Potsdam, NY, Feb 07, 2013 — While in Potsdam Tuesday, Governor Cuomo threw cold water on the decades old idea of a new Interstate between Watertown and Plattsburgh. But he left open a sliver of hope for supporters of the so-called "rooftop highway."  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Feb 06, 2013 — Governor Cuomo broke little new ground during a stop in Potsdam yesterday. In a speech at Clarkson University, he revisited the themes of his State of the State message from last month, often word for word.

But what mattered most to local leaders is that he was there.  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Feb 06, 2013 — Artwork by more than 30 North Country artists is featured in a new exhibit at the St. Lawrence County Arts Council in Potsdam. New Work for a New Year features art produced over the last 12 months.

Todd Moe spoke with Arts Council executive director Rebekah Wilkins-Pepiton about the show, which will be on display in the gallery through mid-March.  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Feb 01, 2013 — Continuing our occasional series on the North Country's entrepreneurs is this portrait of one man who's become a poster child for small entrepreneurship

Potsdam's Tim Damon built a custom fly rod business into an online storefront success story. Then-Senator Hillary Clinton held him up as a model. The first President Bush bought a Damon rod and invited him to Maine to fish with him.

Now Damon's turning his knack for success to a new business - high end, custom drums for the drummer seeking a perfect sound.  Go to full article

Jan 15, 2013 — Serious birders spend a lot of time looking for birds -- not just during the annual Christmas Bird Count. Joan Collins led a trek through St. Lawrence County on Sunday during near record-breaking warm temperatures.

Eighteen people took part in the NYS Ornithological Association's car-birding excursion across the northern section of the county including communities along the St. Lawrence River. Collins told Todd Moe that she and her binocular brigade saw a wide variety of winter birds: Trumpeter Swans, Bohemian Waxwings, Pine Grosbeaks and lots of Common Redpolls.  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Jan 04, 2013 — There are 9,000 U.S. veterans in St. Lawrence County alone - thousands more across the North Country and across the border in Canada.

An event this Saturday aims to recognize those veterans' service to their country and also make sure they're aware of all the benefits they're entitled to.

The North Country Veterans Appreciation Day is tomorrow at Clarkson University from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m.

Mike Boprey is head of Veterans Services for St. Lawrence County and is one of the event's organizers. He told David Sommerstein one of the goals is to help veterans stay in the North Country, where job prospects are few.  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Jan 04, 2013 — The new year marks the start of a new chapter for the St. Lawrence County Arts Council. The group's new executive director, Rebekah Wilkins-Pepiton, who began her new duties this week in Potsdam. Hilary Oak, former executive director of the Arts Council, stepped down at the end of December to pursue other interests.

Rebekah Wilkins-Pepiton is a photographer and graphic designer with a keen interest in fostering working relationships between artists and their communities. She spoke with Todd Moe about her arts career that has taken her from teaching high school visual art in Colorado to serving in the Peace Corps in Southwest China for the past two years.  Go to full article

Dec 18, 2012 — The group that's pushing for an Interstate to be built from Watertown to Plattsburgh has collected hundreds of local endorsements.

But it just lost an influential one. The New York Farm Bureau passed a resolution earlier in December, opposing the so-called "rooftop highway".  Go to full article

Dec 04, 2012 — One big item caught up in gridlock created by the current budget debate, with its "fiscal cliff" threat, is the federal farm bill.

Most farmers are still covered by crop insurance and other programs until next planting season, but that's not true of dairy.

Dairy farmers now have no safety net if milk prices fall. And with feed prices soaring, many feel they're falling off a cliff of their own.  Go to full article

Massena, NY, Nov 30, 2012 — The biggest cleanup in the country of former General Motors property is underway in Massena. Crews are removing more than 100,000 tons of concrete and soil contaminated by toxic PCB oils.

The cleanup won't be finished for another three years. But the federally appointed trust that owns the property is already bullish on selling it.  Go to full article