Mike Oot - A Day in Saranac Lake

For the first time in my memory a person running for Congress spent the day in Saranac Lake just to learn about the community and the issues that affect the community. Mike Oot arrived at the Blue Moon Cafe a little after 10 AM yesterday morning. Mike spent the first hour learning about the community from photographer and activist Mark Kurtz and Village Trustee Christina Fontana. At 11 AM he spent almost an hour and one half being questioned (interviewed) by Peter Crowley, editor of the Adirondack Daily Enterprise and a news reporter from local radio station WNBZ. Prior to his two scheduled tours and meetings Mike and his group visited the Mark Kurtz Studio. This impressed me because after talking with Mark Kurtz, Mike said that he would stop down to see the studio. We didn't really have much time in the schedule but Mike pointed out that he told Mark he would visit the studio and that is what we should do. This small courtesy indicated to me that Mike Oot's word actually means something to him.

On the way back to the parking lot we stopped very briefly to meet local artist Tim Fortune of Small Fortune Studio. Our first scheduled visit was to the Adirondack Medical Center, the largest acute care general hospital in the Adirondack Park. Mike discussed several health care related issues with CEO Chandler Ralph including the problems with attracting physicians to rural areas, problems with government reimbursments and of course the rapidly escalating cost of health care.

Upon leaving the AMC we had a few minutes for an unscheduled visit with interim President Fred Smith at North Country Community College. After a brief tour of some of the campus buildings, we were off to a visit to Trudeau Institute.

Below is a photo of Mike being filled in, by scientist Brandon Sells, on the basics of fluorescent activated cell sorting. After a brief tour of the facility, Mike spent one and one-half hours discussing basic medical research issues with Trudeau Institute President Dr. David Woodland. One very important issue was the flat funding of the National Institutes of Health by the current administration and the effects that has on keeping research programs viable. One effect has been the loss of scientific talent from research communities.



Below is a picture of Mike, his wife Ann and Kristin Meadows of TI standing near the bronz Gutzon Borglum statue of the Institute founder Dr. E.L. Trudeau.


This was a very productive visit for Mike to learn about issues that affect the largest 'city' in the Adirondack Park - Saranac Lake and at the same time learn about health care and medical research issues that affect the entire country. I could see that Mike really enjoyed his visit and had a great time discussing issues that he care deeply about. Mike has promised to return to Saranac Lake and that next visit is in the process of being arranged.