20140201 valleynewslc

Page 1

Willsboro» Elementary students to perform ‘Winnie the Pooh Kids’

PAGE 3

YOUR NUMBER ONE SOURCE OF COMMUNITY NEWS, SERVING THE LAKE CHAMPLAIN REGION

www.valleynewsadk.com

This Week IN INDIAN LAKE

A Denton Publication

FREE

Saturday, February 1, 2014

ROCK N’ ROLL DREAMS

Phillips to attend ‘Captain Phillips’ screening By Keith Lobdell keith@denpubs.com

Beating the winter blues on the trails

WHALLONSBURG Ñ The man behind the Academy Award-nomintaed biopic will be at the Whallonsburg Grange Hall Feb. 2 to introduce the film named after him. Capt. Richard Phillips, the Merchant Marine thrust into the global spotlight in 2009 when he and his ship, the Maersk Alabama, was taken captive by Somali pirates, will be the featured speaker when the Champlain Valley Film Society presents the film Ò Captain Phillips,Ó at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2.

PAGE 2 AU SABLE FORKS

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Vacant property woes

AFES students ready for regional Spelling Bee PAGE 8

Members of the Willsboro Central School Chorus are battling it out with three other schools to win a chance to sing on stage with the 80s rock band Foreigner Feb. 16 in Burlington, Vt. For more on this story, see page 3.

SPORTS

Photo provided

Horace Nye handover imminent By Pete DeMola pete@denpubs.com

]ELIZABETHTOWN Ñ

Inter-Division matchups in weekly recap PAGE 10

As New York City-based health provider Centers for Specialty Care prepares to take ownership of the Horace Nye Nursing Home from Essex County Jan. 31, county officials discussed what the endgame would be for the facility’s 130-plus staffers. Tom Scozzafava (R-Moriah) asked County Manager Dan Palmer at the closing of the county Personnel and Administration Committee session Tuesday, Jan. 18, if employees would get preferential treatment for county jobs or if they’d start

on equal footing with other applicants. “They will go on a preferred list when they’re laid off,” said Palmer. “If a position opens up, we’ll make our decisions based on that preferred list.” Some of the home’s staff are being offered positions with the new owner, but some want to stay in county employment to keep their health insurance and retirement benefits. “Are we showing any preference to Horace Nye employees if they’re qualified?” asked Scozzafava. Ò Not with CNA positions,Ó said Palmer, referring to certified nursing assistants. Ò Never.Ó

Since the county is no longer involved in the nursing home business, explained Palmer, they don’t see those employees filling positions in county-offered jobs anytime soon. Those jobs aren’t available elsewhere, said Palmer, but senior clerk positions may become available within the year that Horace Nye staffers can apply for if they’re qualified. “But this board can’t force the issue,” he emphatically said. Ò The department heads are the authorities and we [the board] can’t force people to be hired.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

By Pete DeMola pete@denpubs.com

ELIZABETHTOWN Ñ Town supervisors faced off against county officials Tuesday, Jan. 21, in an attempt to determine exactly who has ultimate responsibility over foreclosed and condemned properties within Essex County. Supervisors complained that while the state mandates buildings or structures that code enforcement authorities deem unsafe be condemned or demolished, those costs are currently absorbed by the town and cannot be relevyed on the tax rolls. CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Index LOCAL COLUMNISTS

4

EDITORIAL

6

LETTERS

7

ADIRONDACK OUTDOORS

9

Remember to keep clicking valleynewsadk.com all day every day for the latest local news, featured stories and extras

www.valleynewsadk.com

SIGN UP TODAY!

Each week, we’ll send you the printed edition straight to your email’s inbox for FREE. Cancel any time. To sign up, simply go to

www.valleynewsadk.com/alerts/manage/

Twitter

Online

Facebook

SPORTS

10

CROSSWORD

11

CLASSIFIEDS

12-15

AUTOMOTIVE

15-16

Facebook & Twitter

Become a “fan” on Facebook. Simply search keyword “Valley News” or follow our Tweets at

www.twitter.com/valleynewsadk


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.