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Red Knights Sept. 11 Ride Will Benefit Watertown Urban Mission

September 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

(Watertown, NY – Sept. 5, 2011) The Red Knights MC, New York Chapter 38 is inviting motorcycle riders from throughout the community to join them in remembering the bravery of first responders and the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001 this Sunday by participating in the club’s 9th Annual 9/11 Ride.

This year the club of firefighters and auxiliary will donate the money raised to benefit the Watertown Urban Mission, which offers local programs to aid people in the community when they face struggles and need help getting back on their feet.

“On this, the 10th Anniversary of those tragic attacks, it’s important we continue to remember all who were lost in those attacks, especially the first responders who bravely gave their own lives to save others,” said Doug Thomas, event coordinator, and member of the Red Knights Motorcycle Club in Jefferson County. “And with this our 9th run, we’re thrilled to partner with the Watertown Urban Mission so that the money we raise can be used locally to help people in need right here in our own communities.”

The ride will start with registration at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, at the Eagle’s Club on Washington Street (Route 11) in Watertown.

At 10:30 a.m., after a blessing of the riders by Fr. Vincent Freeh from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish, Watertown the ride will head south on Route 11, to Route 232 and connect with Route 3 heading south through Port Ontario to Mexico and head east on Route 104 to the Mapleview truckstop, then west on Route 104 to Route 11 North to return to the Eagles Club to have a cookout of hotdogs and hamburgers for the riders.

The cost is $15 per bike with rider and $5 for a passenger.

“We are so grateful for the generosity of the Red Knights and their choice to donate the proceeds of this ride to the Watertown Urban Mission,” said Erika Flint, Watertown Urban Mission executive director. “It’s the generosity of this community which enables us to do what we do to give people a hand through their most difficult times and the Red Knights represent the best in our community with their dedication to service as firefighters and through the motorcycle club.”

The Red Knights is a motorcycle club for members of fire service and their families who enjoy riding motorcycles. Membership is open to all firefighters, active, retired, volunteer, or industrial, who have access to a motorcycle and hold a valid motorcycle driver’s license. Spouses, members’ children, boyfriends, and girlfriends are also welcome as Social Members. The group is always seeking new members and for membership information go to www.redknightsmcny38.com.

The club’s mission is to promote motorcycle safety, project a positive image of motorcycling, enjoy the fraternity of firefighters, and engage exclusively in social, charitable and educational activities to increase the general understanding of, enjoyment of, competency, sportsmanship and participation in the sport of motorcycling.

 

Filed Under: Annoucements, Announcements, Calendar of Events, Dining and Entertainment, Jefferson County, Watertown

Livestock Processing Service Coordinator to Visit Northern New York Sept. 16

September 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

(Watertown, NY – Sept. 2011) There’s money to be made in direct marketing locally-raised meat products. On Friday Sept. 16, Northern New York beef, sheep, goat and pork producers will meet with Kathleen Harris of the Northeast Livestock Processing Service Company (NELPSC). The company is a farmer-owned LLC with more than 100 New York livestock farmers working with 11 processors.

The Northern New York Regional Livestock Team of Cornell Cooperative Extension organized the 4-9pm bring-a-dish dinner workshop at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County, 203 North Hamilton St. in Watertown. The meeting will be videoconferenced to Extension sites in Franklin (Malone), Essex (Westport) and Clinton (Plattsburgh) counties. St. Lawrence County farmers may contact their local CCE office about carpooling to Watertown. There is a $10 fee for the workshop.

Harris coordinates sales for NELPSC’s farmer-members with wholesale meat purchasers, such as universities. Contracts can involve thousands of pounds of products, translating to thousands of dollars in sales for the farmers. Stonebroke Farm in Warnerville credits the Northeast Livestock Processing Service Company for help marketing $90,000 worth of cattle in one year’s time.

Harris says, “The Northern New York region knows how to produce quality livestock and because of its location, producers have become experts at co-mingling loads. They just need a little help with the processing and marketing of their products. The Northeast Livestock Processing Service helps farmers develop the skills necessary to coordinate their livestock processing and to market premium-priced niche products.”

NELPSC processing facilitation services include scheduling processing, taking and conveying producers’ cutting instructions, in-plant oversight, and mitigating farmer-processor conflicts. Marketing services include an online sales service, livestock production fact sheets, and helping farmers find more profitable private market opportunities, such as buyers for natural, grass-fed or humanely-raised meat products.

