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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 17, 2015

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www.SunCommunityNews.com

In HISTORY | pg. 02

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Remembering Battle of Valcour

In HEALTH | pg. 11

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Get moving Clinton County

Local group celebrates 239th anniversary

In EVENTS | pg. 13

North Country Honor Flight

Partnering agencies start new challenges

Humble hero to embark to Washington D.C.

Local couple gives back by creating a new community center By Teah Dowling

teah@suncommunitynews.com

CHAMPLAIN — Local couple Clarke Herdic and Janet McFetridge bought a house not for themselves as a home, but for everyone as a community center. “We had a desire to offer some kind of building that would allow the community to get together to socialize, learn and get to know each other,” McFetridge said. “When this building was available, we thought it would be the perfect location in the heart of the village.” McFetridge and Herdic purchased the house, formally known as the Champlain Meeting House, located on 1175 Main St., in

October 2014 for a few reasons, the first being to revitalize village. Years ago, Champlain used to be filled with both vehicular and pedestrian traffic from both New York and Canada. When the interstate was built in 1935, it took that flow of traffic out of the village - leaving it to slowly crumble as buildings fell down and people began leaving. Herdic and McFetridge, who have three children, have been part of the community for 30 years. They hope that with this community center, they’ll be able to help keep more families in, and bring more families to the community. “I’ve come to realize that this is a very secure place to live,” Herdic said. “We hope to

Gibson Brothers

maintain or help build the community back to where it used to be.” Construction on the privately-owned house began right after the purchase was made. The couple said for a house built in the 1900s, it was in pretty good shape. Herdic, who took on a majority of renovation, cleaned the floors and repainted the walls. Once those were done, they purchased furniture for their small meeting area, known previously as the living room, and opened that room to the public that November. Since then, the renovations continued with the dining room area being transformed into another meeting area with tables and chairs and the three small workshop rooms in the >> Story Continued | pg. 12

>> Story Continued | pg. 12

Photo by Teah Dowling

Meet the candidates:

Town of Ellenburg Candidates talk town issues ahead of elections

Local media fixture Andy Flynn working on book on bluegrass outfit, in need of funds

ELLENBURG DEPOT — While wrapping up a book on the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, local author Andy Flynn pondered his next project. In July 2012, Flynn attended a Lake Placid performance by the Gibson BrothTeah ers. It was a performance that left an Dowling impression so strong that he decided to Writer make them his next big project. “I was just very impressed and blown away,” said Flynn. “I had seen them before, but I had a feeling there was a story there... a bigger story than just a couple guys making music.” In April 2013, Flynn approached the brothers, who are from Ellenburg Depot, about writing the book. They accepted and Flynn is now working with the pair, Eric and Leigh, to produce the book, which is tentatively titled “Breakthrough: The Gibson Brothers Story.” “Leigh and I are excited that Andy is writing this book about us,” Eric said. “He is a wonderful writer and a soulful human being.”

Clarke Herdic and Janet McFetridge decided to purchase a building on Main Street in Champlain to create a place for all to get together.

By Teah Dowling

teah@suncommunitynews.com

ELLENBURG — With the general election approaching, voters have three weeks to get dialed into the issues. Meet your candidates. David Leonard, town supervisor (incumbent) Democratic Party

Leigh and Eric Gibson stand together on the red carpet before the IBMA Music Awards on Oct. 1. Photo by Andy Flynn

Leonard started off as a school teacher in Ellenburg, eventually venturing off to travel around the country for several years. He returned in 2010, built a house, acquired a job as a painting contractor for 30 years and has been supervisor for four. During his time as supervisor, the town has completed a recreation park that has two baseball fields and one basketball court, received two grants to acquire a new plow truck and assist residents to make improvements to their homes and updated their existing zoning laws two years ago from 1991. Leonard said there aren’t any major issues facing the com>> Story Continued | pg. 9


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