PAIN AT THE GAS PUMPS FOR NORTH COUNTRY RESIDENTS

North Country residents and businesses are continuing to feel the effects of record-high gas prices, with many being forced to make difficult choices to try and make ends meet.

The price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas has already topped $3.80 at many gas stations in the Tri-Lakes, well above the national average of $3.60 per gallon.

Those who have to travel long distances to get to work have been feeling the pinch.

Susan Neal works at Saranac Lake’s Pendragon Theater but also teaches at SUNY Potsdam.  She says she’s spending $17 round trip just to get to and from work.  “It does worry me,” she said.  “I pass by one station and onto the next and hope that the prices are a little lower.  I have to go.  I want to go.  I love my job.  But it’s tough.”

Increased prices at the pump have also led to higher prices for groceries.  And many local businesses have been faced with trying to absorb increased fuel costs so they don’t have to pass them onto their customers.

Clyde Baker is the owner of Rice Furniture in Saranac Lake. “Gas we are finding is a real problem,” he said.  “We have to make sure to consolidate our deliveries into different areas – going to Tupper Lake once a week instead of twice a week, going to outlying areas once a week.  Now we’re actually going to start charging to go to those farther areas, which we’ve never had to do before.”

More people may be turning to public transportation, where it’s available.  Ridership is up 20 percent so far this year on the Franklin County Public Transportation system, according to coordinator Bob Bayruns.

But even the costs of running the buses are on the rise because of spiking diesel fuel prices.  “When we budgeted for 2008, we certainly weren’t using a $4 per gallon diesel price, it was probably $3 per gallon,” he said.  “At some point in time we’ll have to look at the rate structure we have and adjust it accordingly.”

The rising fuel and energy costs have also been driving up the budgets of towns, villages and school districts – many of which have had to raise taxes to cover their costs.  The Village of Saranac Lake budgeted for a 65 percent increase in the price of fuel oil.  The Saranac Lake School District’s proposed budget for next year includes a $155,000 increase in diesel and fuel oil costs.

The situation hasn’t gone unnoticed by the region’s lawmakers in Albany. 

On Wednesday, State Senator Betty Little and Assemblywomen Janet Duprey and Teresa Sayward joined with Republican colleagues in the Senate and Assembly to call for a summer gas tax holiday.

They’re supporting legislation that would eliminate the New York State taxes on gasoline from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

“While there are limits on what can be done about high gas prices, cutting state taxes would mitigate the financial impact for families and businesses,” said Little. 

If the legislation were enacted, New Yorkers would save approximately 32 cents per gallon in state gasoline taxes.  Local governments would have the option of waiving their local sales taxes of approximately 14 cents per gallon.

Duprey called on the Assembly’s Democratic majority to pass what she called “vital legislation.”   “For people to travel in the North Country 25-50 miles one way is not unusual. And we can’t get food and goods in without our truckers – its costing them over $1200-$1300 to fill a tank.  We need to provide this relief.”

Assemblywoman Sayward said families in the North Country are being put at risk because of high gas prices.  “Our contractors are just beginning to work and I’m hearing from all of them,” she said.  “We have a huge influx of tourism and if we’re going to maintain our level of sales tax and keep the economy going I think this is the number one thing we need to do this  year.”

The state Senate announced other initiatives Wednesday including the removal of the state sales tax on hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles and providing an EZ Pass discount for fuel efficient vehicles.

-Chris Knight

COMMUNITY STORE PASSES HALF WAY MARK

The Saranac Lake Community Store has passed the half-way mark in its campaign to raise $500,000 to open a community-run department store.

Board President Melinda Little says they surpassed the $250,000 mark in March and have now sold roughly $275,000 worth of shares in the store.

While organizers are pleased with their progress, they’re well behind the timeline that was originally set when the first $100 shares went on sale last summer.  The group had hoped to reach $500,000 by the end of December.

Little admitted Wednesday that timeline may have been unrealistic. “When we first started out I think we were a little naïve about how long it would take,” she said.  “What is very clear to us over time is we need to be in front of people to sell shares.  We’re a very small group and that takes a lot of time and effort.  I think we’re a lot more realistic now about how long that really does take.”

Asked if it’s possible that they’ve tapped out the local market of people willing to buy shares, Little said she didn’t think so.  “Not everybody who’s said they plan to invest has invested yet,” she said.  “That’s for sure.”

“I know in my own circle of people I know, there are probably ten people who say yes I’m going to invest but haven’t done it yet.  And I think they’re serious.  Little by little its trickling in.”

Little also said they need to do a better job reaching out to people in Tupper Lake and Lake Placid that might be willing to invest in the community store.  And they’re also reaching beyond the Tri-Lakes area.

“Our first priority is to get as many people on board here as possible,” she said.  “But we have reached beyond that to other parts of the state and will continue to do that.”

Little said they’re now hoping to reach the goal by the end of this year hopefully sooner.  “Now that we’re over the half-way mark I think the momentum is back,” she said.

Organizers eventually want the store to be located in a new retail building that Dan Reilly of HES Ventures plans to construct on Depot Street.  But, if that isn’t done by this fall, they hope to open in a temporary location.  

The group has scheduled a special event for Saturday, May 10 – its being called Economic Stimulus Saturday.   Little says they’re hoping people will consider using portion of their economic stimulus checks from the federal government to invest in the store.

“We’re hoping that some people who’ve said they want to invest and haven’t yet – this may be the perfect time to do it because they’ll have a little extra cash.  Our hope is people will realize there’s no better way to stimulate the economy those dollars here in Saranac Lake.”

