May 10, 2014
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2014
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A Denton Publication
Serving the Upper Hudson River Region
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Railway sale a surprise
This Week Spring fish sale
WARREN COUNTY The Warren County SWCD sells fish (trout, bass and minnows) to interested pond owners in Warren County. This program helps local pond owners stock their ponds. Orders must be received by Friday May 9. Order forms are now available online at warrenswcd.org They are also on our face book page under events. The spring pick up will be Friday May 16. Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass and minnows will be available. The DistrictÕ s pond stocking program is on a pre-order basis. If you have any questions related to pond stocking, species selection, or stocking rates, please feel free to contact our office at any time. 623-3119 or dmoore123@nycap.rr.com. Ñ
By Mauranda Stahl-Sorensen mauranda@denpubs.com
NORTH CREEK Ñ Iowa Pacific Rail, the parent company to the Saratoga & North Creek Railway, has agreed to sell an 80 percent interest to Chai Trust Co. LLC and EGI Fund Investors. Details of the sale have not been released by either party, under protective order. It was mentioned in the filing that the senior management of Iowa Pacific are set to maintain the remaining 20 percent interest. Local county officials cited that communication and transparency with the railway is lacking. “Our office is looking into it,Ó said Kevin Geraghty, Warrensburg Supervisor and Chairman of the Warren County Board of Supervisors. Ò Ed Ellis and crew are still maintaining (the line), and hopefully this adds an influx in capital.Ó SNCRR has struggled financially in the past with local debt and payments to Warren County, who are proprietors of the rail lines. The U.S. Surface Transportation Board made the sale public through a filing made April 21. No effort has been made at press time by Iowa Pacific or SNRCC to bridge communication with Warren County. Ò I am sitting back and observing,Ó Johnsburg Supervisor Ron Vanselow said. Ò I am hoping for a positive outcome, but IÕ m cautiously optimistic.Ó SNCRR is member of the Gore Mountain Region Chamber of Commerce, where officials say they have been heavily supported.
Driving course set
INDIAN LAKE Ñ There will be a defensive driving course May 9 from 4 to 10 p.m. at Byron Park in Indian Lake. The course is good for three years and allows attendees to save 10 percent on insurance premiums. For registration, call John Rathbun at 648-5306.
Workshop slated
A kayaker goes through the gates of the slalom course during the Hudson River White Water Derby. See more pictures on page 8. Photo by Keith Lobdell
Family Dollar in Contract for North Creek Property
CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
By Nancy Lee Dunn denpubs@denpubs.com
Index EDITORIAL
4
LETTERS, COLUMNS
5
CALENDAR
9
ADIRONDACK OUTDOORS
10
CLASSIFIEDS
11
LEGALS
14
NEWCOMB Ñ The Wetland Detectives Training Workshop II - Birds and Plants, will be held Saturday, May 17, 9 a.m. to noon, at the Adirondack Interpretive Center. For more information, call 582-2000 or email aic@esf. edu.
NORTH CREEK Ñ A national dollar store chain may soon be coming to the hamlet of North Creek. Westlake Development LLC, a development company from East Syracuse, is in contract with The Holiday Organization, Inc., of Long Island for the purchase of a 5.5-acre piece of land in the hamlet of North Creek, across from the train depot. Westlake Development purchases land and partners with national corporations to create retail organizations, including Walgreens and Family Dollar.
Joe Cain at Westlake Development and Johnsburg Supervisor Ron Vanselow confirmed the contract, which is contingent on Family Dollar implementing the design that the town of Johnsburg requires. Vanselow believes as long as Westlake Development and Family Dollar comply with the requirements that will be put forth by the Johnsburg Planning Board, the sale will go through, stating that there are no rules in place that would block the development, simply some requirements for the design of the building. Ò The planning board canÕ t say they donÕ t like this development and block it, because it is a permitted use for the site,Ó Vanslow said. Ò They can possibly
mitigate that, but at this point, if Family Dollar satisfies the Planning Board’s requirements, it is likely to happen.Ó A phone call to Cork Nester, Planning Board Chair, to determine the Planning Board’s specific requirements, wasnÕ t returned. Many of the business people are opposed to a, Ò big box,Ó chain store on a piece of land they hoped would be developed as a mid-price hotel. At one point, there was an approved hotel plan for the site, but it never came to fruition and the site has been vacant for many years. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
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