Progress 2018

ALSO INSIDE

THIS YEAR’S EDITION:

HOTEL SARANAC OPEN FOR BUSINESS

GATEWAY TO THE ADK CONSTRUCTION SET

GEORGIA-PACIFIC HITS 55-YEAR MARK

After $35 million investment, more suites to be added, feasibility study to be done to this historical landmark over the course of this year.

Improvements to abandoned Frontier Town set to transform the area into a camping and day-use area for guests and residents of all ages.

Manager Mike Penfield reflects on the local history of the Plattsburgh mill and overseeing operations for several years.

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REAL ESTATE // TOURISM // MEDICAL // MANUFACTURING

PROGRESS2018 Wednesday, February 28, 2018 • A product of the PRESS-REPUBLICAN

MANUFACTURING

TOURISM

Development Corp. optimistic about local growth New airport, industrial park buildings on the horizon. By Dan Heath PLATTSBURGH — The Development Corp. had a positive 2017 — and a similar outlook prevails for 2018.

Development Corp. Economic Developer Victoria Zinser Duley said one sign of last year’s prosperity was an occupancy rate of about 95 percent in its three industrial parks: Air Industrial Park and Banker Road Industrial Park in Plattsburgh and Champlain Industrial Park in Champlain.

“That’s an easy measure of success for us, that our buildings are full,” she said.

(L-r) Lake Placid’s Green Goddess co-owner Tammy Loewy and employees Killeen Little, Kim Scarpa and Teresa Troy show off their favorite products.

Photo by Tim Lyman

Region’s natural-food, beverage industries going strong Local businesses, officials share how agritourism is key to attracting visitors to the Adirondack Coast. By Tim Lyman PLATTSBURGH — As people’s appetites grow, so does the homegrown industry that supplies natural foods and beverages.

Gilles Fortin, who owns Amazing Grace Vineyard and Winery in Chazy with his wife, Mary, said 2017’s yield more than tripled that of their original year, a sign of the hunger for what this area has to offer.

“The more local and the more fresh things are — that’s what people are desiring,” Fortin said, noting some customers are specifically requesting wines made and grown locally.

Fortin believes the time has come for the Champlain Valley of New York to have its spot in the sunshine.

According to the New York Wine and Grape Foundation, it is one of the main American Viticultural Areas — regions where grapes are grown to make wine.

Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau Vice President of Marketing Kristy Kennedy said that what attracts visitors to the Adirondack Coast is this area’s abundance of outdoor recreation, history and agritourism industries — the many wineries, breweries and sugarhouses that dot the North Country’s landscape.

CARRYING ON THE TRADITION Michael Parker owns Parker Family Maple Farm See AGRITOURISM, page 4

EXPANSIONS While the last six months were quiet as far as new companies looking to locate in the North Country, many local businesses are poised for expansions.

Development Corp. President and CEO Paul Grasso Jr. said they even lost one tenant, B3CG, when it moved to a larger space on the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base.

The old site no longer met its needs as B3CG looked to expand with a second shift, he said.

“Economic developers will tell you that 80 percent of job growth comes from existing businesses, and that’s what we’re seeing,” he said.

NEED FOR WORKERS With new jobs comes a need for the right workforce to perform them. Grasso said that remains a concern with many employers, especially those who need workers with a specific skill set.

By the end of last year, 90 percent of the employers they met with were concerned about where they would find skilled workers, Zinser Duley said, up about 10 percent from the previous year.

“That is not a surprise, as unemployment has dropped,” she said. “We don’t see that as going

See DEVELOPMENT , page 7

Area hospitals now expanding facilities

MEDICAL

CVPH and Hudson Headwaters expecting to open new health facility in Plattsburgh in spring 2019. By Josh Miner

The new Plattsburgh Family Health facility will be the newest addition to the CVPH Health Plaza. Opening in spring of 2019, it will provide much needed primary and preventive care for the region.

Photo by Josh Miner

PLATTSBURGH — Area hospitals will be expanding their facilities in the coming years, providing much-needed primary and preventive health-care services.

University of Vermont Health Network, Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital and Hudson Headwaters Health Network expect to break ground on a new primary-care facility in March that will be operational by spring 2019, greatly expanding health care for lowincome and uninsured individuals.

Plattsburgh Family Health will be the newest addition to the CVPH Health Plaza, with 19,600 square feet and 16 exam rooms.

While the building will be owned by CVPH, Hudson Headwaters is providing the clinical services for the facility. It plans to hire seven primary-care providers, along with roughly 30 support staff.

The project was made possible by a $3.6 million grant from New York state through See FACILITIES, page 11

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PROGRESS2018

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WEDNESDAY, FEBruArY 28, 2018

REAL ESTATE

Local professionals talk tax reform Most North Country homeowners not likely to see their taxes go up, says certified public accountant. By Josh Miner PLATTSBURGH — With the biggest tax reform legislation in decades being passed last December, local tax professionals say clients are puzzling over how it might impact them.

"Confusion is rampant," said Rick Martindale, certified public accountant and owner of Martindale Keysor & Co in Plattsburgh. "The thing to take away from this is everyone's situation is different. The laws were really more tweaked than reformed. If the goal was tax simplification, it failed.

"While those with more expensive homes may end up seeing an increase in their overall taxes, they say, the majority of those in the North Country aren't likely to see their taxes go up.”

AMERICAN DREAM The federal Tax Cut and Jobs Act caps state and local tax deductions at $10,000 for both individuals and married couples. These deductions, previously known as SALT, included state and local property tax as well as state and local income and sales tax.

The standard deduction, however, has been roughly doubled to $12,000 for individuals and $24,000 for married couples. In many instances, this will eliminate the need to itemize tax returns. This is due to the standard deduction exceeding the total benefit of itemizing for many people. While this could mean less in overall taxes, the lost

tax incentive for owning a home may have a mental effect on some buyers.

"The SALT deduction has been allowed for federal income taxes since the very first income tax laws were enacted over 100 years ago," Martindale said.

"Deducting all the real estate taxes on your home therefore has always been a perceived benefit to home ownership and the great American dream."

and owner of Castine Properties in Plattsburgh, believes the new law won't have much of an impact on the local real estate market itself.

"We're not forecasting any negative impact on market values," he said. "Inventory right now is really low, which is always a positive for people looking to sell their houses. It's a great time to buy right now, and it's a good time to sell."

NOT SIGNIFICANT Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an emergency executive order in December allowing New York state homeowners to pay their 2018 property tax before the new legislation would take effect in January, giving them the opportunity to avoid the $10,000 cap on SALT deductions.

Under the previous tax code, someone with $100,000 in property taxes could deduct the entire amount from their federal taxes. That same individual, with the $10,000 cap, would end up paying $90,000 under the new law.

"This tax season we are dealing with the old laws," Martindale said. "Of the tax projections I have run for clients using the 2018 tax law on 2017 tax data, the average case has not been a significant difference. Generally, there have been some savings. But (for) those with rather large SALT deductions, this generally isn't the case."

Andrew Castine, president-elect of the Clinton County Board of Realtors

HIGHER FOR SOME While most people in the North Country will not see higher taxes as a result of the legislation, it will have an impact on those people with homes assessed over $140,000, said broker Neil Fesette, owner of Fesette Realty in Plattsburgh. At that point, property taxes begin to exceed $10,000. He expects that homeowners with lakefront property, for instance, may be hit harder as a result of the new law.

"There will be a more pronounced impact on (those) that have very expensive homes, in areas where they pay more than $10,000 a year in taxes," he said.

Those with homes valued less than $140,000 should not be affected by the cap, Fesette said. They may even see their taxes reduced due to the increased standard deduction.

"For your average person, I don't think there's going to be much of an impact," he said.

MIGHT THINK TWICE Brokers aren’t certain there will be a long-term negative impact on the housing market here. In the short term, however, there is a possibility that some buyers may think twice before they buy expensive homes, they said. This would include newer subdivisions where large homes were recently built as well as homes on Lake Champlain.

