The Plattsburgh Common Council considered a number of routine items during its meeting Thursday evening
Councilors began their work session moving immediately into executive session
which included proposals for capital projects and beach improvements
A request to authorize revisions to a Water Resource Recovery Facility capital project prompted Ward 3 Democrat Elizabeth Gibbs to ask Environmental Manager Janelle Henry about the request
Could you explain what this is going to do?” Gibbs asked
“We’re going to have our structural and architectural updates
That’s something that involves a lot of improvements to the structure of the facility as well
And we are going to apply for $200,000 on top of what we’ve applied for,” Henry replied
Councilors unanimously approved the revisions
During a discussion on adding streets to planned paving projects
Gibbs asked Department of Public Works Superintendent Michael Bessette if the trade war could impact the plan
“Are the tariffs and all of this happening right now
is that going to impact asphalt costs?” Gibbs asked
“Currently the price has a bit of escalation
Trucking costs have gone up quite a bit," Bessette responded
"For us it’s not that big a factor as far as trucking goes
We have the ability to work with our other towns.”
Several measures were on the agenda regarding improvements at the city beach
including the roof of the bath house and restrooms
Director of Community Development Courtney Meisenheimer explained a green infrastructure project is part of a Department of Environmental Conservation grant awarded in 2022 to make other improvements at the beach
Green infrastructure is bioretention pools
A lot of this work is to mitigate storm runoff into the lake
It’s also going to make the space more beautiful because they’re going to be seeing trees and bushes to mitigate the water runoff," explained Meisenheimer
"Hopefully by the end of this year we’ll be coming back with the design after it’s been fully completed and then we’ll be recommending an award for our contract.”
The city and town of Plattsburgh recently announced the municipalities are partnering for a joint Memorial Day Parade
Community Engagement Coordinator Emma Stewart provided an update on planning for the event
“We’ve been working with the town of Plattsburgh to put together a Memorial Day parade for Monday
May 26th starting from Westside Ballroom heading down New York Road
exiting New York Road and then all the way to the Oval
And then we’ll have a ceremony at 1:00 at the Veterans’ Memorial Park on the oval,” Stewart said
added that the route and timing of the parade coordinates with veterans’ organizations Memorial Day ceremonies
We didn’t want people to leave because they’re going to have the memorial service right there at 1:00," noted Hughes
"So we’ll get the parade done and then we’re going to start the memorial service.”
During new business councilors agreed to hold a special work session next week in order to complete a five-year plan by June 1st
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Hudson Valley Community College and SUNY Plattsburgh are launching a dual admissions partnership
The new partnership provides students with a track to continue work on a bachelor’s degree at SUNY Plattsburgh after graduating from the community college in Troy
students will be able to participate in a program to continue on at SUNY Plattsburgh after graduating
HVCC Officer in Charge Louis Coplin says students will be offered the option “at the gate.”
“It is primarily for those students who are in high school
or may have graduated a couple of years ago from high school
haven’t started a college program yet and may simply want to begin that process in the fall
its not necessarily for traditional age students
it’s for anyone who is wanting to start a program and have their eyes set on SUNY Plattsburgh,” he said
The partnership promises to offer program pathways in more than 50 disciplines
The program will enable students to transfer to either the main SUNY Plattsburgh campus or its Queensbury branch
SUNY Plattsburgh President Alexander Enyedi says HVCC students will be eligible for university services including accessibility
“All those services will be essentially seamlessly provided to students who qualify for those programs on our campus
so if you’re an ASAP student at Hudson Valley
you will become an ACE student at SUNY Plattsburgh,” he said
ACE refers to the Advancing Completion through Engagement support program to keep students on schedule to graduate
Enyedi says HVCC students who enroll will gain access to additional SUNY Plattsburgh resources
“The great part about this is that when you apply
you’re simultaneously admitted to both institutions
you can also ask a question at SUNY Plattsburgh and you’ll get an individual that will support you,” he said
Lindsey Waters is a graduate of the community college who transferred to SUNY Plattsburgh’s Queensbury campus last fall
Waters was not part of the newly announced dual admission program but has followed the same path
She graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice
“Once I realized that Plattsburgh had a branch campus
All of the staff that work at the Plattsburgh branch campus and all of the professors are incredible,” she said
The 21-year-old plans to continue beyond a four-year degree
“I either want to go to SUNY Albany and do a combined master’s in social work and criminal justice or I want to stay through Plattsburgh and either just do a social work master’s degree and then I want to be a child forensic interviewer
which is kind of that first point of contact when they are the victim or witness of a crime,” she said
The new programs will be available to students beginning in the fall
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Apr 15
President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown has come to colleges and universities around the U.S.
