COVID-19 Relief: Good Will Spaghetti Dinner benefits community members, local food pantries

by Rachel Hunter

Paul Trombley, Jr. cooking spaghetti in the Kinney Drugs Foundation Kitchen at the Gouverneur Community Center for the the good will dinner on Saturday, May 2. (Rachel Hunter photo)

The Gouverneur Community Center in conjunction with the volunteer kitchen staff from the St. Lawrence County Office for the Aging organized a Good Will Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday, May 2, 3 to 5 p.m., at the Gouverneur Community Center. The endeavor was spearheaded by Paul Trombley, Jr., well-known as the Gouverneur Nutrition Center cook in his role as Food and Nutrition Services Assistant with the St. Lawrence County Office for the Aging.

Wanting a way to give back to the community, Trombley contacted Town of Gouverneur Supervisor Dave Spilman, Jr and worked hand-in-hand with the volunteer kitchen staff from the SLC Office for the Aging, Gouverneur Community Center staff, and other volunteers to put on this dinner. Supervisor Spilman said the SLC Office for the Aging allowed them to use their food service permit to put on the dinner. Donations from the dinner were collected to benefit local food pantries within a 15-mile radius, including the Gouverneur Neighborhood Center food pantry and the Grace Food Pantry in Gouverneur.

At the event’s 3 p.m. start time, Mr. Trombley stated that 40 pounds of spaghetti, 1,300 meatballs, and 300 rolls were ready to serve the hungry community members. The meal also included tossed salad. He said that each pound of spaghetti would serve about four people. Organizers said that there was plenty of food for anyone who wanted to partake of the dinner.

As motorists turned into the parking lot to the Gouverneur Community Center, they were guided by clearly marked instructions on traffic codes, showing them how to use the curbside pickup. They were assisted in this endeavor by enthusiastic volunteers. Motorists turned left at the parking lot/basketball court area, turning again so that their vehicle would run parallel alongside the sidewalk in front of the Gouverneur Community Center. The motorists, even observing social distance with their vehicles, kept the cars separated by a fair distance during the curbside pick-up process. Upon arrival at the designated curbside pick-up site, all motorists were asked by volunteers how many dinners were being requested, and then word was then relayed to a team of volunteers, busy at work to make the event a success.

Volunteers Deb Andrews of Gouverneur and Lisa Wood of Gouverneur fill plastic bags with spaghetti dinners in take-out containers. Also pictured: Village of Gouverneur Police Chief Laurina Greenhill (back center).

Inside the Gouverneur Community Center, volunteers worked to fill out “orders” inside the Kinney Drugs Foundation Kitchen. There also Mr. Trombley was putting the finishing touches on cooking the spaghetti dinner. Volunteers took the prepared food and formed a relay line to fill the take-out containers. Then volunteers took the take-out containers, put them into large warming containers, and brought them out to volunteers positioned curbside in front of the Gouverneur Community Center who were in charge of bagging the take-out meals. The bagged meals then were loaded into the awaiting vehicles.

A total of 1.5 million reusable cotton cloth face masks, manufactured by the Hanes clothing company, given to New York State by the federal government are quickly making their way into local communities – and into the hands of local residents. St. Lawrence County was given 38,000 masks. Town of Gouverneur Supervisor Dave Spilman, Jr. said that the SLC Office of Emergency Services gave Gouverneur enough to allow distribution to community members in need at the spaghetti dinner. He also mentioned that cotton masks in ample supply had been delivered to Pine Grove and Cambray housing communities. Much gratitude lit up the eyes of those who received the reusable cotton masks.

Town of Gouverneur Supervisor Dave Spilman, Jr. accepting donations from volunteers receiving cash donations from community members to benefit local food pantries amid the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. The donations were received (alongside the spaghetti dinner distribution), curbside, in front of the Gouverneur Community Center, located at 4673 State Highway 58, Gouverneur. (Rachel Hunter photo)

Once curbside pick-up was done, many motorists showed signs of gratitude as they made their exit, turning left one more time and leaving straight off the Gouverneur Community Center grounds.

Town of Gouverneur Supervisor Dave Spilman, Jr. on Tuesday reported that about $1,400 had been collected to benefit the local food pantries, with some donations being received by mail. Supervisor Spilman said that all monies received will be split among a number of food pantries yet to be determined. More information will be released once it is made available to the Gouverneur Tribune Press. As the Good Will Spaghetti Dinner was spearheaded through the volunteer effort of Paul Trombley, Jr., Supervisor Spilman said that he would be delivering the donations to each local food pantry.

Supervisor Spilman also added that a total of 280 spaghetti dinners had been served to community members, and that eight meals had been delivered to Gouverneur Hospital.

Words of gratitude were expressed on the Gouverneur Community Center Facebook page for all those who supported the event. “It is great to see a community come together for the greater good,” the post read. “All donations will feed many others in need. Special thanks to all that volunteered or donated. We couldn't do it without you!”

Gouverneur Neighborhood Center food pantry sees uptick in clients since COVID-19 outbreak

by Rachel Hunter

Giving residents in the Gouverneur area a hand-up in life, the Gouverneur Neighborhood Center, at 15 Rock Island St., Gouverneur, stands ready to serve all those in need, including those hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

The Gouverneur Neighborhood Center is one of six sites operated by St. Lawrence County Community Development Program. The centers are each staffed by a director and provide services to low-income families with the assistance of community volunteers; the services may be directly offered at the centers, or families may be referred to other agencies and resources as needed. Centers have food pantries and provide emergency aid if required with food, fuel, utilities or shelter. Thrift stores with donated clothing and household items are available at the Gouverneur Neighborhood Center and the Canton Neighborhood Center.

The mission of Neighborhood Centers is to help people in their communities move toward self-sufficiency. Obtaining available aid is often a difficult task for individuals and families, yet within the communities lie resources and assistance for those who need them. Centers operate with funds from the county, United Way, Northern New York Community Foundation, and generous contributions from individuals, businesses and faith-based groups. Donations of food, personal items and money are most welcome.

Gouverneur Neighborhood Director Angela Ferrick said the local food pantry has seen an increase in clients since the COVID-19 outbreak.

“Anyone that needs food can get food, right now,” she said. “We also have toilet paper and other hygiene options… Even if people just need some help during this time, we definitely encourage people to come if they need food.”

The St. Lawrence County Community Program shared this message on Facebook to try to share the message: “We understand that many members of our community are being hit hard with recent layoffs, hours cutting back, and difficulty reaching the unemployment office. We want those community members to know that they are eligible to utilize the Neighborhood Center Food Pantries. Yes, there are income guidelines-but current circumstances mean a lot more people are eligible. If you are having trouble feeding your family right now, we want to help you. That's what we're here for...”

According to The Emergency Food Assistance Program guidelines (July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020), income eligibility is set at the following household size and annual income (1, $23,106; 2, $31,283; 3, $39,460; 4, $47,637; 5, $55,814; 6, $63,991; Each Additional Person Add $8,177).

Gouverneur Neighborhood Center Director Ferrick also said there is a third Emergency HEAP available to people who need it.

The Gouverneur Neighborhood Center is open on an appointment-only basis. If clients need the food pantry, Director Ferrick said they only need to call the Gouverneur Neighborhood Center at (315) 287-3370. Staff will put the package on the front porch to avoid person-to-person contact. Director Ferrick said this is the way the Gouverneur Neighborhood Center will most likely operate until June. The Gouverneur Neighborhood Center is open Mondays to Fridays, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. They are closed the first Friday of each month. For more information, call (315) 287-3370.

St. Lawrence Health System Implements temporary furlough of at least 400

Citing severe patient volume disruptions caused by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, St. Lawrence Health System plans to temporarily furlough at least 400 workers.

Chief Executive Officer of St. Lawrence Health System David Acker stated,“Our hospitals are facing an unprecedented pandemic; managing crushing costs in treating COVID-19 patients in circumstances that require extensive and expensive protocols and investing in the infrastructure preparedness for the COVID-19 surge, all while seeing the traditional sources of revenue from every day, medically necessary care bottom out.”

Health care facilities are under financial pressure after a steep drop-off in their normal monthly utilization and revenue, meant to free up hospital space and preserve protective equipment for the coronavirus outbreak.

St. Lawrence Health System said the cost-cutting measures are necessary given the revenue decrease from the cessation of elective procedures system-wide, and the temporary closure of Gouverneur Hospital’s operating rooms and many of the health system’s medical office sites. While at the same time, they are investing in efforts to fight the virus like buying personal protective equipment supplies, transforming units to COVID-19 wings for treatment, and setting up drive-thru testing sites.