"Losing the ability to deduct possibly 100 percent of the taxes on your home, I believe, will have a negative impact on home prices (at least in the short term) because part of the incentive of ownership will be gone for some," Martindale said.

"And while it is true that some people will actually save taxes with the larger standard deduction," he said, others will pay more. "(It) seems reasonable that a person will want to correct for this loss by paying less."

Fesette also said this may make possible home buyers wary.

"They might think twice because of the negative tax liability," he said.

Until the legislation takes full effect, however, there remains some uncertainty.

"As of right now, it's too early to tell," Fesette said. "My gut feeling is there isn't going to be a big impact."

This is due in part by the value of homes being relatively low in this area, he said, and the fact that there has not been much inflation across the board.

Hotel Saranac now open for business More work planned to be done to historical landmark over the course of this year. By P-R Staff SARANAC LAKE — After a $35 million investment, Hotel Saranac re-opened officially last month.

Originally designed by Adirondack architects Scopes and Feustmann, Hotel Saranac opened in 1927 as a beacon of elegance in Saranac Lake, according to a news release.

The property was purchased in 2013 by New Hampshire-based Roedel Companies, a owner-operator with deep family ties to Saranac Lake.

Wait staff get ready to serve at a fundraising gala hosted by Historic Saranac Lake at the opening of the refurbished Hotel Saranac.

Photo by Jack LaDuke

The restoration was planned to bring a modern spin to everything that made Hotel Saranac a 20thcentury icon.

Roedel engaged Boston-based Korn Design to guide the overall vision and create a brand strategy for the re-launch of the hotel.

New York state awarded a $5 million redevelopment grant to help with renovations of the Hotel Saranac.

“This investment has revitalized a community treasure in the heart of the North Country, created new jobs for residents, and will help the region meet the lodging demands of travelers from near and far as they visit the region’s world-class, year-round attractions,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said of the hotel in a press release.

STILL TO COMPLETE The hotel features 82 guest rooms in its main building and 20 more suites in Compass Point, an adjacent complex that will open later this year.

"Each Compass Point suite has been uniquely designed to match the architectural detailing of the building," the news release said. "These larger, more private sanctuaries are perfect for families, social groups and events."

Ernst & Young, a global professional services firm, will conduct a North Country Lodging Development Feasibility Study.

Data gathered in the study will be used to inform lodging development that will be supported by the $13 million fund outlined in the governor’s FY 2019 executive budget.

interior design with the goal of giving the guestrooms a modern touch while still maintaining the feel of the “Great Gatsby” era of sophistication and elegance.

Each guestroom features original, retro-inspired travel posters specially commissioned for the hotel, incorporating native symbols from the region.

The hotel’s famed Great Hall, one of the most original public areas of the hotel, dominates the second floor with its Palazzo-inspired design.

Influenced by the 14th Century Davanzati Palace in Florence, ornately painted grand beams spotlight icons from the region, including geese, hare and fish.

The Great Hall features a fireplace setting and the Great Hall bar, offering cocktails with nods to the Adirondack as well as speakeasies from the 1920s.

The adjacent terrace offers a veranda overlooking Main Street.

Its Ampersand Salon and Spa is named for the nearby mountain. Hotel Saranac’s Campfire Adirondack Grill & Bar boasts an “Adirondack-to-table” menu based on the North County’s natural bounty — game, fish, produce and even maple syrup, along with local craft beers.

Academy & Main, the hotel’s retail arcade, includes 20 mini-boutiques.

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PROGRESS2018

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Tiny houses slowly, quietly making it to the North Country Municipalities considering special subdivisions; developers manufacturing tiny homes. By Teah Dowling PLATTSBURGH — The Tiny House Movement is quietly and slowly making its way into the North Country.

The concept started nationally more than a decade ago but really took off after being featured on HGTV a few years ago, according to AARP Livable Communities.

The movement stems from "the state of the U.S. economy, the still-struggling housing market and a growing conversation ethic to reduce and reuse."

According to AARP, tiny homes measure, on average, from 100 to 400 square feet but can be as small as 80 square feet or as large as 700 square feet.

Benefits of having a tiny home, according to restoringsimple.com, include less space to heat and cool; reduced electricity and fuel use; and easy mobility if desired.

The American Tiny House Association said in 2015 that 20 percent of U.S. citizens reported they are living in a tiny house.

Among the 80 percent who weren't were people who said that was due to either not having enough money to afford one or municipality zoning laws restricting them from building tiny.

NEW OPTION Discussions have been taking place in several municipalities across the tri-county area, including the Village of Champlain, about developing tiny-home subdivisions.

The idea is an offshoot of the village's Main Street Revitalization plan to attract more businesses, residents and tourists to the area.

The target market would be retirees, smaller families, lower-income families and seasonal individuals who reside in the area for the warmer months and leave during the colder months.

"We don’t have many open houses for sale, … and most of the housing that is on the market is old and expensive," said Village of Champlain Trustee Janet McFetridge.

"This would give people another option."

Village officials have already targeted a few potential lots for development, but no discussions have taken place with developers.

Both McFetridge and Village of Champlain Mayor Greg Martin said they believe the demand is there.

GROWING INTEREST Ron Marx, president of Cedar Knoll Log Homes on Military Turnpike in Plattsburgh, agrees.

"We've been making them for years, and it's just been a natural progression," he said.

"We used to build them only when people asked.

Now, we're manufacturing them because we've been approached by more than one person."

Cedar Knoll Log Homes builds each tiny cabin almost the same: 16 by 24, over 300 square feet, with cedar walls, rails and a front porch at a price of $19,465.

The average price of a tiny home is $23,000, according to restoringsimple.com.

Customers of Cedar Knoll can choose their desired layout, which can include a bedroom, living room, kitchen and closet. Lofts can be added for an additional $4,000.

Specialty features, such as combined appliances and smaller cabinets, can be added for space efficiency.

"There's an infinite amount of possibilities," Marx said.

Neither Clinton County Legislature Chairman Harry McManus (Area 1) nor Essex County Real Property Tax Services Director Charli Lewis has seen a trend toward tiny homes in their counties.

Pictured is the interior and exterior of a tiny log cabin from Cedar Knoll Log Homes. Cedar Knoll Log Homes is located at 1486 Military Turnpike in Plattsburgh. It's open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday by appointment only. For more information, call 518-5633810 ext. 202, fax 518-563-3917, email ron@ cedarknollloghomes.com or visit www.cedarknollloghomes.com.

Photos by Teah Dowling

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Agritourism from page 1 along with his father, Earl. Other family members work among the maple trees and make maple candy for the West Chazy-based syrup company.

In addition, Michael and his girlfriend, Laura Trudeau, said they serve about 6,000 people each year on Maple Weekends, statewide events held in March to highlight New York state maple producers. At these events, many producers offer pancake breakfasts to show off their syrup and other maple products.

Although Parker enjoys the sticky, sweet goodness, he also feels the occasional pressure of helping keep a decades-old family legacy afloat.

“It feels great. There’s a heavy burden to carry with that, too,” said the fifth-generation syrup specialist, who started boiling syrup at 6 years old. “We’ve got 130 years of tradition behind us.”

By keeping in touch with major distributors, he said, the maple industry has experienced 10 percent annual growth in the last 10 years, and that trend is expected to continue.

HEALTHIER SUGAR Another boon to the syrup industry is that more people are discovering the positive effects that maple syrup can provide to the human body.

“The sugars that are in maple syrup are a healthier type of sugar,” Trudeau said.

According to livestrong.com, a website dedicated to promoting cancer awareness and healthy lifestyles, maple syrup is high in manganese and zinc, and it has 15 times more calcium than honey.

“We’re busy,” Parker said with a smile.

LEADING THE WAY Kennedy noted an uptick in the natural-food-andbeverage industry as wineries and breweries have begun to pop up throughout Clinton County. These businesses can attract millennials to the area.

“It’s been really exciting to watch what’s been happening here with the agritourism movement,” Kennedy said. “We’re right here at the forefront.”