The federal government has revoked the visa of an international student studying at SUNY Plattsburgh
WCAX reported that the university sent an email to students last week
"Our focus has been 100% on supporting that student
providing them the best possible guidance and advice
but also providing them follow-up care on campus and pointing them in the direction of how they can actually resolve and figure out what their next steps are," SUNY Plattsburgh President Alexander Enyedi said on Tuesday
The decision was made through the federal program that manages non-immigrants who come to the U.S
"The federal government makes the decisions on its student visas' validity or whether it has been revoked," he said
In the last month, about 1,300 international students and scholars around the country have had their visas revoked or their federal immigration records terminated, according to NAFSA: The Association of International Educators
SUNY Chancellor John King said this is a difficult and traumatic time for higher ed
"We're working closely with the students to provide them with support in various ways," King said
it's mental health support because this is a very traumatic disruption to their vision for their own education
It's academic support to help them figure out how to navigate given their changed immigration status."
King said they’re also connecting students with the Office of New Americans within New York’s State Department to help students navigate these problems
He said additional international students in the SUNY system are also facing visa revocation
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Hudson Valley Community College and SUNY Plattsburgh announced a new dual admissions agreement on Friday
Officials say the new agreement is designed to strengthen transfer pathways and support student success across both SUNY institutions
students can apply to both institutions at once and gain a clear
guided path to earning their bachelor’s degree at SUNY Plattsburgh
“There is a place at SUNY for every New Yorker
and we are committed to the success of every student,” SUNY Chancellor John King said in a statement
"The new partnership between Hudson Valley Community College and SUNY Plattsburgh will strengthen the transfer process and make an excellent
affordable SUNY education available to more students in the Hudson Valley.”
The partnership offers over 50 program-to-program pathways across the schools of health sciences
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Mar 18
North Country voters held rallies outside Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s office locations in Plattsburgh and Ogdensburg Saturday to protest potential federal cuts to social safety net programs
More than a hundred people gathered outside the Clinton County Government Center in downtown Plattsburgh
holding signs with messages like "Stop the cuts,” “This MUSK stop” and “Save Lives
"A rally a day keeps the fascists away," they chanted
Cara ChapmanNorth Country voters rally against possible Medicaid cuts in Plattsburgh
More than 100 people gathered outside the Clinton County Government Center in downtown Plattsburgh Saturday
March 15 to protest potential cuts to federal programs
Though the rally took place in front of Stefanik’s office
Most of crowd's ire was directed toward President Donald Trump’s agenda
Trump signed a bill to avoid a government shutdown that trims non-defense spending by $13 billion this fiscal year
Congressional Republicans’ larger budget framework calls for reducing spending by $2 trillion over the next decade
'No cuts to hardworking Americans to fund tax breaks for billionaires and corporations,'" Adirondack Voters for Change President Kary Johnson told the crowd
To reach that $2 trillion in long-term cuts, experts say Medicaid will be a necessary target
That’s the federal health insurance program for low-income Americans
Alison King of Franklin tells the crowd Medicaid is "smart economics" and shouldn't be cut
Photo: Cara ChapmanAlison King of Franklin said she’s a scientist who’s spent her career in biomedical research and public policy
She told the crowd Medicaid is smart economics because it helps keep folks healthy
funds rural health care facilities and sets low-income children up for a better start
Do you want families to struggle with health care debt
Do you want Congress to cut kids’ Medicaid to give tax cuts to the rich?" she asked the crowd
Jadelyn Chambers of Malone said she works in health care as a receptionist
so she deals with insurance and sees a lot of people who rely on safety net programs like Medicaid
"It’s awful when you see people come in and they’re sad because they might possibly have to pay out of pocket for all these visits and
Another unifying sentiment at the rally was criticism of Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency
Lisa Stickney of Franklin County said she agrees there’s fraud and waste with any system like the federal government
But she disagrees with DOGE’s approach
which she described as like using a chainsaw
(From left) Sherry Brown
Lisa Stickney and Jane Gomez drove from Franklin County to attend the rally
Photo: Cara Chapman"Go in with the auditors
audit these areas and root it out," she said
It’s going to take a long time to recover from this."
