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July 11, 2009
A Denton Publication
Free
It’s on
July 4th
Music
Debate between Garcia and Sprague set for Aug. 27.
Rain didn’t stop the parade during Lake Placid’s celebration.
Bands to perform free of charge in Tupper Lake.
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Morency forced to pay for benefits
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New Vision grads are a ‘half-step’ ahead By Sarah L. Cronk sarah@denpubs.com
By Matt Bosley matt@denpubs.com ELIZABETHTOWN — A proposal to get all elected officials in line with health insurance contributions sparked a heated debate among Essex County supervisors July 6. Moriah Supervisor Thomas Scozzafava introduced a surprise resolution to address the issue of one board member refusing to make contributions for health insurance benefits. At the June 15 Personnel Committee meeting, St. Armand Supervisor Joyce Morency admitted to being the only supervisor not making contributions after Westport Supervisor Daniel Connell initiated discussion on the topic. Connell argued that Morency’s refusal to contribute may appear to be in violation of the county’s board-approved employee policy manual, which requires contributions from both union members and department heads. Morency claimed that the requirement shouldn’t apply to elected officials, however; especially those who had been serving since before contributions were first required in 1999. Having been in her post since 1981, Morency is currently the longest-tenured supervisor on the board. “The board knows that I have always gotten my insurance, and somewhere along the line many of them started being told they had to pay and they are,” she said at the June 15 meeting. “I have been told that I would be grandfathered in because of my years of devotion to Essex County.” Scozzafava’s proposed resolution would require “all elected officials, both part-time and full-time” to contribute toward their health insurance benefits in the same manner as other county employees. The resolution passed, but not without opposition. “If we decide to give special treatment in regards to health care insurance, we’re going to hear about it from our constituents,” said Scozzafava, arguing that elected officials in neighboring counties, who have similar pay and benefits, are also required to contribute. “It does make us look like elitists when we are discussing special policies for the board of supervisors,” said Connell in agreement. Randy Douglas, supervisor of Jay, said the resolution was being introduced prematurely and should instead be brought up at the next meeting of the Personnel Committee, which he chairs. “I don’t think it should be decided today,” said Douglas, saying he had been working with County Manager Daniel Palmer and County Attorney Dan Manning to analyze the county’s policy. “Why couldn’t this have been shared with colleagues?” Douglas asked, criticizing Scozzafava for introducing the resolution without warning. Douglas moved to table the resolution, but the motion did not garner enough support to pass. Supervisors Michael McSweeney (D-Minerva), George Canon (RNewcomb), Roby Politi (R-North Elba), Robert Dobie (D-North Hudson), Lori Lincoln-Spooner (R-Willsboro), and Randy Preston (I-Wilmington) all voted in
See MORENCY, page 2
SARANAC LAKE — The New Vision program, which has been located at the Adirondack Medical Center for six years, graduated 10 students June 12, giving them a jump start on their careers in health care. The program — offered to high school seniors from the Tupper Lake, Saranac Lake, and Lake Placid area — is a program of Franklin, Essex and Hamilton BOCES that gives the students on-site experience at AMC. “It’s a pretty intense academic program,” said instructor Alison Riley-Clark. “It’s not just shadowing. It’s very college-preparatory.” Riley-Clark, who was also a nurse for 25 years, considers the program to be a “halfstep” from high school to college, and gives the students assignments and tasks they may face in college. “[What] really is heartwarming for me and our other teacher, Rhonda Meserole, is when [the students] come back and they say, ‘Everybody else was struggling their first year of college, but we were totally fine,’” said Riley-Clark. She explained the students learn how to write a research paper, and plan out their time, “which is a big challenge when you get to college and you don’t have class every day.” Overall, Riley-Clark said a big experience the students learn from New Vision is they can do the jobs they see physicians and other health care workers perform. “These are jobs that you learn,” she explained. “You go to school, you learn the in-
The New Visions program graduated 10 students at the Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake June 12. In front, from left are instructor Rhonda Meserole; Robin Williams, RN; Sara Preston; Allysa Houle; Emily LaBarge; Maegan Meade; and Emily Lennon. In back, from left are Brian Wolff; Sarah Paiement; Alex Beideck; Emmett Garnish; Bryan LaRoe; and instructor Alison Riley-Clark. Photo provided by Adirondack Medical Center
formation and then you can do the job. And, I think it’s very empowering that they really get a chance to see the jobs being done and see that it’s a series of tasks that you learn how to do and you just build your knowledge and they you’re able to do the job.” Riley-Clark has also found through her six years of being an instructor for the program, the students who graduate leave the program with “really good connections and mentors at the hospital.” “And, what’s really great is that it’s local
people who are mentoring them, who have an interest in them,” Riley-Clark said. “They want to see them succeed in their career.” The program has plenty of other benefits for students including gaining “maturity” and an “ability to interact with people, professionally.” “That’s really valuable when you go on to college,” she said. The new term for the program will begin in the fall, with 13 students already selected.
ILBBQF cooks up support for youth By Matt Bosley matt@denpubs.com
A panel of celebrity judges assess meals prepared by competitors in the I Love Barbecue Junior World Championships, a new addition to this year’s I Love Barbecue Festival in Lake Placid July 3-5. Despite a rainy weekend, the fourth annual festival drew hardy crowds in an effort to raise funds for the Thomas Shipman Youth Center. Photo by Matt Bosley
LAKE PLACID — A little rain could not dowse the excitement at the fourth annual Lake Placid I Love Barbecue festival July 3-5. Thousands of visitors made their way to the old speed skating oval, braving the wet weather to enjoy some expertly-grilled meats while supporting a keystone in the community. Since its inception in 2005, the ILBBQF has raised an average of over $20,000 for the Thomas Shipman Youth Center each year. Organizers said this year was no different, even though the rain may have discouraged some from attending. “Regardless of the weather, people are going to come,” said Gary Moore. “You don’t find barbecue in the Adirondacks of the caliber that’s here.” One of several local vendors at the event, Moore’s Lake Placid- and Saranac Lake-based business, Bear Essentials prints t-shirts for the event, and donates 20
See BBQ, page 6