The Plattsburgh-based North Country Food Co-op is helping that industry through its attention on locally sourced, organic products. General Manager Ryan Demers said that the last 10 years have seen a large increase in people looking for natural and organic foods.

“We try to keep it as local as possible,” he said.

The co-op generally accepts food from no more than 100 miles away. Some parts of Quebec fit within the criteria, as do areas of Vermont, so although they are separated by geographic borders, the items the store carries from outside New York state are still “local.”

Demers said that although the co-op carries soaps and teas from Quebec and Vermont, the store offers many products from Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties, as well.

EMPHASIS ON NATURAL The bigger picture, he said, is that people have become increasingly conscious of what they’re putting in their bodies.

“I’m a big supporter of that,” he said.

Demers added that people are paying more attention to labeling, some are looking for options without added sugars, and others are seeking fair-trade choices.

Part of what comes into the equation, and one of the co-op’s main tenets, he said, is environmentalism.

“We believe that what’s good for the planet overall is good for the consumer, and it’s good for the community,” Demers said. “We try to make sure that, when we source a product, we try to buy it in the U.S. because that’s what we’re all about.”

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20-29 Years of Service Eric P. O’Neill John M. Scott Myron J. Frenyea Steven E. Burdo Randolph Holloway Lonnie L. Turner Ricky A. Jubert Brian M. Moore Christopher C. Tourville Edwin A. Padilla Ronald C. Bruno, Jr. Brenda L. Doty Thomas O. LaFountain Peter J. Rocque Dale A. Thompson David W. Ashline Brian J. Graves Mark W. DuBrey Laurie A. Vassar-Rock William H. Baker Scott J. Fournia Robert C. Simpson Maria C. Pondoc Neil R. Burdo Christopher M. Fenlaw Brad C. Boswell Robert G. Lambert Brandon A. Drapeau Roy D. Smith Patrick G. Holland David R. Defayette Stefan D. Goralczyk Corinne J. Pulsifer

for the region. It’s creating new jobs; it’s creating new experiences; it’s creating longer stays because there’s more things to do,” she said.

Clement and Kennedy, both North Country natives, love being able to give back to their communities.

“I consider it all a really big backyard and a playground that I’m lucky to be able to live in,” said Clement. “I always was enamored about everything we have here,” Kennedy added, saying she is thrilled “to be able to shout from the rooftop how amazing this whole community, county, region is.”

REINVESTING LOCALLY Lake Placid also offers health-food choices, such as Green Goddess Natural Market.

Green Goddess co-owner Tammy Loewy said the store’s mission is to be a resource for the community.

Walking through the aisles, one will see a mix of products — from lotions, soaps and essential oils to fruits and veggies — all sourced in the Northeast, from as close as Plattsburgh-area resident Miranda Denis selects an item from the bulk-food section in the North Country Lake Placid and as far away as New Jersey or Maine.

“Our local customer base — they’re really excited Food Co-op on Bridge Street in Plattsburgh.

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PROGRESS2018

WEDNESDAY, FEBruArY 28, 2018

5

Gateway to Adirondacks construction set to start Abandoned Frontier Town to be transformed into camping, day-use area. By Lois Clermont NORTH HUDSON — The long-closed Frontier Town theme park will soon become a new frontier for tourism.

New York state plans to invest $13 million for 91 campsites and other amenities on 91 acres off Exit 29 of the Adirondack Northway, using property owned by the Town of North Hudson and Essex County.

Billed as "Gateway to the Adirondacks," the Frontier Town Campground, Equestrian and Day Use Area is being designed by C.T. Male Associates, based in Latham, through a contract with the Office of General Services.

CAMPING AMENITIES The sites will include: • An equestrian camping area modeled after the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Otter Creek facility. It will provide space for 33 equestrian camping sites, including Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant features.

• A recreational vehicle and trailer camping area with space for 13 RV and trailer camping sites.

• RV and trailer campsite pads will have electrical hookups and fireplaces, and water spigots

will be conveniently located.

A tent camping area will include a total of 45 sites, including three group camping sites, two shower buildings, a playground and two pavilions.

A minimum of 30 feet of existing vegetation buffer will be maintained between tent sites, and all of them will be set back at least 30 feet from the top of the bank along the Schroon River so they are not visible to recreational users of the river.

Horses must have proper certifications before they enter the site.

At a meeting last December, Ed Garrigan of C.T. Male Associates said all campsites are designed to be fully accessible, thanks to gravel pave, a material that provides a firm surface for mobility yet allows drainage.

•

DAY USE Visitors don't have to stay overnight to make use of the DEC-operated site.

It will also feature a seasonal day-use area, located along the shoreline of the Schroon River, and allseason trail access.

Parking spaces for 34 vehicles are part of the plan: 18 for vehicles with trailers, six for vehicles only and

two for people with accessibility needs. The westernstyle entrance ticket booth will use solar energy.

A waterless restroom facility is being designed for one area of the project, but the riverside day-use area would have a public restroom with flush toilets and running water, picnic tables and grills spaced along the river and a spot for river access.

TIMELINE Empire State Development is overseeing the project.

Construction is scheduled to begin this month, with the day-use area expected to be open by fall and the whole site by summer 2019.

North Hudson Town Supervisor Ronald Moore has seen the community struggle since Frontier Town closed in 1998.

"Now with this Frontier Town Gateway, we've got an opportunity for renewing our hope for business growth and employment," he has said.

LEARN MORE For details and renderings of the Frontier Town Campground, Equestrian and Day Use Area, visit http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/112046.html.

Clinton County municipalities underway with revitalization efforts Improvements being made in hopes of attracting new business, tourists. By Teah Dowling PLATTSBURGH — Several municipalities are in the process of revitalizing their main streets and downtowns.

They all share the same goal — to attract new residents, businesses and tourists.

SCHUYLER FALLS The Schuyler Falls Town Council, with input from residents, began working on a 20-year comprehensive plan in early 2017 designed to provide up-todate services to existing and potential new residents and businesses.

The plan is expected to be completed by year’s end, said Schuyler Falls Supervisor Rick Potiker, and could include improvements such as updating the water system’s aging infrastructure and adding a new wastewater pipe from Casella to the City of Plattsburgh.

Public hearings on the plan have yet to be scheduled.

In the meantime, the town has already begun a number of improvements, including replacing the streetlights with LED lighting and transforming the empty town-owned lot on River Street into a park.

The town is seeking grant funding for the park, said Potiker, and is coming up with a final plan for it.

Possibilities include picnic spots, a gazebo, a small walking trail, splash pad, interpretive signs for the nature in the area and more, he said.

Village of Champlain Trustee Janet McFetridge and Mayor Greg Martin are gearing up to continue their revitalization plans this summer.

Photo by Teah Dowling

Town of Schuyler Falls Supervisor rick Potiker is taking part in the town’s 20-year comprehensive plan designed to provide up-to-date services to existing and potential new residents and businesses.

Photo by Teah Dowling

TOWN OF PERU This March, Peru town officials hope to go out to bid for Phase 1 of its Main Street Revitalization plan, which includes eliminating the large shoulder on one side of North Main Street and incorporate a planted buffer zone filled with trees and grass.

The $175,000 project is funded through a state grant.

"It has to be completed by the end of this year," Town of Peru Town Supervisor Brandy McDonald. "I have confidence it will get done."

The proposed second phase includes the construction of an 8-foot-wide multi-use path for both pedestrians and bicyclists on the opposite side of Main Street.

Phase 3 includes extending the sidewalk on both ends of the Route 22 bridge and making a connector path to the Little Ausable River Walking Trail. Estimated costs and timelines are yet to be determined.

TOWN OF PLATTSBURGH The Town of Plattsburgh is well underway with its waterfront revitalization plan — a project geared toward improving outdoor recreation in Morrisonville,

Cadyville, Treadwells Mills, Cliff Haven and Cumberland Head.

Town officials are currently working on LaPierre Lane in Morrisonville, which is expected to be completed by June 30.