Although St. Lawrence Health System said it remains fiscally solid, it also stated that the pandemic-related volume decline is too significant to ignore.

"While I am confident we will get through this challenging period together and emerge even stronger, we must take necessary steps to manage the short- and long-term financial impact on our health system," Mr. Acker said.

St. Lawrence Health System is projecting a cash flow drop of $10 million in the next 30 days.

The furloughs, which include position reductions at all levels, including senior leadership, department directors, clinical staff positions, and touch virtually all departments across each of the health system’s three hospitals, began April 17, and affect 20 percent of St. Lawrence Health System’s staff of just over 2,000. In addition to the temporary furloughs, St. Lawrence Health System is cutting pay for its senior executives.

Affected employees will continue to receive health and pharmacy benefits from St. Lawrence Health System. The health system anticipates that a majority of affected employees will also be able to sustain their pay through federal and state unemployment benefits. 

St. Lawrence Health System Hotline and Testing Centers established

St. Lawrence Health System has established four COVID-19 Testing Centers that are available to county residents by appointment.

Testing sites in Canton, Gouverneur, Massena, and Potsdam are for individuals who have been in known contact with a person known to be COVID-positive, are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (including fever, cough, shortness of breath, unexplained severe fatigue, and/or loss of taste or smell), and patients with referrals from the Department of Health.

St. Lawrence Health System has established a Hotline for people to call to make an appointment. The Hotline is (315) 261-6240, and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:00pm. Area residents may also call the St. Lawrence County Department of Health at (315) 229-3448 to inquire about an appointment.

“All of our staff at the test centers have been thoroughly trained in the safe collection of swabs and are following tight protocols to ensure every safety measure is in place. It’s equally important for those arriving at a testing center to follow the identified rules and next steps to ensure everyone’s safety,” Dr. Grimshaw stated. “We are prepared and available to care for our community and we strongly encourage anyone who feels they have symptoms related to COVID-19 to please call the SLHS Hotline or the Department of Health. It’s important that we identify and provide appropriate next steps to those individuals who are COVID positive.”

When an appointment for testing has been established, you will be instructed to abide by the following:

· You must arrive in a personal vehicle. Due to the increased risk of contamination, as well as current shortages of personal protective equipment, walk-ups are not permitted at this time.

· Each person to be tested must be seated next to a working window.

· Limit vehicle passengers to those needing a test.

· Have a photo ID for all persons registered for testing that includes name and date of birth (can be New York driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport).

· Please bring tissues and a washcloth/towel.

You will be required to provide your full name, current address, and the best phone number to reach you with your test results.

What to expect at the Testing Center:

· When you arrive at the testing site, remain in your vehicle.

· Upon arrival, call the number you were provided with when you made the appointment.

· A health care provider in personal protective gear will come to your vehicle and provide you with instructions.

· You will be asked to blow your nose using the tissue you brought with you. You will need to dispose of the tissue on your own.

· A soft swab will be inserted deep into your nose to get the necessary sample. This may be slightly uncomfortable, but the test is quick and should take less than a minute.

·Test results are not immediate; it may take a few days. After the test, you will be given information/instructions to take with you while you await the results.

· You will receive test results via the telephone number you gave at the time of pre-screening.

Directional signage has been installed at the four locations to help individuals navigate to and through each testing center site.

Anyone experiencing a medical emergency should dial 9-1-1 immediately.

St. Lawrence Health System Testing Center information, and links to other COVID-19 initiatives, may be found at https://www.stlawrencehealthsystem.org/covid-19/testing-centers.

Gouverneur Kiwanis Club presents appreciation plaque to Gouverneur Tribune Press

by Rachel Hunter

Gouverneur Kiwanis Club President Charity Zawatski on Tuesday, April 14 presented an appreciation plaque to the Gouverneur Tribune Press staff in front of the Gouverneur Tribune Press office, 74 Trinity Ave., Gouverneur.

The plaque was accompanied by the following letter from the Gouverneur Kiwanis Club: “Dear Editor, In this week’s edition of the Tribune, you will notice there is a picture of the Gouverneur Kiwanis President presenting a plaque of recognition to representatives of the local paper. The plaque reads: In recognition of your continued support of Kiwanis and the greater Gouverneur Community.

“The Tribune Press has been a supporter and promoter of Gouverneur since 1882 according to their logo. We all know what has happened to many national and local printed papers in the last decade or so. We are in the digital, computer era where news and information is as readily as our cell phones. Grandma wouldn’t have had a clue what a cell phone is. Now we send pictures, livestream the grandkids via Skype, and get live updates on the latest weather and calamities from all over the world.

“In spite of this, our local paper is not only holding on, but continuing to serve the community in all kinds of positive ways. They generously and enthusiastically support not only the Kiwanis Club but all the other service clubs and charitable organizations in town. The school system and our children get positive coverage for their accomplishments in academics, sports, and school organizations.

“There is an old song called: Home on the Range probably sung by Gene Autry. In that song there is a line: “Never is heard a discouraging word” etc. This kind of exemplifies the Tribune. They are always positive, promoting, and like the song, never a discouraging word.

“The Gouverneur Kiwanis Club appreciates all they do for our community. In order to see that they continue their mission, we encourage everyone to buy and read the best of the local news. Consider taking out ads if you are a business or organization like ours, send in pictures and articles so that they keep going for years to come.”

Much gratitude was extended to the Gouverneur Kiwanis Club for the recognition.

The Gouverneur Tribune Press – taking on journalistic heritage that spans over 130 years in Gouverneur from multiple publications – still prides itself on being “The One And Only” Hometown Newspaper covering “The One And Only Gouverneur.” This year, on November 25, 2020, the Gouverneur Tribune Press will recognize its 85th year being the sole hometown newspaper in circulation in Gouverneur.

In 1882, The Gouverneur Herald Times had some competition as The Northern Tribune appeared on the scene, published by M. R Sackett. Even though the Herald-Times reached a circulation of 10,000 each week, they sold their business to Mr. Sackett and Mr. Parker of the Free Press. In little time, the North Tribune sold its company to the Free Press. On April 17, 1929 the Free Press was taken over the by the York Press Corporation and merged with the Northern Tribune. On February 11, 1927, B.G. Parker, publisher of the Free Press passed away. That newspaper carried on until October 10, 1927 when Charles McFarlane established the McFarlane Press. Soon after, the Free Press dismantled. For almost eight year, the Tribune Press was the only newspaper in town. Then Hossie R. Kinney published the newspaper, Independent. That press caught fire on November 25, 1935 and all the subscriptions were transferred to the Tribune Press. Since that time, the Tribune Press has been the only newspaper in circulation in Gouverneur.

Dan McClelland, current owner and publisher of the Gouverneur Tribune Press, purchased the weekly newspaper, all publishing rights, subscriptions lists and files on November 1, 1990, and now boasts more than 35 years in the journalism industry. He has been the managing editor of the Tupper Lake newspaper since 1977 and president of the company which publishes it since 1968. At the time of the sale, the Tribune operated from the building at 42 Clinton St., Gouverneur. On October 9, 1991, the Tribune office relocated to its current address at 74 Trinity Ave, Gouverneur, NY, 13642.

The Gouverneur Tribune Press jumped, feet first, into the 21st Century on June 28, 2007 when it started using computer software to layout and design the newspaper pages. In the past, Tribune employees worked feverishly on Wednesdays laying out pages of the paper. Everything you read or saw – from obits to sports, editorials to ads – was placed on big pieces of paper, pasted in place, and then pressed down so, hopefully it would stick… and sent to the press. Now, using the best technology at the Tribune’s fingertips, we can produce a product that includes full color, spot color… all at a fraction of the previous cost.

The Gouverneur Tribune Press is proud of its enduring legacy of journalistic integrity, and all are welcome to submit contributions to its weekly editions. The Tribune looks forward to continuing our partnership with the Kiwanis Club of Gouverneur, Inc., and other charitable organizations in Gouverneur long into the future!

The Tribune office in Gouverneur is temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, but all questions can be directed through the business office at (518) 359-2166. All news tips and submissions can be sent to gouvtribunepress@gmail.com.

First UMC of Gouverneur hosts weekly takeout dinners to serve community in need during COVID-19 pandemic

by Rachel Hunter

Spearheaded by organizer Judy Bush of Gouverneur, First United Methodist Church of Gouverneur volunteers are eagerly serving community members free soup takeout dinners during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. The weekly dinners are held on Wednesdays from 4 to 6 p.m., and is served from the entrance by Key Bank. If no one is there to bring your soup, honk your horn.

The first dinner was held on Wednesday, April 1 with much success. Organizer Judy Bush told the Gouverneur Tribune Press that she got the idea for the event on Sunday, March 29, recognizing the need in the community after the outbreak of the COVID-19 and the subsequent economic downturn.