Northern New York Regional Livestock Team Leader Betsy Hodge, a Livestock Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) St. Lawrence County, says, “It is possible to capture more of your profits on a small farm even in a high cost state like New York if you are willing to market your own farm products. This presentation offers livestock producers six basic principles for success.”

For more information, contact Corey Hayes, CCE Jefferson County, 315-788-8450 or Betsy Hodge, CCE St. Lawrence at 315-379-9192.

To register for the videoconference in Clinton County, call CCE at 518-561-7450; in Franklin County, 518-483-7403, and in Essex County, 518-962-4810.

Filed Under: Agriculture, Annoucements, Announcements, Calendar of Events, Jefferson County, Watertown

Healthy Outdoor Adventure Renewed for 2012

September 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

(Great Lakes Seaway Trail, NY and PA – Sept. 1, 2011) The Great Lakes Seaway Trail GeoTrail has completed its first full year of providing a healthy outdoor activity for GPS-guided explorers with a $150,000 impact for the byway’s local economies in New York and Pennsylvania.

Organizers with the nonprofit tourism organization Seaway Trail, Inc., Sackets Harbor say they expect the total economic impact for the current supply of GeoCoins – tokens available once a certain number of caches are found – will be approximately $400,000.

Geocaching enthusiasts who use hand-held global positioning systems have embraced the fun and challenge of finding as many as 75 caches hidden in the landscape along the 518-mile length of the Great Lakes Seaway Trail National Scenic Byway. The byway parallels the freshwater shoreline of 11 counties: St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Oswego, Cayuga, Wayne, Monroe, Orleans, Niagara, Erie, and Chautauqua, NY; and Erie, PA.

A total of 1,481 Great Lakes Seaway Trail GeoCoins were claimed by those finding at least ten of 15 hidden caches in any of the byway’s five regions: Lake Erie, Buffalo/Niagara Falls, Rochester/Central Lake Ontario, Eastern Lake Ontario, and the 1000 Islands/St. Lawrence River.

Cachers typically spent two or three days geocaching in each region, spending an average of $80 to $150 in each region.

“Nearly all the participants surveyed indicated they are caching along the entire Great Lakes Seaway Trail GeoTrail, spending nearly two weeks on the byway to do so,” said Seaway Trail, Inc. Director of Business Relations Kurt Schumacher.

“People have come from 26 US states, five Canadian provinces, and as far away as Australia to complete the GeoTrail. As we’re seeing more people from outside the byway region, we’re also seeing longer stays and higher average expenditures,” Schumacher added.

Sixty-one percent of those surveyed said their GeoTrail adventure was highly likely to influence their decision to travel on the Great Lakes Seaway Trail in the future.

Seaway Trail, Inc. President and CEO Teresa Mitchell said, “This ‘get outdoors on the Great Lakes Seaway Trail’ initiative is an accessible and affordable opportunity to enjoy healthy fresh air travel along the entire Great Lakes shoreline of New York and Pennsylvania.”

The Great Lakes Seaway Trail GeoTrail will continue in 2012. Logbooks are available at locations along the byway, including:
St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, Canton, NY

1000 Islands International Tourism Council, Alexandria Bay, NY

Seaway Trail Discovery Center, Sackets Harbor, NY
Oswego County Tourism, Oswego, NY
Cayuga County Tourism, Auburn, NY
Wayne County Tourism, Lyons, NY
VisitRochester, Rochester, NY
Niagara USA Official Visitor Center, Niagara Falls, NY
Visit Buffalo Niagara, Buffalo, NY
Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau, Chautauqua, NY, and
Tom Ridge Environmental Center, Erie, PA.

This geocaching travel initiative debuted in August 2010 with 75 caches – used military ammo boxes emblazoned with the Great Lakes Seaway Trail logo — hidden by a cadre of local volunteers working in collaboration with Seaway Trail, Inc. and GeoTrail coordinator Jim “Boots” Hooper.

Each cache includes a unique punch tool for marking logbooks. Sponsor sites validate the logbooks to issue the collectible GeoCoins. The colorful antique metal-finish square coins feature iconic byway landmarks: the St. Lawrence Seaway, historic Fort Ontario, Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse, Niagara Falls and the Maid of the Mist tour boat, and the Flagship Niagara.

