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ECRWSS PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENTON PUBLICATIONS/ NEW MARKET PRESS PO Box 338 Elizabethtown NY 12932 Postal Patron

Saturday,ÊNo vemberÊ14,Ê2015

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www.SunCommunityNews.com

In SPORTS | pg. 12

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Blue Bombers eye state title run Cross Country team ranked #1 in the state

In OPINION | pg. 4

Living United

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Region gears up for United Way campaign

Creating healthyÊ children

In ARTS | pg. 7

Prestigious quartet on tap

Performance part of Hill & Hollow series

Final Four bound!

Five-year grant aims to promote student, community wellness

ELIZABETHTOWN — For the past five years, North Country health officials have worked with a variety of local stakeholders to whip the public into shape. They’ve built ships in Moriah, created trail systems in Elizabethtown and planted Pete community gardens in Essex. DeMola Editor While grant funds for that project, Creating Healthy Places, have expired, a new one has blossomed in its place — Creating Healthy Schools and Communities. Like it’s predecessor, it’s a five-year program. This time, it’s geared around increasing access to healthy foods for students in high-need schools and communities, including Elizabethtown-Lewis Central, Chateaugay, Northern Adirondack, Moriah Central and Ticonderoga Central, all of which have been flagged the department of health as high needs districts. Clinton County Public Health has been named as the grant holder, with Essex County Public Health sub-contracting from them for $100,000. Lisa Turner, Principal Public Health Educator for Clinton County, said the decision to apply was a no-brainer because the agency previously held a similar grant. Over the next six months, public health officials will start establishing contacts at school districts to enhance pre-existing wellness policies — like getting kids moving throughout the day, for instance, not just during recess. Studies have shown that a healthy, well-balanced diet improves brain capacity, maximizes cognitive capacities and improves academic performance. Movement will also take place outside of the classroom. Over a dozen towns have been targeted throughout the region, including Ellenburg, Mooers, Hague and Lewis. While the goals are similar — eat better, move more — the endgame is different, like the creation of food hubs to ease out >> Story Continued | pg. 13

The Elizabethtown-Lewis/Westport boys varsity soccer team celebrates after defeating Chateaugay, 2-1 in the Class D regional finals Nov. 7. The win earned the Griffins a spot in the NYSPHSAA Class D final four, to be held at Middletown Springs this weekend. For more, see the Sun Sports Final Four preview on page 12. Photo by Jill Lobdell

Tourism on an uptick locally Report: Visitors spent $408 million in Essex County in 2014 By Pete DeMola

pete@suncommunitynews.com

ELIZABETHTOWN — The results are in for the state of Essex County’s tourism biz. CEO James McKenna presented some of the key findings of the 2014 Leisure Travel Study to lawmakers on Monday. Nearly 140,000 visitors inquired about visiting Essex County in 2014 and provid-

ed contact information, well above the five-year average of 98,000. ROOST, the agency tasked with promoting the county’s tourism assets, was able to convince 85 percent of them to come. Guests spent an average of four nights here, with average daily spending clocking in at $338. These traceable leads generated $158 million in spending — with a $408 million >> Story Continued | pg. 9

ROOST CEO James McKenna delivered the agency’s 2014 Leisure Study Report to the Essex County Board of Supervisors on Monday, Nov. 9. Among the findings: Hiking remains a top draw to the region. Guests spent $408 million in 2014, with 60 percent of visitors coming from within the state. To read the full study, visit roostadk.com/research. Photo by Pete DeMola


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