The First United Methodist Church of Gouverneur hopes to continue this mission each week during this time of “social distancing.” For more information, check the First UMC Gouverneur Facebook page.

St Lawrence County Emergency Operation Center COVID-19 Update

As of press time on Tuesday, April 7, the Gouverneur Tribune Press received the following news release: The St Lawrence County Emergency Operation Center is open and operational from 8am to 4pm. COVID -19 supplies are being disbursed as they are received. “We are receiving shipments from New York State as they become available. All requests are being addressed with some limitations,” said SLC Emergency Services Director Matthew Denner. “There are 1,380,144 positive cases, 78,226 deaths worldwide; 374,329 positive cases with 12,064 Deaths nationwide; 138,863 positive cases in New York State; and 70 positive cases in. St Lawrence County located in Ogdensburg, Oswegatchie, Macomb, Lisbon, Canton, Potsdam, Pierrepont, Colton, Hopkinton, Lawrence, Stockholm, Norfolk, Louisville, Brasher, Hammond and Massena. St. Lawrence County Public Health Department advises us of 70 positive test results and confirmed these results for Coronavirus (COVID-19) within St. Lawrence County today (April 7, 2020) 12 noon. There are currently four hospitalizations at this time. All confirmed cases are individuals residing in St. Lawrence County. All individuals have been isolated and are being monitored by the St. Lawrence County Public Health Department.”

The Public Health Department is also contacting anyone who may have been in contact with these individuals to determine whether quarantine or testing may be required. COVID-19 symptoms include: cough, fever, trouble breathing and pneumonia. There is currently no vaccine to combat this virus, however everyone can help stop the spread by: practicing social distancing (at least 6 feet), avoid handshakes, wash hands with soap and water (at least 20 seconds) or use an alcohol based hand sanitizer, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands, avoid close contact with people who are sick, cover your cough with a tissue and dispose of the tissue. Clean and disinfect frequently used objects and surfaces.

St Lawrence County Office for the Aging is delivering meals to eligible County resident 60 years of age or older. Please contact OFA at 315-386-4730.

“We are accepting donations for Personal protective equipment,” Director Denner said. “If you would like to donate anything please call the Emergency Operations Center at 315-229-3970 between 8 am and 4 pm. St Lawrence County is strongly recommending everyone should STAY HOME. Practice at least 6 feet social distancing in public, wash your hands frequently, and clean and disinfect shared surfaces regularly. Try to not touch your face with your hands before washing them for at least 20 seconds.”

It is strongly recommended if you are traveling into the county that you should self quarantine for a minimum of 14 days.

The St Lawrence County COVID-19 Call Center/EOC remains open from 8 am to 4 pm daily and is available to answer any questions or concerns surrounding COVID -19. Anyone needing information or services is asked to please call 315-229-3970 or email eoccallcenter@stlawco.org. Further information regarding COVID-19 can be found on the St Lawrence County website; www.stlawco.org/Departments/PublicHealth. For the COVID-19 County map go to https://www.stlawco.org/ Information, and questions regarding COVID-19 call NYS Hotline at: 1-888-364-3065

County Administrator Ruth Doyle Announces First Confirmed COVID-19 Case within St. Lawrence County

St. Lawrence County Administrator Ruth Doyle and St. Lawrence County Public Health Director Dana McGuire announced on March 24 that county officials have learned of a positive test result for Coronavirus (COVID-19) within St. Lawrence County. The test results were confirmed today (March 25, 2020). The confirmed case is a patient from St. Lawrence County. The local health department is getting in touch with anyone who may have been in contact with this individual.

No additional information is being released at this time due to patient privacy laws.

In response to this case and continuing recommendations from the state and federal governments, on March 16, 2020 the Chair of the St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators, Joseph Lightfoot, has issued a State of Emergency to help prevent the spread of this disease.

The Public Health Department is strongly recommending residents stay home. The recommendation continues to be no unnecessary travel, avoid group gatherings, and avoid contact with other people. If essential travel is required (i.e. work, groceries, and/or medical needs), social distancing should be practiced, which means keeping a minimum of six feet apart from others.

Additionally, following Governor Cuomo’s directive, St. Lawrence County reduced county employees working in county facilities by 50% by implementing work from home protocols for many employees which began, Wednesday, March 18.

A number of County facilities are now closed to the public:  St. Lawrence County Court House  St. Lawrence County Public Safety Complex  St. Lawrence County Human Services Center  St. Lawrence County DMV Offices  St. Lawrence County Surrogate Building  All Nutrition Sites Additionally, St. Lawrence Health Systems and Claxton Hepburn Medical Center are working together to implement testing criteria and plan for increased hospital capacity.

Village of Gouverneur declares State of Emergency amid COVID-19 Pandemic

by Rachel Hunter

On Saturday, March 21, the Village of Gouverneur submitted the following public service announcement from Village of Gouverneur Mayor Ronald McDougall for inclusion in this week’s Gouverneur Tribune Press:

“The Village of Gouverneur Mayor and Board of Trustees have declared a State of Emergency that will continue until further notice because of the global COVID-19 Pandemic. All Village Offices and other buildings of the Village were closed to the Public at noon Monday, March 16th and various employees who were not already off were excused for the rest of the day until further notice.

“On Thursday, March 19th all other non-essential employees were excused until further notice. However, essential services such as the Gouverneur Police Department, Water Filtration Plant (ie. potable water) and Wastewater Treatment employees remain on the job. Our Highway and Electric DPW employees are currently on leave. However, two members of this department are on call 24 hours a day seven days a week. Additionally, certain clerical staff along with the Mayor are working in the offices on mandatory and regulatory essential items such as payroll and the 2020-2021 Village Budget. Department Heads are in daily contact with the Mayor. Governmental agencies are sharing information as part of our shared services agreements on a regular basis either in person, phones or electronically.

“The Village Police will remain on duty and taking calls at 315-287-2121 or 911. However, the Police will be prioritizing the importance of complaints as needed and face to face contact with the general public at the Police Station will be minimal. Additionally, the Administrative Staff and Mayor will be available by phone and/or electronically by calling 315-287-1720 and press 0 and to date have been at the Village complex daily and plan to continue this schedule.

“The Mayor and Board of Trustees are cautiously optimistic that these challenging times that we currently live in will be over in the next few weeks. However, we are keenly aware that it could be much longer and are making provisional plans in this regard. We will keep the community advised as much as possible in a timely fashion.

“In the meantime, please take President Trump’s and Governor Cuomo’s advice. Follow the executive orders and other recommendations that they have publicized such as hygiene, social distancing and various employee/employer work rules that they have ordered and/or recommended. It is for our general well-being of our community and humanity. Take Care, God Bless You and God Bless the United States of America.”

COVID-19 Relief: Richville residents offered free spaghetti dinner

by Jessyca Cardinell

The pandemic crisis of the Coronavirus has left many concerns globally and locally. As people were feeling confusion, panic and concern, the residents of Richville were offered a delicious free spaghetti dinner with all the fixings on Saturday, March 21. This was to offer some relief and camaraderie during the recent enactment of the quarantine.

Pick-ups were available at two locations, Richville Fire Department and the Richville Baptist Church, with volunteers bringing the meal to the vehicles.

Village of Richville Mayor Blue Jay Fenlong organized the event along with the Village of Richville Trustees. Also giving a helping hand were the parishioners of the Richville Baptist Church and the Richville Volunteer Fire Fighters. Many volunteers joined forces to ensure that the meal was prepared to perfection and that those participating enjoyed a great home cooked meal.

Wonderful job to each and every person who took time out of their schedules to help prepare, separate and deliver the meals to the vehicles. A well thought out process that made an easy and efficient delivery while following the rules of quarantine.

Village of Gouverneur talks COVID-19

by Rachel Hunter

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the Village of Gouverneur Board of Trustees held its monthly meeting on March 17 in the municipal courtroom. The meeting was an abbreviated format, with all those in attendance, observing the “social distancing” six feet separation rule. Village of Gouverneur Mayor Ronald McDougall set a limit at half the municipal courtroom’s capacity, at 41.5 persons.

“It’s no secret, of course, that in St. Lawrence County, we’re under a state of emergency per the St. Lawrence County Public Health Office and Public Health Officer Dana McQuire, who is also the Village of Gouverneur’s Public Health Officer,” Mayor McDougall said. “A lot of people don’t realize that we’re under the umbrella on that with that. Public meeting and open meetings law has been amended because of (COVID-19).”