He works in tech and said he’s frustrated with how fellow members of his industry are making these cuts in areas where they have no expertise
having to bring workers back after firing them in like the nuclear arsenal
it turns out those people were essential after all,'" he said
"That’s what happens when you don’t consult experts and you don’t consult people who are on the ground and doing the work."
She said funding to pay research students has been pushed back or canceled entirely
(From left) Shai Jones and Jadelyn Chambers say it's important for young people to get involved in politics
Photo: Cara Chapman"We’re trying to get them into the research lab so they have better opportunities when they leave the school to go find jobs
to go to grad school or nursing programs or whatever they’re trying to get into and that really helps them," she said
"But if I can’t always pay them to do that
we don’t always have the supplies in our labs ready to go
The Theisens said they hope seeing a crowd outside the government center inspires other people to speak up
Shai Jones of Malone said now is not the time to be complacent
"We are the communities that are under attack," he said
rural communities are under attack so the time is now to stand up and defend yourself — and your neighbors."
Jones and others say they plan to take that energy to the ballot box in the anticipated special election to replace Stefanik later this year
Adirondack Voters for Change President Kary Johnson speaks to the crowd at the rally
Apr 16
Clinton Community College's move to SUNY Plattsburgh's campus was formalized with the signing of an agreement Tuesday
CCC Administrator in Charge Ken Knelly said it's a game-changer
"It’s not an overstatement to say that
the people in this room have saved a college," he said
Before the plans were first announced early last year
Enrollment had declined by more than half over the previous decade
helping to create a deficit of about $850,000
CCC also faced the possible loss of its accreditation
which the college needs in order to receive federal funding and for its students to get federal financial aid
SUNY Chancellor John King said the relocation plan and partnership in the community helped turn things around
"Clinton’s accreditation has now been reaffirmed through 2030," he said
Clinton has a path forward and a home that will allow it to thrive."
The majority of CCC’s classes will be housed in SUNY Plattsburgh’s Redcay Hall
The administration will take over a house on Court Street
the former home of SUNY Plattsburgh's Canadian Studies program
in addition to bringing new energy to SUNY Plattsburgh’s campus
the move is also a win for the surrounding community
"This partnership reinforces Plattsburgh’s role as the North Country’s higher education capital," he said
"It is a strategic advantage and a chance to lead the way in defining what collaboration in public higher education can look like."