Cachers can learn more about the Great Lakes Seaway Trail GeoTrail and where to pick up a logbook by visiting www.seawaytrail.com/geotrail.

Filed Under: Annoucements, Announcements, Fun and recreation, Jefferson County, Oswego, Oswego County, Sackets Harbor

State Police Investigate Officer Involved Shooting in Watertown

August 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Updated Information

(Watertown, NY – Aug. 28, 2011) In reference to the ongoing investigation at the Stewarts Convenience Store, 1226 located at Washington Street, Watertown, NY:

The deceased subject has been positively identified as Laura J. Pettey, 50 years of age, from Evans Road, Dexter. A post mortem examination by the Jefferson County Medical Examiner is scheduled for later this afternoon.

No additional information is available at this time.

Original release

(Watertown, NY – Aug. 28, 2011) The New York State Police in Watertown are investigating an officer-involved shooting, at the request of the City of Watertown Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department.

The investigation has revealed that a female subject, believed to be 50 years old from Dexter, entered the Stewart’s Convenience Store on Washington Street in the City of Watertown at approximately 11:05 p.m. Saturday evening.

The subject brandished what appeared to be a pistol and pointed it at two store employees, while making suicidal comments. She then told the employees that they should call the police. She released the female employee a short time later, and upon the arrival of responding officers she led the male employee from the store into the front parking lot at gunpoint. Witnesses say she was told repeatedly to drop the gun, but then turned and pointed the weapon at the responding officers. Rounds were fired by two of the Watertown police officers, and one Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputy.

Although still under review, it is believed that six (6) total rounds were fired, at least one of which struck the subject in the chest area. The subject was unresponsive at the scene, and was pronounced deceased at Samaritan Medical Center a short time later.

An autopsy is scheduled for later today. None of the store employees, witnesses, or responding officers were injured. It was later discovered the weapon used by the subject was a pellet pistol.

The names of the involved officers are not being released by the state police at this time. Consultation is underway with the Jefferson County District Attorney as is routine in these matters, but the investigation thus far indicates that the responding officers properly performed their duties during a difficult and stressful situation.

 

 

Filed Under: Cops/Crime/Courts, Cops/Crime/Courts, Dexter, Jefferson County, Opinion/Editorial, Watertown

Porter Family of Adams Center Wins State’s Agricultural Environmental Management Award

August 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

News from New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets

ALBANY, NY (08/10/2011)(readMedia)– Porterdale Farms in Adams Center, Jefferson County is the recipient of this year’s New York State Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) Award, announced New York State Agriculture Commissioner Darrel J. Aubertine. The Porters, along with the Jefferson County Soil and Water District, were honored during the Agricultural Leadership Luncheon ceremonies at Empire Farm Days in Seneca Falls.

“In business for more than seven decades, Porterdale Farms has had a longstanding commitment to being good stewards of the land and serving their community,” said Commissioner Aubertine. “As one of New York’s first large livestock farms to be regulated, this farm family was quick to adopt AEM into their business plan, allowing them to meet requirements and advance their conservation efforts, while helping their farm business thrive. Congratulations to the Porter family – you have rightfully earned this esteemed recognition.”

The AEM Award is presented annually to a farm family that practices sound agricultural stewardship by incorporating the AEM program into the operation of their farm business. The county Soil and Water Conservation District is also recognized for their important role in providing necessary technical assistance and resources.

Porterdale Farms was started in 1938 by Glenn and Ruth Porter with 198 acres and 35 cows. Today, David and Judy Porter with sons Greg and Ron and grandsons David, Jameson, Casey and Andrew, have 1700 mature cows and 1300 replacement heifers. They crop alfalfa, grass, hay, corn silage and corn grain on 4,500 acres.

State Soil and Water Conservation Committee Chairman George Proios said, “The Porter’s work with the Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District to continually evaluate their conservation systems and improve upon their stewardship is truly commendable!”

The Porters and the Jefferson County Soil and Water District were selected for the 2011 AEM award because of their demonstrated commitment to managing, protecting and improving natural resources. Porterdale Farms built a new freestyle barn, eliminating the need for barnyard water management. They practice conservation tillage to prevent soil erosion, installed a silage leachate collection system to protect water quality and planted a tree, shrub and grass buffer to help protect Sandy Creek, which is the main source of drinking water for the Village of Adams.