Mayor McDougall then directed the Village Trustee’s attention to the following memo to all local government leaders from the secretary to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Melissa DeRosa, dated March 16: “The rapid increase in suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19 is an unprecedented public health emergency facing all New Yorkers. As leaders in state and local government, our first and foremost responsibility is to ensure the health and safety of the public. This essential duty requires our decisive action now to slow the spread of this virus. On behalf of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and all New Yorkers, I call upon you – as executives, managers, administrators, mayors, supervisors, and leaders – to join the State of New York and limit your local government workforce to only its essential employees for the next two weeks. Specifically, all non-essential employees of local government agencies and authorities should not report to work, reducing your workforce by, at least, fifty percent (50%), until March 31, 2020. You and your local agency officials should consider essential employees as any person whose job function is essential to the effective operation of their agency or authority, or who must be physically present to perform their job, or who is involved in the emergency response to COVID-19. Non-essential employees should be considered any person who does not need to be physically present to perform their job functions, or they are not currently required to meet the core functions of their agency or authority during this emergency response. Throughout state government, non-essential employees will not be charged accruals during this time. Non-essential state employees are being directed to work from home, to the extent practicable. While they are home, these employees may be assigned work outside of their normal duties. State agencies may change an employee’s designation as either essential or nonessential at any time. Finally, state agencies will continue to recruit volunteers or mandate staff to support the critical COVID-19 response efforts across the state. The people we serve demand action. Let leadership be our legacy. Thank you.”

Mayor McDougall then made the following comments: “I did talk to Donald Dabiew, the Franklin County Legislative Chair, and he didn’t have any in his county as we don’t yet. We have some people waiting for some tests to come back, but that changed today unfortunately. There was one today in Saranac Lake, which is in Franklin County and also there is one in Plattsburgh, currently at the CVPH Hospital. I talked to the Jefferson County Chairman Scott Gray this afternoon and they didn’t have any in Jefferson County either. However, now, I guess one has been classified now in Albany but that person is a Fort Drum part-time employee and works in the Education Center. He was in Fort Drum from the 11th to the 13th, that’s Wednesday through Friday, and he’s got a positive test in Albany. Consequently the Education Center is currently shut down on Fort Drum.”

Mayor McDougall then gave the floor to St. Lawrence County Legislator District 5 Henry Leader (R-Gouverneur) who gave the following county update, detailing the special board meeting held March 16: “The declaration of emergency is, in part, to assist the school districts, to allow them to continue federal and state funding. Last night, the thing of significance was the legislature voted to empower the County Administrator Ruth Doyle with the advice and through the Office of Emergency Services and the St. Lawrence County Department of Health to take whatever measures were necessary to protect the county, and to help handle safety and health of the county… The county has also indicated a desire to go virtual, so we will probably be Skyping in electronically meeting three or four meetings. Other than that, if you walk through the county halls, there’s people with sanitizer, paper towels, and washing hands – as the board is doing here – as well as keeping distance. The recommendation is six feet, but at least three feet, and trying to avoid exposure for over 30 minutes. I will keep you apprised of anything that happens…”

Village Clerk/Treasurer Barbara Finnie then gave the following report: “We have closed off the (municipal) building to the public. I just heard today that the town court is also closed for good. They are not even opening up, until further notice. We are accepting phone calls. All three of us are here. Payments are still accepted. We are asking them to be put in the dropbox. We will make sure a receipt is mailed back to them. Births and deaths is all by phone. Put it in our box, and we’ll mail their birth and death certificates to them. So, we’re just trying to keep clean. But we’re here for all calls. Just press zero on the main line and one of us will answer it. A lot of people don’t know what extension they want to call, just press zero.”

Village of Gouverneur Recreation Department Director Casey Canell reported that the Gouverneur Recreation Center would remain closed until further notice. “We’re following Gouverneur Central School District,” Director Canell said, confirming that the closure would last until at least April 20. “Our cleaning and sanitizing plan of action is being investigated and researched, trying to figure out what options are available.” Director Canell confirmed with the village board that he was available by phone. Mayor McDougall then said, “As soon as the school closure was announced, Casey and I were on the phone with each other and Dave Spilman.”

Village of Gouverneur Chief of Police Laurina Greenhill then reported the following: “Our department probably, out everybody, has the biggest challenge to this Cornavirus for obvious reasons… It certainly poses some unique challenges. Of course, one of the first things to go was the closing of the courts by the order of the Office of Court Administration. In order to have any arraignment during business hours, we have to do an essential arraignment. We can’t arraign at our local court. I just got an email just before this meeting to clarify that we are to take them to the Ogdensburg City Court, and after hours we can call our local justice… With bail reform and everything, we’re kind of limited on what kind of arraignments we can do. I have instructed our guys to limit their exposure to the public. We don’t need to go out making random vehicle stops for no reason, unless it is necessary. We’re trying to do as much as we can over the phone… We put a sign on the door that, pretty much, if you are there only for a police matter… if you are making an inquiry, call us and we’ll try to answer your questions. Other than that, you’re going to use the intercom or we’re going to interview you through the intercom to try to limit people coming into the office. Obviously, there’s lots of times when we need to interview people, take depositions, but, if it is not a real emergency kind of case… we’re going to put that kind of stuff on the back burner for right now. We’ve encouraged them to wear disposable gloves at every interaction with the public. There’s only limited (supplies) we have on hand for this kind of stuff, but today through Public Health we got delivered some n95 masks. They kind of require some fit testing to work their best, so tomorrow we have an appointment at the fire station to do some fit testing. We also got a supply of some disposable coveralls and suits, and some more hand sanitizer. We put some disinfecting wipes in the cars. Well, the stores were all out, and we don’t have wipes, so we compromised right now and made some with paper towels, disinfectant and Ziploc bags and put them in the patrol cars. We’re going to respond in person, obviously, to personal injury accidents, certain kinds of emergencies… We’ve asked the dispatchers to the ask people when they call that if we absolutely have to respond to a residence, to ask if there is anyone in the residence with flu-like symptoms so we can assess accordingly. I know there is some communication with Public Health and the 911 Center, maybe helping us keep track of who is really under quarantine… We’ve got some teleconference meetings set up with Public Health. We put on our Facebook page too for the public to consider about not dragging themselves to the ER, communicating with the hospitals. If they have questions or anything related to Coronavirus or need assistance, they can call us and we’ll try to deal with each situation as they arise. This is a very fluid situation… it is changing all the time. I am get bombarded with emails, and I am trying to keep up with the information that is coming, and so I find myself in situations I have not had to deal with before as Chief of Police with these executive orders coming from the governor, especially the stuff with the establishments. I’ve had to weed my way through these orders and come to terms with them, but at the same time keep in the back of my mind try to balance people’s constitutional rights.”

Village of Gouverneur Department of Public Works Superintendent TJ Simmons reported the following: “The DPW is basically following protocol. We’ve got the building on lockdown. No entry to any personnel or civilians. As far as the guys out in the field, I tell them to keep their distance of at least six feet because we do have house calls and stuff like that for sewers and water lines… I want to make sure they are safe about it. I have contacted my salesman that comes once a month that lives in Albany. I’ve told him not to come. If I need anything, I’ll call him, and they can just ship what I need as far as water supplies and stuff like that. I do encourage the public not to flush paper towels, baby wipes, or napkins or rags down the toilet. Please dispose them in the garbage. That is some of the main things that we happen to pull out of people’s sewers that plugs them. So, we encourage, if it isn’t toilet paper… please do not flush it.”

When Mayor McDougall asked for Trustee comments, the sole response came from Village of Gouverneur Deputy Mayor Charles Newvine who urged to all present: “Wash your hands.”

In conclusion, Mayor McDougall said the following: “We’re in difficult times, changing times. Life is change. I’d just like to stress, like they did at the county legislature meeting last night, keep calm. I’ve heard various rumors. I don’t know what the toilet paper thing is, but… It was observed recently that an elderly couple was walking home with more toilet paper than they could use in a normal lifetime… and it is all over the country, a run on toilet paper! Another example, there was a rumor that the Price Chopper store was going to close… Ours is just going to close for five hours to restock and clean. That’s just some of the rumors going around in this difficult, challenging times. We will survive. Better days are coming. I just don’t think they are going to be this week, but long-term… have faith and God bless. We will survive this.”

The next meeting of the Village of Gouverneur Board of Trustees is scheduled to be held of Tuesday, April 21, 6 p.m., in the municipal courtroom.

Rena Weaver retires From Gouverneur Hospital

Rena Weaver, Human Resources Assistant, has retired from St. Lawrence Health System’s Gouverneur Hospital after 28 years of service.

