ECRWSS PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENTON PUBLICATIONS/ NEW MARKET PRESS PO Box 338 Elizabethtown NY 12932 Postal Patron
Saturday,ÊJ anuaryÊ30,Ê2016
>>
In SPORTS | pg. 13-15
Hot Shot Amanda Kampainen Chazy native earns top scorer status
www.SunCommunityNews.com
>>
In NEWS | pg. 7
>>
In EVENTS | pg. 3
Goodbye, Playground Corey Williams project underway NCCS freshman passes away
Craft show to benefit Mooers play ground Feb. 7
Medical marijuana dispensary opens in Plattsburgh Funds to allow purchase of machinery and equipment to become more efficient By Pete DeMola
pete@suncommunitynews.com
PLATTSBURGH — Cornelia Street is lined with some of America’s most famous logos. Now, another has joined the strip: The golden C of Columbia Care, the operators of Plattsburgh’s first medical marijuana dispensary, which began serving patients on Tuesday. The dispensary is one of 20 across the state authorized by the Compassionate Care Act, signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2014. The national organization was awarded the license after a
Supporting PinkÊ Heals
rigorous application process, beating out 43 other applicants. This month has been a rush as Columbia Care has entered warp-speed to meet the state-mandated deadline of Friday for opening facilities, which will serve patients suffering from a short list of debilitating conditions, including cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and HIV/ AIDS, among others. Patients first need to qualify with the state by meeting with an approved pharmacist. Once they receive a registry identification card, they can bring it to the dispensary, where a physician and other medical professionals can recommend a course of treatment. Aside from the tight security, it’s a process identical to that of any other medical office. Only certified patients will be granted access past the en-
Photo by Pete DeMola
>> Story Continued | pg. 5
Vermont Green Line proposal project revealed
Pancake breakfast taking place Feb. 7 to raise funds for locals battling cancer
WEST CHAZY — To a person battling cancer, surprises are inevitable...especially when it’s a pink firetruck. Guardians of the Ribbon: Northern New York State Chapter, also known as Pink Heals, surprised West Chazy resiTeah dent Renae Dufrane when they arrived to Dowling her cancer benefit in August. Writer Dufrane, diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer, received a monetary donation from the men dressed in pink to help with medical and travel expenses. Dufrane is still undergoing treatment with spirits high knowing she will always have support not only by family, but also the community. “[Pink Heals] really show support and help you feel like you’re not alone,” she said. “I am blessed to live in a community that is so willing to help when needed.” Like Dufrane, the non-profit organization ventures to homes, benefits and events in pink firetrucks — or sometimes a police car — to spread awareness about their organization and help locals battling with cancer in the tri-county area. Whether it be through a monetary donation or flowers and a hug, the group strives to support as many locals as possible,
Columbia Care is one of the five organizations across the state who are licensed to grow and sell medical marijuana. They opened their Plattsburgh location on Tuesday, Jan. 25.
Energy pipeline will provide energy to New England-area By Teah Dowling
teah@suncommunitynews.com
Dressed in pink outfits, the guardians venture to homes, benefits and events in pink firetrucks and a pink police car to spread awareness about their organization and help locals in need — whether it be through money or by a simple visit to a home with flowers and a hug. Photo provided
say its members. “That’s our goal,” said Jim Garrant, chapter present of the Guardians of the Ribbon. In order to help, however, they need assistance themselves. The organization hosts a variety of fundraisers to raise money for the people they support. Even if the support is just a visit, money is still needed for gas and maintenance. All proceeds raised from their fundraisers — craft shows and pancake breakfasts — go straight back into the commu>> Story Continued | pg. 11
BEEKMANTOWN — Torn up roads and loud construction sites possibly lie ahead for Beekmantown residents. A few weeks ago, Joe Rossignoli of National Grid and Mike Relyea of Amanus, a consulting group that is working with Anabaric on an energy transfer project, presented their finalized proposal of the Vermont Green Line project to the town council. The project aims to bring clean and affordable on-shore wind and hydropower to New England via a new 400 megawatt high power DC transmission line. The $650 million proposed project will require 6.7 miles of underground cable in New York. The line will carry DC wind power from new wind farms in the northern part of Clinton and Franklin counties 40 miles under Lake Champlain and 13.3 miles to a station in New Haven, Vermont, where power would then be distributed to southern New England communities. “It’s an ongoing process,” Relyea said “But we plan on work>> Story Continued | pg. 8