ECRWSS PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENTON PUBLICATIONS/ NEW MARKET PRESS PO Box 338 Elizabethtown NY 12932 Postal Patron
Saturday,ÊO ctoberÊ31,Ê2015
>>
www.SunCommunityNews.com
In EVENTS | pg. 14
Presenting Sweet Expectations Champlain Valley Chorus, Beartracks to perform
>>
In FEATURES | pg. 5
Eat local, eat organic
>>
Family opens Farmhouse Pantry in Saranac
In NEWS| pg. 4
Recreation trail coming soon
Champlain and Rouses Point get funds for trail
Discussions get heated during library board meeting By Teah Dowling
teah@suncommunitynews.com
MOOERS — The Oct. 21 Mooers Free Library board meeting ended in turmoil when a part-time librarian accused the board of malfeasance, namely in regards to transparency issues. Newly appointed president Eugene Bushey adjourned the meeting when Koreena Van Nortwick accused the board of conducting “illegal actions” during a previous emergency board meeting regarding the resignation of former president Susan Evans and Bushey’s ascension to the top job. During that meeting, Van Nortwick said the board violated open meetings laws by
changing it to an executive session, which was not on the original agenda and requested that Van Nortwick leave. According to the library’s handbook, executive sessions can only be convened only as part of a public board meeting, not as a separate meeting. Like other governing bodies, the board must vote to enter an executive session and state the general nature of the session for its minutes — another issue brought up by Van Nortwick. Van Nortwick requested the minutes from that meeting and the past year to date. As secretary of the board, Edie Morelock waved the printout of last week’s minutes that was handed around upon request from the
TasteÊ of Home
community members. Van Nortwick responded: “If you do not give me the minutes I requested and allow me access to the documents I have formally requested, you are in violation of a federal law.” Before Van Nortwick could finish her statement and other comments, Bushey made a motion to adjourn the meeting and the board members seconded that motion. “You are breaking the law,” Van Nortwick said as the board members rose from their seats for the night. Newly appointed President Eugene Bushey and treasurer Bernadette Buddington address issues during the Mooers Free Library board meeting Oct. 21.
BUDGET ISSUES >> Story Continued | pg. 11
Meet the candidates:
Town of Champlain Candidates talk town issues ahead of elections
Traveling cooking show comes to the Crete Center in Plattsburgh on Sunday PLATTSBURGH — Nancy Mock stood on stage and beamed. Several months ago, the Colchester resident submitted a recipe to Taste of Home magazine, a smoky gouda and chicken melt sandwich, and it was accepted. Pete For readers of the national cooking DeMola magazine, which has a circulation of 3.2 Editor million, recipe acceptance marks something of a badge of honor, validation from the gatekeepers to the country’s kitchens. Taking her involvement a step further, Mock, who is a volunteer field editor for the magazine, opted to participate in last year’s Taste of Home Cooking School in Plattsburgh, the annual roadshow that brings a visiting celebrity chef before live audiences to recreate some of the magazine’s most popular recipes. “I like the magazine so much I thought it would be great to stay active,” said Mock, one of a handful of assistants who helped the chef, Eric Villegas, prepare a spread of 10 different dishes before a crowd of hundreds.
Photo by Teah Dowling
By Teah Dowling
teah@suncommunitynews.com
The Taste of Home Cooking School will arrive in Plattsburgh on Sunday, Nov. 1. The daylong event, the region’s largest fall show, features prize giveaways, vendors and a live cooking demonstration from a celebrity chef. Photo by Pete DeMola
As the assistants worked in clock-like precision to prepare dishes like chicken and mushroom spanakopitas, gingerbread cheesecake and soft beer pretzels, Villegas kept the crowd entertained with fast-paced commentary. This year’s event, the sixth installment of the region’s largest fall show, is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 1 at the Crete Center in Plattsburgh. Like Mock, participants say it’s a way to keep engaged while learning new tricks in the kitchen and building a sense of community. >> Story Continued | pg. 13
CHAMPLAIN — With the Town of Champlain 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 for two positions: town justice and town councilperson. Clarke Herdic, town councilman Democratic Party Before coming to the area, Herdic went to SUNY Brockport for four years and received a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education. He went on to the University of Buffalo to complete a doctorate education degree. After working as a teacher in West Virginia for three years, he moved to Champlain and taught at Clinton Community College for 36 years. Herdic’s top priority is to further town growth to what it was years ago. >> Story Continued | pg. 10