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MYCAPTURE PHOTO GALLERIES
See photos from all the game action last weekend.
HOMES EVERY WEEK! Burgh/North Countryman
August 10, 2019
suncommunitynews.com
• EDITION •
Hudson Headwaters welcomes 4 primary care physicians
Health care network establishing self in North Country By Sarah Elizabeth Morris STA FF W RITER
CHAMPLAIN/PLATTSBURGH | Hudson Headwaters Health Network (HHHN) is bringing on four new primary care physicians and a nurse practitioner between the Cham-
CONGRESSWOMAN TOURS LOCAL FARMS
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik toured the packaging facility at Giroux Farms. She examined how different types of eggs are carefully packaged and sent for delivery. Photo by Sarah Elizabeth Morris
Elise Stefanik discusses farming labor laws By Sarah Elizabeth Morris STA FF W RITER
During the tour, talk of the new Farm Workers Bill, which establishes the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act, planning to take effect Jan. 1, 2020. The law has seen some backlash from farmers and laborers in New York, who already struggle in the agriculture business. The act will eliminate the provision in the state law that bans agriculture workers from unionizing. The law also requires that workers receive overtime pay for more than 60 hours per week of work. Workers become eligible for unemployment insurance, disability, paid family leave and worker compensation benefits. “Th is new law is not just a great achievement in terms of the effect on the human condition, it’s also a milestone in the crusade for social justice,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said about the bill. “By signing this bill into law, 100,000 farmers and their families will have better lives and will finally have the same protections that other workers have enjoyed for over 80 years.”
CHAZY | Congresswoman for the 21st District, Elise Stefanik, made a tour of the North Country recently. One of the places she visited and toured was Giroux poultry farm in Chazy on Aug. 2. The visit was made after stopping at the Giroux apple farm. “I really got an opportunity to talk to the Giroux family members and ask them the challenges in terms of running the farm, their commitment to the region,” Stefanik said. “I was able to learn a lot about the history of the poultry industry. It’s interesting, they A place for families: The Champlain Family Health center is open Monday through Thursday from took a lot of ideas in terms of technol8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ogy used in eggs and they applied it to Photo by Sarah Elizabeth Morris the apple packing facility they own.” » Stefanik Cont. on pg. 2 plain and newer Plattsburgh locations. Ashley Bernotas, MD, and David Ellsworth, DO, will be establishing their practices at Plattsburgh Family Health, along with Family Nurse Practitioner Suzanne LaBorde. Aaron Esterson, MD, and Stephen Winfield, MD, will divide their schedules between Champlain Family Health and Plattsburgh Family Health. Country are urging everyone in the area to make sure For those in the North Country unfamiliar with the they are vaccinated against measles, and if not, to get growing company, Hudson Headwaters is a health center the immunization shot. The outbreak of measles was generally located in the capital district. The health network recently confirmed across the border in Quebec, only a however is making its way through upstate New York, its half hour drive from Plattsburgh. newest location at the Plattsburgh CVPH Plaza. By Sarah Elizabeth Morris Measles are at an all time high in America in 25 years, STA FF W RITER “Hudson Headwaters is so established in the Glens Falls/ reaching almost 1,200 cases. Schroon Lake area, but up here they’re just getting to know what the organization is,” HHHN Community Relations » Measles Cont. on pg. 3 PLATTSBURGH | Health departments in the North Manager Jane Hooper said. » HHHN Cont. on pg. 7
Measles outbreak reaches Quebec Health departments urge vaccines for all
Marijuana in the North Country Decriminalization, medicinal steps By Sarah Elizabeth Morris STA FF W RITER
PLATTSBURGH | A topic on the minds of many New Yorkers is the legalization of recreational marijuana. Despite promises by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to legalize the substance, it failed at this year’s legislative session, though marijuana was decriminalized even more - reducing charges, expunging some past charges and restricting the smoking of marijuana to in public. So far, in the U.S., 11 states have legalized recreational use of marijuana. In Plattsburgh, where substance abuse is being treated at newly opened recovery centers, some residents are concerned about legalization plans.
Being called a “gateway drug” in recent years, the legalization of marijuana doesn’t sit well with some politicians and government employees who have made substance abuse one of their top career priorities. Among politicians concerned about substance abuse is New York Assemblyman Billy Jones, who says there hasn’t been enough research done on the drug to legalize it recreationally. He is, however, all for decriminalization when it comes to small offense marijuana charges. “I just feel as though if you have a mark on your record for a low level of marijuana, it shouldn’t follow you the rest of your life, whether you’re going through school, vocational programs, jobs, careers,” Jones said. “We did vote to expunge the records of very low levels of marijuana.” Much of the government, as seen at the legislative session this year,
feels the same way about recreational use as Jones. Of course, that doesn’t mean they are against marijuana use completely. In fact, the use of medical marijuana has strong support across the U.S., but has decreased in New York, due to what Cuomo claims is a poor system. However, the reconstruction of the medical marijuana bill is expected to reverse that, especially since legalizing recreational use in New York did not happen. Medicinal marijuana is used to treat a number of conditions, such as symptoms in chemo patients, eating disorders, seizure disorders, mental health, physical pain and more. To get access to it, one would need a written recommendation from their doctor, a medical marijuana ID and a New York state ID. It comes in many different forms and is sold in medical dispensaries, of which there aren’t many in the state right now. » Marijuana Cont. on pg. 4
A NUMBER OF CHOICES:
Curaleaf staff held an event to learn about medical marijuana, as well as talk to pharmacists about registering to become a patient. The Clinton County for Medical Cannabis event was held at the Plattsburgh Public Library on July 27, where new patients received 500 CuraCredits, and costs were discounted. Photo by Sarah Elizabeth Morris
ANNIVERSARY
SALE
OFF STOREWIDE!
224812
20
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SALE August 9-10th
Friday 9-8pm • Saturday 9-6pm
285 Tom Miller Rd, Plattsburgh Discount applies to regular price merchandise only. Some exclusions may apply due to manufacturers pricing restrictions. Excludes Yeti and Gun Safes. See store for details.