New additions include a healing and meditation garden; fitness area for seniors; adventure area with a culvert tunnel, border climb, stump steppers and more for the kids; parking lot; trail around the lot; and boardwalk around the lot. Those projects are expected cost $244,000, which is being paid for by the NYS Health Foundation through University of Vermont Health Network, Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital.

"Our main goal is to get everything done at once," said Trevor Cole, senior planner of the Town of Plattsburgh.

After LaPierre Lane will come Cliff Haven's Jetty Park, a parcel of land targeted to become a historical park that connects to the Terry Gordon Bike Path.

The Town of Plattsburgh Parks & Recreation Department is also coming up with a five-to-10-year plan to improve some or all of its 10 parks.

A grand opening of a new dog park at the East Morrisonville Rec Park on Bullis Road is set for May 26.

and River Street Planning & Development to become a community gathering space.

This spring, village officials are planning on adding a new kayak launch and picnic area off Maiden Lane.

Shrubs and and trees will be planted around the perimeter of the gathering space.

Officials are seeking funding to relocate the basketball court, remove the wire fence, buy new bike racks and purchase a splash pad.

So far, buddy benches have been added, along with some trees and shrubs and two new vehicle charging stations.

"We're hoping to get something like a coffee shop or an ice cream shop here," said Champlain Village Trustee Janet McFetridge. "We want to attract more people."

Improvements are also being made to nearby Bill Earl Park on River Street. Horseshoe pits were added. The stage and Music in the Park concert series will be expanded.

CITY OF PLATTSBURGH The City of Plattsburgh is seeking proposals to start some of its Downtown Revitalization Initiative projects with $10 million in state funding intended to improve waterfront access, upgrade the Durkee Street site and make changes to the city’s marketing branding and signage strategy.

Officials are in the process of releasing a request for proposals to partner with a marketing firm and an engineering design consultant, a press release from the city said, and also seeking new parking options for city residents and business owners with the upgrade of the Durkee Street lot.

They are sorting through applications from downtown property owners hoping to win funding to repair, rehabilitate and renovate their buildings through the Downtown Grant Program.

“The city is working diligently with our partners to achieve the goals for all priority projects,” the release said.

Brad Bailey Publisher

VILLAGE OF CHAMPLAIN Village of Champlain officials are expanding use of property handed over to the municipality after the Federal Emergency Management Agency buyout of homes due to repeated flooding — according to that deal, no buildings can be added, but so far, the village has developed its playground there.

Located on Main Street/Route 9 between Maiden Lane and the northernmost stretch of Church Street, it and the land around it has been targeted by the village

PROGRESS2018 Lois Clermont Editor Suzanne Moore News Editor Teah Dowling Special Publications Coordinator CONTRIBUTORS Josh Miner Tim Lyman Jacob Elsbree Dan Heath Bob Bennett Robin Caudell Cara Chapman Kayla Breen Gabe Dickens Jack LaDuke PROGRESS2018 is published as a supplement to the

PRESS-REPUBLICAN

Contact Information email: specialpubs@pressrepublican.com or tdowling@pressrepublican.com

PROGRESS2018

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WEDNESDAY, FEBruArY 28, 2018

TOURISM

Trail system boom continues in Clinton County Municipalities hoping tourists walk on in. By Teah Dowling PLATTSBURGH — Trails are expanding in Clinton County.

Not only are they expected to increase foot traffic and physical activity, but boost tourism and revenue.

Several municipalities in Clinton County are taking advantage of the outdoor recreation trend by building new trails and improving existing ones.

BRIDGES KEY Construction of two bridges will be the key to completing the second phase of the Saranac River Trail, a 1.5-milelong paved path that at this point runs from George Angell Drive to Pine Street in the City of Plattsburgh.

"Construction is still on track for this summer," said Jesse Feiler, president of Friends of Saranac River Trail. If everything goes as planned, "this will be a major event for this year."

Phase 2 will split the trail in two different directions: The first will go across the newly replaced bridge, along the waterfront around the NYSEG site and to the newly constructed Durkee Street Bridge, which will connect to downtown. The second will continue on Pine Street behind the Plattsburgh Police Department to Stafford Middle School.

This 1.5-mile expansion is expected to cost over $3 million and is covered by city, state and federal funding.

TOURISM SPENDING The trail also serves as the starting point for the Saranac River Trail Greenway — a proposed 27-mile pathway that will link Plattsburgh to Saranac.

In March 2017, Clinton County and M.J. Engineering and Land Surveying revealed the first phase, called "Blue Trails" — a 2.5-mile stretch that will go from George Angell Drive, behind the Plattsburgh High School football field along the Saranac River and connect to Adirondack Lane. The proposed route would continue past a dam and on to the Plattsburgh State Field House around the outdoor sporting fields, before proceeding into Rugar Woods, where it will loop around the Saranac River and end at Reeves Lane.

The exact route and cost will be dependent on what easements are obtained from affected properties, said Clinton County Planning Technician James Bosley. Early price estimates are slated to be between $1.5 and $2 million.

Bosley said officials are in the process of collecting those easements before applying for funding through the State Department of Transportation.

According to the feasibility study completed in 2016, the trail could possibly generate $1.4 million in tourism spending per year.

Over 43,000 people live within a

A new pedestrian-only bridge has been designed to replace the now-closed Saranac Bridge that spans the river from Pine Street behind the Plattsburgh City Police Station to Caroline Street. The crossing makes up part of the Saranac river Trail, a project that officials noted the city has worked extensively to support.

Photo by Kayla Breen

The Northern Tire Multi-use Path was completed in November 2017. It stretches about 5 miles across the villages of Champlain and rouses Point and the town of Champlain. Pictured above is the newly constructed bridge.

Photo by Janet McFetridge

15-minute bike ride of the trail. From the analysis, it's anticipated that its completion could result in more than 1 million more bike trips per year and over 200,000 walking trips.

NEWLY BUILT The Northern Tier Multi-Use Path was completed in November 2017.

The $1.6 million on- and off-road 5-mile-long trek connects the villages of Rouses Point and Champlain on a route through the Town of Champlain together.

"I've seen a lot of people on it," said Clinton County Chair Harry McManus (Area 1).

County, town and village lawmakers are optimistic that the trail will help increase foot traffic in the community and boost revenue.

Village of Champlain officials, for example, believe the trail to be a necessity in their efforts to revitalize Main Street and attract new businesses.

"The trail is a huge plus for us," said Champlain Village Mayor Greg Martin.

"It's really going to help us promote the village in the future."

Not only does the trail connect three municipalities, but existing trail systems as well, including the Rouses Point Fitness Path located at the Rouses Point Civic Center on Lake Street.

Last July, Village of Rouses Point officials completed the .2-mile connector path, making the trail a half-mile loop.

That stretch now contains five new pieces of outdoor exercise equipment in an effort to get more people outside and improve physical fitness.

GROWING STILL The Town of Plattsburgh Parks & Recreation Department are discovering more ways to promote the existing trail system in Cadyville Rec Park.

The park has three trails — Blue (½ mile), Yellow (1 mile) and Orange (2 miles) — all of which recently received new markers and maps last year.

Also, last August, town officials opened the Storybook Trail — a .4-mile-long wooded pathway with 17 kiosks featuring the pages of a children's book — along the blue path.

"Pepper Finds Her Way," by local authors Suzanne and Shelby Moore, was introduced first with close to 100 children and adults attending the ribbon-cutting. Next, in April, is "How the Chipmunk Got its Stripes," by Joseph Bruchac and James Bruchac.

So far, the trail has been a big hit, said Parks & Rec Director Melanie Defayette. "It has drawn in a different demographic — definitely more families with little ones."

According to a report done last year, the number of people using the trails increased from around 600 per month in 2016 to over 1,000 in 2017.

Defayette attributes the increase in foot traffic to the number of events the town hosts each year around the trail system, including mountain bike camps and snowshoeing and cross-country skiing adventures.

"We're always looking to try to create different opportunities for everyone," she said. "We want to get as many people active as possible."

