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ECRWSS PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID NEW MARKET PRESS/ DENTON PUBLICATIONS
P.O. BOX 338 ELIZABETHTOWN, NY 12932 POSTAL PATRON
Page 16
Page 2
September 19, 2009
Essex County leaders respond to APRAP
Sprague, Hommes win GOP nomination By Matt Bosley matt@denpubs.com
By Matt Bosley matt@denpubs.com ELIZABETHTOWN — Essex County officials lauded a recently completed report that shows some troubling statistics for communities in the Adirondacks. Jim Martin from Landscape Architecture and Engineering gave a presentation to the Essex County Economic Development Committee at their Sept. 14 meeting summarizing the Adirondack Park Regional Assessment Project, which outlines the economic and demographic challenges facing the region. Using data from local governments and state agencies, researchers compiled charts and color-coded maps showing trends all too familiar to the Adirondack Park: a stagnant, aging population and stifled opportunities for growth. Martin said that while communities around the edge of the park have shown increases in population, the core communities of the Adirondacks have been steadily losing people. “The median age is increasing at an exceptionally fast rate,” he said, noting the Adirondacks are rivaled only by the west coast of Florida for the oldest residents. The rising age of people in the park is felt most heavily in the schools, Martin said. The number of K-12 students has fallen 31 percent since 1970. Meanwhile, the number of teachers has risen 43 percent, putting extra stress on communities to produce more revenue through property tax. Adirondack schools are losing students at a rate of 354 every 18 months, said Martin, the equivalent of one average school district in the Adirondacks. Martin also pointed to land use as another major issue in the Adirondacks. With more than 40 percent of the park owned by the state, another 20 percent under conservation easement, and another 15 percent already in use, only 15 percent of the land in the Adirondacks is available for development. forty percent of residential parcels are owned by residents with addresses outside the Blue Line. Unemployment in the region rises to 30 percent during the winter months, said Martin, and even during the summer it is still higher than in the rest of the state. “This assessment review is incredible,” said Robert Dedrick, supervisor of Ticonderoga and chair of the committee. “If we can't use a lot of this data, we should be ashamed of ourselves.” Dedrick said one of the most startling statistics in the report is that less than one half of one percent of the land is used for commercial or industrial purposes. “Those are the drivers of the local economy,” said Martin, noting actively utilized commercial and industrial land requires 30 cents worth of services for every dollar they generate while residential land requires $1.30. “Having a
See APRAP, page 9
44293
ELIZABETHTOWN, NY
RAY BROOK, NY
(800) 559-6551
(800) 287-4525
DLR# 3160003
ELIZABETHTOWN — The two candidates endorsed by the Essex County Republican Committee both claimed victories in a tightly contested Sept. 15 primary election, winning the right to run on the Republican Party line this November. Incumbent Sheriff Henry Hommes defeated Michael “Ike” Tyler with 52 percent of the vote, 2119 to 1927 while Clinton County Assistant District Attorney Kristy Sprague defeated incumbent Essex County District Attorney Julie Garcia with 53 percent of the vote, 2312 to 2044. Both Tyler and Garcia plan to remain in the race, taking part in the Nov. 3 general election, Tyler as an Independent and Garcia on the Democratic line.
DA race
Sheriff candidate Henry Hommes and District Attorney candidate Kristy Sprague celebrate their victories in the Essex County Republican Primary Sept. 15.
Once the unofficial results were posted Tuesday night, Sprague said she wasn’t surprised the race was so close. Ultimately, it was her experience that proved the difference in attracting more voters, she said. “That’s what I hope people will take
Photo by Matt Bosley
See SPRAGUE, page 12
Lewis church prepares for bicentennial By Matt Bosley matt@denpubs.com LEWIS — Members of Essex County’s oldest Congregational church are seeking help as they work to restore a community landmark and symbol of religious heritage. The Lewis Congregational Church will mark its 200th anniversary in 2012, and members of the small congregation have set out to renovate the church and its grounds in preparation for the celebration. “We’re trying to head this up early and have a good bicentennial,” said David Blades, town supervisor and a trustee of the church. Planned renovations include removal of dangerous trees near the church building, shingling the porch roof, and repainting the interior and exterior. Church members are also looking to repair the retaining wall that bolsters the base of the hill on which the church sits.
A special committee has been formed from among the church’s two dozen members to complete the renovations in time to hold a weekend-long celebration in the summer of 2012. “It’s important that we acknowledge our religious heritage,” said Blades, “and this is one way to do it.” According to church records, the Lewis Congregational Church dates back to 1812 when Rev. Cyrus Comstock settled in Essex County, establishing Congregational churches throughout the area. The church in Lewis was his first. Comstock, who became famous for his invention of the Comstock wagon, was buried in the cemetery adjoining the Lewis church following his death in 1852. The earliest members of the church set out to build a permanent structure in 1818. A parcel
See CHURCH, page 9
Members of the Lewis Community Church are looking to raise funds towards repair and renovation of the church in preparation of its anticipated bicentennial celebration in 2012. A prime rib dinner is scheduled for Oct. 10.
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