Editorial» To frack or not to frack?
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Saturday, April 26, 2014
CELEBRATING HOLY WEEK
Statewide effort seeks to bolster ailing fire depts
Congressional hopeful speaks with the VN
By Pete DeMola pete@denpubs.com
PAGE 7 CLEAN UP
Clean up days planned in Westport, Jay PAGE 7, 9 OUTDOOR
Mary Lu Kirsty plays the organ at the United Church of Christ in Elizabethtown on Thursday, April 17. Holy Week is the most sacred week on the Christian calendar and denominations across the region celebrated with a variety of solemn ceremonies. Photo by Pete DeMola
County poised to allow alcohol sales on fairgrounds By Pete DeMola pete@denpubs.com
Fishing is beginning to heat up locally PAGE 19
ELIZABETHTOWN Ñ Cheers! Ganbei! Na Zdorovie! SantŽ ! No matter how you say it, the language of booze is universal and Essex County lawmakers hope that doing away with the longstanding ban on alcohol at the Essex County Fairgrounds in Westport will translate into one absolute truth: cold hard cash.
On Monday, April 21, a majority of the board of supervisors voted to kick a resolution by Westport Supervisor Dan Connell up the legislative food chain. Connell said he envisions the fairgrounds as a place where microbreweries and vineyards can display their wares to a public eager to partake in a rapidly-growing industry. Ò WeÕ ve already got a commitment from the High Peaks Distillery,Ó said Connell. Ò This could be a huge income generator.Ó
Lawmakers welcomed the proposal but urged caution: Ò This is great and good for business,Ó said Mike Marnell, the Schroon Lake supervisor who opposed past efforts at allowing alcohol at the venue. Ò IÕ ve changed my mind, but letÕ s keep up support of programs to curb alcoholism.Ó Ò It has to be a controlled environment,Ó said Moriah Supervisor Tom Scozzafava. Ò We donÕ t want a bunch of drunks, people CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
ELIZABETHTOWN Ñ Volunteer fire departments in the North Country are nearing a flashover and for many local agencies, there isnÕ t an extinguisher in sight. The main accelerants are manpower and recruitment. A generation of fighters are aging out of the profession and few are waiting in the wings to replace them. Other stressors are the same that curse other agencies across the region: anemic budgets, plummeting populations and an increase in state mandates. North Country departments have two additional strikes against them: Sparsely-populated areas make consolidation tricky and a paralyzed tax base makes it difficult to supplement their ranks with paid staffers. To combat the situation, several local departments will participate in RecruitNY this weekend, a statewide effort by the FiremenÕ s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) designed to recruit new blood by throwing open their department doors to showcase equipment, vehicles and otherwise engage the public and ignite an interest in civic involvement. Isaac Guenther, Second Lieutenant of the Elizabethtown Fire Department, said while itÕ s in the nature of volunteer departments to deal with an ebb and flow of resources, it becomes a problem when firefighters are faced CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
Index LOCAL COLUMNISTS
4
EDITORIAL
6
NY 21ST RACE
7
OBITUARIES
9
OUTDOOR
19
CALENDAR CLASSIFIEDS
20 19-22
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