MEDICAL

DA: No 'cookie-cutter' way to combat opiates 2017 marked by new programs and initiatives, but more work remains. By Cara Chapman PLATTSBURGH — Reflecting on the past year, officials in Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties say the fight against the opiate epidemic has stepped up.

The Substance Abuse Prevention and Recovery Coalition of Clinton County (SPARCC), Essex County Heroin and Opioid Coalition (ECHO) and the Franklin County Prevention Task Force “have worked hard to raise awareness and also to implement prevention and recovery initiatives with people of all ages,” said United Way of the Adirondacks Inc. President and CEO John Bernardi.

“We have engaged students and the general public in numerous educational, preventive and informational events at the Strand Theatre, in dozens of schools and many other venues across the region,” John Bernardi said Bernardi, who also P-R Photo chairs the SPARCC Steering Committee.

AREA EVENTS Such events include screenings of "Chasing the Dragon: The Life of an Opiate Addict," usually followed by question-and-answer sessions with law enforcement, treatment professionals and community members.

Essex County District Attorney Kristy Sprague cited a roundtable put on by SPARCC last fall where employers and treatment providers discussed the issues with and possible solutions for employing people struggling with addiction.

In November, Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie's office organized an inspirational talk

by Ryan Leaf, a former professional quarterback who is in recovery from opiate addiction.

And the Franklin County Prevention Coalition, cochaired by Franklin County Sheriff Kevin Mulverhill and State Police Troop B Commander Maj. John Tibbitts Jr., has actively campaigned in schools and communities.

The Franklin County Public Health Department and the Department of Social Services have also sponsored forums and provided training, the sheriff said.

CONVICTIONS Speaking as a prosecutor, Sprague said her office has engaged with task forces and agencies to catch drug transporters and sellers in Essex County.

Over the past year, they have convicted numerous large-scale drug dealers, many who were not native to this area.

That speaks to a trend of transient dealers setting up in and dealing from local users' homes, she added.

Mulverhill said the Franklin County Drug Task Force has shared intelligence and information with other North Country agencies, which has led to the arrest of dealers within and outside of the area.

TREATMENT In 2017, Citizen Advocates Inc. opened its Crisis & Recovery Center in Malone, which offers 24-hour access to recovery-oriented services.

Mulverhill credited Franklin County Community Services Director Suzanne Lavigne with helping to get substance-abuse counselors working with inmates at Franklin County Jail, spearheading a campaign to secure state funding for those counselors to provide follow-up and oversight when the inmates are released and assisting to establish a Vivitrol program at the jail for qualified inmates.

In the summer, counselors from Champlain Valley Family Center for Drug Treatment and Youth Services Inc. started working with Clinton County Jail inmates.

Additionally, the Family Center's recovery-coach program began offering services at the Department

of Social Services and University of Vermont Health Network, Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh, with plans to expand those efforts at the local community supervision, or parole, office.

OBSTACLES Obstacles to combating the epidemic include a lack of resources for law enforcement and treatment providers, the stigma associated with addiction and the steady supply of drugs coming into the country, Sprague said.

Tough sentences for convicted drug dealers serve as a deterrent, she continued, and Drug Court is available for people who may be dealing just to support a drug habit.

“Encouraging the criminal-justice system to provide recovery as part of a sentence allows a proactive approach to reduce recidivism.”

Essex County Public Health Director Linda Beers, who co-chairs ECHO with Sprague, cited access to treatment as the No. 1 issue.

“It seems as though an individual can always find their drug of choice, but finding and engaging with treatment and support is definitely an enormous barrier.”

She also spoke to the epidemic's impact on foster care in the area, which people may not realize.

“Many (children) are placed into foster care. Many are placed with family members who have no extra assistance to now care for and support new family members."

FENTANYL, SYNTHETICS Fentanyl is a big problem in the area, and heroin laced with the deadly drug has caused many overdoses across the country, Sprague said.

Her office is coordinating a project with High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program personnel to join county first responders in an overdose-mapping project.

That “will allow live time documentation of overSee OPIATES, page 10

PROGRESS2018

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7 MANUFACTURING

IAM training programs underway The institute currently working with Bombardier on a welding training program. By Bob Bennett PLATTSBURGH — Since it opened last fall, the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing at Clinton Community College has worked with at least 15 Plattsburgh-based businesses to help develop training programs for their current and future workforces.

“We take them on a tour of the facility, so they can see what equipment we have,” said Clinton Community College President Ray DiPasquale. “And then we follow up to talk about what kind of training they might need.”

The 30,000-square-foot institute, which opened in September, was designed to educate a new generation of students in the latest advanced manufacturing technology and to help train the workforce of Plattsburgh’s transportation cluster.

WELDING TRAINING Bombardier and the institute are in the early stages of defining a weldingtraining program.

“While Bombardier is constantly searching for and developing people to help us deliver quality products and services, the most pressing need at our Plattsburgh site is for skilled welders,” said Maryanne Roberts, a Bombardier spokeswoman.

“Thus, we are working very closely with the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing at Clinton Community Col-

lege to help us meet that need.

“We look forward to our continued collaboration with the institute in developing programs that will provide graduates with opportunities not only at Bombardier but within the region’s transportation equipment cluster.”

WHAT'S POSSIBLE The college has also worked recently with several Clarkson University faculty members to talk about potential research and teaching projects.

The two schools signed an agreement last November to collaborate on additive-manufacturing research that would pave the way for an advancedmanufacturing corridor from Plattsburgh to Potsdam.

“We’re really tying the two institutions together,” DiPasquale said.

“There’s kind of a pathway between here and Clarkson. There are things we can’t do that Clarkson can and things that they can’t we do that we can.

"The idea was to have them here to let them see what’s possible.”

NEW LEADER The Institute for Advanced Manufacturing is currently on the lookout for a new director, as well, after Kristopher Renadette left for a new job Jan. 2.

“He was offered a really good opportunity,” DiPasquale said. “He told me

Development from page 1 away; it will continue to be an issue in the future.”

Zinser Duley said one common thread in the looming expansions is a need for skilled electronics assemblers, a job that offers better pay than the traditional pick-n-pack warehouse jobs.

Those skills can be acquired through places such as the new Institute for Advanced Manufacturing at Clinton Community College.

The Development Corp. team continues to work with the North Country Chamber of Commerce to bring businesses out to the new institute so they can discuss their future workforce needs and show how the institute and its faculty can meet those needs.

That has even included a potential focus on lean manufacturing practices, which, Grasso said, are attractive on a potential employee’s resume.

EARLIER RECRUITING Grasso said the Development Corp.’s Education Committee, which previously focused on high-school and college students, is looking to bring more resources to bear on middle-school students. The aim is to pique interest in math and science skills at an

it was a job of a lifetime, so how do you deny someone that?”

Since Renadette’s departure, the president’s office has been coordinating all institute information and activities, said DiPasquale’s assistant, Tammy Villanueva.

The college will be rewriting and reposting the job opening on its website within the next couple weeks, DiPasquale said.

“We’re looking for someone who’s good with both marketing and training,” he said.

Vice President for Institutional Advancement Steven Frederick gives a tour to local business owners and managers during a business collaboration meeting at the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing at Clinton Community College.

Photos by Kayla Breen

earlier age.

By working with local employers such as Swarovski, Nova Bus and Norsk Titanium, they can show students the opportunities that are available right here in the North Country and start them on the path to acquire skills to land those positions.

The project-based-learning program at Beekmantown Central School has been a great example, Grasso said.

The enthusiasm those students show for learning and developing their skill sets is impressive, he said.

CONFIDENCE Zinser Duley said one of the region’s strengths is the teamwork between government, economic developers, service providers, businesses and educators.

“We see that as a continued trend to benefit the whole area. You don’t see that in a lot of other regions,” she said.

It is highlighted by the North Country Chamber of Commerce Red Carpet Days, which gather all the local interests in one room to meet with prospects.

That provides prospects with the confidence that the local team has successfully brought others to the area and can do so again.

“The ability to create that level of confidence has been vital to our success,” Zinser Duley said.”