Since 1991, Ms. Weaver served both the E.J. Noble Hospital and Gouverneur Hospital in numerous capacities, including Biller, Patient Representative, Pharmacy Technician, Inpatient Sitter, and, most recently, Human Resources Assistant.

“Throughout her time here, Rena acquired a great deal of experience across a wide spectrum of both administrative and clinical roles,” said Gouverneur Hospital CEO Eric Burch. “For nearly three decades, patients, employees, and administrators alike have benefited from her knowledge and sound judgement and her many contributions to the organization will continue to be appreciated for years to come,” added Burch.

“Rena is a very dedicated and compassionate employee who goes out of her way to help coworkers and community members,” said Gouverneur Hospital’s Human Resources Site Leader Lori-Anne McCormick. “As a member of HR, Rena led by example and held the organizations standards to the highest degree; and we are grateful for her longevity and devotion to healthcare within our community.”

Upon retirement, Ms. Weaver is spending more time engaging in her love of watching movies, spending time with family, watching NASCAR’s Jimmy Johnson, and traveling. Her future travel plans already include visiting the casinos in Atlantic City, admiring the views in Montana, and enjoying the Daytona Beach sunshine.

Colleagues joined Ms. Weaver for a reception at the Hospital where she was presented with numerous gifts, including an engraved clock, flowers, and the admiration and well wishes of her colleagues.

4-H Educator Amy Sands Feted After 24-Year Career

4-H Extension Educator Amy Sands recognized for her 24-year career with Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County at her retirement party on Sunday, March 1, 2020 at the Gouverneur Community Center. Pictured from left: CCE Executive Director Patrick Ames, Amy Sands, 4-H Youth and Family Leader/Health and Nutrition Issue Leader/SNAP-Ed Program Manager Cassondra Caswell. (Rachel Hunter photo)

by Rachel Hunter

St. Lawrence County 4-H Extension Educator Amy Sands was feted on Sunday, March 1 at the Gouverneur Community Center for encouraging countless youth “to make the best better” throughout her 24-year career with Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County.

Former and current 4-H members and leaders were invited to a retirement party held in Amy Sands’ honor from 1 to 3 p.m., and the dozens flocked to the Gouverneur Community Center to join the celebration.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County Executive Director Patrick Ames welcomed all in attendance, and brought the guest of honor centerstage, as the throng gave applause.

“Twenty-four years is a remarkable commitment to Extension, and Amy’s retirement is pretty significant to the organization but I think it is pretty significant to the staff that you see here in this room, the 4-H volunteers that have joined us here, and the 4-H’ers,” he said. “Her impact is very significant. But it is more than that. It is personal too. As a director, I try to refrain from using the word family when I describe staff but the reality is you can’t work alongside someone like Amy Sands for 20-plus years and not be like family. She’s been there to celebrate the birth of my kids and has had an impact on my kids. We’ve watched her grandkids grow up through 4-H. We’ve shared hard times together. She’s always been there. It’s been remarkable. So, this is much more than losing a really good 4-H educator. But it is losing a family to us.

“As a team leader… Those of you who don’t know my history, I worked in 4-H alongside Amy for years and then had the privilege of being a team leader and we worked together and I’ve got to tell you… being a 4-H educator is not an easy job. It’s a lot of long hours, long days. They can be stressful. They are always rewarding. But they are fatiguing, nonetheless. When I think back to our days at the county fair, I could always count on the fact that at the end of the week… Amy would have lost her voice. And often immediately, somehow miraculously, after the fair ended she would come down with the cold or be sick. She would always blame it on the fair dust. It was always the show ring dust that was causing it. But the reality was she put in countless, tireless hours leading up to the fair, getting ready for it, getting kids ready for it, and at the fair I don’t think there was a single program or contest that she wasn’t a part of, or didn’t have her hands on. She simply just left everything on the court, and I think her body knew at the end it had to give in… and then somehow within a week or two she was getting kids ready for the state fair and taking them down, and visiting our 4-H’ers at the state fair with livestock...

“When I think about Extension, that’s how she handled her job not only at the fair but when I think about our Maple Program at the Farm or the Spring Ag Awareness or the Farm Day Camp. She was involved in absolutely every program we had to offer, day in and day out and it was really remarkable to be part of that.

“As the director, I have to tell you that Amy is a team player and I would say that she is always put the needs of Extension over her own needs and that is a rare trait today. I’m going to think back to a specific year. It was 2016. It was a pretty tough year for us. We had created all these programs at the Extension Farm, and they were taking off like mad, and then suddenly it was one of those years where we had a whole bunch of turnover, vacancies, and I really didn’t know how we were going to get everything done. I remember commiserating with Art Hurlbut, who was on the Board of Directors at the time. I said, “I don’t really know how we are going to pull this off.” And he used a phrase I never heard before, he said, “Patrick, if you want something done, give it to someone who is already busy.” That really described Amy and her work ethic and her drive with Extension. That year, she stepped in as our After-School Director for North Wind After-School and then she stepped in as our Farm Day Camp Director and still held down everything else that was still on her plate. She did two other people’s jobs. So that year it was my privilege to give her the Director’s Award for the employee who most exemplified the spirit and ideals of Extension. It was a privilege. So, that was Amy, but that wasn’t just Amy in 2016, that was Amy every year that she worked for us.

“A lot of you don’t know this, but she was instrumental in BOCES Even Start program for years and then when we started the Advantage After School Program in Ogdensburg we assigned that to her and then for years she worked in four different school districts keeping that program afloat. She was a great liaison between Extension and that after-school program. She brought 4-H to after-school over there. She created the Farm Day Camp with me. She was there at the ground level, building that program, and now that reaches over 350 kids every summer and growing.

“But there is something about Amy that nobody knows but me… We worked together a long time and whenever we had a new educator struggling in a after-school program, I would talk to Amy and quietly assign Amy to that educator as a mentor and she would shadow them for sometimes 8-12 weeks, whatever it took and go with them to their program. She saved a couple partnerships by going into these schools and modeling positive youth development and modeling relationship building. We saw educators turn around with her guidance. It has been a wonderful resource to have and it is going to be tough to replace that too.

But lastly, I want to mention Amy’s dedication to children and to our 4-H’ers. Studies have shown that the number one factor in a child having a positive, successful youth development outcome, if you will, is that one mentor that they know will do anything for them at any cost. Amy has been that mentor for many, many 4-H’ers over the years. I wish there was some way to give you a statistic and pull a number together and say, “These are the number of lives that Amy Sands has touched.” It would be a remarkable number. It would be staggering… Working alongside of you, Amy, has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. I really appreciate everything you have done for Extension.”

Youth and Family Lead Cassondra Caswell then said the following: “4-H does have the power to change lives, as I am sure many of you as 4-H families or 4-H employees can attest to… Patrick nailed it on the head. We all have mentors. We all have people that we look up to, whether it be our club leader, our project leaders, maybe staff at Cooperative Extension and for me Amy Sands was my mentor… I know for certain my career path would not be the same if it wasn’t for (Amy). I was a quiet 17-year-old in the 4-H program and all I wanted to be was a fly on the wall. I was pretty sure I was invisible, but it was at a clothing revue event that Amy came up to me and my mom and said, “What would you think of working at our Summer Day Camp program?” I didn’t really know who this lady was at that point in my life other than she was there at 4-H events and for me, I wasn’t invisible. This lady saw me. I hope it was the potential she saw in me. From that first summer experience, I knew that 4-H was really something that I wanted to have a career in. I grew up in 4-H. I knew I loved the program, but to really see the impact that a 4-H educator has on the lives of so many people was just empowering to me. And Amy, you helped me and mentored me to learn what it meant to work with and empower youth, especially those that maybe need a little bit extra help and a little bit more love. Through my 4-H career and working at Cooperative Extension, I am very fortunate to have gotten to share 12 of your 24 years at Cooperative Extension – and I will personally never forget the impact that Amy has had on my life.”

Youth and Family Lead Caswell then told stories of Amy Sands’ trips down to the New York State Fair, teaching youth to sew, putting on the annual Dairy Camp, instructing outdoor survival skills at the Extension Learning Farm, and much more.

“Truly I want to say thank you for all your years of enrichment for not only myself, but for all these people here today that you have made an impact on and, as you are well aware, the hundreds more that are not in this room and the 4-H and Cooperative Extension staff,” Miss Caswell said. “We thank you so much for everything you have dedicated in your 24 years.”

Then it was time for the presentation of gifts. “You have left your mark on our lives and now we are leaving ours with you,” Miss Caswell said, sharing the theme of the retirement party.

