56543
Editorial» Local fire, EMS squads in need of help
Clinton County, New York
Chamber: Business confidence on the rise
PAGE 4
Saturday, March 8, 2014
www.northcountryman.com
iCy trAininG
This Week EDUCATION
By Shawn Ryan shawn@denpubs.com PLATTSBURGH Ñ The North Country Chamber of Commerce unveiled its annual Issue Survey, which among other things measures levels of business confidence, and the numbers this year remain are strong. Chamber President and CEO Garry Douglas said that of the over 4,000 businesses in Clinton, Franklin, Essex, Hamilton and northern Warren counties surveyed, a very health 10 percent responded to the anonymous survey. Of those responding, 58 percent of business owners expect business to increase in the coming year, while 34 percent believe it will remain steady, for an overall Business Confidence Index of 92 percent. Last yearÕ s Index was 90 percent.
Forum to address Common Core standards. PAGE 6 SPORTS
Members of the Saranac Fire Department Technical Rescue Team braved unseasonably cold temperatures this past weekend to take part in a Rescue 3 International Ice Rescue Technician training class on the Saranac River by the Ore Bed Road bridge. Instructor, Assistant Chief T.J. Strack (white helmet), looks on as a firefighter pulls another from the rapids just below the bridge. Photo by Shawn Ryan.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
officials gather for ny Legislative breakfast By Shawn Ryan
inaugural border bash held in rouses point. PAGE 7 OUTDOORS
shawn@denpubs.com
State Sen. Betty Little addresses North Country Chamber of Commerce members at the annual New York State legislative Breakfast this past week.
PLATTSBURGH Ñ The North Country Chamber of Commerce hosted a standing-room-only crowd of local business people and politicians for their annual New York State Legislative Breakfast Feb. 28. Chamber President and CEO Garry Douglas kicked off the breakfast by lauding several local businesses, among them Nova Bus, whose President and CEO Jean Pierre Bearacat was one of the speakers. But the purpose for the breakfast was to bring business leaders together with the local political contingent, which was represented by state Sen. Betty Little, state Assemblywoman Janet Duprey and state Assemblyman Dan Stec. Little spoke first, and among other topics, assailed Common Core testing mandates and procedures. Ò We didnÕ t do ourselves any good with that test,Ó she said. Ò DonÕ t test on the Common Core, unless you have actually taught it for several years.Ó Duprey spoke primarily about the positive trends in North Country economic development, crediting the North Country Chamber of Commerce with being a tremendous asset for North
www.northcountryman.com/alerts/manage/
www.northcountryman.com
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
SIGN UP TODAY!
Remember to keep clicking northcountryman.com all day every day for the latest local news, featured stories and extras
PAGE 11
Index
CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
Photo by Shawn Ryan
Online
rich redman is heading out on a road trip.
CITY MARINA PROJECT
2
FUNDRAISER PLANNED
3
BULLYING FORUM HELD
3
PUBLISHER’S COLUMN
4
LETTERS
5
FILM ON INEQUALITY
6
OUTDOOR
11
CALENDAR
12
CLASSIFIEDS
13
AUTO ZONE
16
Facebook & Twitter
Become a “fan” on Facebook. Simply search keyword “North Countryman” or follow our Tweets at
www.twitter.com/ncountryman