Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce Award of Merit presented to Eldon B. Conklin Gouverneur Community Center

by Rachel Hunter

The Greater Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce held its 115th Meeting and Banquet honoring the Eldon B. Conklin Gouverneur Community Center on Wednesday, May 7 at the Gouverneur Elks Lodge No. 2035, located at 1419 US-11, Gouverneur. It is estimated that there were about 125 persons in attendance. The event was sponsored by Marble Member Kinney Drugs, Gold Members Bonaparte Pharmacy, The Community Health Center of the North Country, Lawrence Manor, Northern Credit Union, Northland Veterinary Hospital, Silver Members Cives Steel Company, Community Bank, NA, Con Tech Building Systems Inc., Gouverneur Foundation, RSI Roofing Inc., Team Blevins LLC, United Construction + Forestry, and Weekes & Dier Agency.

The Annual Chamber Banquet opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, and Invocation given by Gouverneur Elks Lodge No. 2035 Exalted Ruler Shelley Clancy. The Gouverneur Elks Lodge No. 2035 served a scrumptious roast turkey dinner, complete with all the fixings and cake for dessert. Much appreciation was extended to the kitchen crew for their service.

The Greater Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce slate of officers for 2025-26 were announced as follows: President Brooke Plowman, Vice President Donna Lawrence, Executive Director Donna Besaw, and Members of the Board of Directors: Shari Barnhart, Michelle Blackburn, Dianne Cocco, CJ Fitzgerald, Christian Gillan, Ray Babowicz, Tim Reddick, Melissa Simione, Connie Stowell. Also recognized were Honorary Directors Carol Dier and Curran Wade. The Greater Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce meets on the first Monday of each month, 8 a.m., at the Eldon B. Conklin Gouverneur Community Center, 4673 NY-58, Gouverneur. The public is welcome to attend.

Connie Stowell, a Chamber Director since 1993, served as toastmaster. It was noted the Chamber purchased a new audio system for the banquet and other events throughout the year during her welcoming address. About 125 persons were in attendance including the following local dignitaries: St. Lawrence County Legislator District 5 Harry Smithers (R-Gouverneur), Town of Gouverneur Supervisor Dave Spilman, Jr., Village of Gouverneur Mayor Ron McDougall, Town of Gouverneur Deputy Supervisor Jay Bowhall, Gouverneur Town Clerk Marion Bowhall, Town of Gouverneur Councilman Curran Wade, Village of Gouverneur Trustee Troy Besaw, Former Town of Fowler Supervisor Dave Spilman, Sr., among others. Also recognized was last year’s Award of Merit Recipient Clark Porter.

Annual Reports

The Greater Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce is now in its 117th year. Executive Director Donna Besaw said the following: “Our Chamber is committed to supporting local businesses and community organizations that make Gouverneur a vibrant place to live and work. Currently, we proudly represent 118 businesses and organizations from Gouverneur and the surrounding area. Tonight, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to our seven newest members: Cornerstone Services (New Paltz, NY), Curious Kitchen, DOT Physical and Family Health, F&F Contracting, Riutta Chiropractic, Rustic Rise Sourdough and Supplies, and the Silver Leaf Diner. Let’s celebrate their commitment to our community, and continue supporting all the local businesses. I’d like to thank you all for your continued support of the Chamber and out community. Together, we are creating a stronger, more connected Gouverneur.”

The Greater Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce is also proud to sponsor events and initiatives that bring the community together. These events include the Annual Chamber Banquet (May 7), Farmers Market (June to October), Flag Day Parade (June 14), Pumpkinfest at Gouverneur Fairgrounds (September), Christmas Parade & Village Park Events (December 6). A new event this year will be the Gouverneur Festival of Trees. See more information about local events online at www.gouverneurchamber.net.

It was also noted that the Greater Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce co-sponsors the CTE Student of the Month Award at Southwest Tech (BOCES). Each program selects on high achieving student to receive the Student of the Month Award. The Chamber then offers one scholarship, open to SOTM recipients, with plans to pursue post-secondary training. It is presented annually at the SWT Recognition Ceremony. An award is also given at Moving Up Day to a deserving high school student at the Gouverneur Central School District.

The Greater Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce also features “Business of Month” on the Chamber website (www.gouverneurchamber.net) and on their sign by the Lifesaver monument. The featured businesses selected are as follows: Silver Leaf Diner (DeKalb, NY), Studio 71 (Gouverneur, NY), Fun Unlimited LLC (Fowler, NY), Weekes & Dier Agency (Gouverneur, NY), Cargill (Gouverneur, NY), F&F Contracting (Gouverneur, NY), Bankers Conseco Life Insurance (Syracuse, NY), DOT Physical (Gouverneur, NY), Riutta Chiropractic (Gouverneur), Rustic Rise Sourdough and Supplies (Gouverneur, NY), Cornerstone Services (New Paltz, NY), Bonaparte Pharmacy (Harrisville, NY), and Curious Kitchen (Gouverneur, NY). The Chamber’s “shop local” and “Welcome to Gouverneur” sign initiative was also noted.