Amy Sands was presented with a chicken-shaped wooden cutting board and a memory lap quilt with blocks from former extension educators, families, clubs as well as neighboring 4-H counties to extend gratitude for her 24 years of service. Miss Caswell also said the following: “We are actually trying to do something with the Maple Program. We have cut a cookie out of a tree and we are planning on making a table out of that as well. The tree did not dry in time for us to make something with it. But you will have a bit of Cooperative Extension somewhere in your home.” A memory book was also available for all those present to share treasured moments and thoughts with Amy Sands during the occasion.

Executive Director Ames also gave the floor to anyone who wanted speak to impact Amy Sands made on their lives and the crowd gathered heard from Extension staff, 4-H volunteers, 4-H leaders, 4-H parents and more for several moments. At the conclusion, all those who were impacted by her dedication through her 24-year career at Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County were invited to stand to show visibly her impact.

Amy Sands then was given the floor to address the crowd before her: “I want to thank everyone for coming, and I want to thank all the adults for sharing their children’s lives with me,” she said. ‘There is nothing more precious than a child. It’s true. I tell my own kids that. The most precious thing you ever have is your children. To be able to share somebody else’s child is great.”

The crowd enjoyed refreshments during the two-hour fete, and a decorated cake that also recognized Amy Sands’ 24 years to Extension and youth in St. Lawrence County.

A Gouverneur native, Amy (Kapfer) Sands, is a 1968 graduate of Gouverneur High School and Clinton Community College in Plattsburgh. She married John Sands, a 1967 Indian River Central School graduate, in 1972. At the retirement party, Amy was proud to introduce to the crowd her family, son Christopher and Kristie Sands, son Andrew and Jennifer Sands (children Owen, Jorja), son Rob and Jen Sands (children Tracker, Ledger, Lana, Colter). She also introduced her sister Ann (Kapfer) LaRock and Tony and Jennie Kapfer (child Jordan) and brother-in-law Jeff Sands.

Village board hears complaints on sidewalk snow removal local law

by Rachel Hunter

The Village of Gouverneur Board of Trustees at its Feb. 18 monthly board meeting heard complaints from concerned property owners regarding the village’s local law regarding sidewalk snow removal.

Village of Gouverneur Mayor Ronald McDougall encouraged the public not to enter a debate, but the Village of Gouverneur Board of Trustees allowed over an hour during the public comment period for the local residents to air their long list of grievances against the Village of Gouverneur’s Local Law No. 1 of 1999, which rescinded Local Law No. 2 of 1980, and reads in short as follows: “Every owner or occupant of property containing and/or adjoining a sidewalk within the village of Gouverneur is responsible for the removal of snow from said sidewalk if same fronts and/or adjoins a street, highway or other public road in the Village of Gouverneur. If snow shall cease falling by 5:00 pm, it shall be the duty of the occupant or owner to clear the walk of snow the same night. In case snow falls after 5:00 pm, it shall be the duty of such occupant or owner to clear the walk of snow by 8:30 am the following day.”

The first resident to address the Village of Gouverneur Board of Trustees was Joseph Nardelli, owner of 82 Park Street in the Village of Gouverneur, who asked the following: “Why did it cost $25 to send a notice on a half a sheet of paper with one stamp and one envelope? It was a $25 (administrative) fee on top of the $232. I have no problem paying the fine for the snow removal. I admit my guilt, but I think $25 for that notification is totally outrageous.”

“You have a right to your opinion,” Mayor McDougall said. “I don’t mean to debate, but some people think the $25 fee should be a lot higher. The people here, this is the public sector… and it all costs money. It all starts with people calling in to complain, turning you in. In your case, it was the United States Post Office. They turned you in for not doing that. So anyways… we have a lady here who has other things to do. There’s the mailing and the documentation of the before and after picture of the violation, and then there is the matter of getting back to the person who complained. In this case, it was the Post Office. It was easy because, as I understand it, 14 of them or something like that… and some of them went as long as a week. And so the administration fee is a part of the law.”

Village of Gouverneur Deputy Mayor Charles Newvine then said the that local law said that the Village of Gouverneur “can pass a charge at a minimum of $25, but can charge up to $100 and can also tack on the cost of what it is to remove the snow.”

“So, if the Village wanted, it could send me a letter for $100 for the letter,” Nardelli asked.

“That is correct, plus the cost of snow removal,” Deputy Mayor Newvine said.

“That’ll be a subject of the budget if it is going to be raised,” Mayor McDougall said. “Some people want to raise it. Some of the rest of us think $25 is enough. But you have to remember the person that is doing that, just like any other full-time village employee, they are getting healthcare and they are getting a lot more than $25 an hour…”

“It’s totally absurd, and I am protesting,” Nardelli said. “It is ridiculous… $25 for a half-page letter and an envelope and a stamp, totally ridiculous. Even the cities – Schenectady, Albany, Syracuse – they just came out with a fine and there is no administrative fee. I mean, what gives?”

“I didn’t make the law,” Mayor McDougall said.

“Yes, but you can reverse it too,” Nardelli said.

Luke Perrigo of 517 Smith Road in Gouverneur later in the public comment period asked: “Back to the sidewalk issue with snow on the sidewalks, how do we determine, who we enforce that to and when we enforce that law? I have read the law, so I am curious as to when we enforce that law… there’s not an inches requirement in the law. There’s no requirement there, so I feel like the law is kind of vague as far as that goes. I did go down and I can show you a picture of the Village sidewalk by the hospital right now. Snow stopped before 5 o’clock, according to the law, that snow has to be removed tonight. Will the Village be calling someone on an overtime to remove that snow or can I file a complaint now and we hire the contractor to come and take care of that? I am just curious how do we enforce this to certain people and not other people.”

Mayor McDougall told Mr. Perrigo that the Village of Gouverneur had someone to take care of the sidewalk in question, and then gave the floor to Village of Gouverneur DPW Superintendent TJ Simmons who said the following: “What snow,” asked DPW Simmons. “The dusting we got today?”

“Well, there’s ice on it too, and according to the law it should have been salted to remove the ice,” Mr. Perrigo said. “Honest, I’m not picking on you, TJ. I’m more picking on why we are enforcing this law because of a complaint list filed on one person and not the other. If you drive down Main Street and you’re speeding, generally you don’t have to have a complaint to get a speeding ticket.”

“Unfortunately, like you said, the law is very vague,” Deputy Mayor Newvine said. “We discuss it every year. We have somebody come in, question us on how we enforce it, and how we choose on who we enforce it to, and there really isn’t a set parameter. When we receive a complaint, they call the person that we contract with. Now, the way that I see it, in the same local law that you read, if there is a snow and it stops before 5 o’clock you have to clean it up that night. If it stops after 5 o’clock you have until 8:30. Well, 8:30 is the wrong time for me because school starts at 7 a.m. Then it talks about salt or sand or ashes, which means it is outdated… nobody uses ashes anymore. It talks about a village administrator being the one to enforce the law. We don’t have a village administrator…

“And also for me, I know that we have talked about it, and I have talked about it with (Village of Gouverneur Clerk/Treasurer Barbara Finnie and Village of Gouverneur Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Kristina Ayen) the day that the complaint came in from whoever it might be –whether it is the Post Office or whoever – if there was no snow that day, it seems to me to be a mute complaint. If there was no snow on the day that it came in, how can you expect someone to remove it?”

Mr. Perrigo then asked, “If the Village isn’t following their own law, how can you enforce everyone else to? Tyranny isn’t always on the Second Amendment. It’s on laws in general and if you are forcing people to comply by law that your local government isn’t even complying with… it seems a little ridiculous to me.”

“I would politely disagree with you,” Deputy Mayor Newvine said. “It is still vague enough that there are no inches, like the lawn. If there is no set limit, then it could be any. The fact remains that there is a public law to remove snow at a certain time. A certain depth of snow is not there. Everyone gets a letter in November. It’s in the paper when we contract, all that stuff. It doesn’t mean that it is not enforced by the Village because when a complaint comes in, we call a contractor. So, it is not like we aren’t enforcing it.”

Mayor McDougall then asked for the next public comment. Up next was David and Hilliary Perrigo of 479 County Route 11 in Gouverneur.

“A bill was sent in the mail to myself and my wife on February 6, 2020 concerning our apartment house on the corner of 74 N. Gordon St. and 90 Barnes St. that we were charged $206 for a bunch of old sidewalks on January 31, 2020. I brought to you guys, the board members here and even the public, concerning this and asking you to please forgive this bill and to furthermore to personally to notify myself when you intend to charge a hardworking taxpayer this fee. This is not our primary residence. In fact, this is one of four. We pay someone already to shovel the sidewalk. He’s done a very good job for the last three years. It’s never been a problem. We’ve of course assumed that he was still doing the job that we paid him for. We ask you to review this policy that the Village of Gouverneur has. We do not drive by daily to see if this has been shoveled, as I said he has done a good job for three years. We understand that this policy needs to be in place.