Pictured above is a schematic of the 60,000 square-foot building that will be available in fall 2018.

Schematic courtesy of C&S Engineers

NEW AIRPORT SITE Plans for a 60,000 square-foot light-manufacturing building at Plattsburgh International Airport are expected to move forward this year, Grasso said.

The Development Corp. contributed $3 million toward that project and will own the building once it is constructed.

It is a prime example of the possibilities of public/private partnerships, which made it an attrac-

tive part of the state’s funding of airport-improvement projects.

Grasso credited the Clinton County Legislature for putting together a multi-project plan, which also includes a cargo-processing facility and public-transportation hub.

“I think that will the start of a small industrial park at the airport,” he said.

“All of that will become part of our marketing efforts this year. A lot of companies see the value of a location near the airport.”

INDUSTRIAL PARK The Development Corp. also has approval for a new building in Air Industrial Park in Plattsburgh, with some interest from a company that is looking to expand.

The plan is to break ground this summer, Grasso said.

In addition, about 100 acres remains available in Champlain, but there has been less interest in those locations, possibly due to distance from Plattsburgh.

NAFTA IMPACT While they are optimistic about the outlook for 2018, Grasso said, everyone is watching what will result from the ongoing North American Free Trade Act negotiations.

That could be one reason Canadian companies seem to be showing less interest in moving into the North Country, he said.

Even so, the Canadian and U.S. economies look strong, Grasso said, and the region’s focus on the manufacture of transportation equipment appears to have been a good move.

Of particular importance was formation of the North American Center of Excellence for Transportation Equipment. The global nature of that sector is impressive, with worldwide leaders such as Bombardier and Volvo at the forefront.

They have attracted numerous suppliers to the area, which helps create economies of scale in areas such as supply chain and workforce, as well as the potential for collaboration on innovative new technologies.

“We see that as continuing to grow stronger,” Zinser Duley said.

MEDICAL

Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to impact North Country Local residents, health care facilities expected to see changes in the coming years, according to hospital officials. By Josh Miner PLATTSBURGH — The federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will likely impact North Country residents and health care facilities in the coming years, hospital officials say.

Scott St. George, senior vice president and chief financial officer for University of Vermont Health Network, Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, said most provisions of the new legislation won't be felt short-term.

Due to the repeal of the individual mandate, however, hospitals should expect an increase in bad debt due to a higher number of uninsured patients seeking care, he said. CVPH projects uncompensated care debt to increase by up to $4 million a year by 2021.

Assessing a tax penalty for individuals who did not purchase health insurance, St. George said the mandate was a key component of the Affordable Care Act. Proponents of the tax law touted the repeal as financial relief from the burden of purchasing expensive health insurance, especially for healthy people who felt they did not need it.

Hospitals in the region, however, expect the repeal to increase their operating costs.

HIGHER PREMIUMS The Congressional Budget Office projects 13 million people will become uninsured by 2027 as a result of the repeal, leading to an increase of insurance premiums by up to 10 percent.

Scott St. George, senior vice president and chief financial officer for University of Vermont Health Network, Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital,, said most provisions of the new legislation will not have much of an impact on how they operate.

One positive for CVPH employees is a change in payroll taxes. This has led to some employees seeing an increase of take-home pay.

The new law includes an excise tax of 21 percent on employees of nonprofit hospitals who are make over $1 million — at CVPH, only President Stephens Mundy fits that description.

St. George said the increased cost from the excise tax is negligible, however.

"It's such a small number in relation to the company, it wouldn't really have an impact," he said.

TAX LIABILITY Under previous tax law, nonprofit groups were able to use tax-exempt "advance repayment bonds," allowing them to refinance bonds for construction and other activities.

This is good for nonprofit hospitals, because investors are more willing to invest in bonds where the interest is tax-exempt, encouraging them to accept lower interest rates.

According to analysis of the law by Nonprofit Quarterly, if tax-exempt bonds were to be issued at 4 percent and then refinanced at 3 percent, the interest payments on the lower rate would no longer be tax-exempt.

As the interest would now be taxable, it would increase the amount hospitals pay in order to meet the tax liability for investors.

St. George said that due to current interest rates being relatively low, he doesn't see this as being an issue for CVPH. "I don't anticipate we'd have any need to refinance," he said.

See HEALTH , page 9

PROGRESS2018

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WEDNESDAY, FEBruArY 28, 2018

MANUFACTURING

Transporation-equipment cluster set to grow Bus makers, supply companies speak on what to expect for 2018. By Dan Heath PLATTSBURGH — The region's transportation-equipment manufacturing cluster is poised to take 2017's growth trend through this year.

Danielle Johnson was named director of the North American Center of Excellence for Transportation Equipment last summer. She started by looking at a comprehensive list of employers across the seven-county region to see if any had been missed previously.

"I came up with about 50 companies across the region that are involved in some form of transportation equipment or aerospace manufacturing," she said.

FAST GROWTH Johnson also found a 67 percent employee growth rate among transportation-equipment companies alone from 2011 to 2016.

North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas said those figures are more than twice the average growth in employment across the country, and they happened at the same time that employment declined in the state of New York.

"It is by far the fastest-growing such cluster in North America," he said.

SUPPLY COMPANIES It gets better, as those numbers don't include anticipated growth at Norsk Titanium and Bombardier Transportation. Many of those suppliers and subcontractors are also in growth mode, Douglas said.

BC3G, a company that specializes in wiring assemblies and harnesses, moved from Air Industrial Park to new space at the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base, anticipating growth linked to new contracts.

"Those are smaller numbers, but it all adds up," Douglas said. "The cluster's doing well. It's going to be a very strong year."

BUS MAKERS Douglas is pleased to see Volvo Group, the parent of Nova Bus and Prevost in Plattsburgh, positioning itself as a leading manufacturer of electric buses.

The company has already produced some in Plattsburgh and is actively promoting those products across the United States.

While the transition to electric buses is not taking place as fast as it is in Europe and Canada, Douglas said, it will eventually happen.

Unlike the much more centralized transit authorities elsewhere, hundreds of

North American Center of Excellence for Transportation Equipment Director Danielle Johnson said workforce development will be one focus of activity this year as members of the transportation cluster such as B3CG continue to grow.

Photo by Dan Heath

such authorities exist in the United States, and they tend to be more cautious when it comes to adopting new technology.

"Everybody knows it's coming, it's going to happen," he said."It's important that Nova is positioning itself to do that here and be a lead in that effort."

LINK TO CANADA North Country Chamber of Commerce Vice President for Economic Development Susan Matton said the center has benefited from its agreements with the Ground Transportation Equipment Association of Quebec and with AeroMontreal.

They are now in preliminary discussions with the new Quebec Industrial Cluster for Electric and Smart Vehicles.

A lot of research into new battery and motor technology is already taking place, including in the North Country.

"It will be a technology that is implemented, and by more than one company," she said.

"Across the board, we are going to see electric vehicles of all sorts."

Officials from that new group were in Plattsburgh recently for meetings with Nova Bus and B3CG. Douglas said they hope to have a memorandum of understanding with the new cluster signed later this spring.

EXPORTS One recent development has been the export of equipment manufactured in Plattsburgh.

Bombardier and Nova Bus are sending equipment back across the border, something that rarely happened in the early days.

The suppliers are more frequently providing products to more than one manufacturer. They may have opened in the North Country for a specific customer, but are now supplying multiple firms, which increases their viability.

Douglas said that when word came down that Bombardier wasn't going to get the next MTA contract, the team at the center actively worked to encourage Kawasaki to consider using some local suppliers for components.

"We believe they are being actively considered," he said.

WORKFORCE SUMMIT Johnson said the center continues to target workforce development to meet employers growing needs.

Its Workforce Task Force expects to host a human capital summit in June, she said, with a focus on multi-generational workforce.

Matton said the aim is to help workers from different generations work together. The older generation can share their knowledge and help the next generation succeed in their new careers.

The event is expected to include a panel from Clarkson University, SUNY Plattsburgh and Clinton Community College. It only helps when they can point to the growth of employment in the cluster as they work to attract and

retain new employees.