Six other New York farms and Conservation Districts were recognized by the Commissioner for Honorable Mention. They are:

• Eight Mile Creek Farm of Westerlo, sponsored by Albany County Soil and Water Conservation District

• Aurora Ridge Dairy, LLC of Aurora, sponsored by Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District

• Downing Acres of Burke, sponsored by Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District

• Hillsprings Farm of Addison, sponsored by Steuben County Soil and Water Conservation District

• Jerry Dell Farms of Dryden, sponsored by Tompkins County Soil and Water Conservation District

• Heritage Hill Farms of Fort Ann, sponsored by Washington County Soil and Water Conservation District

With over 12,000 farms participating, New York’s AEM program serves as a national model of how a voluntary, incentive-based approach can successfully protect the State’s natural resources, while meeting the economic needs of our diverse agricultural community. The AEM partnership of local, state and federal agencies, environmental groups, businesses and farmers, provides the technical, educational and financial assistance to develop and implement sound farm conservation plans.

The 18th Annual Agricultural Environmental Management Award is jointly sponsored by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, American Agriculturist Magazine and the Empire State Potato Growers.

Filed Under: Adams Center, Agriculture, Annoucements, Announcements, Jefferson County, Opinion/Editorial Tagged With: , , , , ,

‘Finding Your Way Through the Mental Health Network’

August 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

(Fort Drum, NY – Aug. 2011) The Community Mental Health Education Program, a program supported by the partnership of Cornell Cooperative Extension Association of Jefferson County, Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization (FDRHPO), and Jefferson County Community Services, is hosting a “Finding Your Way Through the Mental Health Network” training.

The training will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 28 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. at “The Commons” on Fort Drum.  This event will help military and community families, veterans, and the organizations that work with them become more familiar with the behavioral health resources available on Fort Drum and in Jefferson County.  Lunch will be provided free of charge.

To learn more, visit the Community Mental Health Education Program website at: www.jeffcountymentalhealth.com or contact Sue Walling at 788-8450 or slw248@cornell.edu.

Military Families that would like to make reservations for childcare should call Children Youth Services to register for hourly care.  Reservations can be made 30 days in advance once registered.  Please call 772-8675.

 

Filed Under: Calendar of Events, Fort Drum, Health, Health & Medicine, Jefferson County, Veteran's Corner

Lisa Weber receives the 2011 ATHENA Award

August 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Watertown Chamber

 

(Watertown, NY – Aug. 10, 2011) Peter Whitmore, President and CEO of the Greater Watertown – North Country Chamber of Commerce, announced that Lisa Weber- President and CEO/ Owner, Timeless Frames, Décor & Expressions has been selected as the 2011 ATHENA Award Recipient.  The announcement was made at noon at the Dulles State Office Building.

This is the 21st annual ATHENA Award presented and sponsored by the Greater Watertown – North Country Chamber of Commerce, HSBC Bank USA, N.A., Timeless Frames and WWNY 7News/Fox 28.

The ATHENA Award is a nationally and internationally recognized program introduced in Jefferson County in 1991, which celebrates the potential of all women as valued members and leaders of the community and recognizes those who support them.  The ATHENA Award honors individuals who strive toward the highest levels of professional accomplishment, and those who excel in their chosen fields, have devoted time and energy into their community in a meaningful way, and who open paths so that others may follow.

The selection committee, composed of previous award recipients, reviewed the nominations using the official ATHENA International selection criteria and chose Weber as this year’s recipient. Dan Villa, American Red Cross nominated Weber for the award.

Through her hard work and dedication Lisa has taken Timeless Frames to new heights.  Now with over 320 employees, this once fledgling company has become an industry leader.  Her keen business sense and her ability to execute have made this happen at Timeless Frames.  Since moving to Watertown in 1999, Lisa has been actively involved in the community.  She has served on various boards and currently serves as the President of the Samaritan Foundation.  Lisa is always willing to support projects in the community with her time, talent and with support from Timeless Frames.  She works hard to make Watertown a better place to live for all of the residents here.

Lisa Weber – Community Involvement

2011 Greater Watertown American Heart Walk Chairwoman

Samaritan Medical Center, Board of Trustees 2007-Present.

Samaritan Foundation, Board of Trustees 2006-Present. Currently serves as President

Family Counseling Service of Northern New York, Treasurer, Board of Trustees 2006-Present.

Greater Watertown Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors 2006-2009

Jefferson County Job Development Corporation, Board of Directors, Secretary 2002-2004, Board of Directors 2000-2002.