Another agreement signed Tuesday makes nearby Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital the future home of CCC’s nursing and EMT programs
Hospital president Michelle LeBeau started her nursing career in 1990 through an evening program at CCC
the college was trying to respond to a need in the community
"Every community needs a bright and vibrant hospital," LeBeau said
"and I believe that ours is bright and vibrant and that
after each of us has moved on to whatever comes next in our careers
that this moment will mean a future for our colleges and for our organization
Officials expect CCC to be fully moved into its new home by the start of the fall 2025 semester
has hired a company to evaluate reuse and redevelopment options
It’s often said that anything can happen in live theater. In the next comedy on the stage at the Strand Center Theater in Plattsburgh
Adirondack Regional Theatre celebrates its 25 years in the community with a new production of The Play That Goes Wrong
The Tony Award-winning comedy is a play within a play
As British community theatre players attempt to stage a murder mystery
resulting in a hilariously disastrous performance
Director Neil Battinelli calls the play the biggest and most technically challenging show in the two and a half-decade history of ART
and numerous elements that fall apart and must be meticulously reset for every show
the mastermind behind the set construction
shared insight into the immense challenges and craftsmanship involved: “First
we had to redesign the set to fit the Strand stage
keeping in mind that it cannot attach to the floor
It had to be designed in such a way that we could build it in the ART warehouse
Experience The Play That Goes WrongThe Strand Center Theater
Tickets may be purchased online or at the door
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The SUNY Chancellor was in Plattsburgh this morning to sign two agreements advancing the move of Clinton Community College onto the SUNY Plattsburgh campus
officials at the community college announced that it would relocate its programs
faculty and students to the SUNY campus a few miles away
On Tuesday morning SUNY Chancellor John King Jr
signed agreements with college officials formalizing the partnership
“First we are taking steps to formalize the relocation of Clinton Community College to the SUNY Plattsburgh campus
support academic and operational sustainability and create a learning environment that benefits both institutions
It also allows Clinton County to reimagine the bluff for community use and potential development,” King explained
we are advancing a key component of Clinton’s relocation plan: the college’s new partnership with Champlain Valley Physician’s Hospital
By placing Clinton’s nursing and EMT programs inside a premier medical institution
we’re delivering a truly immersive learning experience
King noted that the move was motivated by declining enrollment and a requirement that the college improve its fiscal standing or lose its accreditation
“I’m proud that this community did not retreat
Local leaders and SUNY staff locked arms to find solutions
Clinton’s accreditation has now been reaffirmed through 2030
Clinton has a path forward and a home that will allow it to thrive,” King said
“Today we spotlight the roadmap for how institutions can adapt and thrive in the face of challenge
Today we celebrate what’s possible when public higher education leads with urgency
Administrator in Charge Ken Knelly said faculty
students and community partners saved Clinton Community College
“It’s not an overstatement to say that collectively the people in this room have saved a college,” lauded Knelly
“We had to increase enrollment and gain reaccreditation and we did that
could Clinton County survive without a community college
And the answer is it could but it would be a branch office with gaps no one else would fill
But we don’t really have to worry about that
The college does matter and it’s here for generations to come.”
SUNY Plattsburgh President Alexander Enyedi says the co-located campuses offer a tremendous opportunity to enhance the region’s economic vitality
“Today we celebrate partnerships that are instrumental in serving our students
enhancing our workforce and expanding opportunities within our region
This is an effort that reflects our shared dedication to student access
student success and regional success,” Enyedi told the audience
“Together we are creating pathways that will benefit our students and strengthen our communities
These partnerships are a clear demonstration of SUNY’s commitment to local impact and its role as a catalyst for regional development.”
Chancellor King is excited that this fall a new and revitalized Clinton Community College will open on the SUNY Plattsburgh campus
“You know this will be the first time we have a community college physically located on the campus of one of our four year institutions
But close collaboration is not uncommon and in fact Plattsburgh has a very close partnership with Adirondack Community College
where there’s a satellite campus of Plattsburgh on the Adirondack campus,” King noted
but this is unique the colocation of two institutions.”
A second agreement formalizes a partnership with the CVPH Medical Center
Clinton Community will collocate its nursing
EMT and paramedic programs at the hospital
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(WCAX) - A Plattsburgh radio station is signing off one last time
WIRY-AM 1340 has been serving the community for 75 years
but the station posted on Facebook that they are shutting down
They say the ‘evolving media landscape’ and rise of digital platforms and social media have led to a drop in listeners
There’s no word yet on their official last day
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2 members of Congress make an unusual trip to the North Country to hold a rally to warn residents about the threat of massive cuts in federal health care funding
Vermont Senator Peter Welch and NY Congressman Paul Tonko joined forces to host the rally at the VFW in Plattsburgh
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