The center also plans to host a meeting for local human-resource leaders in May with representatives from the career centers at those three schools.

Human-resources personnel will show the services they can provide to help a company land local graduates.

Douglas said they are also working with officials in Jefferson County to develop connections with soldiers leaving service at Fort Drum. That is a largely untapped source of qualified employees who might not realize what's available a short drive away.

That is the sort of collaborative effort that is one of the major successes of the Regional Economic Development Council program, Douglas said — to have officials from across the seven-county region working hand in hand toward success good source of employees.

"Those partnerships didn't exist before the REDC system," he said.

LOOKING AHEAD The 2018 outlook remains bright.

The business community is very confident, Douglas said, and economicdevelopment teams have focused on the right sectors and put the support systems in place.

"We are still drawing foreign direct investment in a way that has much of North America scratching its head as to why it is happening in Plattsburgh," he said.

Georgia-Pacific: 55 years of service

Manager reflects on local history of manufacturing company. By Jacob Elsbree PLATTSBURGH — Going into work every day, Mike Penfield has three things on his mind: bath tissue, safety and his community.

He’s manager at Georgia-Pacific mill, located on Margaret Street, Plattsburgh. The mill, established in 1963, was the first to manufacture tissue for the company.

As an evolving business, Georgia-Pacific now employs 100 men and women who work to expanding the success of the company’s product.

Georgia-Pacific also connects with local educational institutions to provide experiences and training for its future workforce.

meaning the expectation is for no significant safety incidents.

Penfield passionately concerns himself with the safety of his employees both at the mill and at home.

PREPARING WORKERS Penfield recognizes the importance in the manufacturing industry of a trained workforce.

An active member of the Plattsburgh community, he serves on the scholarship board at SUNY Plattsburgh.

Georgia-Pacific has donated equipment, including a bridge crane and robot, to the Institute for Advanced

Manufacturing at Clinton Community College.

“That’s allowing students to learn how to operate those types of equipment and hopefully become future employees here at Georgia-Pacific,” he said.

By working with the college, Penfield and GeorgiaPacific hope to help students develop credentials, earn certificates or work toward a degree in industrial technology.

Georgia-Pacific works with Clinton Community College and SUNY Plattsburgh to try to create the “employee of the future” — someone who can adapt to the automation in the industry.

PREMIUM PRODUCT Over its 55 years, Georgia-Pacific has manufactured products for Angel Soft, Brawny and Quilted Northern Soft and Strong.

“The only product we make here is the flagship brand for our company,” Penfield said, speaking about Quilted Northern Ultra Plush.

“This allows us to compete in the more premium segment of the market, where there is a much higher profitability.”

Bringing all of the fiber into the mill by trailer or railcar presents the initial challenge for the mill.

Upon arrival, each 500-pound bale of blended eucalyptus, softwood and hardwood fiber is reprocessed into a pulp and then turned into the tissue products.

“Tree, to pulp, to paper,” as Penfield puts it.

FOCUS ON SAFETY As manager of one of just five Georgia-Pacific paper mills in the country that produce Quilted Northern Ultra Plush, Penfield is committed to the company, coworkers and community.

Since 1980, he has moved around the country to various Georgia-Pacific locations, recently spending eight years in Atlanta before returning to Plattsburgh in 2013 to take on the roll of mill manager.

Now, almost five years later, he is focused on expanding the product, as well as keeping his mill safe.

The words “Beyond zero” are posted across the mill,

Mike Penfield, manager of Georgia-Pacific

Photo by Kayla Breen

PROGRESS2018

WEDNESDAY, FEBruArY 28, 2018

9 MEDICAL

Health from page 7 SHIFTING COST In another provision of the law, standard deduction for both individuals and married couples was roughly doubled to $12,000 and $24,000, respectively.

Because of this, St. George said, people who previously gave tax-exempt donations and itemized their returns may choose to use the standard deduction instead. This could lead to a decrease in charitable giving to the hospital, as the benefit of using the standard deduction would outweigh that of donating and itemizing.

The repeal of the individual mandate has medical facilities expecting the possibility of increased costs, due to more uninsured people seeking medical care.

When an uninsured patient receives treatment, oftentimes they are unable to pay. To cover these expenses, hospitals often increase the cost of care, shifting the cost to other patients. The impact will be even more noticeable going into 2019 when the tax law takes full effect.

"The big issue with uninsured patients is you wait until you're really sick," St. George said. "By that time, it's a big deal."

and philanthropy might be affected," he said.

The Affordable Care Act brought the total number of uninsured to record lows, but the fear now is that the repeal of the individual mandate will bring that number back to pre-Obamacare levels.

"Given the way the last year has played out in terms of health-care policy, we tend to closely guard our expectations," Scollin said.

MEDICAID REMAINS

John Redden, commissioner of Clinton County Social Services, said the new law shouldn't affect lowerincome people in the area as much, since programs like Medicaid are still in place.

"New York state has always taken a leading role in developing and investing in a robust health insurance system," he said.

While other states may eventually make cuts that affect lower-income individuals' health care, he doesn't expect that to happen here.

EXPECTS MORE BAD DEBT CVPH factors in the cost of uncompensated care when determining its operating costs, meaning the hospital expects a certain number of uninsured will seek care every year. For those within 200 percent of the poverty line, programs are available through CVPH that cover 100 percent of a patient’s medical costs.

These are individuals who may not be able to afford insurance, but make too much to qualify for Medicaid.

"We would continue to do that," he said of covering these health care costs. "Our goal is to make sure to care for folks in the community."

St. George said he expects it will take a couple of years for the full impact of the law to be felt. He projects an increase of $3 million to $4 million a year in bad debt by 2021, two years after the repeal goes into effect.

"You have to find other ways to be efficient," he said. "We know that's coming."

GUARDED EXPECTATIONS With the corporate tax rate being reduced from 35 to 21 percent, for-profit hospitals will see a decrease in federal taxes. Matt Scollin, director of communications for Adirondack Health, said the new legislation may have a negative impact on them as a nonprofit.

"Our finance team continues to analyze and model potential impacts the new tax legislation may have on Adirondack Health. Like other nonprofits, we are paying particularly close attention to how borrowing

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MEDICAL

Opiates from page 6 doses and record whether there was a death or not and if Narcan was used and how many times.”

This will generate more accurate data and a quicker response to a deadly batch of drugs in a particular area.

Synthetic drugs present an ever-evolving issue, since they can be altered to become undetectable, are expensive to analyze and are not listed as controlled substances, making prosecution of those cases difficult, Sprague added.

PERCEPTIONS Beers called the community's perception of people suffering from addiction and those in recovery a "mixed bag," and said a large percentage of the population do not think addiction is a chronic disease.

She argued that phrases like “person using drugs” are more helpful than the terms “addict” or “junkie.”

“The derogatory labels do not promote recovery or healing, and that is the direction we need to go.”

Mulverhill thinks the community’s feelings toward addiction have changed.

“People are seeing friends and neighbors that have fallen into the trap or, even worse, have died as a result of their addiction.

“On top of that, we have tried to educate the public about addiction and tried to reduce the stigma that goes with it.”

FACILITY, FUNDING Looking ahead, Ronald "Buster" Garrow, a Family Center counselor who will run the muchanticipated stabilization and rehabilitation unit planned for Schuyler Falls, has said that facility could realistically start receiving patients at the end of the summer.

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Assemblyman D. Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay) recently secured $20,000 in state funding for SPARCC’s development.

Part of that will be used to produce a video that will showcase locals in recovery, Bernardi said, and to support regional events in May and October.

“We are also considering the possibility of hiring a part-time coordinator to assist with coalition development.”

The Franklin County Prevention Coalition is conducting a countywide survey to create baseline information on the issue and help develop further plans of action, Mulverhill said.

REGIONAL COALITION The hope over the next year is to assemble a regional coalition joining prevention, education, treatment and recovery efforts in Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties, Beers said.

