Nc 99 10 24 2015

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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, October 24, 2015

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www.SunCommunityNews.com

In NEWS | pg. 08

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P’Burgh airport expansion update

In OPINION | pg. 04

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Little Bits: Perspective

Get a sneak peek at the new terminal

In NEWS | pg. 03

Snow removal policy passed

Little discusses his favorite word

City to incorporate fine into new policy

Mooers Elementary kicks off fundraising for new playground By Teah Dowling

teah@suncommunitynews.com

MOOERS — As Mooers Elementary teachers worked away in the Champlain McDonald’s kitchen, community members and students flooded the lobby and filled the drive thru to raise funds for a new playground. “The lobby was packed and there was no parking outside,” said Sherry Reinhart, general manager of the Champlain McDonald’s. “It was wonderful.” McTeacher’s Night took place on Tuesday, Oct. 13, where 12 teachers from Mooers Elementary worked with McDonald’s staff and flipped burgers, worked the cash register, cleaned tables, made milkshakes and operat-

ed the drive thru for their students and other members of the Mooers community. “The night was fun and well worth it,” said Kim Wells, one of the Mooers Elementary teachers who participated in the fundraiser. “It was a very well attended night and the community was very generous.” In return of the teacher’s service for the evening, the school was supposed to receive 10 percent of each sale they made, but the owner, William Marcellus, presented them with a $1,000 check toward the Mooers Elementary PTP (Parent Teacher Partnership) Playground Revitalization Project. Also, Marcellus allowed the school to leave out a donation jar for the week prior, in which they collected an additional $400.

The Mooers Elementary PTP organization functions annually to support efforts within the school. This year, they decided to focus on revitalizing the playground with a threephase process: Removing some equipment that’s on the playground, adding some more equipment and refurbishing the equipment they already have. “It’s time for an update,” Wells said. “We want to make sure that there’s enough activity for the children and that it’s a safe environment at the same time.” The school projects that this project will take a couple of years to complete and cost around $35,000. They’re hoping to raise the

Meet the candidates:

differently

Town of Beekmantown

NCAVI honors White Cane Awareness Day through blind simulation and walk

>> Story Continued | pg. 11

Photo provided

>> Story Continued | pg. 12

Seeing things PLATTSBURGH — With no sound traffic signal to guide them, the blind and visually impaired relied solely on the driver’s vision as they crossed the intersection at Margaret and Cornelia, hoping they would notice the white cane and Teah know its meaning. Dowling This difficult task surprised temporarWriter ily visually impaired Mayor James Calnon and councilman Joshua Kretser as they took on the challenge themselves. “To approach an intersection with no audio aid of when the lights are changing and rely on your other senses to hear traffic patterns was nervewracking,” Kretser said. “I never realized how much goes into being able to maneuver around the city or any place with a visual impairment.” The North Country Association for the Visually Impaired (NCAVI) celebrated National White Cane Awareness Day on Oct. 15 at City Hall. Calnon and Kretser joined the blind and visually impaired and NCAVI workers in a simulation event beginning on the

William Marcellus (middle) presented a $1,000 check to Mooers Elementary principal Dennis Rasco and teacher Kim Wells for their new playground.

Candidates talk town issues ahead of elections By Teah Dowling

teah@suncommunitynews.com

BEEKMANTOWN — With the Town of Beekmantown election approaching, the candidates are cracking down on the issues they hope to solve if elected. For this election, Democrats and Republicans will be running opposed and unopposed for a number of positions, including town councilperson and assessor. Terry Sears, town councilman (incumbent) Republican Party

Mayor James Calnon led the way of the blind and visually impaired using his white mobility cane and blind simulation goggles. Photo by Teah Dowling

Sears graduated from Beekmantown Central School in 1972 and Paul Smith’s College in 1974 with an associate’s degree. Upon graduation, he worked almost 34 years for the state and retired as a correctional lieutenant. He’s served on the town board for four years and hopes to continue the projects he helped start, such as bringing natural gas to the town and sending Beekmantown Central students to summer camps for free. >> Story Continued | pg. 15


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