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Saturday,ÊJ ulyÊ2,Ê2016
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In SCHOOLS | Inside
Grads cross the stage
Read our comprehensive graduation coverage
www.SunCommunityNews.com
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In OPINION | pg. 6
Residents deserve better County needs more forward-thinking
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In OTHER | pg. 16
Leaves Torn Asunder New novel chronicles the Civil War
County supervisors shoot down Frontier Town engineering study By Pete DeMola
“Without knowing what the cost is going to be, I don’t know how we can authorize it,” said Michael “Ike” Tyler (R-Westport). Tom Scozzafava (R-Moriah) said the county had little fiELIZABETHTOWN — Lawmakers defeated a resolution nancial incentive to spend funds on a parcel that might be Monday to have a structural engineer examine the roof of a included in a future tax auction. motel on the Frontier Town property. “We might be setting a precedent here going down this The motion was defeated 15-3 by the Essex County Board of road,” Scozzafava said. Supervisors’ Ways & Means Committee after county officials admitted they couldn’t provide an initial cost estimate for the work. >> See FRONTIER TOWN | pg. 17 pete@suncommunitynews.com
Ô NoÊ easy AnswersÕ
ELCS grads venture into the unknown; Valedictorian focuses on the good times during speech to classmates ELIZABETHTOWN — Growing up in a small town, classmates become family. And like with family, life milestones come and go. But most families can seldom pinpoint the exact moment when that dynamic is Pete altered forever — that is, unless you’re a DeMola Writer group of kids who spent the past decadeplus together and were just a tassel-flip away from graduating from high school. As the Elizabethtown-Lewis Class of 2016 prepared to pass that threshold on Friday, Emma Disogra, the class valedictorian, turned to her peers and admitted that she didn’t have any easy answers as the group prepared to say goodbye. “We’re about to start a whole new chapter of life,” Disogra said. “I wish I had some type of knowledge to help all of you, but the thing is, I don’t.” Instead, Disogra thanked her second family, clad in green and gold on a blazing-hot Friday night, for being such good pals, giving each of her 19 classmates individual shout-outs. There were clarinet jams and long nights spent singing,
Elizabethtown-Lewis Central School Class of 2016 Salutatorian Jazmin Wright moves her tassel at the district’s commencement ceremonies on Friday, June 24. “This is not a goodbye,” Wright told her classmates. “This is a see-you-later.” Photo by Pete DeMola
The Essex County Board of Supervisors’ Ways & Means Committee, citing fiscal reasons, defeated a resolution Monday to have a structural engineer examine the roof of the former Frontier Town Motel.
Fourth of July events on tap for weekend
Photo by Pete DeMola
By Keith Lobdell
keith@suncommunitynews.com
swimming and going on back road tractor rides. The pals bonded over making tie-dyes, lockerside chats, school plays, homework, animal calls, bizarre nicknames (and were repelled, at least once, by noxious body functions, Disogra pointed out). But families also fight sometimes, said Disogra, citing a notorious bus incident involving silly string, shaving cream and hot dogs. “The best part about being in a family is we share so many memories, and we’re definitely going to go down in ELCS history,” Disogra said. What unfolded between this close-knit group of graduates over the past 13 years was now part of the school’s mythology.
ESSEX — A trio of local celebrations will help to celebrate 240 years since the United States of America declare its independence from the British. Fourth of July festivities over the long weekend will take place in Essex, Jay and Westport, each offering a chance at celebration, commemoration and, of course, parade candy and fireworks.
>> See ELCS GRADUATION | pg. 17
>> See FOURTH OF JULY | pg. 17
Essex The Fourth of July festivities for the Essex and Willsboro region will kick off Friday, July 1, with square and round dancing at the Whallonsburgh Grange starting at 7 p.m. and continuing until 10 p.m. The music will be provided by The duo