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Saturday,ÊJ anuaryÊ16,Ê2016
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www.SunCommunityNews.com
In SPORTS | pg. 19
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Wildcat-Panthers thriller
In OPINION | pg. 6
Lessons in free speach
One-point decides game between lady rivals
What we’ve learned from the ‘Trump Stump’
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In TICONDEROGA | pg. 2
No cat left behind
Navy vet searches for feline friend
Local generosity overcomes Pt. Henry ‘Grinch’ Local community goes above and beyond
By Mikaela Foster
mikaela@suncommunitynews.com
PORT HENRY — When the Grinch stole Christmas in Port Henry for one little boy, the community came together in a big way. Last month, someone stole 18-month-old Trystan Maness’ brand new Power Wheels Go Kart off his family’s front porch. Trystan’s parents, Tara Vilardo and Jeff Maness, posted the news on Facebook not just in hopes of the toy being returned, but also to discourage more theft from occurring to other children. Since the initial Facebook post, the news spread, the community took action and people went above and beyond to replace the stolen toy. First, an online fundraising account was started. Overnight, a couple hundred dollars were donated. But it didn’t stop there. Ron Nezbitt, Jr., the vice president of the Port Henry Volunteer Fire Department, in-
spired his fire department and members of the community to raise money throughout the local area. He and local restaurant owner, Laura Muniz, made collection jars and placed them at various businesses. Muniz said she was amazed at the response. “People really stepped up in this town,” she said. Even folks all the way from Plattsburg were making donations. Roughly $400 was donated: enough so that they were able to replace the stolen toy by purchasing Trystan his very first “truck”: a Ford F-150, blue, Power Wheels pickup truck with a working FM radio. The new truck is too big for Trystan to drive right now, but he loves it and his 9-year-old sister, Teagyn, enjoys driving him around in it. But the generosity continued. Vilardo said the day after they bought the new truck, a small Power Wheels car came in the mail from someone who wished to stay anonymous. She also said there was money left over after purchasing the new toy that they hope to put towards a locking shed to keep the truck in (since they don’t have a garage). Vilardo said she is still in awe of what the >> Story Continued | pg. 12
Casting for a cure
Local angler fishes for breast cancer awareness By Mikaela Foster
mikaela@suncommunitynews.com
TICONDEROGA — Pink sunglasses. Pink hair bows. Pink fishing rod. What’s with all the pink? And while fishing? “The point is to draw attention to myself so people ask me about it,” said Crystal Coley, a born and raised resident and local angler. She wears pink in support of awareness for breast cancer — a cancer she has had personal experience with. >> Story Continued | pg. 14
Broadband: where do we stand? Slic hopeful for visible activity in April By Mikaela Foster
mikaela@suncommunitynews.com
SCHROON LAKE — Tired of waiting for broadband in Schroon? Well the wait is almost over. According to the president of Slic Network Solutions — the company charged with installing high-speed internet in the Schroon and North Hudson region — residents will see “substantial” instillation activity as early as this spring.
That is good news for local officials who say they’ve been fielding phone calls from inquisitive residents for months. The process of upgrading internet access has been going on since March of 2013 when Schroon Lake was named one of many communities that would benefit from a state program aimed at expanding high-speed internet access in rural underserved areas. At that time, a statement from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office announced a $2.16 million grant aimed at providing high-speed, low-cost
broadband service to 457 households in the towns of Schroon and North Hudson. Nicholville-based Slic Network Solutions was tapped to spearhead the effort of providing faster internet access to residents and businesses. In July 2015 the land surveying needed to bring broadband to several sections of the town including Paradox, Charley Hill Road and Hoffman Road was completed. So where’s the broadband? Supervisor Michael Marnell said he receives calls >> Story Continued | pg. 15