This larger group will work to formalize a regional workforce development and training curricula, broaden recovery support, reduce stigma, enhance business community buy-in, prioritize veterans' health and support health-care professionals.

“There has been a wonderful spirit of cooperation and commitment from partners across the region, which has led to a synergy that allows us to be quite active and quite effective toward engaging people to get involved with potential solutions," Bernardi said.

There is no cookie-cutter way to combat the opiate epidemic, Sprague said.

“We need to be innovative, and we need to explore new ways of thinking to combat this problem."

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The grant was matched by CVPH. PRIMARY CARE The main goal of Plattsburgh Family Health is to reach out to residents who have found it especially hard to find primary care.

It’s important everyone has access to stable health care, regardless of income, Hudson Heawaters CEO Dr. Tucker Slingerland said.

“We see all patients, and we view that as a real resource to any and all communities we’re in,” he said. Our most immediate charge is to expand primary-care access, especially for folks who lack insurance or are uninsured.”

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS Plattsburgh Family Health will offer two helpful resources: care managers and behavioral health specialists.

The care managers will coordinate extra services for patients, such as housing, transportation and getting prescriptions. The behavioral health providers will see to patients’ mental-health needs.

“Part of what managers do is build relationships,” Slingerland said. “(Helping overcome) any barriers that may be influencing their health care.”

This includes linking people to services that already exist in Plattsburgh and assisting patients with problem solving relating to their health-care needs.

PARTNERSHIP Plattsburgh Family Health is the culmination of a partnership between Hudson Headwaters, CVPH and the University of Vermont Health Network.

“We’ve been working closely for eight years,” Slingerland said of CVPH. “I think this building, in a lot of ways, is a product of a close working relationship with CVPH. It means a lot to us.”

Michelle Powers, director of marketing and communications for CVPH, agreed that collaborations like these are vital for the community.

“In an environment as complex as health care, seeking partnerships like the one we have with Hudson Headwaters makes good sense,” she said. “Each organization brings resources and expertise to the table and ultimately people in our community benefit.”

OPENING DOORS One of the most important benefits of Plattsburgh Family Health is its location. Since it’s directly on the Clinton County bus route, the new facility will be accessible to low-income people who may not have been able to easily reach a primary-care provider before.

The Affordable Care Act has resulted in fewer uninsured individuals. Still, there are many patients and families who don’t have insurance or whose insurance is very limited, Slingerland said.

With the repeal of the individual mandate, that number is projected to increase.

Their goal is to give every single patient the best possible care, regardless of their insurance situation.

“We really treat all patients the same independent of having insurance. That’s our absolute intention going into the future,” Slingerland said.

“For people who have been unable to see a primarycare provider, we’ll have lots of support for them.

“It will open up a lot of doors for quite a few patients.”

In addition to Plattsburgh Family Health, CVPH and Hudson Headwaters recently collaborated to build Champlain Family Health Center. CVPH will be opening a diagnostic center there in the coming weeks.

‘LEGACY OF HEALING’ Adirondack Health, based in Saranac Lake, is planning construction of two new buildings.

For Saranac Lake, a surgical-services wing with upgraded operating suites, medical imaging and ambulatory care is in development, said Matt Scollin, Adirondack Health director of communications.

This site will include a new MRI machine that is 75 percent quieter, as well as more open, than the one currently in use.

Adirondack Health will also be constructing a health and medical fitness center in Lake Placid, across the street from the Olympic Training Center.

The facility will have indoor lap and therapy pools to help patients recover more quickly from surgery and illness.

“Adirondack Health is proud to provide personalized, high-level care to residents and visitors in the communities we serve,” Scollin said.

“We are quite literally building on our legacy of healing, to meet our patients’ future needs while continuing to exceed their expectations.”

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Match made by algorithm The Family Medicine residency Program is expanding at CVPH. By Robin Caudell PLATTSBURGH — Strides made by the University of Vermont Health Network, Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital Family Residency Program are exceeding expectations.

“I had pretty high expectations to begin with,” said Dr. Kent Hall, CVPH chief medical officer.

“As far as I am concerned, the credit goes entirely to the faculty who have been the spearhead for the program. So that includes John King, who had been over at UVM and had been the residency director there and really helped us develop this program and get it off the ground.”

TREMENDOUS TEAM Team members are Dr. Mariana Worczak, who will become program director in July; faculty members Dr. Maegan Cabrera and Dr. Lindsey Wilhelm; and Dr. Steve Heintz, who is medical director for the Family Medical Center at 159 Margaret St., Plattsburgh.

“His role, primarily, is making sure the clinic runs well and is a good place for residents to have a good educational experience,” Hall said.

CVPH Family Medicine residents complete a threeyear program that includes rotations in emergency medicine, OB/GYN, pediatrics, cardiology, surgery, orthopedics, geriatrics and community medicine, in addition to seeing their own patients in the family medicine center.

STARTED SMALL The residency was developed in 2014 to improve access to primary care in the Champlain Valley.

CVPH, the University of Vermont Medical School/ Larner College of Medicine and what was then Fletcher Allen Health Care (now the University of Vermont Medical Center) joined forces to develop the program.

“We started our residency with four slots per year, so a maximum of 12 when we first started,” Hall said.

"We had the realization that where we really wanted to get was to have six residents a year. But because we were a brand new program, we wanted to start small and make sure we had our feet under ourselves.”

APPROVED EXPANSION Last fall, the hospital submitted an application to expand participation in the program.

The OK came in late October, approving an increase in the residency complement from 12 to 18, or from four to six per year.

“The recruitment time frame starts in October and goes until now. We submit our match lists at the end of February.”

MANY APPLICANTS This year, the program received 2,200 applications for six slots and extended 145 invitations to interviewees.

Ultimately, the team conducted 100 interviews.

“We are now in the process of putting together what is called the rank list,” Hall said.

The applicants interview at numerous programs, as many as 15 or so, he said, ranking them according to those they like best.

Both the hospital's and candidates' lists go to the National Residency Matching Program.

"They feed all that data into a computer, and it runs through an algorithm,” Hall said.

“At the end, it spits out, OK, so based on the interviews and the rank list, the residency at CVPH in Plattsburgh has matched with these six residents.”

CHIEF RESIDENTS The first four residents came on board in July 2016 and another four in July 2017.

Dr. Ashley Bernotas, Dr. Aaron Esterson, Dr. Therese Ray and Dr. Stephen Winfield comprise the class of 2019.

Dr. Andrew Kriger, Dr. Johnnie Wren, Dr. Michael Grasic and Dr. Julianne Macaulay make up the class of 2020.

Dr. Kent Hall

Photo by Gabe Dickens

“Each residency has what is called chief residents,” Halls said.“They all have similar expectations in that role, but these are residents that have really shown themselves to have good administrative skills and good acumen from that standpoint.

“Their primary role that they have is to be the spokespeople for the residents to the faculty from an administrative standpoint.

"And they will also provide some peer leadership in the residency as it relates to scheduling, use of time, those kinds of things.”

HOMEGROWN DOCS The program was started because of he need of primary-care doctors in the region.

“When you look at national data, it shows that (of) docs graduating from their residencies, 60 percent of them will set up practice within 50 miles of where they did their residency,” Hall said.

All four of the current second-year residents have indicated they want to remain in the area post-graduation.

“They are actively talking to organizations, practices in this area,” Hall said.

“By this area, I mean the North Country. It could be in Plattsburgh. It could be in Elizabethtown, in Malone, but it is in this region.

"When we started the residency, we were not looking for everyone to stay in Plattsburgh. Because when we look at the data, we look at the data across the entire North Country.”

By 2020, the latest data shows, the region will be in need of 100 primary-care doctors because of an increase in an aging population and retiring physicians.

FESTIVITIES Match Day this year is March 16.

Each doctor is given an envelope with his or her match.

All the doctors open their envelopes at the same time, and the festivities culminate with champagne and strawberries.

“There's a lot of partying going on,” Hall said.

“It's a big deal that I never went through because of the Navy. The Navy has their own match. When everybody else was worrying about it, mine had been done in October.”

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