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March 27, 2010
A Denton Publication
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Savings
Sweet talk
Outdoors
Jill asks if it is selfish to stock up on all those sale items.
NNY maple producers identifying opportunities for syrup production.
Will the recent weather cause an early ice out?
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Senate budget would close Moriah Shock, de-fund ORDA By Jon Alexander denpubs@denpubs.com The New York State Senate released a $136 billion spending plan Monday that includes prison closures and a $7 million cut to the Olympic Regional Development Authority. Lawmakers say the plan softens some of the cuts proposed in Gov. David Paterson’s 2010-11 Executive Budget. The senate plan does not affect state parks or historic sites. Sponsored by Senate Majority Leader John Sampson and Finance Committee Chairman Carl Kruger, the preliminary 2010-11 Legislative Budget features $3 billion more in appropriations than Paterson’s $133 billion plan. The preliminary senate budget would close three upstate prisons — the Moriah Shock Correctional Facility, Lyon Mountain Correctional Facility and Butler Correctional Facility — within the next 12 months. Kruger said cuts need to be made somewhere. “This budget is about priorities,” Kruger said. “It is about doing everything in our power to enact a fair and responsible budget.” The senate budget spares the medium security Ogdensburg facility — the largest of the four slated for closure in the proposed executive budget. The facility falls within Democratic Senator Darrel Aubertine’s district. Republican John DeFrancisco said the $1.5 billion in one-shots and spin-ups in the Democratic proposal are only partisan gimmicks. He blasted Democrats for keeping Republicans largely in the dark while making cuts in GOP districts. “This product by the way was presented to us in draft form for the first time yesterday afternoon at 3 o’clock and in final form, today at 2 o’clock,” DeFrancisco said. “That’s only an hour before this particular session started.” If adopted, the proposal would also slash over $7 million in ORDA funding. This particular budget amendment blindsided Sen. Betty Little. “The proposed complete elimination of state funding for ORDA is the biggest surprise today,” Little said. “ORDA and Lake Placid attract hundreds of thousands of tourists, so I am perplexed by the logic of this proposed cut which no doubt would cost the state and the region a lot of revenue.” Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson said the cuts aren’t based on party affiliation or region. “But know that this in the best interest of the state and cut we must,” she said. “We’ve tried to do in it in a manner that is both safe and judicious.” ORDA spokesman Jon Lundin said it is too early in the process to assess the potential impacts of the cuts. “It’s only a proposal,” Lundin said. “We will watch it closely.” The Senate Majority proposes restoring $79 million to the state Environmental Protection Fund, the lion’s share of which would be spent on state land acquisitions, and an additional $290 million in senior citizen STAR exemptions. It also restores $6 million to the Office of
See ORDA, page 6
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Tykes ski with US Team By George Earl denpubs@denpubs.com SARANAC LAKE – “Did I beat him?” five-year-old Morgan Olson asked her mother after skiing a slalom course at Mount Pisgah. She was racing Ted Ligety, the overall World Cup champion for giant slalom. “I’m not sure,” said Nikki Olson, the girl’s mother. “It was close.” Morgan, who is from Bloomingdale, was one of about a 100 children who got to pal around with U.S Ski Team athletes on March 19, the day before the Alpine Championships began at Whiteface Mountain. About a half dozen of the athletes warmed up for the big race by skiing what Ligety called a challenging course at Pisgah. “It’s about on par with Park City,” he said, referring to the mountains he grew up skiing in Utah. Ligety said he had a chance to ski with Olympic gold medalist Tommy Moe when he was young, “so it’s really incredible for me to be out here with these kids today.” The friends of Mount Pisgah organized the event to raise money for the “Lift mount Pisgah” project, part of an effort to replace the mountain’s 70-year old T-bar. About 130 lift tickets were sold at $15 each, in addition to dozens of Lift Mount Pisgah T-shirts and concessions, bringing in a total of about $2,400. In 1989 the group collected $35,000 to put in snow-making, and in 1999 volunteers raised a half million dollars to build the current ski lodge after a wall in the old lodge caved in. “Fundraising for the new lift is going in the right direction,” said Mt. Pisgah Manager Matt Cook. “We're in our second year of fundraising and support from the community has been incredible. We couldn't be more excited to host the U.S. Ski Team.” Olympic bronze medalist and Lake Placid native Andrew Weibrecht, pictured above, met with loThe mountain was kept open later than cal children at an event March 19 aimed at raising funds for the “Lift mount Pisgah” project, part usual this year in order to host the event. of an effort to replace the mountain’s 70-year old T-bar. Photo by George Earl
See OLYMPIANS, page 6
Essex Ferry back in service By Matt Bosley matt@denpubs.com ESSEX — Those wanting to cross Lake Champlain at a more central location will now be able to do so. Lake Champlain Transportation, the company that operates most of the lake’s ferry service, has announced the re-opening of the Essex-Charlotte ferry crossing, effective March 22. The crossing, which has traditionally run year-round, was closed Feb. 2 after its winter-worthy ferries were diverted to the Plattsburgh-Grand Isle crossing and the new 24-hour, state-subsidized crossing at the former site of the now demolished Crown Point Bridge. Ferry service will run between Essex, N.Y, and Charlotte, Vt., Monday through Friday from March 22 until April 2. Beginning April 5, The Essex-Charlotte crossing will expand to a seven-day-a-week schedule. The Adirondack, one of the fleet’s oldest ferries, built in 1913, will be the lone vessel at the crossing for the time being. It has a 20-ton weight limit and 11-foot-4-inch
Lake Champlain Transportation has re-opened ferry service between Essex, NY and Charlotte, Vt on a limited schedule. Beginning April 5, The Essex-Charlotte crossing will expand to a sevenday-a-week schedule. clearance for vehicles. The Adirondack has traditionally operated at the Port KentBurlington crossing, where its spacious upper deck seating is popular among passen-
gers. “She is a great boat, but she is not a winter boat,” explained Heather Stewart,
See FERRY, page 4