“Again, I understand the law. I think it is vague and needs to be revisited and be revised but we ask that you would contact us personally, as I know for a fact that you do other taxpayers through nepotism and let them know before they actually get the bill. A phone call or maybe a warning letter personally addressing us to make sure we have adequate time to address the situation. As I say, if you don’t live there, it’s kind of hard to know what’s going on, especially if you have several properties.

“We try to keep our home and our apartment houses in excellent condition. We do not take this condition lightly. I take it as an insult to my integrity. That’s the kind of person that I am… I feel that a letter or a phone call making us aware of our property would be just standard procedure for everybody. I know it takes place with people. In a matter of fact, it happened in front of me last week I saw this take place.”

“It didn’t snow on January 31, 2020. It didn’t snow two days before that. It didn’t snow that day. It didn’t snow two days after that. Even as a property owner, no I didn’t drive by. When it snows, I know it snows. Snow removal is what I do, you know what I mean? The way this law states I’m not home in time to get this cleared. You could hit me with a $206 bill every single time because I am at work. I mean it just can’t happen. I guess yeah I could hire somebody, and I had somebody employed and yeah I took care of that and he’s no longer employed. My wife’s been doing it herself with the kids in the van after she drops the other two off at school…

“Now, I am going to reiterate how it was approached to me… In the notice that comes in your water/sewer bill, nothing in it says you are going to be charged $25 service fee. Nothing in it says you are going to be charged $1 foot. It does say you will be charged a minimum of $25. But there is nothing that says that you will get a $206 bill for a five-minute sidewalk… That’s absolutely ridiculous.

“You take someone like me who has a corner lot. There needs to be a cap… We’ve had a very light winter, so I don’t see how this could have been this big of an issue. I understand that probably no one here saw that sidewalk, and that it was just a complaint that was filed. I get that, but I had no idea that this was taking place. I need to be notified. I am the property owner. If you are going to bill somebody $206, the property owner needs to be notified and given the chance to remove that snow. That is my main argument here.”

David Perrigo then relayed to the Village of Gouverneur Board of Trustees his experience of coming into the Village Office to discuss the charges, and then went over to the sidewalk in question, did some measurements, and discovered he had been overcharged for sidewalk snow removal by 41 feet.

“Not only did it not snow, I was overcharged by 41 feet, which at $1 per foot is ridiculous,” he said also mentioning the administrative fee. “It’s happened to several people and they are hardworking people that own businesses in Gouverneur. I know for a fact that nepotism is taking place… “

Mr. Perrigo added that it took two weeks to get his hands on Local Law 1 of 1999, and it was suggested that the local laws be more readily available to local residents. Village of Gouverneur Trustee Shelly Simons-Washburn voiced her surprise that village’s local laws were not published on the website – villageofgouverneurny.org.

“If you don’t like me, you can blow my doors in,” David Perrigo said. “There’s got to be a rubric to follow. This is not going to do it. This is not going to cut it. And I don’t want this to be, “He spoke his piece, he’s done.” I will come the following board meeting and the following board meetings as a proud person that lives in Gouverneur. I am happy to be here. I want to make this Town, Village a better place. It’s what I go to work for every day. We’re good taxpaying people, and I’ll render to Caesar what is Caesars all day long – but it has to be in the legality of what makes sense.”

In response, Mayor McDougall said, “Generally speaking, we are, I must admit, pretty lax on enforcement, not only this but lawns in the summer.”

Continuing his addressing to the Village of Gouverneur Board of Trustee, David Perrigo said the following: “The Village of Gouverneur closed my sidewalk in on my other apartment house (corner of Clinton St.). I even drove my tractor from house to move that snowbank… Generally, I wouldn’t say anything about it. I would just take care of it. But if we want to do things this way… It is a mountain of snow frozen in there. The only way to move it is with a piece of equipment…. So again, I charged you $115 and $25 service fee, total $140. Totally different property. Totally different situation. I don’t know if you are getting my point. Stupid law. Stupid reasoning… I don’t want this to be, “You know we will let you know in a month.” I’m here because there is a problem. It needs to be revised. It needs to be fixed, and I want an answer from you right now when it is going to be done and when it is going to take place so I can be part of this. It needs to happen for the public, for me, for all the people that it has happened to before. I know a couple people that has had it happen, and they are fired up about it. I am not the only person with this issue. I am the only person that just didn’t take it on the chin like everybody else does. I’ve said my piece. I would like a rebuttal.”

After some discussion, the village trustees made the following comments:

“It needs to be looked at it, and that may be something we do at a later date,” Trustee Troy Besaw said. “I see where you are coming from.”

“We talk about it every year,” Deputy Mayor Newvine said, referencing former visits from local business owners George Macaulay and Chalaine Archer. “We don’t do anything about it… It’s a local law that needs to be revisited. It’s 21 years old. But to alleviate this situation here, is it okay for us to alleviate that because the local law says on a snowstorm it has to be done on a certain time… when there was no snowstorm the day that complaint came in? It wasn’t snowing the day that complaint was made. The way the local law reads is if it is snowing that day at or before 5 o’clock, they have to clean up that night. If it is snowing after 5 o’clock, they have until 8:30. It wasn’t snowing that day… period, point blank, simple. It wasn’t snowing the day before. It wasn’t snowing the day before that. It wasn’t snowing the day before that. So, to have a complaint the day it came up to the Village... It wasn’t snowing on that day, so how can we ask him to clean a sidewalk if it wasn’t snowing?”

Luke Perrigo then asked: “I am concerned about what’s going to happen if we leave here tonight and tomorrow, I leave through town and complain 100 different times on 100 different situations… I am sure I can come up with 100 in a couple hours of driving around.”

David Perrigo asked: “You take care of me, I’ll take care of you. We won’t have an issue again… if you take care of this law. That’s my full expectations here… As a taxpayer, as a person who lives in Gouverneur, I am looking out for that guy, this guy. I am looking out for everybody in Gouverneur. I will not stop until we – the taxpayers, you guys -- find an answer. And I want an answer tonight. Not to fix this, but an answer for me.”

“This local law needs to be reviewed, and revised so it is a little bit more flexible,” Mr. Nardelli said.

Deputy Mayor Newvine then asked: “Can we take care of these complaints filed on a day that it didn’t snow?”

Attorney Henry Leader then said the following: “I don’t know the answer to that. I don’t know what complaints there are other than Mr. and Mrs. Perrigo’s. I read the law, under Paragraph One, saying that every owner/occupant of the property is responsible for the removal of the snow from the sidewalk. The next paragraph talks about the snowstorm because if it snows people can’t get right out there. I think that is what is being advocated. If a sidewalk has snow cover for a week, how long did it have snow… I don’t know that. The only thing I do know is the amount of frontage should correspond to whatever a bill would be.

“I remember having an apartment myself on Clinton St. and the state plow plows Clinton St. and I was fined half the time and I got it out the other half and it was terrible. It was tough luck… I think every case has to be looked at individually, and I don’t know…

“You should endeavor to be fair across the board. The point about notice and giving the homeowner to hear it is a good one, and I would recommend the board look at this as well. Going backwards is more tricky. I don’t know if there’s other similar people. I don’t think the board could make that decision tonight. I think you need more information. I also think the board needs to consider the bill to the frontage.”

After some discussion with Mayor McDougall and village board, Attorney Leader said he would do some research before the next village board meeting. “I’ll investigate this between now and the next meeting and to see if there is a resolution, because if there are 14 similar complaints, it is worth more investigation,” he said.

Luke Perrigo then asked: “What about the contractor that is doing the sidewalks? Has he provided you guys with insurance? Can we have a copy of that, seeing how he serviced that property and then if something comes back in the next three years of a slip and fall we have insurance for that day?” Deputy Mayor Newvine promised to have a copy of that insurance included with the Village’s response back to the Perrigo’s next Friday.

Gratitude was extended to the village board for listening as they presented their case. The next meeting of the Village of Gouverneur Board of Trustees is to be held on Tuesday, March 17, 6 p.m., in the municipal courtroom.

Carter Baer NYS Wrestling Champ Sophomore wins 138-pound title

Gouverneur Wildcat Sophomore Carter Baer on top of the podium after winning the 138-pound Division II championship at the 2020 New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Wrestling Championships in Albany. (photo by Dylan Morrison)

by Dick Sterling

The Gouverneur Wildcats have their sixth New York State wrestling champion. Carter Baer, a sophomore and the son of Wildcat Wrestling Coach Joel Baer, upset top seeded Brady Worthing, who entered the state championship match with a record of 45-0, and was the defending New York State champ at 132 pounds, by a 6-4 decision to claim the 138-pound Division II championship at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Wrestling Championships, last weekend, in Albany.

