Tt a 0099 0618

Page 1

ECRWSS PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENTON PUBLICATIONS/ NEW MARKET PRESS PO Box 338 Elizabethtown NY 12932 Postal Patron

Saturday,ÊJ uneÊ18,Ê2016

>>

www.SunCommunityNews.com

In SPORTS | pg. 23

>>

Making Section VII proud

Viewpoint on lodge

Ti football, softball part of great 2015-16 year

PortÊ HenryÊ setÊ Ê Ê Ê Ê toÊ voteÊ Aug.Ê 16Ê onÊ dissolutionÊ plan

In OPINION | pg. 7

A look at the Lodge at Boreas Ponds

>>

In SCHROON | pg. 16

Buildings to be looked at County OK’s Frontier town inspections

Supporting their Lady Sentinels

By Keith Lobdell

keith@suncommunitynews.com

PORT HENRY — Voters here will have the chance to save the incorporated village government or continue down the road toward dissolving it Tuesday, Aug. 16. Members of the Port Henry Board of Trustees voted unanimously during its Monday, June 13, regular board meeting to hold the referendum on the dissolution plan Tuesday, Aug. 16, from noon until 9 p.m. at the Port Henry Volunteer Fire Department. The vote became necessary after a permissive referendum petition was submitted to the village last month with 221 verified voter signatures. At the beginning of the meeting, former Mayor Gary Cooke, who submitted the petition to the village, said he firmly believes there are other ways to decrease taxes while keeping a form of village government in place. Cooke said the main issue is the amount of money village residents pay to help support town services. “We agree taxes need to be reduced,” Cooke said. “But how can we expect the services will be taken care of in the village by a group who can’t take care of it’s own area?” Cooke claimed the village taxpayers represent 49 percent of all money spent on town roads and streets and 25 percent of money used to take care of services outside the village. “We’re better off here,” he said. “We have paid our bills for

Students at Ticonderoga Elementary School lined the roadway to cheer on its varsity softball team as they made their way to the NYSPHSAA Final Four Friday, June 10. For more on the game between the Sentinels and Notre Dame-Elmira, see page 22. Photo by Keith Lobdell

>> See VOTE | pg. 20

Leathernecks seek new members to flesh out declining ranks By Mikaela Foster

mikaela@suncommunitynews.com

CROWN POINT — The United States Marine Corps is known for being small in numbers, but great in honor, courage and commitment. The few, the proud. No man left behind. Semper Fidelis. All are common phrases. Marines are known for taking care of their fellow Marines regardless of their circumstances, and no matter how few of them there

are. The Essex County Leathernecks are a prime example. With 45 due-paying members, the group only has a handful of active members, said Robert Tompkins, commandant of Essex County Leathernecks, Marine Corps League Det. #791. The county-level league was started in the 1960s with its members originating from all throughout Essex County, Tompkins explained. But membership is ailing as the members grow older and leave the state for fairer climes.

The group once participated in parades and color guard ceremonies at Ti-Moriah football games. Facilitating Toys for Tots drives was popular, as was delivering Easter baskets to shut-ins, mostly military personnel. “They loved it,” Tompkins said. The commandant mentioned the stories he’s heard and some of the older Marines he has met — like the fellow who participated in the first wave of Iwo Jima. Nowadays, their activities are limited mostly to funeral send-offs during which they play taps on a bugle and conduct graveside flag-folding ceremonies. With the declining membership, Tompkins

admits to occasionally second-guessing his participation. But for Marines or service members from any branch that pass on, Tompkins said it’s important to send them off in military fashion. “They’re our brothers,” he said. The group is hoping young Marines will join to regain the camaraderie they experienced while serving, and join their band of brothers in Essex County. He said they’re also trying to update their website so potential members can learn more about them. For more info, call Robert Tompkins at 5469757.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.