Greater Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce President Brooke Plowman penned the following annual address that was read by Vice President Donna Lawrence at the banquet. “I would like to extend a warm welcome to our Chamber members and Award of Merit recipients, both past and present,” Plowman said. “I am disappointed to be missing out on the annual banquet. Time spent celebrating one of our members’ contributions to the community is something I look forward to each year. Although we can only award one Award of Merit winner each year, there are so many businesses contributing to make our community a thriving place to live, work, and ensuring that we have a future to look forward to. So thank you to all. This year, we are recognizing the Eldon B. Conklin Gouverneur Community Center as our Award of Merit Recipient. Congratulations and thank you to all who play a role in the community center’s continued support of our community and our Chamber mission of promoting economic vitality and prosperity in our area. The Community Center has had a profound impact on our community since the day it opened, supporting various organizations, meetings and events. I would like to extend a special thank you and congratulations to the community center director Dave Spilman, Jr. Dave and his team are the driving force, supporting our community. If you haven’t attended one of the Chamber of Commerce meetings, I encourage you to get involved and join us during one of our monthly meetings. Meetings are currently held on the first Monday of each month at 8 a.m. at the Gouverneur Community Center. I hope to see some new faces at our June meeting. The Gouverneur Farmers Market opening day is Thursday, June 5. I encourage everyone to get out and support our local farmers at the market this year. The farmers market is a great way to source local foods and support local growers. Support of the Farmers Market from both growers and customers have been on a decline. Help us regenerate our local farmers market in 2025. The market is held every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. from June through October. The next Chamber of Commerce event is our annual Flag Day Parade to be held on Saturday, June 14. Thank you all for your continued support of our beautiful community.” Thunderous applause sounded in appreciation of the annual reports.

Award of Merit

The Greater Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce presented its 2024 Award of Merit to the Eldon B. Conklin Gouverneur Community Center. It was accepted jointly by Town of Gouverneur Supervisor Dave Spilman, Jr. and Village of Gouverneur Mayor Ron McDougall. Also recognized were the members of the Gouverneur Community Center Board.

Faithful readers of the Gouverneur Tribune Press will recall that the Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce annually presents the Award of Merit to a local business (with active membership in the Chamber) that has been active in the community over a long period of time or has a notable record of accomplishments in civic activities, and for their commitment to the Chamber's mission of "promoting economic vitality and prosperity in the Gouverneur area."

The Eldon B. Conklin Gouverneur Community Center is a cornerstone of community life in Gouverneur. Opened in 2016, the 6,900 sq. ft. facility is the result of a collaborative effort between the Town of Gouverneur and Village of Gouverneur. Today, it is a hub for various activities, events, and gatherings – fostering a sense of connection and belonging among North Country residents.

The idea for a community center had been discussed for about three decades before it finally came to fruition. The $1.6 million project was partly funded through New York State Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program alongside other state funding and financial contributions. The community center was designed by Brooks Washburn Architecture DPC (Potsdam, NY), and it was built on village-owned property on Route 58, adjacent to Riverview Recreational Park. The Town of Gouverneur Highway Department and the Village of Gouverneur Department of Public Works assisted with the project. Fiber optics (100MB) were brought into the facility, thanks to the efforts by Development Authority of the North Country (DANC). The state-of-the-art building was dedicated on September 11, 2016. Its strategic location provides easy access to parking and proximity to recreational facilities, making it a convenient venue for community activities.

The Eldon B. Conklin Gouverneur Community Center features a variety of amenities to accommodate diverse needs. This includes: the Kinney Drugs Foundation Kitchen, the Howard Van Norton Media Room, Halford Brothers Community Room, meeting rooms, restrooms, etc. The community center is designed to be accessible and inclusive, aligning with the principles of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The facility includes features such as accessible entrances and parking spaces to ensure that individuals of all ages and abilities feel welcomed. The Eldon B. Conklin Gouverneur Community Center is versatile, suitable for events ranging from wedding receptions and class reunions to dances, meetings, conferences, private parties, film showings, and so much more.

The Gouverneur Community Center was named in memory of Eldon B. Conklin, a longtime public servant, who began his political career in 1983 and served in various capacities until his death in May 2022. Eldon Conklin was the driving force behind the Gouverneur Community Center, working earnestly other political leaders, to implement the project and secure grant funding for the project. Eldon B. Conklin was the 1991 recipient of the Chamber’s Award of Merit.

