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Ti Bingo in peril

Saturday, January 25, 2014

READING BREAK

This Week TICONDEROGA

Fire company mulls future of 40-year tradition By Fred Herbst

Former Ti principal takes new position.

fred@denpubs.com TICONDEROGA Ñ Bingo is more than a game to the Ticonderoga Fire Department. Ò Bingo has meant a lot to us over the years,” Jeff Burns, Ti fire chief, said. Ò WeÕ ve purchased a lot of equipment, funded our fire prevention efforts, provided scholarships at school and done a lot of other things using bingo money. WeÕ ve saved taxpayers a lot of money.Ó Now in its 40th year, bingo is played every Thursday at 6:45 p.m. at the Ticonderoga fire station on Montcalm Street. Ò WeÕ re one of the longest running bingo games in the state,” Matt Watts, assistant chief, said. Ò A lot of bingo games have shut down. Interest seems to be dying.Ó Interest is also down in Ticonderoga, prompting fire officials to consider the future of the weekly games. In the 1990s bingo used to attract upwards of 140 people a week, Watts said. The bingo games Jan. 16 drew 32 players. At one point bingo added $30,000 a year to the department coffers. Last year it generated $9,000. Ò We need 40-45 people to break even,Ó Watts said. Ò People just arenÕ t coming like they used to. I know January is a tough time Ñ itÕ s right after Christmas, taxes are due, there are high heating costs Ñ but our attendance has been down for a while.Ó Ò There have been nights when we have more volunteers (firefighters) than we have players,Ó Burns said. That’s prompting firefighters to consider changes. Watts interviewed players

SCHROON LAKE

Provoncha receives Papal medal. PAGE 13 SPORTS

Moriah boys get by Schroon and Westport.

Raegan Thomas relaxes with a book during a break from her studies at Crown Point Central School.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Photo by Nancy Frasier

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PUBLISHER’S COLUMN

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

7

SCHROON LAKE

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CROWN POINT

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MORIAH

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BRIEFS

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR

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SPORTS

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CLASSIFIED

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Moriah officials consider creation of DPW By Fred Herbst fred@denpubs.com PORT HENRY — Moriah officials will debate the merits of a town department of public works during 2014. The community now has separate highway, water, sewer, buildings and grounds departments. “We have to find ways to reduce costs and do away with redundancies in the town,” Supervisor Tom Scozza-

fava said. “Maybe it’s time we go to a DPW. Ò ItÕ s been discussed before, but weÕ ve never proceeded with it,Ó he said. Ò ItÕ s time to take another look. The bottom line is that our buildings and grounds, water and sewer and highway departments all work together anyway. Why not make them into one department?Ó Scozzafava said it’s common for Moriah’s various departments to assist each other.

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Ò When one departmentÕ s shorthanded another department helps out,Ó he said. Ò WeÕ ve always worked together and never had any problem.Ó The supervisor said Moriah has two options to create a DPW. It can pursue a DPW with an appointed chief, abolishing the elected position of highway superintendent. That would have to be approved by voters in a public referendum. Or the town board can vote to create a DPW while keeping the elected highway superintendent, appointing a

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DPW head Ñ presumably the highway superintendent. Ò We would appoint someone already on the town payroll,” Scozzafava said. Ò We would not create a new position. Ò I am not in favor, and I donÕ t believe the town board is in favor, of abolishing any elected position,Ó he said. Ò People need to have a say in who holds that position. It shouldnÕ t come CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

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