Carter joins John Minckler (2004), Josh Denesha (2005-06), David Perrigo (2006-07), Dillon Stowell (2013) and Hunter Ayen (2013) in the elite group of state wrestling champs from Gouverneur.

Carter, who entered the tournament with a season record of 38-3 and a career mark of 134-16, was seeded third and opened the tournament by pinning Edwin Kent, of Eagle Academy, in 1:38. His second match on Friday was against sixth seeded Dylan Price, of Marcellus/Onondaga. Carter won the quarterfinal match with a 5-1 decision.

The Wildcat standout had his work cut out for him on Saturday. His semifinal match was against number two seed Kaleb Burgess, of Palmyra/Macedon, who entered the match with a record of 53-4. Once again, Carter controlled the match and earned a spot in the title match with a 6-1 decision.

In the title match, Baer and Worthing went toe-to-toe in a scoreless first period. Carter worked his way into an escape in the second period to take a 1-0 lead. Later in the period he earned a takedown to stretch his advantage to 3-0. Later in the match, Baer took Worthing to the mat again to extend his lead to 5-0. Worthing then earned a takedown of his own and briefly put Carter to his back to be awarded a two-point near fall cutting the lead to 5-4. Baer earned another escape and then managed to keep his opponent from scoring another point.

Baer completes an outstanding sophomore season with an impressive record of 42-3. Two of his three losses were to Justin McDougald, of Niagara/Wheatfield, by scores of 3-1 and 8-5. McDougald went on to win the 138-pound Division I title. His other loss, a 1-0 decision, was to Gavin Damasco, of Commack, who finished fourth at 138 pounds in Division I. His 138 Career wins leaves him just 62 shy of the 200-win mark with two more years to go.

Carter is the first Section 10 wrestler since 2015 to win a title, and the first Wildcat wrestler since 2013 to earn a championship.

With 127 teams represented in the Division II tournament, the Gouverneur Wildcats finished in 10th place with 47.5 points. Three other Wildcat wrestlers placed in the tournament. Tyler Tupper (170 pounds) and Jacob Shippee (182) pounds, both placed seventh and Joseph Cummings (152) earned an eighth place finish.

Three other Wildcat wrestlers, Zoe Griffith (99 pounds), Trayton Tupper (120) and Vandavian Way (126) also took part in the tournament. Griffith, a seventh grader, Way, an eighth grader and Tupper, a sophomore, will have plenty of opportunity to find their way back to states again.

Congratulations to Carter Baer and the entire GHS wrestling program for another outstanding season. Wildcat fans are already looking forward to the 2020-21 season.

Undefeated

The Gouverneur JV Girls Basketball Team went undefeated this season, 19-0, in the NAC Central Division. On Feb. 13, the JV squad beat the OFA, 63-25. The last time the Gouverneur Wildcats won the JV Champion was '88-'89. No.1 Chloe Smith, No. 2 Caitlyn Storie, No. 3 Abigail Bowman, No. 4 Elizabeth Riutta, No. 5 Lia Canell, No. 10 Grace Holmes, No. 11 Addison Conklin, No. 12 Meredith Bush, No. 14 Sierra Billings, No. 15 Madelynne Hay-Spano, No. 20 Courtney Forsythe, and Coach Rick Vrooman. (Sarah Riutta photo)

Village of Gouverneur Board of Trustees recognizes former SLC Sheriff Kevin Wells

by Rachel Hunter

The Village of Gouverneur Board of Trustees at its Feb. 19 meeting in the municipal courtroom recognized former St. Lawrence County Sheriff Kevin Wells for his 35-year career in law enforcement, having been elected three times into the office as county sheriff.

Former SLC Sheriff Kevin Wells is son of Phyllis and the late Weldon “Paul” Wells who passed away in June of 2019. Mayor McDougall recalled Paul as a “community watcher,” often calling the village offices about different matters. Mayor McDougall also mentioned that former SLC Sherriff Kevin Wells is a member of the Gouverneur High School Class of 1978.

Village of Gouverneur Mayor Ronald McDougall recalled that he was there when former SLC Sheriff Wells first announced that he was running for the office. The mayor mentioned that the announcement was made across the road was the Town of Gouverneur Offices Building at US Highway 11 in Gouverneur.

Mayor McDougall opened the floor for comments, and Village of Gouverneur Chief of Police Laurina Greenhill of the Gouverneur Police Department said the following: “In the little over five years of being the chief of police working very closely with the Sheriffs Department, and particularly the Sheriff, who has certainly served as a mentor for me, and had a great working relationship and friends. I am very happy for him in his retirement. Wish you the best.”

Mayor McDougall and the Village Board of Trustees then presented former SLC Sheriff Wells with a Village of Gouverneur fleece vest. Local dignitaries in attendance for the presentation included the following St. Lawrence County Legislator District 5 Henry Leader (R-Gouverneur), Village of Gouverneur Trustee Shelly Simons-Washburn, Village of Gouverneur Trustee Troy Besaw, Village of Gouverneur Rick Wood, Village of Gouverneur Mayor Ronald McDougall, Village of Gouverneur Chief of Police Laurina Greenhill, Village of Gouverneur Deputy Mayor Charles Newvine, Village of Gouverneur Clerk/Treasurer Barbara Finnie, Village of Gouverneur Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Kristina Ayen, Village of Gouverneur Department of Public Works Superintendent TJ Simmons, Village of Gouverneur Recreation Department Director Casey Canell, Gouverneur Code Enforcement Officer Michael McQuade, Town of Gouverneur Supervisor Dave Spilman, Jr., Town of Gouverneur Deputy Supervisor Eldon Conklin.

“Thanks, everybody,” Mr. Wells said. “It really means a lot to me. I spent a lot of time around here – from the Gouverneur Rescue Squad to the Gouverneur High School and up through. Still a Wildcat and this is still home no matter where you live, so appreciate it guys.”

Kevin Wells makes his home with Mary Beth Curran of Canton, NY.

Kiwanis Trivia Night is tonight at Elks Lodge to benefit Wildcat Backpack Program

by Rachel Hunter

Back by request and popular demand, the Kiwanis Club of Gouverneur is holding another trivia event. Tonight, Friday, January 31, 7:30 p.m., at the Gouverneur Elks Lodge No. 2035, 1419 U.S. Highway 11, Gouverneur. All proceeds will go toward the Gouverneur Kiwanis Wildcat Backpack Program. The cost is $10 per person, and teams can be up to six members. RSVP with your team to lashomb.stephanie@gcsk12.org.

Don't want to cook? Arrive early and enjoy Gouverneur Elk Richard Wainwright’s Famous Prime Rib Dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. Also serving chicken tenders, fish fry. All meals are served with choice of potato, soup and salad.

All donations of non-perishable food and hygiene items for Gouverneur Kiwanis Wildcat Backpack Program will be collected at this event.

Gouverneur Lions Club upgrading GES nature trail

The Gouverneur Lions Club, working in its first phase to upgrade the nature trail by the Gouverneur Elementary School, removed 12 50-year-old exercise stations. (photo provided by Roger LaPierre)

by Rachel Hunter

With the approval of the Gouverneur Central School District Board of Education and GCSD Superintendent of Schools Lauren French, the Gouverneur Lions Club in conjunction with the school maintenance department completed phase one of the Gouverneur Elementary School Nature Trail clean-up and upgrade, which included removal and disposal of 12 50-year-old wooden exercise stations.

Phase two of the project will be to resurface portions of trails which get flooded out at certain times of the year along with redoing the wooden walkway bridge, perhaps even as a covered bridge.

Superintendent of Schools Lauren French was also successful in obtaining a $10,000 grant for new trail equipment, which will help revitalize the nature trail for years to come.

More information on this endeavor will be published once it is made available to the Gouverneur Tribune Press.

Much gratitude is extended to all those for their cooperation on this project, so that the Gouverneur community can enjoy a great one-mile walk in the woods – that is safe and easy.

This Saturday, February 1, North Country families are invited to head out to the nature trail for a “Winter Book Walk” anytime between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. This is a free event that is sponsored by the Gouverneur Central School District Wellness Committee and Elementary PTO in conjunction with the St. Lawrence County Health Initiative. Mounted book pages located around the trail will give families the experience of walking through a winter story while getting active and having fun. There also will be fitness challenges at each stop for those looking for an optional challenge to get active with family members. All those who are interested in joining are reminded to dress warmly and don their winter weather gear before heading out the door to join this free, family friendly event. For more information, visit the GCSD Wildcat Facebook page.