A seven-member board oversees the operations of the Gouverneur Community Center, ensuring its sustainability and alignment with community needs. Community Center Board Members include Village of Gouverneur Mayor Ron McDougall, Village Trustee Shelly Simons-Washburn, Gouverneur Code Enforcement Officer Rick Wood, Roxann Finley of Gouverneur, Former Town Supervisor Robert Ritchie, Town of Gouverneur Supervisor Dave Spilman, Jr., and Town of Gouverneur Deputy Supervisor Jay Bowhall. Their collective efforts ensure that the center remains a vibrant and accessible resource for Gouverneur residents.

Eldon B. Conklin Gouverneur Community Center was the recipient of a portion of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that were allocated to Gouverneur. The funds are being used for upgrades and improvements. During the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, the community center was used for vaccination clinics. The center also serves as a warming and cooling center for the local community, providing a safe space for residents to stay comfortable during extreme weather conditions.

As a 501-c-3, the Gouverneur Community Center is eligible to receive tax-deductible donations, which can be used to enhance its facilities and programs. This status opens up opportunities for further development, ensuring that the center continues to meet the evolving needs of the community.

The Eldon B. Conklin Gouverneur Community Center stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and community spirit. It is more than just a building. It is a space where memories are made, relationships are nurtured, and the community thrives. The Eldon B. Conklin Gouverneur Community Center offers something for everyone, embodying the essence of Gouverneur's "One and Only" spirit. A full feature on the Eldon B. Conklin Gouverneur Community Center was included in the April 18, 2025 edition of the Gouverneur Tribune Press.

Much appreciation was extended to the Greater Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce by Village of Gouverneur Mayor Ron McDougall and Town of Gouverneur Supervisor Dave Spilman, Jr. during the award presentation.

Village of Gouverneur Mayor Ron McDougall said: “On behalf of the Community Center, we would like to thank the Chamber of Commerce for this award. There’s no question about that.” Mayor McDougall recalled the history of the Eldon B. Conklin Gouverneur Community Center, and shared details about the project’s history, and its financing through grants, state funding (thanks to efforts by former NYS Senator Patty Ritchie), and generous contributions from the local community. It was noted that Howard Van Norton Media Center was made possible with funds donated by the late Kay Van Norton Poche in memory of her grandfather, a WWII veteran. The Halford Brothers Community Room was made possible with funding thanks to John Halford, and holds large functions and has close proximity to the professional-grade kitchen, thanks to the Kinney Drugs Foundation. Mayor McDougall took note of the community center’s many amenities in service to community residents of all ages, and abilities, including its use as a warming and cooling center. “It has created positive change certainly for this area, Gouverneur, and is A+ in our community’s culture,” Mayor McDougall said. “We are very happy with that. Thanks to the Chamber.” Mayor McDougall also recognized the Community Center Board members in attendance, and the daily contributions of Dave Spilman, Jr., who manages the community center. He also noted that the community center is named in honor of longtime public servant, the late Eldon B. Conklin.

Town of Gouverneur Supervisor Dave Spilman, Jr. then said the following: “As you can tell, the community center is very dear to me.” He extended gratitude to his family for their support, and to the great contributions of those who work at the Eldon B. Conklin Gouverneur Community Center. A special word of appreciation was given to Lisa Wood. “She makes everybody’s event special,” Spilman said. “She makes it easy… whether it is a funeral or a celebration of life, birthday party, baby shower. Some of our greatest events are coming up this weekend, the prom. We’ve been doing the prom down there since 2018. We missed one year because of COVID. But that is a wonderful event. The next great event we have coming up is on June 8, a live band dance with The Common Revolution. All the Arc of Jefferson-St. Lawrence houses from Tupper Lake to Massena will attend… It will be a special event.” Also noted were the staff from the Arc of Jefferson-St. Lawrence. “They do cleaning. They put together meals for us. Here with us tonight is Walter Corey. Walter is a volunteer, and the best dishwasher in the North Country.” Also recognized were the St. Lawrence County Department of Social Services (DSS) Employment Training and the St. Lawrence County Office For The Aging’s Home-Delivered Meals Program staff in attendance.

