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Saturday,ÊS eptemberÊ3,Ê2016
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In ARTS | pg. 9
Remembering American workers Labor Day celebrations on tap in North Country
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In NEWS | pg. 5
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CCC budget gets approval
In FEATURES | pg. 15
Otis Mountain headliners
Clinton County greenlights spending plan
Musicians talk humble beginnings
Schuyler Falls residents torpedo dog park idea River Street neighbors get together to say ‘no’ to town board By Teah Dowling
teah@suncommunitynews.com
MORRISONVILLE — The idea of a new dog park had residents growling during a public information meeting last week. The town board held the session to gather community input on converting an unused 20-acre town property on River Street into a fenced-in area for pooches. About 20 spoke out against the idea, but no official decision was made by board members. “I don’t think we need this,” said Jennifer VanValkenburg,
who lives on River Street. The River Street neighbors not only live next to the property, but maintain it. A potential increase in dog barking, fighting and feces left behind were the main concerns, along with increased traffic on the dead end street and the safety of children living there. Several residents from River Street expressed their concern about possible fecal matter runoff into the Saranac River. Supervisor Rick Potiker said picking up feces and policing the area would be up to the people using the park. He also mentioned the possibility of putting up a gate, setting closing and opening hours and installing a security camera. >> See Dog Park | pg. 18
Beautifying Champlain
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Schluter Systems expanding in Plattsburgh
Residents bring art, vibrancy to village through barn quilts
CHAMPLAIN — Village resident Lynne Hogle carefully starting painting yellow on her marked piece of plywood. The local, who said she was non-artistic, tried to stay within the pencil-traced shapes of squares and triangles to create Teah her first ever barn quilt. Dowling Writer “It’s definitely a neat art project,” she said. Hogle was joined by three other residents during last week’s painting session at the Champlain Meeting House to create a large, hand-painted wooden block, which is traditionally displayed on the front or side of a barn. While some residents painted technical patterns for their porches, roofs or front of their house, others thought out of the box like Champlain residents Nicci Molinski and her young daughter, Cora, who painted a sunflower. “We love painting,” said Nicci with Cora shaking her head in agreement. Both Hogle and Molinski participated in the first collective art project of painting lawn chairs last summer started by Village Trustee Janet McFetridge, in an attempt to beautify the town.
The Schuyler Falls town board held a public information session on a proposed Dog Park for River Street. Several more meetings are in the planning stages.
Additional facility to create 46 new jobs in Clinton County By Teah Dowling
teah@suncommunitynews.com
This barn quilt was placed on the front of the Champlain Meeting House. Trustee Janet McFetridge created this piece and started the movement toward beautifying Champlain. Photo by Teah Dowling
“I felt the village needed a little brightening up,” she said. “The chairs and barn quilts turned out so beautiful and creating them brings people together.” Over 20 residents painted lawn chairs last summer, some of which are displayed this year. After only three sessions, over 10 barn quilts are displayed on the front of homes and on porches throughout the village. “The buildings are getting old and some of them aren’t taken care of,” Hogle said. “We have a vision, a goal of beautifying our village. “These art projects are a good start.” >> See Beautifying Champlain | pg. 16
PLATTSBURGH — It’s official: Schluter Systems is expanding. The tile installation systems company, which has been part of the North Country for nearly 30 years, will invest more than $22 million to construct a new building at its 40-acre location on Pleasant Ridge Road in Plattsburgh. A new 45,000 square-foot LEED certified manufacturing facility will be built. Its current warehouse will expand 200,000 square-feet. This expansion will create 46 new jobs and retain 236 current employees in Clinton County. “This is great news for the North Country and I couldn’t be more pleased for the employees and their families,” Sen. Betty Little said in a statement. “I am very pleased that Empire State Development has partnered with Schluter Systems to ensure this long-standing and excellent company has an excellent future ahead in Plattsburgh.” Schluter Systems’ product line includes more than 4,000 >> See Schluter Systems | pg. 18