Ne a 0099 1121

Page 1

ECRWSS PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENTON PUBLICATIONS/ NEW MARKET PRESS PO Box 338 Elizabethtown NY 12932 Postal Patron

Saturday,ÊNo vemberÊ21,Ê2015

>>

www.SunCommunityNews.com

In SCHOOLS | pg. 2

>>

Helping those in need

In OPINION | pg. 4

What have we learned

Long Lake student supports refugee children fund

Hopeful lessons from #PrisonBreak

>>

In SPORTS | pg. 13

Fall season ends with bling Tri-Lakes team wins state XC title

APA approves Essex Chain Lakes plan Advocacy groups says plan is ‘illegal’ By Christin Scanlon

christina@suncommunitynews.com

RAY BROOK — The Adirondack Park Agency approved the Essex Chain Lakes Complex Unit Management Plan (UMP) last week, determining it conforms with the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan, an action called “widely illegal” by opponents. The Complex is located in the central Ad-

irondack towns of Minerva and Newcomb in Essex County, and the town of Indian Lake in Hamilton County. Included in the area are the Essex Chain Lakes Primitive Area, the Pine Lakes Primitive Area and portions of the Blue Mountain Wild Forest and the Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest, according to a release from APA. “The plan establishes reasonable public access and ensures appropriate protections for the unique natural resources found in this splendid region of the Adirondack Park,” said Keith P. McKeever, public information officer for the APA in a press release. Peter Bauer, executive director of Protect the Adirondacks, responded to the APA’s de-

cision in a press release. “This plan was characterized as a �legal fiction’ by one dissenting APA Commissioner and �illegal’ by another. This UMP approved a new snowmobile trail through a trailless and wild part of the Forest Preserve that has not seen an axe in 100 years. This UMP continues to implement the greatest expansion of motorized uses in the history of the Forest Preserve,” he said. In a phone interview Monday, Bauer said he was “mystified” by the argument that the new trails needed to be created as the existing trail is 30 miles long. “I thought the whole thrill was the ride, not quickest route,” he said.

The new trail is 20 miles long, he said, but contains no points to stop at. The plan contains a variety of other uses, according to the APA statement. “Approved management actions will result in non-motorized trail systems for hiking, biking, cross country skiing and equestrian uses. Trail systems will, in part, be established on the interconnecting loop of former all season roads which lace the Complex. A wide range of camping opportunities including primitive sites, road side and at large are planned. Public motorized access is allowed on designated roads. Canoe carries and landings will be maintained.” >> Story Continued | pg. 12

E-waste collection halted Towns wait for county to get new bids By Christina Scanlon

christina@suncommunitynews.com

NORTH CREEK — E-waste has filled a container and left piles accumulating at the Johnsburg Town transfer station. In Horicon, two months worth of the material, old TVs, computers, radios and vacuum cleaners fill up spaces inside and out at the town transfer site. In Warrensburg, e-waste was recently hauled away and isn’t accumulating because, like many towns in Warren County, there’s a temporary halt to collecting the items. Town officials blame the interruption on the lack of recycling haulers that take the products, some they’d contracted with going out of business in the last few months. Johnsburg Supervisor Ron Vanselow said, “that’s the boat the town is in, with a filled container and no one to haul it. Officials there briefly discussed trying to find another hauler, but are waiting as for a county-wide bid process.” Warren County sought and collected bids recently to allow the towns to opt into using one service. The lowest bidder later informed the county they’d be unable to provide the hauling. Some officials, such as Queensbury Supervisor John Strough, say they’ve been told by the state Department of Environmental Conservation, towns are not allowed to charge residents for disposal of e-waste. It’s tied their hands in getting rid of the items. Other officials say finding a service is difficult because previous rebates from the state offered to haulers had dried up. DEC officials said neither is true. “Collectors do not receive a rebate. Manufacturers of electronic products are required to take back a certain amount of e-waste for free each year. Once they reach the set amount they can charge for any additional e-waste they take,” according to DEC. “Municipalities can charge to collect e-waste. They must report to the DEC the amount of e-waste they collected and the amount of fees they collected in their annual report.” Just because they can charge, doesn’t mean they should or should be burdened with adding >> Story Continued | pg. 10

Minerva Central School student Benat Rementeria stuffs oakum in the cracks between the wall logs of a leanto as part of the Lean2Rescue program. See more on page 3. Photo by Mike Corey


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.