can enjoy discounted waterpark passes for $35, with a portion of each ticket supporting the McLean Community Council and the Potato Festival. It’s an easy way to make memories while giving back to the community.

Participating is simple. Start by creating an account at greekpeak.net. After your account is set up, select the Groups tile and redeem the group invitation using the code HLRVE and PIN 0626. From there, choose the date of your visit, add your tickets to the cart, and proceed to checkout. Once your purchase is complete, you’ll receive an email with a barcode to present when you arrive at the waterpark. Then all that’s left is to enjoy your day and know that your visit is helping support local programs.

If you need assistance or have questions, community contacts Jim and Nick Totman can be reached at mcleanfestival@gmail.com or 607‑283‑6250. For questions on the Greek Peak side, Kim Thayer is available at kthayer@greekpeakmountainresort.com or 844‑846‑9575. You can also scan the QR code on the event poster for quick access and more details.

This fundraiser is a great opportunity to support your community while enjoying a fun outing. Gather your friends and family, plan your visit, and help raise money for the programs and events that make McLean special.

At our June 2nd Board of Trustees meeting, several residents spoke up about the condition of Mill Dam Park — concerns about aging equipment, safety issues, and the overall feel of the space. Those comments sparked an immediate response, and over the past week the park has already begun to transform.

What’s been especially encouraging is how quickly our DPW employee, Dylan Schlee, jumped into action. Within days, he replaced the rusty toddler swing with a brand‑new plastic seat and fresh chains, and he’s preparing to adjust the height of all the swings once the new chains arrive so they’re more comfortable for riders of every age. When residents raised concerns about the placement of the horseshoe toss pegs, Dylan didn’t wait — he removed them entirely while we decide whether the game should be relocated elsewhere in the park.

He also spent time trimming back low‑hanging branches, making the park safer and giving parents and caregivers a clearer view of their kids at play. The picnic area got a refresh too, with new tablecloths, clips, and an added bench. Even the beloved swinging bench received some attention, and Dylan plans to secure it further with Quickrete so it stays sturdy for years to come.

It’s been a meaningful start, and we want to extend a heartfelt thank‑you to Dylan for his care, speed, and craftsmanship!

Even with these early upgrades, we know there’s more to do. Both residents and Dylan have recommended replacing the slide and exploring options to either repair or fully upgrade the play structure. Clerk‑Treasurer Wallace has already begun researching grant opportunities through programs like Community Beautification and NY Plays, and we’re also looking into community build partnerships with companies such as Home Depot.

These next steps will take planning, funding, and community involvement — but they’re absolutely within reach.

Mill Dam Park is a place where our community gathers, plays, celebrates, and relaxes. If you’re interested in helping shape its next chapter — whether through volunteering, planning, fundraising, or simply sharing ideas — we’d love to hear from you.

You can contact Clerk‑Treasurer Wallace directly: clerk@freevilleny.org, 607‑844‑8301

Our goal is simple: to make Mill Dam Park inviting, fun, and safe for everyone who uses it! The improvements underway are just the beginning. With continued collaboration between residents, Village staff, and community partners, we can create a park that reflects the pride and spirit of Freeville.

If you’ve lived in the Village of Freeville for a while, you’ve probably noticed that mosquito season feels a little different each year—sometimes mild, sometimes relentless. What we experience locally lines up with the broader trends across New York State, where mosquito activity and mosquito‑borne virus detections have stayed consistently high. According to the New York State Department of Health, 589 mosquito pools outside New York City tested positive for West Nile virus in 2024, a reminder that mosquito populations remain active and monitored statewide (NYSDOH, 2024). While the state doesn’t publish mosquito‑count data specific to Freeville, these regional patterns help explain why our small community continues to feel the yearly buzz.

Freeville’s geography plays a major role in all of this. Our village sits right along Fall Creek and is surrounded by marshy lowlands—beautiful, but also prime real estate for mosquitoes. These insects lay their eggs in standing water, and they don’t need much of it. A shallow puddle, a slow‑moving bend in the creek, or a quiet pocket of marshland can support hundreds of larvae. Because we’re nestled among wetlands and water‑rich habitats, we naturally see more mosquito activity than communities in drier areas. State surveillance programs confirm that wetlands are among the most productive mosquito‑breeding environments, which is why they’re routinely used as trapping sites for monitoring species and detecting viruses (NYSDOH, 2024).

Because mosquitoes thrive in water, one of the most effective ways to reduce their numbers is to limit the places where they can lay eggs. Around our homes, that means keeping an eye out for anything that collects water—buckets, gutters, birdbaths, wheelbarrows, old flowerpots, even the base of a recycling bin after a storm. Public health guidance consistently shows that removing standing water is one of the simplest and most reliable ways to cut down on mosquito breeding (CDC, 2024). Of course, we can’t drain Fall Creek or the surrounding marshes, so personal protection becomes especially important. Wearing long sleeves and pants during peak mosquito hours, using EPA‑registered repellents, repairing window screens, and keeping kids covered during dusk and dawn can make a meaningful difference.

Residents may also notice that mosquito activity spikes after heavy rains or when the creek runs high. These conditions create temporary pools and expand breeding habitat, which can lead to short‑term population surges. While statewide surveillance focuses more on disease detection than population control, the data still help us understand why mosquito pressure remains a recurring issue in water‑rich communities like ours.

Living in Freeville means enjoying the beauty of Fall Creek, the wildlife in the marshes, and the green spaces that make our village special. It also means taking a few extra steps during mosquito season. By staying aware of local conditions, reducing standing water where we can, and protecting ourselves and our children during peak activity times, we can keep mosquito season manageable—and keep enjoying the place we call home.

Sources: New York State Department of Health. Mosquito-Borne Disease Surveillance Reports, 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Mosquito Control and Prevention Guidance, 2024.