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August 8, 2009
Essex County increases pay scale for engineers
The 161st Essex County Fair is here!
By Jon Alexander denpubs@denpubs.com ELIZABETHTOWN — Fearing a lack of qualified candidates, Essex County Supervisors unanimously endorsed a pay increase for the post of Assistant Civil Engineer this week. After significant discussion, the board approved a measure that will pay between $45,000 to $55,000 for the job, but could pay more if a highly qualified candidate is found. But even with the pay increase, Essex Supervisor Ron Jackson still has his doubts. “I just don’t know if we will be able to get what we want for $55,000,” Jackson said. Before the adoption of the new pay scale, a first-year Assistant Civil Engineer was slated to make $39,000 – a figure well out of line with other regional counties and the private sector. Several supervisors agreed with Jackson’s analysis and an amendment was added to allow for more pay commiserate with experience or education of an applicant. Supervisors said they would like an experienced engineer and that paying a little more in salary will save cash in the long run because more work could be accomplished in-house. The county is seeking a replacement for longtime Assistant Civil Engineer Lenny Zelkowitz, who is set to retire in September. Essex County Manager Dan Palmer noted that due to the amended approval of the pay scale adjustment, a planned training period for the new hire may not happen. Because of the open-ended nature of the pay scale, any potential hire over $55,000 would have to return to the full board for approval.
The Essex County Fair will begin this Wednesday, Aug. 12 and run through Sunday, Aug. 16. For a complete list of events, go to www.essexcountyfair.org. WESTPORT — It’s fair time! The 161st Essex County Fair kicks off Wednesday, Aug. 12 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 16. Check out the full schedule of events at www.essexcountyfair.org. This expo is presented by the Essex County Agricultural Society, Inc. of Westport – right on route 9N. There are so many new things to see and do at this year at the fair. Have you seen “Ways of the Woods”? It’s a huge display all about our woods. And there is a Zoo, besides the farm animals. Music is every day. Many of your favorites like: Alcatraz, Lucid, Norsemen, and the Fair Idol Contest, and more. Check out the new contest. Bring your bike for the slowest bicycle race, bring mom for the frypan throwing contest and big brother or sister for the rock climbing competition. Dogs are coming for a Dog Agility Demonstration too. They are so smart! Yummy, the Maple Producers are making ice cream &
See FAIR, page 7
Late blight destroying crops throughout region By Marcia Bierce denpubs@denpubs.com Most gardening aficionados are well versed in how a plant disease known as late blight can devastate crops — most notably tomato and potato plants. This summer, however, has been near catastrophic for local growers as it was in the 1850’s when the same blight caused the Irish potato famine. Late blight is a plant disease that attacks both potatoes and tomatoes. It is caused by a fungal pathogen that survives from one season to the next in infected tubers and the disease favors wet weather. This summer, however, has been near catastrophic for local growers as it was in the 1850’s when the same blight caused the Irish potato famine. The disease this year was carried north
on the east coast and west to Ohio on plants that were shipped to large box stores from a warehouse in the south. William and Sandra Murphy of Willsboro were especially hard hit. They have a hobby-sized green house and they start all of their plants from seed, using soil that they purchase from Griffin’s Greenhouse. The Murphy’s planted nearly 200 plants; to date they have lost 175 plants, with the disease now beginning to show itself on hanging baskets and cherry tomatoes. Their potatoes also got the disease, but by cutting back the leaves and consuming the potatoes when they are picked, the potato crop should be edible. The disease is very fast moving and within 48 hours of first noticing the disease, their crop was lost. It
See BLIGHT, page 5
Late blight, pictured above on tomato plants, is destroying most, if not all of the local tomato and potato crops this growing season. Experts say they haven’t seen an outbreak this bad in decades.
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