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Saturday,ÊNo vemberÊ28,Ê2015
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www.SunCommunityNews.com
In EVENTS | pg. 2
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It’s a Wonderful Life
In OPINION | pg. 4
Time to exit the race
Radio play to be performed
GOP candidate should bow out
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In LOCAL | pg. 3
Garnet Hill Lodge open house Event planned for Saturday
Lights On in North Creek set for this weekend
By Christina Scanlon
christina@suncommunitynews.com
NORTH CREEK —The tradition continues in Johnsburg, with a month-long celebration of the upcoming holiday and winter ski season, kicking off Thanksgiving Day. “Lights On” originated as a call to action for the community, requesting to turn on community lights to welcome the winter season. For more than 20 years a committee, comprised of residents and business owners, have worked together to create the celebration. Like always, the committee encourages
everyone to decorate their homes and businesses with white lights, natural greenery and red bows, to signify a unified theme. Due to the town of Johnsburg, Warren County Bed Tax and the efforts of the Business Alliance, 15 low-wattage LED holiday light fixtures will be installed around the first week of December. Mat Thomas, of Frontier Communications, and Rick Green, of Braley and Noxon Hardware, have paired up to hang the lights in the community. Events in the community to coincide with Lights On include: Thursday, Dec. 3 - Methodist Tea and Bazaar. The ladies auxiliary will host a fancy tea
service complete with tea sandwiches and homemade cookies. Guests to the church can shop from the many bazaar tables of handmade crafts. Thursday, Dec. 3 and Friday, Dec. 4 Community Bank’s Holiday Open House. A 30-year long tradition, hosted by bank staff from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. will feature punch and homemade desserts. Friday, Dec 4.- The lighting of the community Christmas tree will take place at 5:30 p.m. A candle light service will be dedicated to service people led by Pastor Wayne Schoonmaker. Caroling led by Denise and Frank Conti and the North Country Singers
will conclude with the playing of Taps by the lone bugler. The streets of the community will be lined with luminaries to guide attendees to the tree donated by Rob Wing of Volt Landscaping. Bumble, the Yeti from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, will place the star on the top of the community Christmas tree. The Saratoga North Creek Railway Depot annual open house will follow the tree lighting, where Santa Mrs. Clause and refreshments can be found. Saturday, Dec. 5- Breakfast with Santa. Held at the North Creek fire house from 7-10:30 a.m., the menu features pancakes, >> Story Continued | pg. 3
WWII veterans’ Temporary bridge now in Johnsburg stories honored in North Creek By Christina Scanlon
christina@suncommunitynews.com
By Bill Quinlivan
feedback@suncommunitynews.com
NORTH CREEK — The Tannery Pond Community Center was the venue for the recent honoring of World War II Veterans by The Johnsburg Historical Society (JHS). This special evening opened with an address from the President of JHS and the Pledge of Allegiance led by members of Boy Scout Troop 6036. After an invocation by Pastor Wayne Schoonmaker focus was placed on the stories of area WWII veterans. The stories were taken directly from first-hand accounts, veterans’ memoirs, diaries, letters, as well as, memories of family members. The veterans’ stories were punctuated by music and vocal performances featuring tunes and songs of the World War II era. In addition, there was a continuous loop of era newsreel footage running in the background. All were presented and performed to a full house of attendees. The veterans whose stories received the spotlight were: Thomas Donald Irvin, Sergeant, Army whose story was presented by Carol (Irvin) Schoonmaker. The attendees heard about Sergeant Irvin’s experiences while being Clerk to General MacArthur in Tokyo after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and during the occupation of Japan. Ms. Schoonmaker also presented for review a photo album assembled by the Sergeant during his experiences. >> Story Continued | pg. 10
JOHNSBURG — A temporary bridge arrived Monday at the highway department in Johnsburg, with hopes of an installation by next week to replace Garnet Lake Road Bridge, deemed in danger of collapse in a recent engineering study. “It’s a hinged portable bridge,” Town Highway Superintendent Daniel Hitchcock. It’s 50 feet long, and thanks to the hinges in the middle, was able to be transported from Pennsylvania via tractor trailer. The bridge is sturdy enough to carry the weight of a tractor trailer. Installation is expected to take about 30 minutes, said Hitchcock. That’s after they iron out some last minute details. “The neighbors have been great. They really worked with us,” said Hitchcock of two landowners adjacent to
the failing bridge that gave permission for the temporary structure to encroach their properties. Some large trees need to be cut down first, a project Hitchcock said is currently out for quotes. The cost to rent the temporary bridge was $37,000 for one year. To purchase the unit was $47,000.
“We have so many bridges that are in need of repair, it makes sense for us to own it,” said Hitchcock. Town Supervisor Ron Vanselow said the purchase was wise. “Not having a bridge is even more expensive.” Vanselow said the town was in a similar situation before, when a bridge needed to be shut down.
“Fortunately, there was another way around that time. The one, there’s no other way in there,” he said. Estimated costs for the repairs to the failing structure come in at $350,000. The bridge was one of four named needing replacement or extensive repairs in the next 18 months totaling an estimated $750,000.