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Saturday,ÊNo vemberÊ14,Ê2015
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www.SunCommunityNews.com
In SPORTS | pg. 14-15
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Chazy’s season ends v. Chateaugay
In NEWS| pg. 13
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In NEWS | pg. 3
350 Plattsburgh Spay and Neuter takes action Incentive Program
Lady Eagles come out strong against rival
Chapter launches to combat climate change
Elmore SPCA to launch program by year end
New tri-county health program gets moving Five-year grant aims to promote student, community wellness By Pete DeMola
pete@suncommunitynews.com
ELIZABETHTOWN — For the past five years, North Country health officials have worked with a variety of local stakeholders to whip the public into shape. They’ve built ships in Moriah, created trail systems in Elizabethtown and planted community gardens in Essex. While grant funds for that project, Creating Healthy Places, have expired, a new one has blossomed in its place —
Creating Healthy Schools and Communities. Like it’s predecessor, it’s a five-year program. This time, it’s geared around increasing access to healthy foods for students in high-need schools and communities, including Elizabethtown-Lewis Central, Chateaugay, Northern Adirondack, Moriah Central and Ticonderoga Central, all of which have been flagged the department of health as high needs districts. Clinton County Public Health has been named as the grant holder, with Essex County Public Health sub-contracting from them for $100,000. Lisa Turner, Principal Public Health Educator for Clinton County, said the decision
to apply was a no-brainer because the agency previously held a similar grant. Over the next six months, public health officials will start establishing contacts at school districts to enhance pre-existing wellness policies — like getting kids moving throughout the day, for instance, not just during recess. Studies have shown that a healthy, wellbalanced diet improves brain capacity, maximizes cognitive capacities and improves academic performance. Movement will also take place outside of the classroom. Over a dozen towns have been targeted throughout the region, including Ellenburg, Mooers, Hague and Lewis. >> Story Continued | pg. 5
SeniorÊ Planet
Photo by Pete DeMola
Taxes kept flat in Chazy budget
ExplorationÊ Center
Town comes in under the cap for $2.5m budget
New site offers free modern digital technology training to seniors PLATTSBURGH — Senior Planet Exploration Center opened last week to offer free modern digital technology training to North Country seniors. “As we live longer, technology seems like it’s always rapidly changing,” said Teah Tina Gray, North Country regional direcDowling Writer tor for Senior Planet. “This is an opportunity for those who are curious about technology to learn it. “It’s specifically designed for them.” The facility, located in Champlain Centre, offers weekly workshops, lectures and special events, computers, tablets, gaming consoles and free internet access. Programs are also available for guests to learn skills through basic and specialized technology courses. “It’s an exciting new opportunity for seniors to learn more about the technology that they have at home but don’t know how to use completely,” said Plattsburgh resident Stanley Ransom at the grand opening. “It’s a powerful new service and I encourage all seniors to try it.” Ransom, a folk musician, shared his interest of learning how to use YouTube to upload his songs for all to listen to. Every time he tried to put them on YouTube he faced different
Laura Paradise, of Keene, is spearheading the Essex County Public Health Department’s Creating Healthy Schools and Communities program.
By Natasha Courter
news@suncommunitynews.com
North Country Regional Director Tina Gray stands with two North Country seniors, who attended the Senior Planet grand opening and open house Thursday, Nov. 5. Photo by Teah Dowling
stumbling blocks. Other seniors shared their interest in learning about a specific electronic device, including Plattsburgh resident Joanne Deruchia’s wanting to learn how to properly use an iPad. “I’ve always been curious about how to use an iPad,” she said. “I know the stores can’t really spend a lot of time with you, so that’s what brought me here.” EXPANDING SERVICES >> Story Continued | pg. 9
CHAZY — The town of Chazy 2016 tentative budget will stay under the state tax cap. The total tax levy for the 2016 budget is $996,090, an increase of $9,176 over last year. Appropriations clock in at $2,535,904. Taxpayers can expect to pay the same amount in taxes as they did this past year, said Supervisor Mark Henry. The spending plan contains no significant cuts or changes. “Some places we increased a little bit, other places we went down a little bit,” said Henry. Crafting budgets is hard and should be hard, said Henry. While the supervisor supports controlling costs, he also wondered if staying under the cap should be the only metric of success. “There’s a constant balance between how much essential services you can offer and at what cost,” said Henry. In practice, the cap is actually lower than two percent, he noted. That number comes from Consumer Price Index, items like butter and cheese. >> Story Continued | pg. 12