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Saturday,ÊM archÊ26,Ê2016
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www.SunCommunityNews.com
In EVENTS | pg. 3
“Skippyjon Jones Snow What” Show taking place April 8 at NCCS high school
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In FEATURES | pg. 8
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In NEWS | pg. 13
Young author Shape Up, reveals first novel Clinton County
Adam Bassett releases “A Package of Moods” New initiative launches in several municipalities
Village of Champlain announces return of rowing program By Teah Dowling
teah@suncommunitynews.com
CHAMPLAIN — This summer, boats will be floating down the Great Chazy River to the Village of Champlain for another rowing program season. Earlier this month, the village announced the return of the outdoor activity for a second year. “It was extremely popular last summer,” said Village Trustee Janet McFetridge. “We had a blast and we’re hoping for another great summer.” Last year, boating excursions took place every Friday evening from June to October. This year, McFetridge hopes to add an extra day. Exact days and times are still being hashed out. The village, however, does plan on adding two more coxswains this year for extra instructional purposes. The route itself depends
Pair-fectÊ
on a number of factors, including water conditions and rower strength. Interested participants need just to show up. The program launched last June when the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, who wanted to expand its program into New York, gave the village a grant to implement the program and sent over a 32-foot-long, six-oared pilot gig rowing boat and a four-oared, 25-foot Whitehall style rowing boat. The board decided to incorporate this program to promote more outdoor activity in the village, along with the playground, picnic area, disc golf course, ice rink and community garden already in place. “We set some very ambitious, but realistic goals,” McFetridge said. “One of them was to promote physical activity and recreation and the rowing program really fit that goal.” The boats used in the program were built by high school
Get ready for the Beek Squad!
New student-run help desk to assist students with Chromebook, technology problems
Best friends perform 19th show together, “Bye Bye Birdie,” March 31
>>See Chazy Play | pg. 13
Photo by Janet McFetridge
>> See Rowing Program | pg. 12
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CHAZY — Two best friends share one similar love: Musical theater. Ross Coughlin and Jamie Robert will perform their 19th show together, “Bye Bye Birdie,” next week at Chazy Central Teah Rural School as part of the Chazy Music Dowling Writer Theatre. This is their first show playing a couple — Hugo Peabody and Kim MacAfee. “We’ve always wanted to try this in a show,” Robert said. “It’s a lot of fun.” “I’m a lot shorter than her though, so it’s really funny,” Coughlin added. Coughlin portrays Robert’s “steady,” a boyfriend in today’s lingo. But in real life, they’re best friends. Both teens started their musical theater journey in 2007 by performing in Peru Central School plays and eventually
The Village of Champlain rowing program gets community members out, about and together for a group rowing experience on the Great Chazy River. The second season is set to start in early June.
By Teah Dowling
teah@suncommunitynews.com
Ross Coughlin and Jamie Robert will perform their 19th show together, “Bye Bye Birdie,” next week at Chazy Central Rural School as part of the Chazy Music Theatre. Photo by Teah Dowling
WEST CHAZY — Can’t figure out what’s wrong with your electronic device? No issue is too difficult for the Beek Squad to solve. Students at Beekmantown High will be running their own help desk to assist their peers, and possibly their teachers, with Chromebook repairs and questions. About 30 students have been training after school, and sometimes during school, to learn about customer service and operating a help desk. Eighth grader Robert “RJ” Barcomb so far has cleaned a few machines and helped students figure out programs. Barcomb, who’s been interested in computers since age 5, said he can take apart and put together a unit in 10 minutes. “I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty,” he said. Junior Hailey Waldron said she has already replaced a >> See Beek Squad | pg. 9