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AugustÊ8,Ê2015
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www.SunCommunityNews.com
In SPORTS | pg. 9
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Sports: The Can Am
In OPINION | pg. 6
Alexander: America
100 rugby teams descend on area
We are blessed to call America home
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In ENTERTAINMENT | pg. 5
‘Dolly’s Word’ on Local Arts
Otis Festival upcoming in Elizabethtown
Soundwaves concert series buoys Westport OutdoorÊ concertsÊ inÊ BallardÊ ParkÊ growingÊ inÊ sizeÊ andÊ popularity
to Westport from Brooklyn five years ago because they wanted to live in a place where they could make a positive impact on the community. At the time, Westport had a research tively given flight by Kat Wright & The grant to find out how to revitalize the loBy Pete DeMola Indomitable Soul Band, a Burlington- cal economy. The top answer, Catherine pete@suncommunitynews.com based blue-eyed soul outfit. recalled, was to bring in the arts. For the past two years, Soundwaves That, in turn, would draw traffic to WESTPORT — A trumpet sounded has been hosting the concert series that Westort that would support local busiand notes drifted across the lake. has been bringing hundreds to Ballard nesses. A bassline joined, then the warm Park on Thursdays. “I realized bringing music could be tones of Hammond organ. It’s a community that isn’t always ac- our gift,” said Haskins. Eventually, the eight musicians came customed to late nights and saucy solos. together and “It’s a Man’s World” reCatherine and Taylor Haskins moved verberated towards Vermont, collec>> Story Continued | pg. 11
Essex DayÊ aÊ blastÊ forÊ localÊ biz
Ballot review turns acrimonious Controversial BOE ruling allows Lake Placid resident on ballot By Pete DeMola
pete@suncommunitynews.com
Annual summer festival held Aug. 1
ESSEX — It’s the only sound of summer that matters: A thwack, followed by a sizzle, a puff of smoke, the gurgle of a stomach and, eventually, Pete the thud of a grilled goodie DeMola hitting a paper plate. Writer Smoke whooshed up as Russell Bailey laid slices of whole grain bread onto a flat iron skillet. Cheese was added and mouths salivated. And then the wait began. Kaska Barcz, Bailey’s partner, made the rounds. She took orders for the sandwiches and eventually doled them out to hungry customers, even scooting them up the town’s main drag as thongs of people >> Story Continued | pg. 13
Russell Bailey and Kaska Barcz sold grilled cheese sandwiches by the fistful at Essex Day on Saturday, Aug. 1. The daylong event is designed for businesses, nonprofits and other organizations to interact with the community, said organizers. Photo by Pete DeMola
ELIZABETHTOWN — County officials are investigating an incident at the county board of elections last week that saw an election commissioner issue a ruling on ballot objections behind closed doors with the former supervisor who appointed him. Both are Democrats; the locked out officials, Republicans. The main candidate in question is Luke Hudak, the Democratic pick for Essex County Clerk. Mark Whitney’s ruling last Thursday allowed Hudak ballot access for this fall’s election. His Republican counterpart, Allison McGahay, disagrees with his findings, arguing that if the signatures were reviewed by state board of election
guidelines, Hudak would have been bounced from the ballot. Hudak’s challenger is Joe Provoncha (R), the incumbent clerk who has served six terms. Whitney’s ruling arrived two weeks behind schedule and came after shutting himself in his office on June 30 with Essex County Democratic Chair Bethany Kosmider, a former supervisor. He refused to communicate with McGahay, who was pleading with him to leave his office to make a ruling. Ordinarily, the two commissioners would sit down together and review each signature. “I’ve never had this happen before,” said McGahay, who had been waiting in the office for hours for Whitney to emerge so the pair could rule on challenged signatures. The other candidates include >> Story Continued | pg. 13