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January 16, 2010
A Denton Publication
Snapshot
Stop on by
Sports
Local photographers display their works at the Widlund Gallery.
Funny Farm in Minerva expands with a new bedroom suite.
Competition heats up as play resumes following winter break.
Page 2
Page 5
Sporty’s concludes a successful year of fundraising
Page 10
Schools fight to keep Home and Careers alive Many students don’t possess life skills By Lindsay Yandon
By Mike Corey
lindsay@denpubs.com
denpubs@denpubs.com MINERVA — With the raffle of a fully restored antique mack truck, Saturday, Jan. 9 marked the end of the 2009 fundraising at Sporty’s Iron Duke Saloon. The 1961 Model B Mack Truck raised $20,000 for Essex County Toys for Kids. This tax deductible charitable organization is also based at Sporty’s. The truck, seen parked in front of Sporty’s during this past summer and fall, was an anonymous donation from a private collection. The lucky winner was Michael A. Morrissey, who was among approximately 400 people who purchased raffle tickets. Morrissey owns a construction and excavation business in Fort Ann. The fundraising efforts at Sporty’s over the past year were especially successful. Four hundred needy children in eight school districts in Essex County benefitted from the donations of hats, coats, boots, new clothes and, of course,
Students from Indian Lake Central School show their sewing projects as part of their Home and Careers class. Photo courtesy of Indian Lake Central School
JOHNSBURG — Working against cost cutting and strict state education regulation, local schools find themselves working hard to keep Home and Careers classes as a core part of their curriculums. At the recent conference in Lake Placid Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Family and Consumer Sciences, field professionals acknowledged the struggles they face. Some teachers voiced a concern that many communities don’t see the need for Home and Careers classes anymore — calling them useless or irrelevant. Local teachers and administrators see the challenges that face the subject, but do not hesitate to exclaim its benefits. “These are life-long skills,” said Glenn Lang, technology teacher at Minerva Central School. “They are valuable and teach kids how to deal with real-life issues.” Lang teaches the lone Home and Careers class at Minerva Central School, offered to seventh grade students. Johnsburg Central School boasts one of the strongest Home and Careers
See CLASS, page 7
See SPORTY’S, page 5
Citizens question Vintage Snowsled Race featured at Long Lake Winter Carnival nepotism in Essex By Lindsay Yandon Co. gov’t hiring lindsay@denpubs.com
ELIZABETHTOWN — Inquiring minds want to know whether a last name helps or hinders a person’s chance of getting a job in Essex County government. Following intense scrutiny from a handful of residents, Essex County supervisors are considering the creation of an ethics committee, and they may begin requiring more disclosure of personal and family relationships between county leadership and candidates for county employment. Over the last few months, the hiring of several close relatives of County Manager Dan Palmer and his wife, Board of Supervisors Clerk
LONG LAKE — The Moonlighter's 9th annual Winter Carnival will kick-off on Jan. 16 in Long Lake and will feature the historic Northern New York Snowsled Races on Jennings Park Pond on Jan. 17. Long Lake has been void of their notorious 100miler snowmobile race for many years. Local racers, however, would not let the sport die in their tiny town. Gabe Farr —racer and employee of the New York State Electric and Gas Company — kept the sport alive and will take the course on Sunday on one of his vintage snowsleds. Farr has been racing vintage sleds for over 10 years and boasts a number of trophies to prove his dedication. He has built up an impressive fleet of snowmobiles for these races including a 1976 440 Liquid Cooled Mercury Sno Twister, a 1975 440 Free Air Mercury Sno Twister, a 1975 340 Free Air Mercury Sno Twister and a 1975 340 Fancooled Mercury Trail Twister. Recently, Farr returned from the World Championships in Eagle River, Wisconsin. He was joined by his father, Brian Farr and friend,
Gabe Farr and two of his vintage race sleds. These sleds are to be tested at the Northern New York Vintage Snowsled Race on Jan. 17 in Long Lake.
See COUNTY, page 4
See SLEDS, page 3
Photo courtesy of Gabe Farr
By Jon Alexander denpubs@denpubs.com
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