Council for International Trade, Technology, Education and Communication (CITEC), Board of Directors 2003-2005.

County Economic Development Strategy, Committee Member 2003-2006.

Watertown, NY Sunrise Rotary 2002-2004.

Beth Fipps, Samaritan Foundation said, “Lisa “walks the walk;” she leads by example and unselfishly gives of her time and resources to our community every day, in so many ways.”

Collene Alexander, Family Counseling Services said, “She is a leader in the true sense of the word, she will go out of her way every time to help someone else reach their potential, reach their goal.”

Previous local ATHENA Award recipients and their occupations at the time of selection are Rose Frattali, Retired President and Chief Operating Officer, New York Casualty Insurance Company; Michelle Pfaff, Retired Vice President of Commercial Loans, Community Bank NA; Janice Charles, Executive Director, North Country Children’s Clinic; Chandler Ralph, President and Chief Executive Officer, Adirondack Medical Center; Lana Brown-Taylor, Principal, Indian River School District’s Calcium Primary School; Elizabeth Fipps, Samaritan Foundation; Cathy Pircsuk, General Manager, WWNY 7News; Deborah McGloine, Chair of the Hospitality and Tourism Program, Jefferson Community College; Jayn Graves, Chief Professional Officer, United Way of Northern New York, Inc.; Maria Roche, Retired Guidance Counselor, Carthage School District; Margaret (Peg) Fargo, Retired Senior Child Care Director, YMCA; Ruth-Ellen Blodgett, Pamela Caswell, Executive Director, Watertown Urban Mission; and Jane Gendron, Mary Corriveau, City Manager, City of Watertown, Cindy Intschert, District Attorney, Jefferson County, and Katherine Fenlon, Retired Vice President for Academic Affairs, Jefferson Community College , Donna Dutton, City of Watertown and Jody LaLone, Car-Freshner  Corp, Pamela Beyor, The Bernier Carr Group.

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Annoucements, Announcements, Business & Finance, Business and Finance, Jefferson County, Watertown

McKinney Joins CCE of Jefferson County

August 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment
McKinney

 

(Jefferson County, NY – Aug. 5, 2011) Vanessa McKinney has been hired by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County as the Regional Coordinator for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA’s) North Country Energy $mart Communities Program.

This program offers local, convenient, community-based access to NYSERDA’s energy-efficiency and research and development (R&D) programs.

McKinney will work to educate homeowners, community leaders, business owners, and the general public on the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable resources.

Additionally, she will help organizations and businesses build opportunities and create jobs by providing access to job training and recruitment opportunities for local business partners, and provide assistance to energy-related businesses and entrepreneurs through initiatives that increase awareness of local and NYSERDA business assistance services available to early-stage, clean-energy businesses.

Filed Under: Annoucements, Announcements, Employment, Jefferson County

Onondaga County Veterans Endorse John Stone for Supreme Court

August 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

(Onondaga County, NY – Aug. 2011) The Friends of John Stone For Supreme Court Justice is pleased to announce that the Onondaga County Veterans Party has endorsed John Stone in his candidacy for Supreme Court Justice in the New York State Fifth Judicial District.

The Fifth Judicial District includes Onondaga, Oneida, Oswego, Herkimer, Jefferson and Lewis counties.

Filed Under: Annoucements, Announcements, Cops/Crime/Courts, Cops/Crime/Courts, Government & Politics, Government & Politics, Government and Politics, Herkimer County Agencies & Organizations, Jefferson County, Onondaga County Agencies and Organizations, Oswego County, Veteran's Corner

Belleville Henderson Students Take Boston Field Trip

July 31, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Boston Trip 072911

 

(Henderson, NY – July 2011) Students from Belleville Henderson Central School took a field trip to Boston for three days; they are seen here on the Lexington Green with their tour guide “Paul Revere.”

The trip was coordinated by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County which has created an Extended School Day Program at the school in order to offer extra learning opportunities for youth.

Thirty-six teens  grades 9-11 attended the trip. Students had the opportunity to spend a day in Plymouth touring the Mayflower and Plymouth Plantation, a day in Boston on the Freedom Trail and Quincy Market, and a day in Lexington and Concord touring the Revolutionary War Battlefields.

Filed Under: Belleville, Education, Henderson, Jefferson County, Youth Tagged With: , ,
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