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In POLITICS | INSIDE
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NY-21 race keeps going
In OPINION | pg. 4
Defense bill should be signed
Derrick opens office, Stefanik nabs endorsement
Indigent Defense bill of Gov’s desk
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In LAKE GEORGE | pg. 2
Brews at the state fair
Adk. Brewery tabbed for Syracuse
BridgingÊ theÊ generations:Ê seniorsÊ helpÊ youth Lake George Senior Center to host afterschool activities for youth By Thom Randall
thom@suncommunitynews.com
LAKE GEORGE — Parishioners from three local churches have collaborated to arrange a venue for local youth to engage in after-school activities. Representatives of St. James Episcopal, Sacred Heart and Caldwell Presbyterian churches have together planned to provide activities for children ages 6 through 11, and the initiative by this ecumenical coalition received the endorsement of local leaders.
Jack Abrahams, new president of the Lake George Senior Citizens Club, proposed to the town board at their August meeting that the local Senior Citizens Center be used to host pre-teen students after school, and the board members approved his request. Fran Cocozza, one of the members of the ecumenical coalition, said that establishing a youth center for after-school activities grew out of a survey of young students at Lake George Central School. “Eighty to 90 percent of the students said they wanted a place to go after school,” he said. “It was the overwhelming sentiment of the survey.” Cocozza, who is principal of Lake George High School, said that volunteers from both the Senior Citizens club and the three churches would be supervising the after-school sessions
for youth. He said that at least two adults would be monitoring activities. “It will be a relaxed atmosphere for youth to come to study, use the wi-fi, get tutored and play pool,” he said, predicting that 10 young students, on average, would be attending the sessions from about 3:30 to 5:30 or so. Cocozza added that his school district might arrange to have a bus transport the young students from the local schools to the senior center. He said that the program would start out with twice-weekly sessions. Lake George Deputy Supervisor Vinnie Crocitto suggested that background checks of adults supervising the youth sessions might be appropriate. >> See AFTER SCHOOL | pg. 10
‘Race the Train’ brings them in Event drew runners from across U.S. By Thom Randall
thom@suncommunitynews.com
JOHNSBURG — The annual Race the Train event held Aug. 6 featured numerous local residents of all ages among the leading finishers — and no mishaps occurred despite high humidity and temperatures in the 80s, event official Ronda Morris said. “Race the Train went really great this year. It’s become very popular because it’s so challenging,” she said of the race that pits mankind’s muscle-power against a locomotive. “We had runners from California and Florida — from all over.” A train operated by the Saratoga & North Creek Railway travels from North
Creek to Riparius, where it drops runners off, sits idle while the race begins, then slowly proceeds back to North Creek, while the athletes run up Rte. 8 nearby, crossing over to River Road, north to Main St. in North Creek, to dash across a finish line at the train station there. With the train tracks next to River Road, spectators on the train cheer the runners’ progress over the 8.4-mile course. With 213 athletes competing, this year’s race followed this script. Dozens of volunteers, primarily Johnsburg Central School students, helped conduct the event — by mailing letters, distributing race packets, directing runners along the course, manning water stops and selling raffle tickets. Proceeds from the race go toward scholarships awarded to Johnsburg High School graduates pursuing their studies in college.
Race results feature area runners Placing first overall was North Creek Native Paul Allison, whose sister Elizabeth Allen also competed in the race. Paul Allison, 29, ran the course in 47 seconds, 25 minutes. He was the winner of last year’s race as well. In the 12- to 15-year-old male category, Zabian Powell, 15, of Pittsfield Mass., won with a time of 1:0251. Local finishers in this age group include Ken Mulvey, 14, of Bakers Mills in second place who was 7 seconds behind Powell, and Gabe Smith, 14, of Wevertown in fourth place. In the female division of the same age group, Annalise Beyerbach, 12, of Queensbury took first with a time of >> See RACE | pg. 10
Johnsburg Central School students Gabe Smith of Wevertown and Sheridan Millington of North River, both 14 years old, take a break after running in the Aug. 6 Race the Train event that raises money for scholarship for graduates of their school. Both Gabe and Sheridan placed high among the finishers. Photo provided