Massena, NY, Apr 02, 2012 — Smelting operations at both the Alcoa East and West plants are continuing as usual Monday, and an investigation into the cause of a fire in the casthouse of the West plant last week is underway.

A preliminary survey of the casthouse Friday found areas that are structurally safe. That allowed state fire investigators to get to work in the building.

Alcoa spokeswoman Laurie Marr said it's too soon to determine the extent of the damages, or the long-term impact on the plant's operations.  Go to full article

Mar 30, 2012 — UPDATE: Alcoa now says a preliminary survey of the casthouse Friday "determined areas that are structurally safe. This allowed state fire investigators to begin their investigation. It is too soon to determine the extent of damage to equipment and the long-term impact on processes. It is unknown how long the investigation process will take."

Firefighters were still working Friday afternoon to extinguish small flare-ups called "hot spots." at the Alcoa West plant near Massena. The fire began Thursday afternoon.  Go to full article

Massena, NY, Mar 30, 2012 — Officials with Alcoa say flare ups from a large fire at their West Plant casthouse building, near Massena, were out by 4:30 this morning. Alcoa spokesperson Laurie Marr says firefighters from multiple fire departments were on the scene through the night.

She says no one was hurt in the fire. Thick black smoke drifted over Massena. Marr says they don't think the smoke contained hazardous materials.  Go to full article

Massena, NY, Feb 29, 2012 — One of two young Amish children who were listed in critical condition after their horsedrawn buggy was rear-ended by a FedEx truck Monday, is now listed as stable.

The Watertown Daily Times reports that the driver of the FedEx truck has been identified as 28-year old Robert Williams of Gouverneur. Neither he nor his passenger was hurt.  Go to full article

Massena, NY, Feb 28, 2012 — One woman and 2 children were still hospitalized Tuesday, after a Fedex Truck rear-ended an Amish horsedrawn buggy containing two women and four young children. The accident happened yesterday on State Route 37 in Massena.

Neither of the two people in the Fedex truck was injured--but everyone in the buggy was hospitalized. State Police sergeant James Lobdell says two of the children were more seriously hurt.  Go to full article

Sudbury, MA, Feb 01, 2012 — The Northern Symphonic Winds winter concert is this Saturday night (7:30) in the Massena High School Auditorium. "Altered States" is the theme of the concert that will also include select Massena student musicians. The concert is a benefit for the school's music program. Todd Moe talks with conductor Brian Doyle about choosing a theme and music for the concert.  Go to full article

Massena, NY, Nov 02, 2011 — Historic and re-enactment groups around the region are commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War this year. But it isn't all cannons and uniforms. The many layers of a 19th century woman were revealed as part of a fashion show in Massena recently.

Todd Moe talks with Maria Hull, a technology teacher in the Hudson Valley, who is also a Civil War re-enactor. Women's fashions from that era were all about making the waist appear small. Hull says hoop skirts, petticoats and full sleeves helped. She studied theater arts in college, makes her own Civil War era dresses and is an expert on women's fashions from the 1860s.  Go to full article

Massena, NY, Oct 17, 2011 — There's a new wrinkle in the budget process for municipalities and school districts across New York. At Gov. Andrew Cuomo's urging this spring, state legislators approved a new 2 percent cap on how much local property taxes can go up in a given fiscal year.

But with expenses rising and revenues flat, counties and towns are weighing the possibility of overriding the cap. As Martha Foley reports, one St. Lawrence County town has reluctantly taken the first step.  Go to full article

Massena, NY, Oct 14, 2011 — Massena's town council says it doesn't want to raise property taxes more than 2% for next year. But after it passed a new law allowing it to override the cap, that option is there if needed.

The council voted 5-nothing to pass the law...after holding a required public forum on Wednesday night.  Go to full article

Montreal, QC, Jul 18, 2011 — We heard St. Lawrence Seaway Administrator Terry Johnson talk about bringing "containers" into the Seaway. Those are the norm of international commerce - all-purpose boxes that fit on ships, trucks, and trains. They can carry anything from paper clips to teddy bears to computers.

Seaway officials have trumpeted container traffic as a huge growth opportunity for the better part of a decade. Yet the infrastructure's still not in place. Few, if any, Great Lakes ports have the cranes to off-load containers.

Todd Moe reports at least one industry analyst is skeptical.  Go to full article