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Saturday,ÊJ uneÊ18,Ê2016
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www.SunCommunityNews.com
In PHOTOS | pg. 10
Field Day “Take Two”
Cadyville 50th annual celebration in photos
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In NEWS | pg. 3
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In EVENTS | pg. 2
Rouses Point Clinton County done with brush Fair on tap
Village officials say ‘no’ to additional pickup
68th annual event on tap for July 19-24
Gym owner speaks out about municipal water project New water system means hundreds in bills for the next 30 years in town of Champlain By Teah Dowling teah@denpubs.com
CHAMPLAIN — After nearly two decades in business, Global Fitness & Martial Arts Club may be shutting down for good because of high fees caused by the new municipal water project. Gym owner Joy Sarbou-Jubert now faces a bill of nearly $330 per quarter to belong to the new water system being built to serve the village and town of Champlain. She previously paid nothing for her water and believes the new fee could mean the demise of her long-standing enterprise.
CONFLICTING BILLS Initially, Sarbou-Jubert said the water fee assessed to the gym was 5 EDUs, which is short for estimated dwelling units — a unit of measure used to estimate the amount of water used by a residence or a business. That amount was based on a number of factors, including the type of business, number of employees and potential growth. But Sarbou-Jubert knew her establishment didn’t use that much water. “Each person in my gym would have to take three to four showers and flush the toilets at the same time to use that many EDUs,” she said. This left her a bill of $565 for the first quarter — which would equate to a total payment of $68,000 over the 30 years.
ConcertÊ series Several bands and performers to take the Samuel de Champlain Center Stage from beginning of July to end of August
Writer
ROUSES POINT — Break out the lawn chairs and clear your Thursday evenings because the summer concert series is coming back to town. Members of The Friends of the Stage have lined up several entertainers to perform on the Samuel de Champlain Center Stage this summer. The headliner: Elvis Presley Impersonator
John Monforto. For 30 years, the performer from New Jersey has wiggled his hips and curled his lips just like the king himself. “He’s quite the performer,” Friends of the Stage member Steve Merchant said. “He sounds just like him.” Snow White and Batman will also be making their debut during the kid’s night, also featuring Pipsqueak the Clown. Several acts will take the stage again, including the Just Us Band and country western musician Larry Ebere. Strawhatters, who perform regularly for the village, will take to the Samuel de Champlain Center Stage for the first time. >>See Concert Series | pg. 7
>> See Water Project | pg. 9
Receivership extended at Whispering Maples facilities
comingÊ soon Teah Dowling
The gym owner paid the first bill but requested a water meter be installed to monitor her usage and lower her assessment. After three weeks of monitoring, the meter showed the gym used just 100 gallons of water a day — equating to less than 1 EDU. During its April meeting, the town board agreed to lower the gym’s water usage not to 1 EDU, but 2. “I was so mad that I was in tears,” Sarbou-Jubert said. “They’re overcharging me and I want to know how that’s legal.” Supervisor Larry Barcomb refused to answer why the gym was assessed for an extra EDU. However, Sarbou-Jubert was credited for the difference.
Towns, state still hammering out transfer plan for abandoned cemetery properties By Pete DeMola
pete@suncommunitynews.com
The Friends of the Stage booked several pieces of entertainment to perform on the Samuel de Champlain Center Stage every Thursday night from July to August. Photo provided
PLATTSBURGH — The temporary receivership over a group of cemetery properties in Plattsburgh and Ellenburg has been extended, delaying takeover by each respective town until mid-fall at the earliest. “We are now in the process of seeing that receivership extended until the latter part of September,” said Plattsburgh Supervisor Michael Cashman, citing the need to work out further details before the ailing Whispering Maples facilities are transferred to municipal ownership. The mausoleum and crematory have been under a stateappointed receivership since February 2015, when the state declared the facilities abandoned following reports of neglect by the former owners, a local nonprofit. Originally scheduled to end on June 5, the receivership has >> See Whispering Maples | pg. 11