Ottawa, ON, Mar 13, 2013 — It's been more than 50 years since Inundation Day -- July 1, 1958, when ten Ontario communities along the St. Lawrence were purposefully flooded and 6,500 people relocated so the St. Lawrence Seaway could come into being. This spring, an Ottawa photographer will be collecting stories about the so-called "sunken villages" - that handful of Canadian villages have been hidden under the St. Lawrence Seaway for over 50 years.

Todd Moe talks with Ottawa aerial photographer Louis Helbig about his "Sunken Villages" project of photos of the lost communities between Cornwall and Prescott, Ontario. For the last few years, Helbig has arranged exhibitions of his birds-eye-view of the underwater remnants of houses and streets. Now, he's looking for stories and family histories to accompany the photos.  Go to full article

Hogansburg, NY, Mar 06, 2013 — A memorial service was held yesterday for a Mohawk woman who lived to be 100 years old. The family of Beatrice Jacobs says she's lived a healthy life at a nursing home in Snye for the last ten years.

According to her obituary, Jacobs worked in the cafeteria at St. Regis Mohawk School, and later with the Warner Brothers Corset Factory in Massena. She won a "Woman of the Year" award from the local Professional Women's Club and helped found an advocacy group for senior citizens of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe.

David Sommerstein met Jacobs in 2000, when she agreed to tell him some stories about what life used to be like in Akwesasne. One was a wintertime story about crossing the frozen St. Lawrence River to Ontario, for work, trade, and dancing.  Go to full article

Ogdensburg, NY, Feb 21, 2013 — The bicentennial of the Battle of Ogdensburg will be commemorated on the streets of the city this weekend. On February 22nd, 1813, hundreds of British-Canadian soldiers crossed the frozen St. Lawrence River and attacked Ogdensburg. Historical re-enactors with the group, Forsyth's Rifles, will battle the British on Ford and State Streets to commemorate the skirmish. Both sides will fire period muskets and firearms in recreating the battle.

It was a Canadian victory during the War of 1812, and an end to the American threat to trade in Upper Canada. Depending on what side of the border you lived on, the battle had its share of heroes and legends.  Go to full article

Massena, NY, Feb 08, 2013 — A local environmental firm was selected for the next cleanup phase of General Motors' contaminated site in Massena.  Go to full article

Massena, NY, Jan 17, 2013 — The St. Lawrence Seaway, and its commerce between Great Lakes ports and countries around the world, got hammered by the recession.

Craig Middlebrooks, acting administrator for the U.S. side of the binational waterway, says the steep drop was between 2008 and 2009. "It was almost a 25 percent drop. And I think '09 tonnage was among the lowest for decades."

Middlebrooks says the Seaway's been creeping back to pre-recession levels since then. Last year helped. Tonnage rose almost four percent, driven by coal and iron ore exports to China and Europe and U.S. steel imports. Industrial wind components also continue to be strong.  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

Jan 14, 2013 — One of the world's largest wind power company is walking away from a project to build wind towers in the St. Lawrence County town of Hammond. Iberdrola of Spain says it's slowing down investment worldwide.

The plan generated bitter disputes in Hammond and several lawsuits to stop it.  Go to full article

Cornwall, ON, Jan 07, 2013 — Akwesasne Mohawks sent the Canadian government a message of native unity on Saturday. Hundreds of people marched across the two bridges from Massena, NY, to Cornwall, Ontario. Several tribal chiefs were among the marchers.

The demonstration was part of a movement called "Idle No More" that's swept across Canada. It protests legislation that many First Nation people say threatens their land and water.

The protest closed the border crossing for several hours. Despite a history of clashes with border officials, the march was a peaceful, family affair, full of drumming and singing.  Go to full article

Cornwall, ON, Jan 04, 2013 — A group of Mohawks is planning to march on the bridge to Canada near Massena, NY, and shut down traffic Saturday. The demonstration is a part of an indigenous rights movement that's spread across Canada.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Dec 20, 2012 — Freezing temperatures late last week didn't deter avid angler Mike Seymour from heading out for muskies on the St. Lawrence River. Seymour has been a licensed fishing guide in the North Country for over 25 years, and is a prolific outdoor writer.

He's sharing some of his knowledge in a new book. The Smart Guide to Freshwater Fishing covers everything from fishing terms, to trolling to the best fishing times. Todd Moe spoke with Captain Mike about his new book, and love of fishing.  Go to full article