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Saturday,ÊA ugustÊ20 ,Ê2016
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In VIEWPOINTS | pg. 5
Donald Trump
speaks more fact than fiction
www.SunCommunityNews.com
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In OPINION | pg. 4
Indigent defense
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Governor needs to ink legislation
In ARTS | pg. 7
Miss Crime Scene
performing at Plattsburgh’s ROTA Studio
County votes to use vendor to expedite tax auction process Hiring an outside vendor to conduct title searches will put tax auctions back on regular schedule, says finance committee By Pete DeMola
pete@suncommunitynews.com
ELIZABETHTOWN — Essex County lawmakers voted Monday to explore using an outside agency to conduct title searches for tax-delinquent properties, the first step necessary to launch the formal foreclosure process. The decision to authorize an RFP, which passed the Finance
Business isÊ buzzing
Committee 8-1, stems from longstanding lawmaker frustration over the lack of regular tax sales designed to place the properties back onto the tax rolls. That infrequency leads to continued deterioration of abandoned properties and lost revenue, lawmakers argue. The county also has to meet re-levies for towns, schools, villages and special districts. At present, the Essex County Clerk’s Office conducts the searches in-house, a labor-intensive process that searches delinquent properties in chronological order based on year. Once that process is completed, the county attorney and treasurer send letters to delinquent property owners. Peeling those tasks away and giving them to an outside
>> See TITLE SEARCHES | pg. 3
Diversity group tackles tough questions
Seth Bushey, 13, is learning important farming skills in beekeeping alongside his grandmother, Linda Dubay AU SABLE FORKS — A blue-ribbon winner at the Essex County Fair last week may have found a full-time occupation. And Seth Bushey, of Jay, is only 13-yearsold. Beekeeping is becoming more than a 4-H project for the lad, who is part of the Au Sable Echoes 4-H Club, a family club Kim led by his mom, Tami Bushey. Dedam It is an endeavor he is learning along Writer with his grandmother Linda Dubay, of Au Sable Forks. “I got into bees because my nephew (Scott Parrotte) had gotten into bees,” Dubay said, as Seth brought his newly assembled hives to the 4-H judges in Westport last week. Dubious at first, she said she started to watch her the hives her nephew placed in her backyard. “I took my chair and went out and sat there, watching these bees. The motto ‘busy as a bee’ certainly is true.” Their wiggle dances and beating wings all have purpose, Dubay said.
agency will not lead to a loss of revenue in that department, said Dan Palmer, the county manager. “The tax search responsibilities are not going to end — they’re just going to change focus,” said Palmer. While the outside agency is conducting title searches for 2013 properties, the clerk’s office can shift their attention to 2016 properties, Palmer said. “We’re probably looking in the next six months given the number of properties you’re looking at,” Palmer said of a possible expedited process. The $150 search fee will still be recoverable if the property sells at auction, Palmer said.
From attracting newcomers to expanding the economy, diversity is vital to survival of Adirondack Park, says Adirondack Diversity Advisory Council Seth Bushey, 13, and his grandmother Linda Dubay, described their venture into beekeeping as Seth brought his newly built hives to 4-H judges at the Essex County Fair. Inset: Bushey’s Bees honeycomb blend, harvested from the beehives kept by Seth Bushey and his grandmother, Linda Dubay, in Au Sable Forks. Photos by Kim Dedam
“The dance tells the other bees how many miles away the food source is.” Together, they bought Seth get his first hive, an unfinished double “nuc,” which is a frame set with a queen inside. “He was like, ‘Oh really, you can sell the honey?’” Dubay smiled. That’s not all Seth has learned about the bee business. >> See BEE BUSINESS | pg. 10
By Pete DeMola
pete@suncommunitynews.com
NEWCOMB — Alvin Codner had just finished orientation at a summer camp in the central Adirondacks. It was his first day off. Codner, 26, and his fellow counselors headed into Lake George, where they found themselves at a beach bar on Amherst Street popular with tourists. Codner doesn’t drink, but the rest of the group ordered beer to go with their meals. They were asked to show identification three times. On the fourth, a member of the party asked the bouncer why. The bouncer reportedly told Codner it was the bar’s policy to check each time a new staffer began a shift. >> See DIVERSITY | pg. 7