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Saturday,ÊNo vemberÊ14,Ê2015
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In BUSINESS | pg. 14
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In NEWS | pg. 16
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In NEWS | pg. 17
Spay and Neuter Health program Incentive Program gets moving
Giuseppe’s Pizza opens in Keeseville
Elmore SPCA to launch program by year end
Owner Silvio Amaya opened second location Oct. 21
Five-year grant aims to promote student wellness
Frosty Springs continues to fight for freedom from APA Owners seek to have restrictions lifted after $1.9 million fire in 2007 By Teah Dowling
teah@suncommunitynews.com
PERU — Frosty Springs Bottling Company is seeking to have restrictions lifted by the Adirondack Park Agency to keep their business up and running. Co-owners Don and Linda Covel have owned and operated Frosty Springs for 20 years. However, because of a $1.9 million fire in 2007, they’ve since been under restrictions from APA and are struggling to survive. “We would like to straighten it out to where we were before,” Linda said. “We want
to grow.” Current restrictions include not bottling over 40,000 gallons a month, having more than two employees who aren’t family, operating before 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m. and more. “It’s a really challenge,” Don said. “We just want our freedom.” IN THE BEGINNING Don first came up with the idea to start a bottling company after attending a study done by the University of California on chlorinated water in 1987. The study pushed him and Linda to use their own springs and sell their all natural
100 percent pure spring water. They developed their spring two springs and did water tests from 1987 to 1990 when they received approval. Upon approval, they went to the Town of Plattsburgh and APA for a permit to bottle water, in which they received an agricultural permit. Don and Linda obtained their license in April 1993 and started the following year with small bottles. In early 1995, they received state approval to bottle 5-gallon bottles and the business grew from there to also include 16-ounce and 20-ounce bottles. “When we started, we didn’t really know what we were doing or how we would sell this product,” Don said. “But, eventually, our >> Story Continued | pg. 10
SeniorÊP lanet
Photo by Teah Dowling
Town of P’burgh budget remains under tax cap
ExplorationÊ Center New site offers free modern digital technology training to seniors PLATTSBURGH — Senior Planet Exploration Center opened last week to offer free modern digital technology training to North Country seniors. “As we live longer, technology seems like it’s always rapidly changing,” said Teah Tina Gray, North Country regional diDowling rector for Senior Planet. “This is an opWriter portunity for those who are curious about technology to learn it. “It’s specifically designed for them.” The facility, located in Champlain Centre, offers weekly workshops, lectures and special events, computers, tablets, gaming consoles and free internet access. Programs are also available for guests to learn skills through basic and specialized technology courses. “It’s an exciting new opportunity for seniors to learn more about the technology that they have at home but don’t know how to use completely,” said Plattsburgh resident Stanley Ransom at the grand opening. “It’s a powerful new service and I encourage all seniors to try it.” Ransom, a folk musician, shared his interest of learning how to use YouTube to upload his songs for all to listen to. Every time he tried to put them on YouTube he faced different
Before the fire, Frosty Springs produced small bottles, 5-gallon bottles and 16-ounce and 20-ounce bottles. Now, they’re restricted to producing 40,000 bottles in one month.
Bassett anticipates taxes to be static as final budget gets adopted Nov. 16 By Teah Dowling
teah@suncommunitynews.com
North Country Regional Director Tina Gray stands with two North Country seniors, who attended the Senior Planet grand opening and open house Thursday, Nov. 5. Photo by Teah Dowling
stumbling blocks. Other seniors shared their interest in learning about a specific electronic device, including Plattsburgh resident Joanne Deruchia’s wanting to learn how to properly use an iPad. “I’ve always been curious about how to use an iPad,” she said. “I know the stores can’t really spend a lot of time with you, so that’s what brought me here.” EXPANDING SERVICES >> Story Continued | pg. 11
PLATTSBURGH — Town of Plattsburgh 2016 budget once again remains under the tax cap. “We are not going over,” Supervisor Bernie Bassett said. “That’s definitive, that’s final and that’s the end of the conversation.” Town of Plattsburgh Finance Manager Patrick Bowen said they’re under the tax cap, which is 0.73 percent, by about $1,000. “By working together, we have found ways to use limited increase in tax revenue to provide the same services, invest in the community and keep going forward,” Bassett said. “That’s hard to do.” The 2016 preliminary budget was adopted Thursday, Nov. 5 and the final budget will be adopted Monday, Nov. 16. Bassett anticipates taxes remaining static for residents of the town. Appropriations are up by 2.29 percent with an increase of >> Story Continued | pg. 14