Supervisor Spilman noted that the St. Lawrence County Office For The Aging’s Home-Delivered Meals Program puts out over 150 meals per day. “This is accomplished through the girls who cook and deliver,” he said. “The Arc houses come and deliver these meals for us to the shut-ins. And then we have a real special delivery person, (Cindy Ferry). I lovingly named her “Big Time” because every day she comes in, and her smile is from here to there. She cares for the people that she delivers to. She knows their problems. And if there is a problem, we take care of it. We’ve had instances where a fellow lost his oven. We came up with a microwave for him so at least he would have a warm meal. There isn’t a week that goes by in the North Country for this (Home-Delivered Meals Program) that we don’t find one senior in trouble. They would lay there all night long, knowing that the next morning that a delivery person would show up at a certain time, and they would be okay. This isn’t just food. This is a welfare check. So these folks take care of the community…

“The (Home-Delivered Meals Program), I know I harp on it, but my mom (1996 Award of Merit Recipient Korleen Spilman) impressed this on me. When we started this advisory group in 2014, we had a lot of different ideas of what we needed there. We sent a flyer out. What did the community center need? What did we want for it? A lot of responses we got was that everybody wanted a pool. Well, it wasn’t going to fit in our budget and the school already had one. And so, once we got going, my mom came to me and said: “You know you’ve got to get that meals on wheels program.” And so I said: “Okay, mom.” We hadn’t built the building yet. We hadn’t gotten anything established. She said: “Just keep at it.” I did that. I called the director, and explained who I was, and what we were doing. She says: “Where are you going to run it out of?” I said, “Well, in a couple of years we’ll have a building and we’ll be able to take care of it.” So they kept listening, and they are here now. We delivered our first home-delivered meal on October 23, 2017. The first week we delivered, we delivered 23 meals. We do 150-200 per day right now. And we supply frozen meals for the weekends for people. When COVID hit, we were providing frozen meals out the wahoo for people who were shut-in and everything else. We always managed to come up with a system to feed folks and check on them. But it was my mom’s little push in there that gave me the tenacity to keep at it, and bring it here.” Thunderous applause sounded as Miki Hopper of the Gouverneur Garden Club said: “Your mom would be proud of you, Dave.”

In response, Supervisor Spilman said the following: “I hope I can keep up the pace and keep them happy.”

Supervisor Spilman then said the following: “There is a Phase Two to this community center that we are working on currently. Actually, we had a design for Phase Two before we took possession of the community center. In Phase Two, we are going to work towards a recreational-style building that will also serve as a disaster relief center. We have none in town. We are currently in a good position to do that. The generator we have at the community center is big enough to run two buildings. We are on village water, sewer and natural gas. We are looking to open in the future. In the next couple of years, we will try to find enough money to build this. This would be able to move Casey’s Rec Program down to this recreational building. And then, if there is an emergency in town, we can get people there, keep them fed, entertained, and keep their hygiene up. That is my next goal.” Thunderous applause sounded as the announcement was made.

“Before I end, I would like to task everyone and anyone to volunteer two hours per week to the Community Center. We are doing 150 home-delivered meals per week. We have need for over 200. We don’t have people to deliver. If you can give us two hours, once per week, and help us deliver a few more meals… that would be great. If you can find the time to do that, we would love it. Or if you could find to come down and help us put the meals together. Anything to volunteer would be fantastic.

Supervisor Spilman then ended with the late Eldon Conklin’s famous speech: “Thank you, and good night.” Laughter and applause filled the room at the conclusion of the address.

Business Woman of The Year

The Gouverneur Business Women’s Club then presented the annual Gouverneur Business Woman of the Year Award to Emily Bush of Emily’s Flower Shop in Gouverneur. The award presentation was made by Natalie Spilman and Greta Schrader. “Our businesswoman of the year has always had an eye for design,” Spilman said. “She has been in the industry for 34+ years. She started with Carol Dier at Lynde’s Florist until she decided to open her own shop in 2006. In addition to running her own business, she has been an integral part of the community and a member of the Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce. Her designs have comforted people during times of grief, helped to celebrate milestones, or just to brighten someone’s day. I have been the recipient of her work, and it is beautiful. She puts her heart and soul into each creation. We are proud to announce that the Gouverneur Business Woman of the Year is Emily Bush of Emily’s Flower Shop.”

“This is an honor,” Emily Bush said, and extended gratitude and appreciation to all her dedicated supporters. Thunderous applause sounded in appreciation of the local business.

Much gratitude and appreciation was extended to all those who attended the Greater Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce’s 115th Meeting and Banquet. The Banquet Committee extended appreciation to the local merchants who provided favors and door prizes and helped in making this year’s banquet a success. All were invited to take home the Greater Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce’s business directory for 2025-26, and historical paper placemats from the 1960s (containing facts and trivia about Gouverneur) that were discovered at Nina’s Hotel in Gouverneur. For more information about the Greater Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce, visit the Chamber website, gouverneurchamber.net. The Chamber Office is now located at Donna Besaw’s Tax Office at 53 Herm Towne Road, Gouverneur. For more info, call 315-287-0331.