The May 10 event will take place at the community store’s 33 Depot Street office (above HomEnergy Services) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

-Chris Knight 

JUDGE SWITCH ATTEMPT REJECTED IN LEWIS FARM CASE

An Essex County judge has reportedly blocked an attempt by the state Attorney General’s Office to move the Lewis Family Farm case to a different judge.

The Plattsburgh Press Republican reports that Acting Essex County State Supreme Court Judge Richard Meyer denied a motion from Assistant Attorney General Lorretta Simon to move the case to Justice Kevin Ryan.

The state Attorney General’s Office is trying to carry out an Adirondack Park Agency enforcement case against the Lewis Family Farm for construction of three buildings on resource management lands in the Town of Essex without the required APA permits.

Sandy and Barbara Lewis have claimed the structures are farm-worker housing and exempt from park agency regulations. 

In a March 25 enforcement order, the park agency fined the Lewis family $50,000 and barred them from using the structures until obtaining an APA permit. 

But last month Judge Meyer issued a stay against five of the seven enforcement actions by the park agency, excluding the order to pay a $50,000 fine.

Several days later, the Attorney General’s Office requested the matter be moved to Judge Kevin Ryan, who heard the case last summer.  He had found the park agency had jurisdiction over the structures and said the case was “not ripe for judicial intervention.”

But John Privitera, attorney for the Lewis family, called the move a “judge shopping effort that must be thwarted.” 

In denying the change of venue this week, the Press-Republican reports Judge Meyer maintained his earlier order that the Lewis Family Farm pay $50,000 in fines while the legal dispute is ongoing.

He also said the houses must remain unoccupied until the jurisdiction issue is resolved.

A hearing on the matter is scheduled in state Appellate Court on May 12.

-Chris Knight

REVIEW PANEL UPHOLDS FIRING OF EX-CUSTOMS OFFICER

A former senior officer with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection service said he'll keep fighting to get his job back after a review panel nixed claims he was forced out by anti-Semitic higher ups who drummed up bogus charges to get rid of him.

“I'm going to keep fighting because I did not do anything wrong,” Brian Israel, a Canadian-born naturalized U.S. citizen and Navy veteran, said Wednesday.

He was fired last year from his job at the border crossing in Champlain for what the agency said was repeated unprofessional conduct toward members of the public.

The CPB said Israel roughed up, improperly arrested and verbally abused people in 2005 and 2006.

Israel challenged his firing, saying that during his 10 years at the Champlain crossing he was repeatedly subjected to anti-Semitic harassment and his superiors made false charges against him.

An administrative judge with the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board upheld the firing and said a review of the case found no evidence that his removal was motivated by prejudice.

Israel said he believes the judge ignored key testimony and he plans to continue to fight for reinstatement.

He said he is considering another appeal to the merit board or filing a separate complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

-AP wire reports

ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY PAIR CHARGED WITH IDENTITY THEFT

State Police have arrested two St. Lawrence County residents for allegedly stealing the identity of a Rochester-area woman.

Troopers based in Ogdensburg arrested 37 year-old Donald F. Goult [gall-t] and 39 year-old Tammy Spooner-Goult of Oswegatchie on Wednesday.

They were each charged on two counts of second-degree identity theft, two counts of third-degree identity theft and one count of second-degree criminal impersonation. 

Police say that over a two year period the couple purchased internet services, satellite television services, and electrical and home heating services through various companies using the identity of a woman from Fairport, New York. 

They also tried unsuccessfully to create a line of credit in her name, state police said.

The Goults were scheduled to be arraigned in the Town of Oswegatchie Court.  

-Chris Knight

POLICE REPORT

Tupper Lake Village Police charged 28 year-old Jesse Marsh of Tupper Lake with trespass at 3:33 p.m. Wednesday.  Police say he was observed in a trailer court that he had been told not to go.  Marsh was given an appearance ticket for Tupper Lake Village Court.

Tupper Lake Village Police arrested 24 year-old Justin Drasye of Tupper Lake on Wednesday.  He was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, reckless driving and unlawfully fleeing a police officer.  Police say the charges stem from an incident on April 12.  Drasye, while operating an off-road motorcycle, refused to stop for officers and operated recklessly.  He was arraigned on the charges and remanded to the Franklin County Jail in lieu of $5000 cash bail or $10,000 bond.

Lake Placid Police charged 24 year-old Stephen D. Castelhano of Lake Placid with violation of probation at 3:37 p.m. Wednesday.  Police say they were alerted that Castelhano had an active arrest warrant for probation violation.  He turned himself into the police department and was released to the custody of Essex County Sheriff’s Deputies for arraignment in Superior Court.

Lake Placid Police charged 24 year-old William J. Doucette of Lake Placid with third-degree assault at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday.  Doucette was arrested following a police investigation into a domestic incident where the alleged victim suffered multiple contusions.  He was arraigned in village court and released to appear at a later date.  An order of protection was issued for the victim.

Saranac Lake Police charged 28 year-old Tara L. Reynolds of Saranac Lake with violation of probation at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.  She was arrested on an unrelated charge by State Police in Plattsburgh and was found to have an active probation violation warrant from Saranac Lake Village Court.  Reynolds was turned over to the Saranac Lake Police Deparmtent, arraigned and released on $1000 cash bail to appear in village court at a later date.

Saranac Lake Police charged 44 year-old Kevin D. Reynolds of Saranac Lake with violation of probation at 3:40 p.m. Wednesday.  Police say Reynolds was arrested by Lake Placid Police on a probation violation warrant and was turned over to Saranac Lake Police.  He was processed, arraigned in village court and released.

Saranac Lake firefighters were called to a report of an outdoor wood boiler on fire at 12:12 p.m. Wednesday.  Two trucks and 13 members responded to 7931 State Route 3 in Vermontville.  The fire was extinguished and firefighters returned to the fire station by 1:29 p.m.