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Saturday,ÊO ctoberÊ8,Ê2016
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www.SunCommunityNews.com
In FEATURES | pg. 5
Saranac’s history: Sylvia Newman Local author releases second photo history book
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In NEWS | pg. 15
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In CRIME | pg. 3
Happy 50th, Perps break in Upward Bound! to Mooers library Academic program celebrates growth
Break-in still under investigation by state police
Fundraising begins for Champlain park improvements Perry Mills Park Committee receives grant, seeks donations to bring area back to life By Teah Dowling
teah@suncommunitynews.com
CHAMPLAIN — A rusty chain-linked fence separates residents from what used to be known as Perry Mills Park. Walking around the high barrier still stands a cracked basketball court with two stained hoops and a pair of disintegrating wooden bleachers sitting in the middle of the court. Beyond the court is an empty lot where a playground area and baseball field used to be. Perry Mills Park, located on Dubois Road, was once the place to go in the late 1990s for residents like John Canty.
EmbraceÊy ourÊ
“It’s sad to see it in such a state of disrepair,” said Canty. “As a child, I remember always having kids to play with there.” According to the Perry Mills Park Committee, approximately 40 children up to age 12 live in the area today. Now as the committee chair, Canty and other members are working to resurrect the area. The project, said committee member Brian Moore, is divided up into several phases. The first step, which the committee plans on completing within the first year, includes fixing the existing basketball court and baseball field and getting new playground equipment back into the park – one for ages 4 and under and another for kids 5 and up. Next, the committee plans on incorporating more sporting activities, such as soccer, pickleball and volleyball.
Pfizer to close in 2018
First annual Plattsnerd, gaming and comic con, slated for Oct. 15
Rouses Point gearing up for over $2 million in revenue losses
PLATTSBURGH — Long ago, in a galaxy not so far, far away, the planning for Plattsburgh’s biggest comic and gaming convention began. Kevin Cooney, who does digital marketing and content for Mountain Lake Elizabeth PBS, read about a grant, awarding up to Izzo $2,000 per event, that the PBS CorporaWriter tion was awarding stations for encouraging its community to “embrace the spirit of nerdism.” The station locked in the funds, making them one of just a handful of affiliates in the country to have done so. Thus Plattsnerd was born.
>> See Plattsnerd | pg. 14
Photo by Teah Dowling
>> See Champlain Park | pg. 4
Ô innerÊ nerdÕ
ACCESSIBILITY For Cooney, accessibility is key. “We wanted to give local artists and vendors the opportunity to come and display their swag, many of whom may not be able to afford a table at a bigger convention,” he said. Along with local vendors, attendees will also see bigger names at Plattsnerd. “Nintendo is coming,” said Cooney. “They will have a bunch of Nintendo swag available.”
A rusty chain-linked fence separates residents from what used to be known as Perry Mills Park. The area contains a cracked basketball court and open field where a playground area and baseball field used to be.
By Teah Dowling
teah@suncommunitynews.com
A professional cosplayer showcases her handmade Harley Quinn costume. Plattsnerd organizer Kevin Cooney says that this costume is expected to be the most popular at this year’s cosplay competition. Harley Quinn is a popular comic book character from DC Comics’ “Batman” franchise and the recent blockbuster “Suicide Squad.” Photo © shotw***e photography
ROUSES POINT — Pfizer is going to close in 2018, and village officials are scrambling to determine how to fill the void in lost utility revenues. Village officials made the announcement last month about the pharmaceutical plant’s departure, along with the loss of $1.2 million in electricity usage and $840,000 in water and sewer services. The plan is to end operations by the end of 2017, said Kim Bencker, a company spokeman, who declined to elaborate. Mayor Daniel Letourneau said Pfizer was one of the biggest water and sewer customers, along with Champlain Plastics. “We’ve had a very good run,” he said. “But now we have to figure out ways to generate more revenue.” In order to make up for that loss, Letourneau said the board would review all departments and see where monies could be saved. User fees will have to increase, he said, “more than likely.” Pfizer announced plans to pull out in 2005, but they’ve only downsized. >> See Pfizer Closing | pg. 4